LAOS – Xieng Khuang – Visit Plain of Jars and Muang Khoun

Description

From Phonsavan, the journey starts with a visit of Muang Khoun, once the provincial capital. The ruins are all that remain of what was once a royal kingdom, renowned for the beauty of its many temples and stupas. Most of these buildings have been destroyed by years of pillaging by raiders from invading countries, followed by the intense bombing of the war, however a sitting Buddha still remains at the end of a row of towering brick pillars. The ruins of a single villa on the road between the market and Wat Piawat is further evidence of what was once a vibrant city filled with French colonial architecture. The visit continues with the discovery of the mysterious stone jars appearing in clusters, ranging from a single or a few to several hundred jars in the lower foothills surrounding the central plain and upland valleys. How and why the local people created them is still a mystery and remains unanswered to this day.

Can be combined with

Thematic Leisure

• LAOS – Xieng Khuang – Mulberries Silk Farm

Selling points

• To discover unique architecture and the unusual and mysterious sites of the Plain of Jars.
• For history, art, and culture lovers.
• An off-the-beaten-track visit in Laos.
• Can be incorporated into an overland route with Vietnam.

Time And Transportation

Duration

• Full day

Min pax

1

Max pax

35

How to sell it

• Suitable for people interested in the culture and the history of Laos and fascinated by the mystery of the Plain of jars.
• It is one of the highlight places to be seen in Lao.

Why this activity

• To add a visit about history of Laos.
• Opens up the possibility of an overland route to/from Vietnam.

Good to combine with

• No other activity, it is a full day already

Do not combine with

• Any activity during the day

Market suggestion

Competitor comparison

• This is offered in one form or another by all DMCs

Pros

• Laos’ most recent UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Off-the-beaten-track visit with few tourists.

Cons

• Long transfer time (days).
• Outside activity, subject to the weather (too hot, cold, rainy etc.).
• Some clients have been disappointed because they expected it to be more impressive somehow.
• Expensive detour from classic itinerary (at least 2 nights, 1 domestic flight to avoid long transfer days)
• A very intriguing place, ideal for those interested in history, but not visually spectacular like Kuang Sy for example.

Information

• Muang Khoun is located 30 km from Phonsavan town where tourists can see the vestiges of some temples and stupas built in the architectural style of the Thai Ayutthaya Kingdom.
• The day starts in Muang Khoun and then continues to the jar sites before finishing in Phonsavan.

Price range

$

Quotation guideline

ERP:

All of the following entrance fees should be selected:

• Xieng Khouang > Entrance fees in Xieng Khouang > Vat Phiawat
• Xieng Khouang > Entrance fees in Xieng Khouang > Vat Tatfun
• Xieng Khouang > Entrance fees in Xieng Khouang > Plain of Jar Site 1
• Xieng Khouang > Entrance fees in Xieng Khouang > Plain of Jar Site 2
• Xieng Khouang > Entrance fees in Xieng Khouang > Plain of Jar Site 3

Inclusion

• Entrance fees

Exclusion

• Transfer
• Guide
• Meals and Drinks

Special Guide notes

• The guide should provide explanations and information about each of the sites.
• We should provide a knowledgeable guide for this visit, not a new guide, as the guide needs to work hard to make the visit worthwhile.

Contact

• No contact needed.

English

Visit of the Plain of Jars
From Phonsavanh, you will start your tour to see Muang Khoun, previously known as Xieng Khuang, which was once the provincial capital. The ruins are all that remain of what was once a royal kingdom, renowned for the beauty of its many temples and stupas. Your visit will continue with a discovery of the mysterious stone jars appearing in clusters, ranging from a single or a few to several hundred jars at lower foothills surrounding the central plain and upland valleys. How and why the local people did it is still a mysterious question that remains unanswered to this day. You will drive until reaching the jars at site 1, the biggest and the most interesting one, where you can take time to learn what is known about the history. You will then continue to sites 2 and 3. At the end of the day, return to Phonsavanh city.

