--- Vietnam Quicklinks --- Trek + Hike Vietnam Mountain Bike Vietnam Boat Trips + Kayak Vietnam Vietnam Family Tours Tailor-make Your Tour Culture + History Day Tours Vietnam Visa + Travel Guide Vietnam Photo Gallery Got a Question? Book Your Adventure --- Laos Quicklinks --- Laos Adventure Combos Laos Elephant Camp Laos Family Tours Join a Small Group Tour Tailor-make Your Tour Culture + History Day Tours Laos Visa + Travel Guide Laos Photo Gallery Got a Question? Book Your Adventure

Laos adventure travel & home stay

Laos walking holidays, trekking tours, hiking and village homestay adventure travel. Hike conservation areas, mountain trails and learn about Lao people and culture. Be a part of the Fair Trek project. Inner Journey Expeditions organises private tours departing Luang Prabang, Laos.

Trip facts

Highlights

• 2 day mountain walk and village trails

• Home stay in a Khamu village

• Introduction to Lao people and culture

Overview

This two-day trek is a great introduction to Lao people and their culture. Departing from Luang Prabang, this adventure explores the surrounding mountainous countryside. You trek along hill trails, through bamboo jungles to visit remote Khamu and Hmong villages and observe, first hand, century-old farming techniques and daily life. Simply by choosing this trek, you are helping these remote communities. By staying overnight, you are providing jobs and income for the locals. This tour also includes a visit to the Xieng Lom Elephant Park Project near Luang Prabang.

 

Itinerary at a glance

Day 1

Luang Prabang to Khamu Village Home Stay Pick up from your hotel in Luang Prabang at around 08:30am and transfer to the beginning of the trek. Walk for two hours through rice paddies, forest and ascend to a Khamu Village and be greeted by children keen to practice their English. Ascend another hour and follow ridges and lime stone grottos until you reach a Hmong Village for lunch. In the afternoon, trek mountains and valleys covered in a wide variety of flora. Tonight you stay in a Khamu Village in a home stay. Dine with the villagers and join in cultural activities. This gives you a great opportunity to learn about Khamu life in remote areas. Trekking: 6 - 7 hours Meals: Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Home stay

Day 2

Khamu Village to Luang Prabang After breakfast, don your hiking boats and trek along the river bed. On the way stop at Khamu Villages and meet the locals. Enjoy a boat ride on the Nam Khan River to the Xieng Lom Elephant Park Project where you have an opportunity to look around and take a dip in the river. In the afternoon, transfer back to Luang Prabang where your trip ends. Trekking: 4 - 5 hours Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

 

 

Prices

Private tour	$AUD price per person
3 to 5 people	160
2 people	220
1 person	340
Validity	31 December 2010

Includes:

• Home stay permission
• Return transfers for trek
• English speaking guide for trekking
• Local village guide
• Boat trip
• Elephant Park Project
• Entrance fees + local village permission
• Water for trekking
• All meals as per itinerary
  

Excludes:

• Airfares and departure taxes
• Travel insurance
• Visa, passport or vaccination costs
• Other meals not specified in the itinerary
• Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, bar charges, tips, optional activities

Prices are in Australian dollars based upon the number of people travelling together. Price reduces as your travel group size increases. Price is land content only + subject to currency fluctuations. Credit Card payments incur an additional 3% charge. Prices beyond the validity are available on request. See Booking Conditions for more details. Email us or call 1300 43 10 69 for bookings and more information.

Trip notes

Home stays

There is no better way to immerse in local culture than experiencing a village home stay. Not only is this a wonderful cultural exchange, it offers the visitor great respect for how people live without all the comforts and appliances of the West. By staying with a family we ensure that the economic benefits of our travel filter down to the villages and families that most need it. The jungle lodge and home stays in villages are simple in terms of bedding and amenities. You sleep in a dormitory style room and are provided with a mosquito net, mattress, clean sheet and pillow. Amenities are shared with the host family. Toilets are squat, non-flushing as you will find in many parts of South East Asia. Showers are not provided, but hot water may be available on request.

Food
All meals, indicated in the detailed itinerary, are included in the price. When you are trekking, you eat what produce is in season, but there will always be plenty of ‘sticky rice’ – a staple food in Laos. Please advise us if you have any special dietary requirements.

