Laos budget eco bungalows, near Vientiane
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
Our Eco-lodge is built from local materials, using farmed wood, locally hand-made bricks and utilizing local traditional techniques. Our electricity sources are Solar and Hydroelectric.
Most of our Restaurant suppliers are local Villagers, as well as we are growing our own vegetables & salads, organically. We also maintain a large compost pit, and use "greywater" for the gardens.
We help (& contribute to the Local Village Funds) the surrounding Villages to protect the Jungle Forests and environment.
We actively protect our environment, by discouraging hunting and the cutting of forest trees for construction and firewood.
One of the previous owners, successfully, got the Lao Government to declare the Forest, opposite our Lodge, a “National Protected Reserve” (NPR), making it illegal to hunt or cut down trees. Since then we contribute to the local Village, Ban Thakhai, a Trekking Fee, for everyone, coming to trekk, from our Lodge.
We also have a small plantation of farmed trees, mainly "Red River Gum", which we can use for fences and ordinary maintenance.
We also try to plant trees, bushes and flowers, that are attractive for birds and butterflies. At the moment we have over 50 species of butterflies and about 30 species of birds, including Hummingbirds.
Of course there are also many different Ant tribes (and Termites, which we don't like ;o), Spiders, Lizards, etc., etc.
Community
Our property is also an Archeological site, about 2,000 years old. We consult the Lao National Museum, in Vientiane, (where we have 2 rooms of artifacts, found here) and The Ministry of Culture, before we do any construction of new buildings, or diggings. It is our aim to develop a small visible excavation and display, under roof, for Locals and tourists to see, with the help of the Lao Government and Foreign Archeological Experts.
We also support the Local Villages by hiring all staff from there, as well as supporting the Village School and temple. We are also actively involved in the District Office Forum, where we discuss activities of importance for our community.
At the moment we are also supporting the building of our new Village office, and also maintaining the local roads.
We also try to entice our Guests to visit the Local School(s), and either try to do some teaching for the Students or make a small donation, towards general School supplies.
In the near future we will also try to engage the National University, who has the Faculty of Agriculture about 20 km for our Lodge, in activities regarding Permaculture and local communities growing, both for consumption and as cash crops, vegetables, herbs and salads, which at the moment are quite scarce.
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