Laos: The Land Less Visited - January 23 – February 10, 2010 - ($1,842 USD from Bangkok)
| DATE |
ACTIVITY |
NIGHT |
| Jan 23 |
S |
Gather in Bangkok. Orientation walk near hotel. Group dinner (option). |
Bangkok |
| 24 |
S |
Fly to Vientiane, orientation, to Talaat Sou (The huge market).
Early evening: Lao language.
Later: Dinner and cultural program (option). |
Vientiane |
| 25 |
M |
Wat Phra Keo, Wat Si Sa Ket, That Luang.
Afternoon: National Museum. Sundowner at Mekong. |
Vientiane |
| 26 |
T |
AM: Fly to Luang Prabang, a World Heritage Site, everyone’s favorite town.
PM: Walking tour of town, craft shops, riverside.
Later: Sundowner by Mekong, dinner (option). |
Luang Prabang |
| 27 |
W |
AM: Small boat up the Mekong to Pak Ou (Tam Ting) Caves. Stop at whiskey/craft village. Later to museum in Luang Prabangang.
Evening: Dinner, monks chanting at Wat Visoun. |
Luang Prabang |
| 28 |
Th |
7 AM: To large wet market, have breakfast there.
9 AM: Kwang Si Falls south of town and then to a weaving village and craft centers. Sa paper, carving.
Evening: Night Club (option). |
Luang Prabang |
| 29 |
F |
Fly to Phonsavan on the Plain of Jars. Walk center of town, visit market with rare and endangered species. Dinner in hotel. |
Phonsavan |
| 30 |
S |
Early morning: to market, may see opium sold. Day tour of Plain of Jars. Visit the three principal sites. Visit Hmong village.
Evening: Dinner in town (option). |
Phonsavan |
| 31 |
S |
By van east to Xam Neua. Beautiful mountains, hill top villages, remote tribal areas. The “Lao Stonehenge”, rock pillars set along ridge tops for seven miles. This trip and the drive are the most interesting of any on my trips. We should see opium poppy fields and there are several weaving villages. Xam Neua is an isolated city of great historical significance. I have been here alone several times and led at least a dozen tours and seen about fifteen tourists. |
Xam Neua |
| Feb 1 |
M |
Southeast through karst landforms to the caves at Vieng Xai. Leaders of the Pathet Lao (Lao communists) lived in the caves during the (American) Vietnam War. Hospitals, offices, an amphitheatre holding thousands. It is now sort of a shrine; like Valley Forge, and more. Only 50-70 foreigners get there per year. Despite years of bombing we didn’t kill any of the leaders. |
Xam Neua |
| 2 |
T |
East to Xieng Kho. Perhaps the most interesting road trip I have ever taken. Villages, varied tribal groups, interesting agriculture, intricate use of water, weaving. Only Mekong Tours goes to Xieng Kho so it is an event for the locals, who put on a Baci ceremony, etc. |
Xieng Kho |
| 3 |
W |
Back to Xam Neua. Forests, rice terraces, water power used to pound rice, crush sugar cane. Hmong, Black Tai, Red Tai villages. Eat near hotel.
Evening: Night club (option). |
Xam Neua |
| 4 |
Th |
Southwest stopping at weaving centers, Khmu – Pong village, Nam Neun.
Late afternoon: As part of the “See the World” Program we will distribute reading glasses to local people Who cannot afford them.
Evening: Dinner with local teachers. |
Kham |
| 5 |
F |
AM: To local elementary schools to distribute books and other supplies from “Books for Laos” program.
Afternoon: To Phonsavan. Visit market or downtown (option). |
Phonsavan |
| 6 |
S |
Fly to Vientiane. Activities depend upon time of arrival. Carol Cassidy Silks, Antique fabric shop.
Evening: Dinner, cultural program. |
Vientiane |
| 7 |
S |
AM: To Anou Savari, nearby park, then lunch.
Afternoon: Free or to Talaat Sou. Vientiane has dozens of wonderful shops now, as well nice restaurants and coffee shops. |
Vientiane |
| 8 |
M |
AM: To Nong Khai in Thailand. Then the Indochina Market along the Mekong. Lunch at a riverside restaurant.
PM: To Village Weaver, a Catholic initiative to provide work for rural women; they have excellent crafts at reasonable prices.
Evening: Dinner cruise on the Mekong (option). |
Nong Khai |
| 9 |
T |
AM: Riverside market. Then fly to Bangkok.
Afternoon & evening: Shopping along Sukhumvit, group dinner (option) |
Bangkok |
| 10 |
W |
Tour ends after breakfast. Return home or travel elsewhere in Asia, etc. |
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From the capitol of Vientiane to storied Luang Prabang, the Plain of Jars, and then Hilltribe villages in the remote mountains of the northeast. Spectacular mountains and canyons, diverse tribal groups and interesting people. Wonderful crafts, especially the hand woven fabrics.
The cost of $1,842 includes all hotels, air travel, land travel, boats, guides, airport transfers, admits, and some food. Single supplement is $430.
Excluded is most food, individual taxi, laundry, any airport tax, visa. Currently there are no airport taxes, the Thai visa is free, and the visa to Laos is $35.
The tour is organized and led by Professor Robert Phillips, who has lived for half of the past 19 years in Thailand and Laos; he has taken about 15 groups to Laos, including remote areas and perhaps the only tour along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Dr. Phillips will be with us all of the time.
Weather should be clear and sunny, with day temperatures around 70 degrees.
A deposit of $500 will hold a place. Final payment by November 20.
Registration forms can be downloaded from the website or are available from Mekong Tours. Those signing up will be sent information on money, visas, clothing, medical, hotels, etc. I can assist those wanting to remain in Thailand or travel elsewhere in SE Asia.
It is best to communicate by email as I am away from home a lot of the time.
To make a reservation, please print the tour registration form, fill in all blanks and mail with a $500 deposit to:
Robert Phillips
Mekong Tours
7135 Fawcet Creek Road
Tillamook, OR 97141
(503) 842-7198
MekongTour1@Hotmail.com
www.MekongTours.com
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