Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
We have a long term agreement with a local company who provides us the boat for this cruise, including a local captain with his crew. During the trip a local guide is taking care of the customers. Where possible, our chefs will buy local products from the communities for the meals on board the boat. All leftover food from our cruises is given to local villagers to help feed their livestock.
During our stops in the villages we help the local community by supporting the locals by buying their handicrafts. On this journey there are only local restaurants, shops and markets available, all run by Laotian people. The cruise stops in some villages on the journey. At these villages we encourage our guests to contribute money for the construction of schools, the purchase of school books and pencils, and also the purchase of sporting equipment for the children of the villages. We also donate money for these causes.
In Laos, there is a tradition to feed the monks every morning. This has the two fold purpose of ‘making merit’ and also providing the monastery with food for the day. We offer meals for the temples in the areas that we travel through. In Wat Ban Dong, the company donates pipes and other material to help in the road construction in this area.
Embracing the beauty and power of the Mekong and the exotic mystique of ancient Khemer ruins, this journey combines the highlights of the region. During the cruise stops we are visiting the famous Vat Phou and Oun Moung temples. With the entrance fee for each of our customers we contribute to the cultural preservation of this Khmer architecture.
Culture and customs in Laos are similar to the ones in the Northeast of Thailand as it is also the case with the language (Laotian people can easily communicate with Thai’s and v.v.). English is widely spoken, but sometimes difficult to understand as this area in Southern Laos is still not fully developed! During the visit of temples an appropriate dress code is required (Women: skirts, but no see-through clothes, bare shoulders etc. Man: can wear shorts and shirts with sleeves or polo-shirts, bit no tank tops).
All bottles, cans and plastics that are used during the cruise are recycled. We are committed to reducing and recycling waste in our offices. Our offices practice double-sided printing, and recycle printer cartridges, whenever possible. Our offices turn off air-conditioning units and PC’s when offices are not staffed. Much of the waste from our offices is naturally recycled (e.g. bottles and paper waste are sold, where they are re-used/ recycled).
We are supporting the Green World Foundation in Thailand and will have lecturer from this foundation to conduct seminars in our office for our staff in the near future. We already started selling some environment friendly products (bags, T-shirts) on their behalf and hand over all the money and profit to them.
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!
