Remote Village Explorer
(5 days)
Luang Prabang – Pak Ou District – Hmong Village Homestay
Highlights
-
UNESCO World Heritage town, Luang Prabang
-
3 day trekking hills and jungles of Pak Ou District
-
Homestay in Hmong villages
-
Fair Trek Tour – helping local villages
Overview
The Hmong 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. This area is home to the Hmong hill tribe people. Here, you stay overnight and have a unique opportunity to observe their way of life under such remote conditions. Hiking routes incorporate a mixture of hillside village tracks, jungle paths and bamboo forest walks. The trails are medium grade and can be quite challenging during the wet season. Your trek starts and finishes in the magical town of Luang Prabang where you will have ample free time to wander the quiet streets and soak up the Mekong River atmosphere.
Itinerary at a glance
Day 1 |
Arrive Luang Prabang and check into hotel. The rest of the day is free. |
Day 2 |
Transfer to the beginning of the trek. Walk rugged mountains to your overnight stay in a Hmong village. |
Day 3 |
All day trekking natural areas and remote villages. Overnight Hmong village. |
Day 4 |
Morning trek back to the road where you will be transferred to Luang Prabang. |
Day 5 |
Breakfast in your hotel and transfer to the airport. |
Prices
Per Person / Twin Share |
Standard Hotel |
Deluxe Hotel |
3 to 4 people
|
$470 |
$580 |
2 people |
$530 |
$630 |
| Single supplement | $100 |
$200 |
Validity |
30 April 2009 |
30 April 2009 |
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. Prices beyond 30/04/09 available on request. See Booking Conditions for more details. Call 1300 43 10 69 for a detailed itinerary.
Includes:
- Hotel accommodation based on twin share. If a single room is required a single supplement will apply.
- Homestays
- Return airport transfers
- Return transfers for trek
- English speaking guide for trekking
- Local village guide
- Water for trekking
- Entrance fees + village permission
Meals:
- 4 Breakfasts
- 3 Lunches
- 2 Dinner
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
Trip notes
Hotel + homestays
In Luang Prabang you will stay in a centrally located comfortable hotel with private facilities. Standard hotels have a three star rating and deluxe hotels are four star. It is possible to leave some luggage in a secure storage room in your hotel in Luang Prabang while you are trekking.
Homestays in the villages are simple in terms of bedding and amenities. You are provided with a mattress, clean sheet, pillow, blankets and mosquito net. Accommodation and amenities are shared. Toilets are squat, non-flushing as you will find in many parts of South East Asia.
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 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.
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.
Your group + share accommodation
Prices are based upon twin share accommodation. A single traveller pays the single supplement price for sole use of a room. If you are travelling in a group of three and are happy to share a triple room and a triple room is available, you will not be charged the single supplement price. For groups of five or seven people, the single traveller pays the single supplement price if a triple room is not available or you do not want to share. The number of single rooms and triple rooms available may be limited – so book early to avoid disappointment.
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 .
