Laos small group tour
Highlights
Luang Prabang | Kuang Si Waterfall | Bear Rescue Centre | Community project visit | Plain of Jars, Xiengkhuang | Mines Action Group, Phonsavan | Muang Khoun | Kong Lor Cave | Thakek villages | Tad Lo Savannakhet | Ban Bong Neua, Alak and Ban Kokphung minority villages | Boat tour of the '4000 Islands' | Khone Island | Champasak |Description of Laos small group tour
This fascinating fortnight in Laos invites you to become part of a small group tour exploring one of Southeast Asia’s last remaining undiscovered treasures.Although Laos is not exactly off the beaten track it has still managed to retain much of its old-fashioned charm and original cultural heritage.
Large modern developments and mass tourist crowds are relatively rare and as such you’ll get to meet local people who are still genuinely interested in sharing their country with wide eyed travellers. Buddhism is as significant to the souls of Laos locals as the Mekong River is to their pockets and this two week tour enables you to get to know both sides of the coin en-route from Luang Prabang to Champasak.
Laos is a laid back land of lush mountain slopes and incredibly scenic waterways with a little touch of French flair thrown in for good measure in and around the communities of Thakek and Savannakhet.
This is a really unique cultural tour with the emphasis on discovery with newfound friends and a knowledgeable guide rather than going with the flow and returning home sun tanned yet culturally unenlightened. From paddy fields and agricultural plains to Buddhist iconography and amazing sites, such as the Plain of Jars, this is Laos as nature intended – way beyond the well-hoofed backpacker trail.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this holiday or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
01273 823 700 Calling from outside the UK? rosy@responsibletravel.com
Check dates, prices & availability
Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your holiday will help support conservation and local people.
By keeping the group size to a maximum of 12, we can also minimise the human impact on the fragile sites and ecosystems we visit.We attempt to reduce plastic bottle use wherever possible by promoting use of reusable and filtered water bottles. Our partnership with Water-To-Go provides a discount on filtered water bottles to our clients. We do not provide water from plastic bottles to our clients in country but always ensure there is regular access to drinking water on our tours.
Using no carbon transport such as cycling or walking not only gives you a slower paced experience, but also cuts environmental damage and tourist carbon footprint. We are committed to low-level tourism impact and we keep group sizes to a maximum of 12 to avoid huge tour bus loads of tourists, which increases environmental damage but also is less likely to be welcomed by locals. Slower travel also allows for more chances to interact with people from another culture.
Throughout most of the trip we will be travelling in minibuses. Travelling as a group in a small bus contributes less pollution than a multitude of vehicles. We will also be exploring many areas on foot and by boats, to not only soak up the amazing sights at a slower pace, but to reduce our environmental impact and footprint along our journey.
The Impacts of this Trip
Visit a non-profit organisation focused on providing English language training and support to over 200 young people living in rural Laos.
On each Group tour we use local ground handlers. This means that all operational costs go directly into the local economy and help improve employment opportunities in remote regions. Such support can also be seen in our incorporation of homestays, locally owned hotels, family run restaurants and the services of local guides and drivers into our itineraries, which ensures that the money you spend with us goes directly into the local economy and local community.
We are promoting the natural beauty and ancient heritage of Laos through visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Wat Phou. UNESCO Sites are chosen by the UNESCO committee and must "bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to civilisation", "an important interchange of human values" or be outstanding examples of major stages of Earth's history or ecological and biological processes in evolution. Visiting such sites helps sustain the traditions and natural ecosystems of Laos through tourism.
By keeping the group size to a maximum of 12, we can also minimise the human impact on the fragile sites and ecosystems we visit.We attempt to reduce plastic bottle use wherever possible by promoting use of reusable and filtered water bottles. Our partnership with Water-To-Go provides a discount on filtered water bottles to our clients. We do not provide water from plastic bottles to our clients in country but always ensure there is regular access to drinking water on our tours.
Using no carbon transport such as cycling or walking not only gives you a slower paced experience, but also cuts environmental damage and tourist carbon footprint. We are committed to low-level tourism impact and we keep group sizes to a maximum of 12 to avoid huge tour bus loads of tourists, which increases environmental damage but also is less likely to be welcomed by locals. Slower travel also allows for more chances to interact with people from another culture.
Throughout most of the trip we will be travelling in minibuses. Travelling as a group in a small bus contributes less pollution than a multitude of vehicles. We will also be exploring many areas on foot and by boats, to not only soak up the amazing sights at a slower pace, but to reduce our environmental impact and footprint along our journey.
The Impacts of this Trip
Visit a non-profit organisation focused on providing English language training and support to over 200 young people living in rural Laos.
On each Group tour we use local ground handlers. This means that all operational costs go directly into the local economy and help improve employment opportunities in remote regions. Such support can also be seen in our incorporation of homestays, locally owned hotels, family run restaurants and the services of local guides and drivers into our itineraries, which ensures that the money you spend with us goes directly into the local economy and local community.
We are promoting the natural beauty and ancient heritage of Laos through visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Wat Phou. UNESCO Sites are chosen by the UNESCO committee and must "bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to civilisation", "an important interchange of human values" or be outstanding examples of major stages of Earth's history or ecological and biological processes in evolution. Visiting such sites helps sustain the traditions and natural ecosystems of Laos through tourism.
1 Reviews of Laos small group tour
Reviewed on 04 Mar 2018 by John Rundle
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Really difficult to pick one! Sunrise at Wat Phou, boat trip try the konglor cave, sighting the river dolphins and so much more.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
There are long bus mini bus rides along windy mountain roads which might not suit everyone, but these are unavoidable if you want to see the beautiful countryside.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, most definitely.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Incredible experience, definitely one of the most memorable holidays we have had to date.
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