Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
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We believe that travel should entail an exchange of knowledge and perspectives, a sharing of wealth, and a genuine appreciation of Laos’ beautiful natural environments. This philosophy underpins the heart and soul of our style of travel. We recognise that well-planned itineraries and well-informed tourists contribute positively to cross-cultural understanding and the livelihoods of local people.
In Luang Prabang, the heart of Laos’ thriving Buddhist religion, you’ll have the opportunity to drop in on Big Brother Mouse, a grass-roots publisher dedicated to improving literacy levels in the country. Many of our travellers buy books here to give to children in more rural areas.
Visit the Mine Action Group in southern Laos, a wonderful organisation dedicated to providing Laotians with prosthetic limbs. In Vientiane, the sleepy capital, learn more about this devastating legacy at COPE, the national rehabilitation centre. Many Laotians are victims of UXOs (Unexploded Ordnance), an issue which still plagues the country more than 30 years after the end of the Vietnam War, which spilled over into Laos leaving it one of the most heavily bombed countries in history. It is still littered with a significant amount of UXOs, which contribute to poverty, hunger and disability on a daily basis.
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 areas across the country. They share real experiences from their own lives and insights into 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.
Our offices are staffed with local people wherever possible and we have a long term aim of filling management roles with competent local staff. This presence means we are much better able to control the content, the actions of our suppliers, and the style of our small group journey.
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
