3-Day 2-Night Wat Phu Champasak Festival Tour: Pilgrimage to the Ancient Khmer Temple on the Full Moon, Almsgiving & Village Fair
Multi-day tours
International tour
Festival tour
Spiritual tour
Standard
Departure point
→
Destination
Pakse, Laos
Pakse
Champasak
Wat Phu
3N2Đ (Participation Duration)
Car,Walking (Transportation)
English (Language)
Number of participants 0/12
0 booked
Tour description
Boun Wat Phu takes place around the full moon of the third month in the Lao lunar calendar (usually around February), coinciding with the Buddhist Makha Bucha festival. Over three days, tens of thousands of pilgrims from across Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia flock to the Wat Phu temple complex—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—to offer flowers, incense, and candles at the main temple on the slopes of Mount Phou Kao.
On the morning of the full moon, monks from many places receive alms along the ancient ceremonial road; in the evening, locals light candles and walk around the shrines below. At the foot of the mountain is a lively village fair featuring boat races, wrestling, cockfighting, volleyball, music, and countless local food stalls.
The itinerary optionally combines Don Daeng Island in the Mekong River with the Bolaven Plateau, allowing you to experience the festival while leisurely exploring Champasak.
On the morning of the full moon, monks from many places receive alms along the ancient ceremonial road; in the evening, locals light candles and walk around the shrines below. At the foot of the mountain is a lively village fair featuring boat races, wrestling, cockfighting, volleyball, music, and countless local food stalls.
The itinerary optionally combines Don Daeng Island in the Mekong River with the Bolaven Plateau, allowing you to experience the festival while leisurely exploring Champasak.
Meeting point:
View on map
Sân bay quốc tế Pakse hoặc khách sạn tại Pakse
Đón tại sân bay hoặc khách sạn ở Pakse. Ngày lễ chính (rằm tháng 3 âm lịch Lào) được xác nhận khoảng 1 – 2 tháng trước; chúng tôi sẽ xác nhận ngày khởi hành khi quý khách đặt tour.
Detailed itinerary
Morning/Lunch: Pick up guests at the airport or hotel in Pakse and depart for Champasak (approximately 45 minutes). Check in and have lunch.
Afternoon: Stroll around the village festival area at the foot of the mountain: fair, boat races, and traditional folk games.
Evening: Have dinner and watch cultural performances at the festival. Overnight in Champasak.
Afternoon: Stroll around the village festival area at the foot of the mountain: fair, boat races, and traditional folk games.
Evening: Have dinner and watch cultural performances at the festival. Overnight in Champasak.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Morning (05:30): Witness (or participate in) the alms-giving ceremony along the ancient ceremonial route. Climb to the main temple with the pilgrims and offer flowers and candles. Return for breakfast.
Noon: Have lunch and rest.
Afternoon: Take a boat to Don Daeng Island and cycle around the village.
Evening: Return to Wat Phu to participate in the candlelight ceremony, walking around the shrine. Have dinner. Overnight in Champasak.
Noon: Have lunch and rest.
Afternoon: Take a boat to Don Daeng Island and cycle around the village.
Evening: Return to Wat Phu to participate in the candlelight ceremony, walking around the shrine. Have dinner. Overnight in Champasak.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning: Breakfast and check out. Visit the museum at the Wat Phu archaeological site when it is less crowded.
Noon: Have lunch and return to Pakse.
Afternoon: Transfer to the airport or hotel, concluding the program.
Noon: Have lunch and return to Pakse.
Afternoon: Transfer to the airport or hotel, concluding the program.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Tour price includes
• English-speaking local guide according to the itinerary
• Private round-trip vehicle from Pakse to Champasak
• 2 nights at a 3-star hotel/boutique hotel in Champasak (2 guests per room)
• Meals: 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
• Wat Phu archaeological site entrance ticket, boat, and bicycles on Don Daeng
• Offerings for the temple, candles
• Bottled water
• Private round-trip vehicle from Pakse to Champasak
• 2 nights at a 3-star hotel/boutique hotel in Champasak (2 guests per room)
• Meals: 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
• Wat Phu archaeological site entrance ticket, boat, and bicycles on Don Daeng
• Offerings for the temple, candles
• Bottled water
Tour price excludes
• Airfare, Laos visa
• Single-room supplement, holiday hotel surcharge
• Drinks, games at the fair
• Tips for the guide and driver
• Travel insurance, personal expenses
• Single-room supplement, holiday hotel surcharge
• Drinks, games at the fair
• Tips for the guide and driver
• Travel insurance, personal expenses
Cancellation policy
Cancellation 7 days or more before departure: 100% tour refund.
