Laos small group tour
| country: | Laos |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2009: 9 Jul |
| price: | From £1395 (17 days) excluding flights. Based on twin or double room. Price includes bed & breakfast accommodation, all tour transportation, all guides & admissions and English speaking tour leader. We can help arrange flights from the UK. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
read 1 travellers review
the amazing things you'll be doing
A true voyage, this itinerary embraces the rich diversity of one of Asia's most peaceful and enigmatic countries. Our 17 day journey takes us from the waterfalls and islands of the Mekong to lush national parks, ancient historical mysteries, and the UNESCO heritage city of Luang Prabang.
This journey takes a comfortable pace, punctuated by enough free time for visitors to explore for themselves or just relax a little.
We believe that no one can truly appreciate the beauty of anywhere if they have only ten minutes to see it, so we give you time at each place we visit to take photos, talk to local people or just absorb the atmosphere.
Starting and ending in Bangkok, we spend some time seeing the city from the river before travelling by overnight train to the Laos border.
Laos is dominated by the Mekong River, the “mother of South East Asia” and spectacular scenery, and to make the most of these we travel by boat and foot as much as possible.
This trip is suitable for moderately fit adults of any age and children over 10 years old. There are some short uphill walks, and you must be able to carry your own bags between your room and your transport, and to get yourself on and off boats. Our small group journeys have a maximum of 10 people to ensure that we interact with, rather than overwhelm, the places we visit. Accommodation is in clean, comfortable locally owned guest houses or small hotels with fan or air conditioning and private bathroom, each of which has been hand picked by us. This trip is led by a local tour leader who can add insight to every stage of the journey, and is supplemented by expert guides at places of particular significance.
Our journeys take a comfortable pace, with ample time at each location for you to admire the scenery, talk to local people, or just relax in the shade of a tree with a cool drink. Any walking is at a gentle speed, for short distances, on flat terrain or up small hills. Our clients are generally well-travelled, with a genuine interest in other cultures, and a mixture of singles and couples - so many opportunities for interesting dinner conversations!
Please note: There are also options to extend or combine this trip with any of our Cambodia itineraries.
This journey takes a comfortable pace, punctuated by enough free time for visitors to explore for themselves or just relax a little.
We believe that no one can truly appreciate the beauty of anywhere if they have only ten minutes to see it, so we give you time at each place we visit to take photos, talk to local people or just absorb the atmosphere.
Starting and ending in Bangkok, we spend some time seeing the city from the river before travelling by overnight train to the Laos border.
Laos is dominated by the Mekong River, the “mother of South East Asia” and spectacular scenery, and to make the most of these we travel by boat and foot as much as possible.
This trip is suitable for moderately fit adults of any age and children over 10 years old. There are some short uphill walks, and you must be able to carry your own bags between your room and your transport, and to get yourself on and off boats. Our small group journeys have a maximum of 10 people to ensure that we interact with, rather than overwhelm, the places we visit. Accommodation is in clean, comfortable locally owned guest houses or small hotels with fan or air conditioning and private bathroom, each of which has been hand picked by us. This trip is led by a local tour leader who can add insight to every stage of the journey, and is supplemented by expert guides at places of particular significance.
Our journeys take a comfortable pace, with ample time at each location for you to admire the scenery, talk to local people, or just relax in the shade of a tree with a cool drink. Any walking is at a gentle speed, for short distances, on flat terrain or up small hills. Our clients are generally well-travelled, with a genuine interest in other cultures, and a mixture of singles and couples - so many opportunities for interesting dinner conversations!
