We meet at the Huay Xai border point after your safe crossing from Thailand. We then drive to the pier, which sit on the outskirts of town, and board a traditional boat to our overnight destination of Pakbeng. On the way, we stop to visit traditional Lao Lu and Hmong villages. Laos is home to over 80 ethnic tribes, with each group speaking its own dialect and following its own unique customs, traditions and religion. These include the Hmongs, Yaos and Laos Thais. You will meet some of these to learn about the local way of life in this rural area. We then jump back on the boat to enjoy lunch as we cruise along the river, arriving in the riverside village of Pakbeng in the late afternoon. We check-in to the hotel in time to enjoy dinner.

After breakfast at our accommodation, we cruise towards Luang Prabang. We break up the journey with several stops along the way, including at a Lao Lum village to get a snapshot into the lifestyle of indigenous people. We can also see how the modern world is starting to change their traditional way of life. We then continue along the river to sacred Tham Ting and Tham Phoum caves which house hundreds of Buddha statues and are the final destination for thousands of pilgrims annually. We then enjoy lunch on-board before arriving at the charming UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang. From the pier, we drive to your accommodation. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to relax before dinner is at leisure on own account.

Start the day with a dose of spirituality and watch monks carry out the early-morning ritual of tak bat. This forms a daily part of Laotians’ lives and sees monks collect food offerings in return for a blessing. We then visit a fresh fruit market before returning to the hotel for breakfast. We continue our exploration at the National Museum and former Royal King’s Palace before continuing to Wat Xieng Thong. This is Luang Prabang’s oldest temple and it dates back to the 16th century. We then head to Wat Mai to admire its exquisitely-carved veranda. Lunch is at a local restaurant before we drive to stunning Kuang Si Waterfall (32 km). We take a short walk through the forest to the tiered falls which cascade into clear limestone pools and take a refreshing dip in one of the nearby pools, followed by a visit to the Asian Bear Sanctuary. We then return to Luang Prabang to enjoy sunset at Mount Phousi, or Wat Phra Bath Tai. Dinner is at leisure on own account.

You have today at your leisure, with some exciting options. The first is spending the morning learning about the country’s agricultural sector. The country remains 80 per cent agrarian, with an agricultural business mainly geared towards rice production. This trip involves spending three hours at a local farm to learn and practice the steps of rice production – from planting and harvesting through to sieving the final product.

The second option is temple-hopping across an idyllic rural landscape. In the morning, we cross the Mekong River by ferry to less-explored Ban Xieng Mene to visit Wat Chomphet and Wat Long Khoun before returning to Laung Prabang to explore architecturally-intriguing Wat Vixoune and That Makmo. After lunch, the adventure continues at Wat That Luang.

Foodies will relish the final option – learning to cook up a storm in the kitchen. Led by a local chef, this session starts with a market trip to buy fresh ingredients followed by preparation of a Laotian feast. Meals are at leisure on own account.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast while reminiscing over unforgettable memories forged during this immersive trip. You then have the rest of the day at your leisure, before transferring to the airport to relax at the hotel, or take a last-minute exploration of this heritage gem. Considered to sit at the heart of Laotian culture, Luang Prabang is home to abundant Buddhist shrines, colonial architecture, traditional wooden houses and royal buildings. Despite the town’s recent rise in popularity with tourists, it has managed to retain its charm and laidback feel. Spend some time strolling through the historic quarter, browse the bustling stalls at the lively local market, or sample more of the local cuisine at the many eateries that dot the streets. We then drive to the airport for your onward flight, bringing this intrepid tour to an end.