Early risers will have a chance to witness the moving ritual of long lines of barefoot monks walking silently on their morning alms rounds along the streets at Ban Vat Sene in Kounxoa road. (Note: please observe from a respectful distance and maintain silence while witnessing this sacred ceremony)

Today, after  breakfast, you'll visit the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, a private,  non-profit entity located in a historic building in Luang Prabang  (Note: closed Mondays). Enjoy a 30 minutes guided tour through the centre, where you'll get an in-depth overview of Laos diverse ethnic  minorities.

From here you'll drive into the peaceful countryside of  Luang Prabang. Along the way you'll stop several times to visit small villages. All the villages are best explored by walking. (Note: total gentle walking time in the villages around 1,5 to 2 hours.)

The  first village we'll see is Ban Na, which is inhabited by Yuan ethnic minority  people. They migrated to Laos from the Chiang Rai area in northern Thailand.  The main activity in the village is rice farming. Passing rice  fields we'll arrive at Ban Kok Wan, an idyllic Khmu hamlet. The Khmu were the  original inhabitants of Northern Laos. They are animists and speak a language  belonging to the Austro-Asiatic group of languages. Careful not to disrupt the serenity of this isolated area, we can observe the locals as they carry out  their daily tasks. You get the chance to ask questions and wander around in  the small village.

Your guide will be happy to translate your questions and help you to interact with the villagers.

Your guide will prepare a Lao style picnic lunch while  we'll enjoy the beautiful landscape.
You'll then follow the Nam Pa  River, one of the most scenic river valleys, for a visit to Ban Bo Hae and Ban Long Lan (Note: only accessible during the dry season), both small  Hmong settlements. The Hmong settlers were the latest to come to the area of  Laos. They built their villages on the mountain tops and practice slash and burn cultivation of corn and other crops.

Return to Luang Prabang late in the day with the evening free at your leisure.

Following your breakfast you'll depart on a full day exploration of the near countryside by 4WD and on foot. First you will visit an Iko (Akha) village perched atop a mountain at just over three thousand feet. The Iko are one of the most unassimilated minorities in Southeast Asia. They live very traditional lives and their women wear colorful headdresses adorned with silver coins. The view from this village is incredible.

After your picnic lunch depart on an easy one hour long hike to a traditional Hmong village. Here you will have the chance to meet the inhabitants and understand their unique and traditional culture.
Return back to Muang La where the resort's natural hot-spring baths and sauna will await you. Tonight enjoy another dinner on the resort's open air terrace.

After breakfast we will walk up the Ou River and pass Ban Hat Xao, a small Lao loum and Khmu village along the way. After arriving in the second village Ban Som Vang we will have a picnic lunch. Afterwards you'll take a boat through the limestone mountain countryside and nature back to Nong Khiaw. Return to Luang Prabang late in the afternoon with the rest of the day free at your leisure.