Laos ~Walking and Culture in a Gentle Land
Laos stands out from its neighbours in former
French Indochina by its slow and cautious approach to tourism,
retaining an unhurried traditional lifestyle which is underpinned by
the Buddhist philosophy and reflected in the welcoming, gentle manners
of its people.
In the remote north of Laos we walk in forested
hills to encounter the Akha tribal culture in villages where exquisite
textiles are handwoven; we explore the enigmatic Plain of Jars and take
a private boat trip along the Mekong river; walk with specialist guides
in search of epiphytic orchids; and observe the daily rituals of the
numerous monasteries and gilded temples.
We stay in very comfortable eco-lodges and
colonial era hotels and taste both French-influenced food and wines in
Vientiane and traditional, delicious, Laotian cuisine in the former
Royal capital of Luang Prabang.
TRIP ITINERARY
DAY 1
D included
We meet in the early afternoon at Chiang Rai
airport in northern Thailand and have a short road transfer to our
peaceful boutique hotel, set high in the forest. There is time for a
dip in the pool or a massage in the spa before dinner overlooking the
mountain valley.
DAY 2
B, L, D included
We leave Thailand and take a small ferry across
the Mekong to enter Laos territory at Houei Xai - once the border
formalities are completed we drive through the mountains, with a pause
for a local lunch, to Luang Nam Tha province, close to the Chinese
border. We settle into our well-appointed eco-lodge, built in
traditional style on the banks of the Namtha river, and take a walk
through the surrounding rice fields and watch the local people fishing.
DAY 3
B, L, D included
Accompanied by a local specialist guide we set
off to walk through paddy fields and gradually up into the hills
through a forest reserve to visit an isolated village belonging to the
Sida tribe, a Tibeto-Burman group, and learn about their way of life.
After a village lunch we continue up onto a ridge with expansive views
of the mountains (usually mist-shrouded), then descend through forest
looking for birds and reach a village where we can wade under a
refreshing waterfall. Proceeds from today’s and tomorrow's walks
are contributed directly to the villagers as part of a well-established
responsible tourism project.
DAY 4
B, L, D included
We have an early start for a 40 minute transfer
by songthew,
local pickups, to the village of Ban Nam Yang to start our gradual walk
up into the higher levels of the Nam Ha National Protected Area. We
picnic at the top and cross streams in the forest as we descend to
visit an Akha tribal village where an Akha hunter will demonstrate his
bird calling skills and explain their traditional way of life. We
return via a Black Tai village where we can sample locally made Lao
Whisky, a good aperitif for the excellent northern Laos food served in
the verandah restaurant of our eco-lodge.
DAY 5
B, L, D included
After a leisurely morning in the lodge gardens
(alive with butterflies and birds) we have an hour's transfer through
dense mountain forest to the picturesque village of Muang Sing,
formerly a French garrison town. We visit the Ethnic Museum, a
beautiful building containing tribal costumes, traditional tools and
looms, musical instruments and jewellery, then settle into the wooden
bungalows of our hotel where the amazing views from the balconies
extend all the way to China.
DAY 6
B, L, D included
Early risers will be rewarded by a visit to the
local market where members of the Hmong, Akha, Yunnanese, Tai Dam and
Tai Lu tribes come to trade - it's a good opportunity to buy local silk
and cotton textiles and have a bowl of noodle soup from the busy food
stalls. After breakfast we travel on a quiet mountain road over the
pass of Phou That and on to Muang La. We have an afternoon walk to see
a salt mine and local farming, and can have a massage or a soak in the
hot spring fed Jacuzzi pool under the stars in our boutique lodge.
DAY 7
B, L, D included
Continuing by road through the mountains to Muang
Khua, we board a private slow boat to travel down the Nam Ou river and
picnic on board. We go ashore at the delightful, coconut tree-shaded
village of Muang Ngoi, at the foot of Mount Phaboom, and walk to see
some crystal clear pools in caves before rejoining our boat to drift on
down the river to our simple, spacious lodge at Nong Khiaw.
DAY 8
B, L, D included
After breakfast we board our private boat again
to continue down the Nam Ou river, observing the fishermen throwing
their nets and how the Lao people use the river to transport goods. We
disembark at Pak Ou to visit the famous caves with their thousands of
gold covered wood and stone statues of Buddha, then continue down river
past the confluence with the Mekong. Our river journey ends in Luang
Prabang, the former Royal capital of Laos and now a captivating World
Heritage site where we stay for three nights in a beautifully restored,
French-run villa dating from 1925.
