An early start provides the fantastic opportunity to witness the captivating centuries old daily tradition of the alms giving ceremony, Tak Bat. Before first light, hundreds of saffron-clad monks file out from the old town's 35 temples to collect their daily alms from faithful local residents. Following the ceremony we wander back through the morning market where locals buy their fresh produce for the day ahead. We'll head back to the hotel for breakfast and some time to relax and refresh before heading out for our day's adventure. The humble tuk-tuk was first introduced to Southeast Asia in 1934 from Japan and has since become an icon of the region. Used daily by locals throughout Laos, Thailand and Cambodia, the tuk-tuk is the perfect vehicle for an open-air introduction to charming Luang Prabang. Some of the highlights of today are: Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham, the fascinating National Museum (Royal Palace) and Wat Xieng Thong. Built by King Setthathirath (1559), Wat Xieng Thong is the royal city's most important temple. Its multiple roofs sweep low to the ground and there's a stunning 'tree of life' mosaic set on its western exterior wall. We end the day’s tour on top of Mount Phousi in the city centre. We enjoy a sunset view of the gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city and surrounding landscape.

Overnight: Sala Prabang - Riverside/ Studio or similar

Our tour today combines an easy bike ride with an gentle kayaking trip downriver. We’ll get you sized up on a good quality modern bike, have a quick safety briefing then set off along the quiet back roads to see Wat Pa Phon Phao, a golden temple with a great view of Luang Prabang. We’ll continue along the Nam Khan River to the resting place of Henri Mouhot, the French explorer famous for popularising The Angkor Temple complex of Cambodia. We’ll finish the easy ride in the Nam Khan Valley amid a spectacular vista of mountains, rivers and rural villages. We'll break for lunch either at a mountain-view terrace or at Tad Sae Waterfall (depending on season and timing). Following lunch, a short longtail boat ride will bring us to Tad Sae Waterfall where you can enjoy a refreshing swim in the turquoise pools under the jungle canopy. A further short boat trip brings us to the start point of our gentle kayaking trip. We’ll conduct a kayaking instruction class and safety briefing before setting off for our gentle paddle down the jungle lined Nam Khan River valley back to town. This is the perfect family friendly way to explore the tranquil countryside surrounding Luang Prabang. We’ll wrap up just under the Luang Prabang city bridge, where we meet our vehicle for the short return ride to our hotel.

Cycling: ~15km (easy) Kayaking: ~2hrs (downriver/ easy)

Overnight: Sala Prabang - Riverside/ Studio or similar

Following breakfast, we transfer to the famous Kuang Si Waterfall. Close by to the falls, we stop by to visit the Free the Bears Sanctuary. The sanctuary was opened in 2003 and houses Asiatic Black bears, also known as Moon Bears which are confiscated by the Forestry Department from the illegal wildlife trade. The sanctuary carries out great work in rehabilitating the bears to prepare them for release back into the wild. Kuang Si Waterfalls, nestled in lush forest are truly a sight to behold. Water thunders down the mountainside plunging 50m into a series of cascading turquoise pools, perfect for a refreshing dip. Simply relax and soak in the crystal clear pools or we can hike up to the very top of the falls. After lunch, we’ll begin our scenic 3-hour hike along forest trails and winding around rice paddies to the village of Long Lao Mai. Upon arrival, your guide will give you a tour around the small village. Introduce yourself to the local people, learn a few words of the Hmong language or join a game of football or volleyball with the village children. Relax and unwind at your comfortable eco bungalow built within the village. The eco bungalow provides a supplementary income for the villagers – 100% of your accommodation fee is circulated back to the community fund. Dinner is served on the sala outside under the stars, prepared by a village family.