Visit A Different Perspective for current photo tours led by Roger Nelson
Laos has a storied history thousands of years old. Many kingdoms have occupied this land. The people that live here today are both friendly and interesting. This tour leads you to some of the most photogenic sites in Laos including the Vat Phou Festival with internationally acclaimed photographer, Roger Nelson. You will visit Luang Prabang, Champasak and Vientiane. Come home with jaw dropping photos of the people that live here-the temples, pagodas, monasteries, cities, villages and farms they live, worship and work in. Laos Vat Phou Festival Photo Tour w/Roger Nelson is designed for people who want to experience this mystical destination and get the best possible photos at the same time.
Photos courtesy of Roger Nelson
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More About this Tour
What To Expect
ITINERARY
Saturday, Jan 31 – Arrive Luang Prabang
You arrive in Luang Prabang in the morning, typically from Bangkok where you probably spent the night. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. You will meet the guides and other participants at lunch and have an orientation for the tour.
In the late afternoon, you will visit several of the local vats (temples) and photograph the boats on the Mekong riverfront at sunset. Dinner will be served at a riverside restaurant on the Nam Khan River. You will spend the night at a 4 star boutique hotel in the historical district of Luang Prabang.
Sunday, February 1 – Luang Prabang
You are up early this morning to photograph the monks collecting alms from local devotees. Then you will visit several of the Vats (temple complex) to photograph the temples in the early morning light.
After breakfast you will travel to the nearby elephant camp where you will have an opportunity to ride and photograph these magnificent animals. You will return to town for lunch and a bit of free time to explore the shops. Later in the afternoon, you travel by boat to a pottery village to photograph the daily activities in a rural village and then return to town by boat as the sun sets. You will spend the night in Luang Prabang again.
Monday, February 2 – Pak Ou Caves
You will be up early again to take a private riverboat to the Pac Ou Caves where hundreds of Buddha statues have been placed over hundreds of years. You will have an opportunity to photograph both the upper and lower caves before most tour groups arrive. You will return to Luang Prabang for lunch and some free time in the middle of the day.
In the late afternoon, you will visit a traditional weaving village for a second chance to photograph rural village life. Later, towards evening, you will cross a bamboo bridge to a special area on the riverfront for more sunset photography. You will have dinner at a restaurant in town where you can walk around the night market afterwards. You will spend your third night in Luang Prabang.
Tuesday, February 3 – Luang Prabang/Fly to Pakse
Today you will have a second chance to photograph the monks collecting alms or the vats in early morning light. After breakfast you visit the local market where many unique products are sold.
By mid morning you will be transferred to the airport for a flight to Pakse in southern Laos. Upon arrival, you will be driven to your hotel in Champasak on the banks of the Mekong River where you will have some free time to rest or photograph the riverfront activities. You will spend the night at a 4 star bungalow style resort in Champasak.
Wednesday, February 4 – Champasak & Vat Phou Festival
This morning you will visit several rural villages in the Bolaven Plateau. Their traditions and way of life have not changed as much as villages closer to large cities so you will get a chance to photograph the true rural life in this part of Laos.
You will return to Pakse for lunch and head out to the stadium grounds near Vat Phou for the opening ceremonies of the Vat Phou Festival. You will be able to photograph the parade of dancers, musicians and even elephants that participate in opening ceremonies. It’s great people photography as everyone is dressed in their traditional tribal clothing. You will spend the night in Champasak.
Thursday, February 5 – Champasak & Vat Phou Festival
Your destination this morning is the vast temple complex of Vat Phou. You will spend the entire morning walking around this pre-Angkor Khmer site photographing temples and shrines and the hundreds of pilgrims that are visiting the site as well. After a mid day break you will take a boat to an island in the Mekong River to photograph fishermen casting their nets in the setting sun. It’s a chance to practice high-speed photography. You will spend the night in Champasak again.
Friday, February 6 – Champasak & Vat Phou Festival
You will be up early this morning to photograph thousands of pilgrims offering special alms to monks and nuns in a sunrise ceremony at Vat Phou. This is a spectacular photo op of a cultural tradition and there are not many foreign tourists yet so you can walk all around the ceremony and photograph it from any angle you like. After the alms ceremony, you will return to the hotel for a late breakfast and a midday break. If you like, you can explore the small village of Champasak.
By midafternoon you head back to Vat Phou for the second special event this day. Tonight the temple complex will be lit with hundreds of candles. There will be candlelight processions and the release of dozens of candle powered floating lanterns into the sky. It’s certainly challenging photography but, with a tripod and a fast lens you can still get memorable photos. You will spend another night in Champasak.
Saturday, February 7 – Pakse/Flight to Vientiane
This morning you are transferred back to the Pakse airport for a flight to Vientiane, the capital of Laos. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel.
Later in the afternoon, you will visit That Luang and the surrounding temples. This large complex is one of the most important temples in the country and a good introduction to the capital. You will spend the night at a 4 star boutique hotel in Vientiane.
Sunday, February 8 – Vientiane
Your early morning option today is a visit to Talat Thongkhankram, the morning fresh market. It is a large and busy market with lots to photograph. After breakfast you will visit Wat Simuang, Wat Si Saket and Ho Pa Keo, three of the best preserved temples in Vientiane.
In the afternoon you will visit Buddha Park, an eclectic collection of huge Buddha related sculptures that challenge you photographically. It’s a fun way to wrap up the tour. In the evening, you will have a farewell dinner at a restaurant with a folkloric show. Photography is allowed so bring your camera. You will spend the night in Vientiane again.
Monday, February 9 – Depart Vientiane
The tour officially ends this morning. You will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight this morning. You can choose to return to Bangkok, where your choices for international flights home are plentiful or you can fly directly to many other destinations in Southeast Asia if you plan to stay in the region longer.
Extend your travels with a Vietnam Photo tour w/Son Nguyen
Laos Vat Phou Tour w/Roger Nelson, Based on twin share, single supplement applies:
Cost 4 persons – $4995.00 USD
Cost 6-8 persons – $4495.00 USD
Cost 10 persons – $3995.00 USD
Single supplement – $1075 USD
CALL NOW to BOOK 415-331-3791
Inclusive of above prices:
• Transportation in private vehicle
• Accommodation in twin shared room
• Domestic flights #2
• Private Boat trip as stated in above sights
• English speaking guide
• Admission fee to indicated sights
• Meals: daily breakfast at hotel, lunch/dinner where stated only
• Gov’t tax and service charge
• Luggage handling and drinking water
Exclusive of above prices:
• Visa stamping fee on arrival
• Int’l air tickets to/from Laos
• Travel Insurance (Required)
• Single room (quoted separately)
• Other foreign language guide
• Child or adult in triple sharing room
• Tip, drinks and other personal expenses