The trekking day
A typical trekking day starts at around 8.30am. We aim to reach the next overnight stop between 4.30pm and 5.00pm. During the trek you will have plenty of breaks for rests, snacks and photographs. 

Local guides
English speaking guides support your sightseeing and trekking activities. These guides are proud of their job and consider it an honour to show you their country. They have been fully trained in guiding outdoor tours around Luang Prabang. If you feel your guide provided you with great service, a tip at the end of the tour would be truly appreciated… a little bit goes a long way in Laos.

What to bring
Pack lightly for the trek, no more than 10kg, as you will be carrying your own luggage. Remember, you are only going for one night! Use your daypack and travel wallet to carry your personal items and important documents. We recommend using a sturdy daypack with good back support and a water proof cover. Please dress conservatively in the countryside and villages and when entering temple areas.

Your luggage should include: trekking boots or walking shoes, thongs or comfortable slip-on shoes for after walking all day, light weight long pants + shorts, shirt + t-shirt, warm clothes for at night, bathers, sarong (for women to swim in), small towel, raincoat, hat, sunglasses, sun block, strong insect repellent (Deet medicated preferred), small medical kit, flashlight, essential toiletries, water bottle, camera, spare batteries, pen + paper, original passport, barley sugar/ lollies for sustenance, zip lock bags, toilet paper, personal medication and a light weight sleeping bag for cooler months November to February.

If you have room in your backpack, bring some books to give away as gifts. You can help local children improve their reading skills by buying picture books printed in their own language. For more information on this worthwhile project, visit www.laobooks.com

Note on client safety
We reserve the right to deviate from this itinerary for any reason, including road and weather conditions, frequency of visits to a village or for any other factor that may impact client safety. The Tad Sae Waterfall is dry from February to August so trails may take an alternate route.

Tipping guidelines
It is customary to express a personal thank you to your guide and driver at the end of your trip, especially if he or she has provided you with excellent service. As a guideline only, we suggest tipping around AUD$4-$5 per day for the guide and AUD$2-$3 per day for the driver. You can pay this in local currency or US dollars. Of course whether you tip and how much is always at your discretion.

Laos visa

Most visitors can receive a 30 day single entry Tourist Visa on arrival at Luang Prabang or Vientiane airports or at the Friendship Bridge at the Thai Border Crossing and other border crossings (please check with your Lao Embassy). You need a valid passport for no less than six months, 2 x passport size current photographs & USD$30pp cash.

Laos Climate Laos has three distinct seasons. The cool dry season between November and February with temperatures dropping below 10 degrees Celsius in mountain regions. During this season, the rivers are navigable and the roads are passable. This gives way to the hot dry season from March to June where temperatures can soar over 35 degrees Celsius. Some rivers are harder to navigate, and boat journeys in remote places may not be possible. In the north, the months from March through to the first rains in May or June can be very hazy as smoke from the burning of secondary forest hangs in the air. June to October is the wet season where temperatures are in the 30s. The country is at its most beautiful and lush and rivers are accessible, however it can be difficult to get around in remote places by road. Health issues Good medical advice usually recommends vaccinations in advance of travel to Laos. We suggest you consult with your doctor to discuss health care needs specific to your holiday. Insurance You must have comprehensive travel insurance to travel with us. Insurance should include cover for personal accident and medical expenses, evacuation and repatriation, baggage loss and cancellation or curtailment of your holiday. Your final trip dossier vouchers will not be confirmed until you confirm possession of appropriate insurance. Better be safe than sorry! Pre and post tour arrangements We can arrange additional hotel nights at the beginning or the end of your tour or if you are interested in doing additional touring we can organise a private tour to cater to your interests and time frame. Check out the IJE website for more details. Handy travel tips + travelling responsibly For more information on how you can participate in sustainable tourism go to Handy Travel Tips. For assistance in planning your trip go to Laos Visa + Travel Guide. What next To reserve a place on this trip, contact us now and we will send you a booking form. To guarantee your booking you must send your passport details and your non-refundable deposit of 30% of total tour cost. The balance of payment is due 50 days prior to your departure. If you departure date is less than 50 days then full payment is required now. Once your booking is confirmed and you have paid in full you will receive a tour voucher and detailed itinerary.

BOOK NOW!

> CLICK HERE + request a booking form

> Get in touch with us via EMAIL

> Live in Australia call 1300 43 10 69

> Find out more about our other trips at www.IJE.com.au

> About Inner Journey Expeditions