Laos family holiday

We believe that travel should entail an exchange of knowledge and perspectives, a sharing of wealth, and a genuine appreciation of Laos’s beautiful natural environment. This philosophy underpins the heart and soul of our style of travel. We recognise that poorly planned itineraries or poorly informed tourists contribute less to cross-cultural understanding and less to the livelihoods of local people.

This journey through magical Laos is loaded with pagodas, pachyderms and some of the friendliest local people in Asia. The whole family will love this adventure in the ‘Kingdom of a Million Elephants’. Commencing in sleepy Vientiane and rural Vang Vieng we arrive in the charming town of Luang Prabang where we travel to the picturesque Kuang Si waterfalls, one of the many beautiful waterfalls near Luang Prabang. On the way to the falls we stop at a Hmong hill tribe village and gain an insight into the lifestyle of one of the most significant ethnic minorities in Indochina. Like most minority groups in Laos, the Hmong originally migrated from China. Known as ‘montagnards’ (highlanders) by the French, many Hmong in Indochina were recruited to south Vietnamese and Royal Lao forces in the 1970s, in the hope of being rewarded with an autonomous homeland.

On day 6 we board our own private boat for a journey up the Mekong River where we stay overnight in the unique lodgings at Kamu Ecolodge. This eco-adventure is designed to give you an insight into one of Laos’ ethnic minorities – the Kamu. In an isolated setting near the Mekong, take part in some ‘typical’ Kamu activities, which are sure to entertain kids and adults alike – rice planting and harvesting, gold panning, traditional archery or net-cast fishing. The Ecolodge is responsible for generating revenue and employment for the local Kamu peoples.

At the end of this family journey we take a short drive from Luang Prabang to the Lao Spirit Resort. In conjunction with various organisations an elephant sanctuary has been established in this area. Despite once being known as the land of a million elephants Laos’ elephant population has been steadily declining over the past decades due to various causes. This project cares for the elephants in a unique eco-paradise. Situated in the jungle surrounded by 1600 metre high mountains you shall have the opportunity to take a trek with an elephant through this amazing landscape. Many people also jump at the opportunity to feed and bathe these majestic creatures upon completion of their trip.

On this journey our local guides are trained to share their knowledge of cultural and other local issues in a balanced, informative way; in this journey alone you are likely to meet several local guides from different provinces in Laos. They share real experiences from their own lives and insights into their family life, influences and beliefs, thus providing our travellers with a deeper understanding of the places they visit. This is what motivates our guides, not shopping commissions.