Southern Laos 11 day tour

Planet

We believe that tourism - when controlled, operated and managed responsibly - plays an essential role in the preservation of the Asian elephant and other endangered species. We only offer wildlife camps and experiences when we’re entirely satisfied with their management and operational procedures, and we stringently monitor them.
Within this itinerary we suggest visiting MandaLao Elephant Sanctuary in Luang Prabang. Spread over 40 acres of prime elephant habitat, on the banks of the Nam Khan River, the project was set up to offer visitors an interactive and meaningful elephant experience, with a focus on education and animal welfare.

At the beginning of 2018 we launched our ‘One Bottle At A Time’ initiative to replace disposable plastic water bottles with refillable canisters across our destinations. In Laos we have been providing refillable water canisters in our vehicles since March 2018, meaning our travellers are not generating plastic waste through the daily use of water bottles (which on a full day of touring can be numerable). We also send our guests a wooden toothbrush to help avoid using hotels’ disposable plastic brushes, and educate clients about the limited recycling facilities in Asia, and best-practice regarding waste-reduction. Within our UK offices we operate strict recycling policies and make sure everyone in the office uses reusable crockery and cutlery.

People

One of our core values is to collaborate with local, responsible companies and partners who share our focus, beliefs and passions. We work with local guides, local operators and hotel partners, and will always offer small, local accommodation where possible and boutique hotels in the cities.

Our holidays are designed to enable our clients to immerse themselves in local places and experiences, and we make sure that, wherever possible, the income they bring to a destination goes back into the community. This itinerary includes an overnight stay in a homestay in the Bolaven Plateau. As well as being a unique immersive experience it brings much needed funds to the host family. Also includes is a cycling tour around the small island of Don Loppadi. Here, the islanders specialise in weaving bamboo baskets and the region’s much-used fishing nets, and there will be the opportunity to interact with the villagers and enjoy a home-cooked lunch in the home of a local family.

Included in this Laos itinerary is the option to witness ‘tak bat’, or the giving of alms, to the lines of orange-robed monks leaving their pagodas to receive offerings of food from the residents of Luang Prabang. It’s an iconic sight that is high on the list of most visitors to Laos. However, we are concerned that the volume of tourists all vying for space to witness, photograph and at times actually participate in this ceremony is detracting from what is a centuries old, important religious rite. We suggest speaking with your guide about how best to enjoy this experience in a respectful manner, which partly involves observing from a less congested spot.