History & Heritage tour to Laos
| country: | Laos |
| departures: | This trip can be tailormade at a time to suit you by extending your stay or combining other itineraries. Best time to go: Oct-Mar |
| price: | From £735 (8 days) excluding flights. Price based on a private trip for 2 people |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to History & Heritage tour to Laos
Truly one of the last quiet countries on Earth, Laos has so far managed to escape mass tourism. With over half the country having natural forest cover and a rich cultural tapestry of over 50 different ethnic groups, it remains one of the least-visited countries in South East Asia. Dominated by the mighty Mekong river, which flows for practically the whole of its length, Laos combines green, mountainous terrain, fine architecture, and fascinating local cultures. An exploration through ancient and modern aspects of the country, this trip includes a visit to the mysterious Plain of Jars and the UNESCO heritage city of Luang Prabang – rated the New York Times "must see" place for 2008.
More a sleepy provincial town than a frenetic capital city, Vientiane nonetheless has a little bit of everything, and the added benefit of being small enough to walk or cycle around. Wat Sisaket, crammed with all shapes and sizes of Buddha, and the monument of Pha That Luang, incorporating Buddhist symbolism throughout its design, are especially worth a visit.
An ancient mystery to rival Stonehenge, the thousands of huge stone monoliths at the Plain of Jars cover an area of around 50km, and continue to baffle historians. Some of the jars are three metres high! Recent theory is that they are funeral urns - the larger the jar, the more important the person - but other historical artifacts found in the area have brought the experts no closer to understanding the civilization that created them.
A quirky mixture of crumbling colonial buildings and ornate Buddhist temples, Luang Prabang sits on the banks of the Mekong surrounded by hills - a truly stunning setting for this World Heritage site. A laid-back atmosphere, combined with a cosmopolitan selection of restaurants and boutiques selling local crafts, offer a little bit of something for everyone.
More a sleepy provincial town than a frenetic capital city, Vientiane nonetheless has a little bit of everything, and the added benefit of being small enough to walk or cycle around. Wat Sisaket, crammed with all shapes and sizes of Buddha, and the monument of Pha That Luang, incorporating Buddhist symbolism throughout its design, are especially worth a visit.
An ancient mystery to rival Stonehenge, the thousands of huge stone monoliths at the Plain of Jars cover an area of around 50km, and continue to baffle historians. Some of the jars are three metres high! Recent theory is that they are funeral urns - the larger the jar, the more important the person - but other historical artifacts found in the area have brought the experts no closer to understanding the civilization that created them.
A quirky mixture of crumbling colonial buildings and ornate Buddhist temples, Luang Prabang sits on the banks of the Mekong surrounded by hills - a truly stunning setting for this World Heritage site. A laid-back atmosphere, combined with a cosmopolitan selection of restaurants and boutiques selling local crafts, offer a little bit of something for everyone.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Vientiane. Arrival in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos. When you fly in you will see the green from the country around you, and you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. After lunch, take a guided walking tour to That Luang Stupa, National monument, the National Museum, Wat Sisaket - the oldest temple in Vientiane - and the Ho Phra art museum. |
| Day 2: | Humanitarian project. In the morning, visit a humanitarian project which works with children living on the streets, to understand about the issues facing the poorest people in the city and appreciate what is being done to help them. They also have a training restaurant where you can have lunch. In the afternoon, walk to the independence monument Patu Xay (which looks very much like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris but without the traffic!), where you can climb the steps to the top and see the view over the city. |
| Day 3: | Vang Vieng. Early morning we travel by minibus through the mountains and rivers to Vang Vieng. There will be a stop to see the Buddhas carved out of the rocks in the forest. After we have checked in at our local resort - right next to the river - we will make a small boat trip and will have a visit to the stunning caves that Vang Vieng is justifiably famous for. |
| Day 4: | Plain of Jars. A beautiful drive to Phonesavan, the site of the Plain of Jars, travelling through the mountains. On the way, stop at a cave that was used as a hospital during the time the Americans were fighting the Vietnamese - Laos, although neutral, was bombed repeatedly during this time and suffered many casualties. |
| Day 5: | Jar sites. Visit the market in the morning, to see all the fruit and vegetables available (and maybe even try a few!) Continue to visit some of the Jar sites - covering an area of around 50km, with jars of up to 3 metres high, they continue to baffle historians. Recent theory is that they are funeral urns - the larger the jar, the more important the person - but other historical artifacts found in the area have brought the experts no closer to understanding the civilization that created them. |
| Day 6: | Luang Prabang. Travel to Luang Prabang. This is a very scenic trip - driving through many mountains, and you can stop to see the tea plantations. Also you will probably see many different kind of ethnic groups walking besides the road. On arrival, it will be possible to go for a traditional Laos massage, before visiting the night market - an opportunity to buy some beautiful locally-made items at very reasonable prices. |
| Day 7: | Mekong River. Take a boat trip up the Mekong River to the famous caves of Pak Ou - housing thousands of retired Buddha statues. We will have a packed lunch here (included) overlooking the river. In the afternoon, visit the Kwang Xi Waterfall, where you can have a swim surrounded by jungle. |
| Day 8: | Royal Palace museum. In the morning, visit the Royal Palace museum for a guided tour to learn about the history of the Royal Family. After lunch, transfer to the airport for your onward flight. |
this tailormade holiday
Our private tours are designed to show travellers with limited time as much as possible of this fascinating country, and are led by a local tour leader or guide who can add insight to every stage of the journey. You can choose the grade of accommodation you would prefer from a selection that has been hand-picked by us for their comfort, atmosphere and friendly staff – most of which are locally-owned. We can also create a custom itinerary for you that includes other destinations or incorporates special interests such as wildlife, art or social welfare.how this holiday makes a difference
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We are a social enterprise, created from the outset with the aim of providing local people with much-needed employment, a sense of community and opportunities for development. Using best business practices to improve lives in areas of need, we provide direct support to on-the-ground humanitarian and conservation projects. We believe that truly responsible travel should benefit both the client and the destination in equal measures. The client gains an insight into other countries and cultures, learning a little bit about themselves in the process. The destination receives economic benefit and opportunities for self-development – but never at the sacrifice of their culture or integrity.
In order to achieve these aims we operate two policies alongside each other: the first to minimise what we take, the second to maximise what we give back. Self-administration of projects and funds ensures that 100% of our support goes directly to the people who need it. As a social enterprise, our tour leaders are all local people who have been personally chosen and trained by us, and have been able to realise their potential and work towards a better future for themselves and their families. Encouraged to have an input on how the company operates and develops, our team brings constructive criticism, fresh ideas and a deeper level of interaction with our clients. The variety in the destinations you visit gives you a feeling for the "real" Laos, and the varied modes of transport give you the opportunity to see many aspects of the local way of life. Our visit to a humanitarian project during the journey, and your local tour leader from a development organisation, gives you a more in-depth view of the way in which local people are working to improve their environment. Our contributions to a number of these organisations and our commitment to fair salaries and in-country training ensure that the country directly benefits from your holiday. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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