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Highlights

• 3 day trekking hills and jungles of Pak Ou District

• Home stay in Khamu & Hmong villages

• Donate school materials – helping local villages

• Flexibility - You choose your own travel dates

Overview

The Khamu and H'mong communities you visit in this trip are involved in the Fair Trek Project – where villagers directly benefit from your visit through job creation and local income generation. You trek high up in the rugged mountain regions that surround Luang Prabang and stay overnight with local families where you get a glimpse of their life. This trek also includes school donations when we visit a school in the mountains.

This trek requires a good sense of adventure and tolerance as you definitely get out of your comfort zone! Your trek starts and finishes in Luang Prabang.

Itinerary at a glance

Day 1	Luang Prabang to Khamu Village Depart Luang Prabang at around 08:00am and drive north following the Mekong River until you reach remote countryside where you start your three day adventure. Walk along small village trails passing traditional Khamu villages surrounded by their agricultural fields. Continue following small trails that link tiny villages until you arrive at a small Khamu Village in the mountains where you stay for the night. Spend the evening with your host family and meet the children of the village. Take time out to relax and ask your guide questions about local life within the Community. If you want to wash before dinner, follow the locals and freshen up in the village river. Trekking: 3 - 4 hours Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Home stay
Day 2	Khamu Village to Hmong Village Today is a big trekking day climbing higher into the hill tribe areas. After an early breakfast, ascend and descend rambling hills, hike through bamboo thickets and forest trails. Pass villages and observe daily life where cultivation methods have changed very little over the centuries. In the afternoon arrive in a large Hmong Village - this is a friendly village however it is also a very poor village so you may want to bring books and pens to give to the school. Ask the locals and your guide about the animist religious beliefs and practices of the Hmong and if they can share a traditional song with you. Overnight in a Hmong village. Trekking: 6 - 7 hours Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Home stay
Day 3	Hmong Village to Luang Prabang On your last day of trekking, follow trails that descend down to the road, passing H'mong villages and terraced rice fields. When we reach the road take the mini bus back to Luang Prabang which takes around two hours. Trekking: 3 - 4 hours Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Please note this itinerary can be easily amended to suit your needs. Let us know if you would like to make any changes and we will be more than happy to suggest an alternative itinerary for you.  

Prices

Private tour	$AUD price per person
3 to 5 people	225
2 people	285
1 person	399
Validity	31 December 2012

Includes:

• Home stays permission
• Return transfers for trek
• English speaking guide for trekking
• Local village guide
• Entrance fees + village permission
• Water for trekking
• Meals as per the itinerary
• Materials for school donations

Excludes:

• Airfares and departure taxes
• Travel insurance (compulsory)
• 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 surcharge. Prices beyond the validity are available on request. See Booking Conditions for more details.

Trip grade

MODERATE: If you are seeking fun and adventure and you like active travel, this is for you. A mixture of long and shorter activity days of four to five hours duration. A good level of fitness is required.

Khamu & Hmong Villages trip notes

Home stays

Remember that Laos is an underdeveloped country. Home stays in villages are very very rustic and are simple in terms of bedding and amenities. You sleep in a dormitory style room and are provided with a mattress, clean sheet and pillow. Amenities are shared with the village. There are no toilets! You go out door and in nature, ask your guide what are the protocols. There are no showers, you can use the village well or freshen up in nearby river. But always keep yourself covered – they are very shy people. Always check with your guide if you are unsure of what to do.

 

TIP:  Take moistened towelettes to clean your face and hand sanitizer to wash your hands. Remember what you bring in, you must carry out!

 

Food
All meals, which are 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 two nights! 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.

Note: A full list of what to bring is provided with your trip dossier.

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.

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 book 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.