ITA-17: BUDDHA PARK AND LAO TEXTILE

Your guide greets you at your hotel in Vientiane at 8:30 am, followed by an hour-long visit to Xieng Khuan Buddha Park, located just 15 miles (25 km) from the city. Also known as Spirit City, the park was created in the 1950s by Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, a shaman and priest. Today, the fanciful sculpture garden is a testament to his vision of a religion-themed park with more than 200 Hindu and Buddhist statues. Explore the park with your knowledgeable guide who will point out its top attractions, such as the 390-foot (119-meter) reclining Buddha. Whether they’re reposing or saving maidens in distress, the other statues of humans, gods and animals are just as captivating. One is even interactive: You can walk into a demon’s mouth and climb your way from hell to heaven! If you work up an appetite on the transcendent journey. Drive back to Vientiane. En route, stop at Mai Savanh to explore the traditional textiles of the Lao people. This shop specializes in high quality silk products and involves several families in their process, from the northern province of Luang Nam Tha Province and the southern provinces of Attapeu and Sekong. (Mai Savanh is closed on Saturday & Sunday) . End the tour at your hotel.