Laos tour, private departure
| country: | Laos |
| departures: | This trip can be tailormade year round to suit your interest, budget and requirements and can be combined with a visit to Cambodia, please contact us for details |
| price: | From £560 (8 days) excluding flights for two people, including transfers, accommodation in friendly guesthouse (private bathroom & air con), transportation, guides & admission fees. Reductions for parties of 4 or more. We can help arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
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.
A truly “green journey”, this trip takes you South from Vientiane to the “1000 islands” of the Mekong river through some of the most beautiful natural areas in the region.
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.
Further to the South-East, the rolling hills, cooler climate, verdant forest and spectacular waterfalls of the Bolaven Plateau make this a perfect ‘great outdoors’ location. There are some superb trekking routes – through coffee plantations and minority tribe villages – and if you get tired, maybe hitch a ride on a ‘ship of the jungle’ (hint: they’re large and grey with big ears).
In the South of the country, Dhong Khong, the largest of the ‘four thousand islands’ of the Mekong is only 16km at its longest point. Here there are many opportunities for walking and cycling through the peaceful countryside with its temples and small villages.
If you have a bit longer to stay, we can combine this trip with our other itineraries in Cambodia and Laos, or custom-make a trip just for you.
A truly “green journey”, this trip takes you South from Vientiane to the “1000 islands” of the Mekong river through some of the most beautiful natural areas in the region.
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.
Further to the South-East, the rolling hills, cooler climate, verdant forest and spectacular waterfalls of the Bolaven Plateau make this a perfect ‘great outdoors’ location. There are some superb trekking routes – through coffee plantations and minority tribe villages – and if you get tired, maybe hitch a ride on a ‘ship of the jungle’ (hint: they’re large and grey with big ears).
In the South of the country, Dhong Khong, the largest of the ‘four thousand islands’ of the Mekong is only 16km at its longest point. Here there are many opportunities for walking and cycling through the peaceful countryside with its temples and small villages.
If you have a bit longer to stay, we can combine this trip with our other itineraries in Cambodia and Laos, or custom-make a trip just for you.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | 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 Stupa national monument, the National Museum, Wat Sisaket - the oldest temple in Vientiane – and the Ho Phra art museum. |
| Day 2: | 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 (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: | Drive to the South of Laos, one of the most stunning areas of the country. There will be an overnight stop at Savannakhet, a town with many influences from the bordering countries of Thailand and Vietnam. On arrival, visit the only Christian church you will see in the whole time you are in Laos, and one of the most important Buddhist stupas in the country. In the afternoon, you can take a forest walk with knowledgeable local guides who work for a conservation project. |
| Day 4: | Drive to Boloven Plateau, a cool green forested area. On the way, visit the tea plantations, where you can see how it is prepared for sale (and also buy some if you wish). Your guest house lodge is on the water with a view to a beautiful waterfall where it is possible to swim. |
| Day 5: | Today is a gentle walking day in the mountains to appreciate the truly beautiful scenery. There will be a packed lunch (included). |
| Day 6: | Travel to Done Khong Island, one of the 4000 islands in the Mekong, where you will stay overnight. On the way, visit Champasak, home of Angkorian-era temples, where there is also a small Buddhism museum. |
| Day 7: | After breakfast, travel 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 8: | Trip ends after breakfast. We can arrange transfers to Pakse airport, the Thai or Cambodian borders. |
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 a trek with a guide from a conservation 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. |