Cancellation 3–6 days before departure: 50% tour refund.
Cancellation within 3 days of departure or no-show: non-refundable.
In the event of natural disasters, epidemics, or attraction closures required by the authorities, we will assist with changing the date or refunding the unused services.
Cancellation 3–6 days before departure: 50% tour refund.
Cancellation within 3 days of departure or no-show: non-refundable.
In the event of natural disasters, epidemics, or attraction closures required by the authorities, we will assist with changing the date or refunding the unused services.
Other notes
Departure schedule: the festival tour operates only during the festival period according to the Lao lunar calendar; the festival dates change every year. Departure dates currently available for booking follow the current year's schedule; subsequent years will be updated. Hotels are very busy during the festival, so book at least 1–2 months in advance.
Almsgiving ceremony (Tak Bat): please keep your distance, remain silent, do not use flash photography, and do not block the monks’ path; if making an offering, you should buy sticky rice at the local market and kneel or sit lower than the monks.
Dress code: when entering temples, the Royal Palace, and historical sites, please wear clothing that covers your shoulders and trousers/skirts below the knees, and remove your shoes before entering the main sanctuary.
Currency: the kip (LAK) is the official currency; many places accept USD and Thai baht, but it is advisable to exchange some money into kip for spending at markets, small restaurants, and rural areas.
The tour is normally led by an English-speaking local guide; Vietnamese-, French-, Chinese-, Thai-speaking guides, and others can be requested (please notify us when booking; subject to guide availability).
The price applies per guest, based on a private tour for groups of 2 or more guests. Larger groups receive better rates; please contact us.
Visas: international travelers need a Laos visa (apply for an e-visa online before the trip or obtain a visa at international airports and international border crossings); citizens of ASEAN countries are visa-exempt according to regulations. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months.
In 2027, the full moon is expected to fall around February 20 (tour departures on February 18–19); this will be reconfirmed when the official schedule is available. The village fair is very crowded in the evening, so travel with a guide.
Illustrative photos: Apsaras - Bun Vat Phu 2012 05 – GuillaumeG, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Apsaras - Bun Vat Phu 2012 01 – GuillaumeG, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Buddhist nun - Bun Vat Phu 2012 (2) – GuillaumeG, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Apsaras - Bun Vat Phu 2012 02 – GuillaumeG, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
Almsgiving ceremony (Tak Bat): please keep your distance, remain silent, do not use flash photography, and do not block the monks’ path; if making an offering, you should buy sticky rice at the local market and kneel or sit lower than the monks.
Dress code: when entering temples, the Royal Palace, and historical sites, please wear clothing that covers your shoulders and trousers/skirts below the knees, and remove your shoes before entering the main sanctuary.
Currency: the kip (LAK) is the official currency; many places accept USD and Thai baht, but it is advisable to exchange some money into kip for spending at markets, small restaurants, and rural areas.
The tour is normally led by an English-speaking local guide; Vietnamese-, French-, Chinese-, Thai-speaking guides, and others can be requested (please notify us when booking; subject to guide availability).
The price applies per guest, based on a private tour for groups of 2 or more guests. Larger groups receive better rates; please contact us.
Visas: international travelers need a Laos visa (apply for an e-visa online before the trip or obtain a visa at international airports and international border crossings); citizens of ASEAN countries are visa-exempt according to regulations. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months.
In 2027, the full moon is expected to fall around February 20 (tour departures on February 18–19); this will be reconfirmed when the official schedule is available. The village fair is very crowded in the evening, so travel with a guide.
Illustrative photos: Apsaras - Bun Vat Phu 2012 05 – GuillaumeG, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Apsaras - Bun Vat Phu 2012 01 – GuillaumeG, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Buddhist nun - Bun Vat Phu 2012 (2) – GuillaumeG, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Apsaras - Bun Vat Phu 2012 02 – GuillaumeG, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
Detailed price list
| Guest type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | $430 |
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