8 Days: The Secret Loop or CIA Loop

  • 8 Days
  • Maximum Capacity: 10
  • Adult

From $675.00 Per Adult

Description

Start Luang Prabang; Finish Luang PrabangĀ  (8Days and 7 Nights)

 

 

 

 

 

Price

  • Minimum 5 pax

5Pax

6-10Pax

10pax up

675$/Pax

585$/Pax

495$/Pax

Duration

8 Days, 7 Nights

Tour Type

Basics combination tours

Group Size

5-10 people

Language

Lao, English, Thai

Highlights Icon

Highlights

  • Day1-On the road to Vang Vieng
  • Day2-Exploring Vang Vieng
  • Day3 Vang Vieng to Vientiane
  • Day4 Vientiane to Kong Lor Cave
  • Day5 Konglor Cave Exploring
  • Day6 KongLor to Long Thieng (CIA Base)
  • Day 8 Plain of jar tour
  • Day 9 Phonsavan to LuangPrabang

Included

  • Accommodation 8 nights 3***
  • Tour Guide
  • Private Minivan
  • All admission fees
  • Boat trip to Kong Lor Cave
  • Military truck to CIA Base
  • Kayaking along Nam Ou River

Excluded

  • Insurance
  • Late check out hotel
  • Personal expenses
  • Foods and drinks witch not mention on the itinerary
  • Tipping

Travel Itinerary

Day 1 - On the road to Vang Vieng

Explore sites in and around Luang Prabang that were places where Americans lived and worked during The Secret War.Ā  Depart from Luang Prabang at 9am by minivan and head to Vang Vieng, 5 hours south.Ā  Along the way, enjoy the beautiful scenery of the farmlands and harsh mountainous valleys with karst peaks that stretch into the sky. On arrival in Vang Vieng, start by exploring the blue lagoon and caves using your off-road vehicle (ATV) Finish up the day climbing to a natural viewpoint to take in the stunning view of this place. After a long day traveling, youā€™ll then want to return to the hotel.

Day 2 - Exploring Vang Vieng

With a tantalizing combination of stunning natural scenery and plenty of outdoor adventure activities to offer, itā€™s no surprise that Vang Vieng is a popular spot for travelers. To introduce you to the wonders this riverside town has to offer, youā€™ll head out for a full day adventure tour that combines kayaking on the Nam Song River and taking in local life along the river. There will be opportunities to explore some of the incredible limestone caverns by tubing into caves hidden among the rugged karts and swimming in refreshing spring pools along the way. You will return to VangVieng at sunset time.

Day 3 - Vang Vieng to Vientiane

Leave at 9:00am, heading to Vientiane, the capital city of Laos, 2hours south of VangVieng.Ā  On arrival, you will be visiting some of the highlights of the city, including the Hor Pra Keo (formerly the temple of the emerald Buddha), Victory Gate Park (Patuxai, Vientianeā€™s version of the Arc de Triumphe), and the iconic That Luang Stupa before checking into your hotel.

Day 4 - Vientiane to Kong Lor Cave

Get going early with this long leg of the loop, travelling from Vientiane to Konglor Cave in Khammouane Province. On the way we will make a stop at Phuphaman National Park, one of the largest national parks in Laos, before driving north through majestic limestone karsts. You will arrive in Konglor in the late afternoon.

Day 5 - Konglor Cave Exploring

In the morning you will take a long tail boat into Kong Lor Cave where you will spend around 2 and a half hours.Ā  After returning from the cave, youā€™ll want to enjoy swimming at the entrance to the cave and having a picnic.Ā  After picnicking, return to the resort and rest a bit before visiting the village or just chilling, taking in a great sunset from your hammock.

Day 6 - KongLor to Long Thieng (CIA Base)

Leave KongLor at 8am for the 4hour trip to Long Thieng (also known as Long Tieng and Long Cheng).Ā  Because of its location and military importance, it was also referred to as The Most Secret Place on Earth. It did not show up on any map, even though it had one of the busiest airports in the world.Ā  It was a strategic site during the Lao Civil War, at one time having over 40,000 residents.Ā  The site was originally opened in 1962 by the American CIA and operated until May 14, 1975 when the Lao Communist Party forces attacked the town from all directions forcing its evacuation.

At the time of the evacuation Long Cheng had the largest hill tribe settlements in the world, many of whom fought with the Americans against the Communists.Ā  When the decision was made to evacuate the base and town, a relatively small number of them were evacuated, forcing many of them to seek refuge in Thailand.Ā  Among those flown to safety was General Vong Pao who had led these forces against the Communists.

Until recently, visitors were not allowed in Long Cheng.Ā  It still has a military presence, but it is possible to stay there and imagine what it looked like at the height of the war.Ā  We will be staying in a guest house and leaving the following morning for the Plain of Jars.

Day 7 - Long Cheng to Phonsavan

The road is winding at times, but the scenery will be remembered.Ā  At the end of this part of the trip, weā€™ll stop at the war damaged temple of Wat Phiawat in Muang Khuon, a symbol of the cost of war to innocent people.And then you will arrive in Phonsavan in the evening time around 4-5pm.

Day 8 - Plain of jar tour

Early morning you will visit Phonsavanā€™s morning market, the largest local market.Ā  Youā€™ll be amazed at the wide assortment of items, mostly food products, available here.Ā  Weā€™ll then go back to the hotel for breakfast.Ā  After breakfast you will head to the Plain of Jars, sites 1,2, and then to Ban Na Pia, the spoon making village.

According to local legend, the jars were first used in the 5th or 6th century to celebrate the victories of King Khun Jeuang in local tribal warfare. They were supposedly filled with rice wine.

The second theory is that the jars were part of the burial process. On the death of a family member, the corpse was taken to the jar site, placed in a stone jar and left to decompose until only the bones were left.Ā  Once completed, the family or a monk-like person would collect the bones and bury them.

Leaving the Plain of Jars, you will then visit Ban Na Pia, the spoon making village. After the Vietnamese War, also referred to as the CIA War in Laos, local people collect metal from the ā€œsecret warā€, recycling weapons of war into useful items, including household items such as silverware and other souvenirs.

Day 9 - Phonsavan to LuangPrabang

One of your last sightseeing moments just outside Phonsavan are the mulberry tree groves, where leaves and fruit are harvested for use in silk production, Sa paper production, and food/tea production. This day you will travelling around 6-7hours back to LuangPrabang, you will arrive in LuangPrabang around late afternoon.

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