Meals included:
Accommodation:
Distance: 45 kilometers – 1 hour (one-way)

French

Visite de la Plaine des Jarres
Vous quitterez Phonsavanh pour rejoindre Muang Khoun, qui portait autrefois le nom de Xieng Khouang à l’époque où c’était la capitale de la province. Vous verrez qu’il ne reste plus que des ruines de ce qui fut un palais royal connu pour la beauté de ses nombreux temples et stupas. Vous continuerez votre visite par la découverte de mystérieuses jarres en pierre regroupées dans les basses collines qui encerclent la plaine centrale et les hautes vallées. Par endroits il n’y en a que quelques-unes alors qu’un peu plus loin on en trouve plusieurs centaines. Mais on ne sait toujours pas pourquoi et comment les habitants les ont mystérieusement réparties ainsi. Vous vous rendrez en véhicule jusqu’aux jarres du site 1, le plus grand et le plus intéressant, où vous pourrez prendre le temps d’en apprendre plus sur leur histoire. Vous poursuivrez ensuite avec les sites 2 et 3 avant de retourner à Phonsavanh en fin de journée.

Repas inclus :
Hébergement :
Distance: 45 kilomètres – 1 heure (aller simple)

Spanish

Visita de la llanura de las Jarras
Desde Phonsavanh, empezará el tour con la visita de Muang Khoun, antiguamente conocida como Xieng Khuang que fue la capital provincial. Las ruinas son los únicos vestigios de lo que alguna vez fue una ciudad Real famosa por la belleza de sus numerosos templos y estupas. El tour continuará con la visita de las misteriosas jarras de piedra que están agrupadas. Están esparcidas por el suelo: aparece una, algunas y luego centenares de jarras en la falda de la montaña que rodea la llanura y los elevados valles. Cómo y por qué la población local las creó sigue siendo un misterio. Un conductor le llevará al sitio de las jarras número 1, el mayor y más interesante, donde descubrirá lo que se sabe de estos objetos. Luego, seguirá con los sitios 2 y 3. Al final del día, regresará a la ciudad de Phonsavanh.

Comidas incluidas:
Alojamiento:
Distancia: 45 kilómetros – 1 hora, un trayecto

Italian

La misteriosa piana delle giare
Da Phonsavanh inizierete la vostra avventura con la visita a Muang Khoun, precedentemente conosciuta come Xieng Khuang, un tempo capitale della provincia. Le grandiose rovine sono tutto quello che resta di ciò che un tempo rappresentò lo splendore del regno, rinomato per l’eleganza di innumerevoli templi e stupa. Continuate la visita alla scoperta delle misteriose giare di pietra, che, raccolte in gruppi disomogenei, spuntano all’improvviso dal terreno. Che siano un paio o più di un centinaio, queste giare si raggruppano ai piedi delle colline, circondando la piana centrale e le vallate della regione montana. Tutt’ora, il come ed il perché le popolazioni locali le abbiano sistemate in tale maniera restano un interrogativo irrisolto. Presso il primo sito di giare, il più vasto ed interessante, potrete approfittarne per scoprire il poco che è stato rinvenuto della loro storia. Continuerete poi verso il secondo e terzo sito. Al calar del sole, farete ritorno a Phonsavanh.

Pasti inclusi:
Sistemazione:
Distanze: 45 chilometri – 1 ora

German

Besuch der Ebene der Tonkrüge
Von Phonsavanh aus starten Sie die Tour nach Muang Khoun, früher bekannt als Xieng Khouang, die einst die Landeshauptstadt war. Die Ruinen sind alles, was vom Königreich – berühmt für seine schönen Tempel und Stupas – übrig geblieben sind. Während Ihres Besuchs entdecken Sie die mysteriösen, oft gruppenweise vorkommenden steinernen Krüge; es gibt mehrere Hundert Krüge in den Gebirgsausläufern, die die zentrale Ebene und die Hochtäler umgeben. Sie fahren so lange, bis Sie die Krüge am Standort 1 erreichen. Hierbei handelt es sich um die größten und interessantesten und Sie können sich Zeit nehmen, um etwas über die Geschichte zu lernen. Weiter geht es zu den Standorten 2 und 3. Am Ende des Tages kehren Sie in die Stadt Phonsavanh zurück.

Mahlzeiten inklusive:
Unterbringung:
Strecke und Dauer: 45 Kilometer – 1 Stunde pro Weg

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