A service-learning trip is one of the best ways for students to gain an out of classroom educational experience while helping others in a positive way.
Destination: Vientiane, Luong Prabang, Vang Vieng
Tour Highlights:
Help local students to learn the English language in a fun and interactive way. Stroll the streets of Luang Prabang. Cycle through local villages and visit Kuang Si waterfall. Enjoy a boat cruise on the Nam Song River and a day out and about Vang Vieng.
Included:
Terms & Conditions:
Please be advised that this is an ‘example’ of a schedule and that the activities may be variable dependent upon dates, weather, special requests and other factors. Itineraries will be confirmed prior to travel.
The projects are determined closer to your actual tour date.
Day 1
Arrive Vientiane
Depart Australia to Laos. Upon arrival at Vientiane airport, meet your English speaking local guide. Transfer to your hotel by private coach. Check-in and overnight in Vientiane.
Day 2
Vientiane – Luong Prabang
After breakfast and checkout from the hotel, coach transfer to the airport for your flight to Luong Prabang. Upon arrival at Luong Prabang airport, meet your English speaking local guide and coach for transfer to the hotel.
Free time at leisure. Overnight in Luong Prabang.
Days 3 – 7
Luong Prabang
Each day, after breakfast at the hotel, walk to the local school for volunteer teaching English language and support local students. Overnight in Luong Prabang.
Day 8
Luang Prabang
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, after breakfast, board a private coach and drive through the countryside, view beautiful landscapes of rice fields, hills, and small villages as we journey to Kuang Si Waterfalls.
En-route stop to visit Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village, for a chance to explore the cultural differences between each ethnic group which has remained unchanged for centuries. The villages are also known for their traditional crafts.
Upon arrival at Kuang Si , time to relax and enjoy the three-levelled waterfall leading to a 50-metre drop into spectacular turquoise blue pools before flowing downstream. Walk up to the top of the falls to enjoy the stunning view of the beautiful natural surroundings.
Next stop is Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre – the famous bear sanctuary. Since 2003, this has been a home to Asiatic black bears or moon bears rescued from poachers and the illegal wildlife trade. They live in an enclosure with lots of trees, swings and other things to play with. From a viewing platform, you can observe the animals as they play or search for food. The site rescues about 25 bears a year, an endangered species, as their bile is used in Chinese medicine. The centre also provides valuable training, employment opportunities and alternative livelihoods to local villagers, destined to become Lao’s future wildlife warriors.
Enjoy a guided tour around the Traditional Art and Ethnology Centre, a non-profit museum dedicated to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of its traditional arts and lifestyles. The site offers a great opportunity to get insight into the rich diversity of Laos’ ethnic minorities. (Note: It closes on Monday).
Late afternoon, get ready for a 329-step ascent to Mount Phousi (Sacred Hill) which is the geographical as well as spiritual centre of the region. At the summit, enjoy a spectacular panoramic outlook across the city and the shimmering rivers and jungle.
Overnight in Luong Prabang.
Day 9
Luang Prabang – Vang Vieng
Breakfast and checkout from hotel.
Board a private coach and drive further into the mountains passing spectacular scenery and numerous hill tribe villages. Lunch at an altitude of approximately 1,300 metres above sea level surrounded by the endless mountain peaks of this remote region. Continue along Route 13 stopping for a photo opportunity, arriving in Vang Vieng in the early evening.
Overnight in Vang Vieng.
Day 10
Vang Vieng
After breakfast at your hotel, depart for a full-day tour of Vang Vieng. Depart from the Green Discovery office in Vang Vieng and cross the Nam Song River via a bamboo bridge before starting the day passing through rice paddies toward an outlook to enjoy the surrounding views. Afterwards, head off via mountain bike on a tour, which covers approximately 26 km through the karst range of the Nam Song and Vang Vieng. After reaching the far side of the short bridge, a steep hike leads to Dok ngern “silver flower” Cave. Its hidden corridors are filled with an endless array of stalagmites and stalactites!
Continuing westwards, the trail gets increasingly rough as we follow the narrow valley of the Houay San stream until Pha Deng ‘red cliff’ comes into sight to the right. Continuing on we arrive in Phonxay the first village on the banks of the Nam Kouang. The road here continues south and runs beside the Nam Kouang; we continue our cycling until reaching Blue Lagoon 2 and here we enjoy a spend swim. After spending some moments to reflect here, we continue to the crossroads in Ban Nathong Tai where we meet the road to the Nam Song Bridge which leads us back to Vang Vieng where a sunset drink by the river marks the end of a great cycling adventure.
Overnight in Vang Vieng.
Day 11
Vang Vieng – Vientiane
This morning, after breakfast at the hotel, board a boat for a relaxing trip on the Nam Song River, explore the breathtaking mountain landscape and stop to enjoy the famous Tham Jang Cave, used in the early 19th century in defence against the Chinese invaders
Afterwards, depart for the capital for our journey northbound. Our drive will take approximately 4 hours passing through the spectacular countryside before climbing into the mountains. There will be photo opportunities along the way and a stop at a colourful local market where various hill tribes come to trade goods and buy provisions.
Upon arrival at our Vientiane hotel, check-in and enjoy some free time
Overnight in Vientiane.
Day 12
Depart Vientiane
Early breakfast and checkout from the hotel
Private transfer to airport for your flight back to Australia.
Upon arrival in Australia, collect your luggage and clear Customs and Immigrations.
