For early risers, there is a very special dawn visit to watch the monks collecting alms. As the sun begins to rise, long lines of orange-robed monks leave their pagodas and walk barefoot down the streets collecting offerings from Luang Prabang residents. It is a beautiful, serene ceremony that highlights the spiritualism of the Lao people. Return to the hotel for breakfast.
Depending on the flight schedule, there may be time to enjoy a unique tour, get picked up by the guide and driver for a transfer along the Mekong River to Saffron Coffee.
Saffron Coffee is a social development business engaged in ethical, sustainable, and environmentally-regenerating farming practices. They work directly with hill tribe farming families of northern Laos with a motto: ‘We Believe Coffee should not only taste good, it should also do good.’ Meet the local expert, a trained coffee barista with excellent English skills. He/she will lead this interactive tour into the world of coffee in Luang Prabang. Take the private vehicle with the specialist and transfer to Non Saat – Saffron’s Processing Plant.
Here, observe wet-process (washing) and drying of beans, while learning about Saffron Coffee’s sustainable coffee farming approach. See nursery and seed beds, observe hulling, grading, and sorting before being transferred to Saffron’s office at nearby Pong Vaan Village. Here, see an example of a farmer’s coffee plot and how they maintain their coffee trees with organic fertilizers and permaculture techniques. The last stop will be the coffee roasting (drum or table top roaster) before proceeding to the tasting section for refreshments (coffee or cascara tea) with freshly baked goods.
Next, be taken back to the Saffron Cafe along the Mekong for an official donation of USD 10! The money will go towards helping Saffron to plant 10 trees per donation. Be remembered for the kind act by placing your name on a sticker and add it to the ever-growing wall of donors!
From here, be transferred back to the hotel or continue to the next planned destination. Tour ends at about 11-11.30am .
Please note that based on the space available at the processing plant and in order to provide excellent service, Saffron is limiting the amount of participants per group to 6pax maximum.