DAY 9
B, L, D included
On foot, we explore Luang Prabang's heritage of
golden temples and stupas, seeing the dazzling façade of Wat
Senssoukarahm, the Wat Xieng Thong temple built by order of King
Setthathirat in 1560 and the Watermelon stupa. We visit the National
Museum in the former Royal Palace and the Traditional Arts and
Ethnology Centre and cross the Mekong for sunset views from the Wat
Chompet.
DAY 10
B, L, D included
We are up before dawn (optionally) to witness the
long lines of orange-robed monks leaving their pagodas to receive
offerings of food from the residents of Luang Prabang. We visit the
market to select spices (lemongrass, chillies, ginger & tamarind)
and vegetables, learn the secrets of Laos cooking from a chef in the
Tum Tum Chung restaurant, prepare dishes such as spiced meat in a
banana leaf and Laos sticky rice, then eat it all for lunch! In the
afternoon we walk above the Kuang Si waterfall.
DAY 11
B, L, D included
Leaving Luang Prabang the mountainous scenery
gradually softens into low hills and grasslands as we approach the
mysterious Plain of Jars, an enormous archaeological complex covered
with 2,000 year old stone jars up to 4 metres high. We have a guided
tour and learn about the research and the various hypotheses as to
their origin and function, then check into our comfortable Auberge.
DAY 12
B, L, D included
This morning we have a very scenic drive to the
town of Muang Khoun, which was almost totally destroyed by American
bombing in 1969-70, and see a unique seated giant Buddha. After lunch
we take an internal flight to the capital, Vientiane and transfer along
tree-lined boulevards to our hotel, the superb Settha Palace with its
French colonial décor and beautiful tropical gardens and pool.
DAY 13
B, L, D included
Vientiane (‘the city of sandalwood’)
is probably the quietest capital in the world and is ideal for
exploring on an eco-friendly bicycle. We pedal gently from one Wat to
another, seeing the beautiful Wat Sisaket with its thousands of
miniature statues of Buddha, the Wat Phra Keo which displays Lao and
Khmer art, the morning market and the Presidential Palace (formerly the
French Governor's Palace) - and sample delicious Laos street food from
the stalls lining the riverbanks.
DAY 14
B, L, D included
We set off early in the morning for the Phou Khao
Kway (Buffalo Horn Mountain) National Park where a local specialist
guide takes us on an orchid trek, an eco-tourism project which supports
village development and forest conservation. We walk through both dry
evergreen and bamboo forest, see several fine waterfalls and hope to
encounter wild elephants and many butterflies as well as orchids and
other tropical flowers. Returning to our hotel we relax in the pool
before our farewell dinner in one of Vientiane's best French
restaurants.
DAY 15
B included
We have time for last minute shopping or
photographic forays before we depart for the airport.
Price includes:
All accommodation for Days 1 through 15 on a
double shared basis
All meals with local beer at lunch and dinner as
listed (beer is far more appropriate with Laotian food and the tropical
climate, and wine is often spoiled by inadequate storage), except in
Luang Prabang and Vientiane where French or Australian wines are served
with dinner
Internal flight between Xieng Khouang and
Vientiane
All land transportation in a private
airconditioned vehicle as described except during free periods
Jeep/pickup transfers and river crossings on
local ferries as described
2 day private boat trip on the Nam Ou and Mekong
rivers
Cooking class in Luang Prabang
All entrance and sightseeing fees except during
free periods
Camera and video camera fees where applicable
Tips for porters, boatmen, restaurant & hotel
staff
Services of expert local naturalist guides,
tribal trekking guides and a driver (plus our Kudu Travel tour leader)
Visa and Health Requirements
All visitors require a valid passport and a visa
for entry to Laos. 30 day Tourist visas are issued at the border in
Houei Xai on arrival from Thailand - costs are between US$30 and US$42
depending on nationality.
Note that citizens of the EU, USA, Canada,
Australia & New Zealand require a valid passport but not a visa to
enter Thailand for up to 30 days.
Immunisation/boosters against Hepatitis A,
Japanese encephalitis, Rabies, Tetanus, Typhoid and Polio are
recommended - please consult your doctor in good time about this (at
least 6 weeks before departure) and also the latest situation on
essential malaria prophylaxis and anything else they recommend. A
dental check up is also a good idea. You may also wish to check the
advice given to travellers by the Department of Health and
the FCO.