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Laos small group tour

COUNTRY:
Laos
HOLIDAY TYPE:
A small group adventure
DEPARTURES:
2012: 11 Feb, 21 May, 23 Sep, 31 Oct
PRICE:
From £1495 (17 days) excluding flights
MORE INFO:
Based on twin or double room. Price includes bed & breakfast accommodation, all tour transportation, all guides & admissions and English speaking tour leader. We can help arrange flights from the UK.
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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Laos small group tour

Laos small group tour

This small group tour
Our small group journeys have a maximum of 10 people to ensure that we interact with, rather than overwhelm, the places we visit. Accommodation is in clean, comfortable locally–owned guest houses or small hotels with fan or air–conditioning and private bathroom, each of which has been hand–picked by us. The exception is actually a highlight of the trip – a homestay in wooden houses on the banks of a river. This trip is led by a local tour leader who can add insight to every stage of the journey, and is supplemented by expert guides at places of particular significance.

How this holiday makes a difference

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. During this journey we visit a range of different projects covering fields as diverse from humanitarian work to conservation to give you a positive appreciation of the way in which local people are working to improve their lives. 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.



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Laos small group tour

Reviewed 23 Jan 2008 by Steve Beagley4 star rating

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


Almost impossible to pick the most memorable or exciting part of this holiday. The magnificent Khon Phaphong Falls, the beautiful unspoilt scenery, the people always with a friendly greeting and smile, the hassle free shopping and market wanders, the monks coming out of the early morning mist in Luang Prabang, the beautiful ex Royal Palace now museum in Vientianne, and again the wonderful people who despite having their country devastated by major powers can still smile and welcome strangers to their country.

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


Just go and as soon as possible, before the rest of the world tourists discover this country. We had an extension to this tour leaving the group in Luang Prabang travelling up the Mekong River to the Thai border. I would recommend this, but first spend some money in Luang Prabang helping Big Brother Mouse provide reading books to the Laos children. Hold a Book Party, a most rewarding experience!

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


Yes certainly, the tour company are training local tour leaders and two were on our trip. In addition, local guides were used, transport was through local groups and we were taken to charitable organisations dealing with such mammoth tasks as helping those whose lives have been devasted by unexploded bomb injuries, training restaurants for street children, animal rehabilitation centres for elephants and black bears, and for jungle walks where our fees supported those people trying to preserve these areas. At each location the work of these groups was explained to us and we were made fully aware that extra money we spent on souvenirs at these sites as well as our entrance fees where applicable, supported their work. Our Leader, Marc, also highlighted the need for the trainees to ensure that we never littered any sites and in fact at a couple of sites we did a quick rubbish pick-up leaving the site much cleaner than when we arrived. We were also advised that all the accommodation was owned by local companies.

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


We just had a wonderful, safe, well organised, hassle free holiday seeing a magnificent unspoilt country (except for the bombing legacy). The food was great!
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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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