Laos holiday
| country: | Laos |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | Regular departures throughout the year, either weekly or fortnightly depending on the time of year |
| price: | From £415 (14 days) excluding flights. Local payment US $150. Includes an experienced local leader and services of local guides at some sites. |
the amazing things you'll be doing
After years of war, peace and tranquillity have come to Laos and this small landlocked nation is slowly opening its doors and offering the intrepid traveller a warm welcome. We travel by a wide variety of local transport including bus, songthaew, tuk-tuk, Mekong riverboat, mini-van, train and pirogue (narrow canoe). Accommodation is in simple hotels and guesthouses.
From Bangkok we travel north to the mighty Mekong River and cross into Laos. Crossing the river is like stepping back in time to old South East Asia. Following the river we visit the beautiful town of Luang Prabang and then continue to Vang Vieng and the sleepy capital of Vientiane. Crossing the International Friendship Bridge we re-enter Thailand and take the overnight sleeper train back to Bangkok.
This operator gives clients the option of offsetting carbon emissions on all of its holidays. In conjunction with Climate Friendly we have established an appropriate cash amount for each of our holidays, based on the type of transportation used and the distances travelled. This amount is donated to Climate Friendly and used to support new renewable energy projects that prevent greenhouse gases from entering our atmosphere. The amount required to offset this holiday is £4 - this does not include your international flight.
From Bangkok we travel north to the mighty Mekong River and cross into Laos. Crossing the river is like stepping back in time to old South East Asia. Following the river we visit the beautiful town of Luang Prabang and then continue to Vang Vieng and the sleepy capital of Vientiane. Crossing the International Friendship Bridge we re-enter Thailand and take the overnight sleeper train back to Bangkok.
This operator gives clients the option of offsetting carbon emissions on all of its holidays. In conjunction with Climate Friendly we have established an appropriate cash amount for each of our holidays, based on the type of transportation used and the distances travelled. This amount is donated to Climate Friendly and used to support new renewable energy projects that prevent greenhouse gases from entering our atmosphere. The amount required to offset this holiday is £4 - this does not include your international flight.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-2: | Bangkok. No activities are planned during the first day, so you may arrive at any time. That evening there will be a pre-tour breifing. We meet our local guide for a tour of the city, visiting Wat Pho, the Emerald Buddha and the Grand Palace, before boarding our sleeper train for Chiang Mai |
| Day 3: | Chiang Mai. We enjoy a free day, on which you may explore the many temples, appreciate the scenic view from Doi Suthep or learn to prepare the local cuisine in a Thai cooking class. In the evening, wander through the famous Night Bazaar and hunt for bargains |
| Day 4: | Huay Xai. Travelling through picturesque countryside, we travel through northern Thailand and arrive in Chiang Khong, and cross the mighty Mekong River into Laos. In Huay Xai, we have ample time to explore this sleepy riverside town |
| Day 5: | Mekong River - Pakbeng. Travelling by slow boat down the Mekong, we watch the tranquil rural lifestyle of the inhabitants along this life-sustaining waterway. The pace is relaxed as we sit back and watch the world go by. In the late afternoon we arrive at the small village of Pakbeng, where we stay overnight in a quaint guesthouse |
| Day 6-8: | Luang Prabang. It is a total change of pace today, as we board fast boats and take an exhilarating ride down river to Luang Prabang. The peaceful Buddhist temple caves at Pak Ou are the ideal place to break the journey. During our stay in Luang Prabang there is time to explore the many beautiful temples and admire the French architecture of this former royal capital. We also take an excursion to the spectacular Kuang Si Waterfall |
| Day 9-10: | Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng, our next stop, is located on the banks of the Nam Song River and surrounded by stunning limestone cliffs. During our stay we take the opportunity to explore the caves that line the west bank of the river, and the town itself, which has a wonderful laid-back charm |
| Day 11-12: | Vientiane. Vientiane is the small and friendly capital of Laos. Here we take a walking tour of the city including some of the beautiful Buddhist temples. A great place to watch the sunset in one of the many bars overlooking the Mekong River. The following day we transfer across the Friendship Bridge back into Thailand, for our unescorted overnight sleeper train to Bangkok |
| Day 13-14: | Bangkok. We have an early morning arrival into Bangkok then an extra free day to explore before our our overland journey finishes the next morning. |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.
Award winner
how this holiday makes a difference
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A low-key, small group, grassroots approach to travel means lower impact and greater understanding. On this trip, you learn to cook traditional Laotian food with friends of the operator, visit various local craft villages, supporting the community and centuries-old local industries. Laos is often overlooked by first time visitors to South East Asia so tourist dollars spent responsibly can make a big difference to the local economy. You travel with a local leader, stay in locally owned accommodation and eat in authentic Laotian restaurants which means your money goes directly into the pockets of local people rather than the bank account of a big international conglomerate.
This trip is focused on respecting and benefiting the local people and the environment of this country. On this trip you will be lead by an experienced local leader passionate about their country's history, heritage and natural beauty that will help you to get 'under the skin' of their country and see it through the eyes of a local. This trip stays at locally run accommodation; we eat at local restaurants and travel on local transport. This ensures the financial return to the local economy opens up training and employment opportunities - and allows for informal and meaningful interaction between our travellers and local people. We are constantly seeking new and innovative ways of neutralising our impact on the environment. We will become the first Australian adventure tour operator to offer a voluntary carbon offsetting option on the land component of all its tours, as well as the accompanying flights. Our Community Trust provides funds for local community projects and initiatives that promote responsible and sustainable tourism development in the destinations in which we operate. First and foremost, but not exclusively, the Trust supports projects and initiatives that advance education and employment within the tourism and hospitality industry. The Trust operates on a not-for-profit basis, with every cent of funds donated by us, our staff and our travellers, going to the nominated projects. The maximum group size on all of our adventures is 16 passengers – with exception of some African trips (24 max) and in the Polar Regions, where our ship carries a maximum of 110 passengers. Travelling in small groups ensures we make significantly less impact on the natural environment, as well as breaking down many of the communication barriers presented by a larger group. |
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. |