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Laos explorer

COUNTRY:
Laos
LOCATION:
Luang Prabang
DEPARTURES:
2012: 17 Feb, 16 Mar, 18 May, 20 Jul, 17 Aug, 14 Sep, 12 Oct, 9 Nov, 23 Nov, 14 Dec
2013: 4 Jan, 18 Jan, 15 Feb, 15 Mar
PRICE:
From £1640 - £1820 (17 days) including domestic flights only
MORE INFO:
Price includes: maximum group size of 16 people, Western tour leader, expert local guides, all entrance fees, sightseeing and all accommodation in hand-picked 3-4* hotels. All domestic flights are included in the price. We can arrange flights from the UK from just £700 per person including taxes.
LATE AVAIL:
We still have a handful of places remaining on this small group tour of Laos departing 16 March. Speak with our Laos experts today.
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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Laos explorer

Laos explorer

Small group adventure holiday
These small group journeys have a maximum of 16 like-minded travellers which ensures that all travellers have an amazing overall experience with the destination and that they enjoy the flexibility that comes with the small group dynamic. On this trip you will stay at boutique accommodation with character. Our numbers are discreet enough for us to interact with local families in their homes and meet people in markets, bazaars and temples – something that’s just not possible when you arrive as part of a large tour group. Along with our unique combination of Western tour leader and local English-speaking guide this will ensure an unforgettable travel experience.

How this holiday makes a difference

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 represents the best of the region’s forgotten gem. Commencing in northern Thailand we cross the border into Laos to board our slowboat down the Mekong to Luang Prabang. En route we stay overnight in a unique ecolodge where we can mingle with the villagers and go panning for gold! The ecolodge is responsible for generating revenue and employment for the local Kamu peoples. Once in the charming town of Luang Prabang 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 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.

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Laos explorer

Reviewed 03 Aug 2011 by Susan Gough5 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


There were a number of highlights of the trip to Laos. The stay at the Kamhu Lodge on the Mekong was memorable for its simplicity and peacefulness and the memory of having a massage whilst i overlooked the Mekong will stay with me for a long time. Luang Prabang was a beautiful town with many interesting historic buildings and the shopping was great. The journey from Phonsavan to Vang Vieng was a highlight because of the majestic scenery that we travelled through. Finally our tour leader was outstanding and helped to make the holiday so memorable.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Go prepared to be amongst people who are happy and a delight to be around and you must be prepared to be chilled and laid back with regard to the speed of service at times. Make sure you have big memory cards on your camera because you will take lots of photographs.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


I felt that this company made a huge effort to ensure that most of the things that we did benefited local people and their communities - eating in local restaurants, staying at the eco lodge run by the local village, visiting the Mines Advisory Group, COPE and the UXO centres and using local boatman.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


The trip to Laos is one of the most memorable that we have taken and we loved every minute of it. I would highly recommend it as a country to visit before it becomes too modernised and I would highly recommend this operator as a company to travel with as they looked after us so well but without smothering us and leaving us time to explore on our own from time to time.

Reviewed 19 Feb 2011 by Fran Sharples4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


Cruising down the Mekong on a local boat operated by a wonderful Laos family and staying in an eco lodge on the way.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Enjoy but make sure you have enough money to cover tips. Make sure you pack something warm. We were surprised how cold it was in the north of Laos in January.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Local guides and services were used and the company supported the local charity Big Brother Mouse.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


One of the best holidays I have been on. Good company, well organised with a good balance of sight seeing and free time. Very professional company guide and local guides.
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Holiday Reviews

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!

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