Please note: There are also options to extend or combine this trip with any of our Cambodia itineraries.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrival at Bangkok airport, and take a taxi to your hotel, situated in the centre of the city and with a fantastic view from the rooftop bar . The day is at leisure to enjoy the city or relax by the hotel’s swimming pool, and your tour leader will be able to give you advice on places to see. There will be a group introduction early evening on the hotel’s garden roof terrace. |
| Day 2: | In the morning, there will be a guided boat trip on the Bangkok River. The rest of the day is free until early evening, when you transfer to the railway terminus for an overnight train to Ubon Ratchathani. You will have sleeper carriages; food and drink can be purchased on board. |
| Day 3: | On departing the train you head for the Laos border. After crossing, travel to Dong Khong island, one of the “4000 islands” in the Mekong river – the final part of the journey to our locally run guesthouse is by small local boat. On the way we will visit Champasak, home of Angkorian era temples. Welcome your arrival in Laos with some of the delicious local fish! |
| Day 4: | After breakfast, travel again by boat to visit the biggest waterfalls in South East Asia – Khon Phapheng and Somphamit Falls – where you can have lunch. On the way back, make a few stops to look at the old French architecture and the old railway (still with a train abandoned in the jungle!), before returning to the guesthouse for a cool drink while watching the sunset. |
| Day 5: | After breakfast, drive from Dong Khong Island to Dong Daeng. Local villagers will take you on a boat and for a short walk to the village, where you can enjoy a local lunch. Continue to Bolaven Plateau, stopping a few times on the way to see some of the local minority villages. Stay overnight in a local resort in the middle of the forest – an ideal place to relax, with opportunities for swimming in the waterfall. |
| Day 6: | Today is a walking day in the mountains to appreciate the truly beautiful scenery. There will be a packed lunch (included). |
| Day 7: | Drive to the town of Savannakhet on the Mekong River, which is in an area inhabited by many ethnic minorities. The journey will take around 4 hours and there will be a stop for lunch in this lovely town. When you look over the river you will see ‘modern’ Thailand. Go on a short trek through the forest accompanied by guides from an Environmental NGO which has set up a project in the region, and learn about the plants and animals in the region. |
| Day 8: | Drive to Vientiane, the capital city of Laos. On the way appreciate the magnificent views and open spaces – there are many opportunities to take photos. In the evening, you can visit the riverside for a local barbecue and a cool drink. |
| Day 9: | A guided walking tour of the city – including Ho Phra art museum, That Stupa national monument, the National Museum and Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple in Vientiane. |
| Day 10: | In the morning walk to the morning market, one of the oldest ones in Vientiane and visit an NGO that helps street children, to learn more about their project. The afternoon is free. |
| Day 11: | Early morning travel by minibus through the mountains and rivers to Vang Vieng. After you have checked in at your local resort – right next to the river – make a small boat trip to visit one of the stunning caves for which Vang Vieng is justifiably famous. |
| Day 12: | Early morning, drive to Phonsavan, site of the Plain of Jars. These huge jars (some weigh six tons each!), of unknown age and origin, are scattered over a number of sites. On the way you may also be able to visit a few minority villages which grow delicious fruit. Stay overnight in a small, locally run hotel. |
| Day 13: | Travel by minibus to Luang Prabang. This is a very scenic trip – driving through many mountains, and you can stop to see the tea plantations. 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 14: | Luang Prabang is the best–preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia and a World Heritage Site. In the morning visit the Kwang Xi Waterfall, where you can swim surrounded by jungle and eat a packed lunch (included). In the afternoon, visit the Royal Palace Museum and Vat Xieng Thong – considered the most beautiful temple in Luang Prabang with its classical Lao architecture. |
| Day 15: | 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. On the way back, visit a village making paper using traditional methods and the home of your boat driver, a young student who lives with his family on the site of the Mekong in a village with only 14 houses, |
| Day 16: | The morning is free until your afternoon flight to Bangkok |
| Day 17: | Transfer to the airport for your flight home |
travellers' tales
Almost impossible to pick the most memorable or exciting part of this holiday. The magnificent Khon Phaphong Falls, the beautiful unspoilt scenery, the people always with a friendly greeting and smile, the hassle free shopping and market wanders... (more)
this small group tour
Our small group journeys have a maximum of 10 people to ensure that we interact with, rather than overwhelm, the places we visit. Accommodation is in clean, comfortable locally–owned guest houses or small hotels with fan or air–conditioning and private bathroom, each of which has been hand–picked by us. The exception is actually a highlight of the trip – a homestay in wooden houses on the banks of a river. This trip is led by a local tour leader who can add insight to every stage of the journey, and is supplemented by expert guides at places of particular significance. how this holiday makes a difference
|
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. During this journey we visit a range of different projects covering fields as diverse from humanitarian work to conservation to give you a positive appreciation of the way in which local people are working to improve their lives. 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. |