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Laos |
Central Laos Limestone |
Eco-Tourism Tour |
4
Days / 3 Nights:
Nakorn Phanom -
Teun hin Boon - Nam Hin Boon -
Limestone & Cave exploration - Ban Hin Boon
- Tha Kaek town
In Khammouanne Province’s Hin Boun NBCA (National Biodiversity Conservation Area)
Easily accessible by daily flight from Bangkok to Nakorn Phanom Thailand, the Central Laos Eco-Adventure is ONLY for those who want to see unique, unusual & untouched world-class Biodiversity & Culture. You will be comfortable, clean & safe, however your effort & participation will be required to fully enjoy this trip
| IN ADDITION TO
BOATING THE 7KM ‘KONGLO’ CAVE - LAOS’ LARGEST, ADVENTURE DOWN THE LIMESTONE
RIVER, THROUGH CANYONS TO THE ‘HEUP’ CAVE. SCRAMBLE, WADE, AND WALK TO THE
ANCIENT RUINS OF ARAN. MEET THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS REMOTE REGION, AND
EXPERIENCE THE REAL LAOS! DAY 1: NAKORN PHANOM (THAILAND ) - THA KAEK (LAOS ) - 7 KM KONGLO CAVE - VILLAGE Arrive at Nakorn Phanom airport or pick up at your hotel and transfer to the border on the Mekong River. After completion of immigration and customs formalities load our vehicle and drive several hours into the Khammouan Limestone. Stop along the way at viewpoints. Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to a village near the mouth of the 7km Konglo cave. Leave unnecessary gear in the vehicle and board a local style boats and cross to the far side of the cave, weather conditions permitting. Headlamps and torches help you gauge the scale of the large chambers. Return to the vehicle and to a village half way to tomorrow’s put in point on the Hin Boun River. Dinner and accommodation at the headman’s house. Meals: L, D Accom: Simple accom in Village (headman’s house) DAY 2: VILLAGE - RIVER BOAT TRIP THRU LIMESTONE MOUNTAINS - LOCAL VILLAGE After a local breakfast, continue to our put in point on the Nam Hin Boun River. Here we board a local-style riverboat to journey into the high limestone of the Hin Boun Natural Biodiversity Conservation Area. Cruise along for several hours through the Limestone Karst landscape of the NBCA. Nature watchers can sometimes see examples of various wildlife. This area is home to monkeys, several large cats including Clouded Leopard, Civet Cat and Tiger. Local Fauna includes different types of Ferns, rare Orchids, Cycads and a variety of Epiphytes. Stop in several places along the way to enjoy the lovely views of the limestone, swim in the river, or have a snack. Continue to a riverside village where we will be accommodated by the village headman & his family. Here you will have a real taste of Lao village life. Enjoy meeting & playing with local children! Enjoy the rest of the day in the village, exploring, walking, or just relaxing. Dinner cooked by our guides to be eaten at the headman’s house. NOTE: respecting local tradition, visitors will sleep in segregated areas, women with women, and men with men. Meals: B, L, D Accom: Simple accom in Village (headman’s house) DAY 3: VILLAGE - 1KM CATHEDRAL CAVE - ANCIENT CITY OF ARAN - VILLAGE After breakfast (coffee, local food & some that we will carry in), spend the day exploring the area. NOTES: • Bring extra pair of TEVA style sandals, tennis shoes, or boots only for crossing through the sand & pebble-floored cave. Your feet will be wet for the walk through. • We reserve the right to change at a moment’s notice this day’s activities, as weather & water level conditions have a bearing on clients’ safety. After equipment distribution & checks by the guides, walk thru a 1KM-long cave - actually a tunnel from one side of this mountain to a secluded valley on the other side, where the Ancient City of ARAN once stood. Crossing the cave requires walking & some wading. Some times of year the water is waist-deep. Local villagers cross the cave everyday shortcutting to their rice field! Picnic lunch will be made by the villagers and our guide. After lunch explore the Ruins of ARAN. Largely overgrown by jungle, you will enjoy exploring the ruins among the huge rocket-fin trees. Little is known about the origin of these ruins, except that they date back several centuries. Enjoy a well earned dinner at the headman’s house after returning through the cave, and to the village. Tonight, following local tradition, villagers often make a “Bai Sii” blessing ceremony for the travelers. But this will depend on the season & the villager’s work-load (during planting / harvest this may not be possible). Meals: B, L, D Accom: Simple accom in Village (headman’s house) DAY 4: LOCAL VILLAGE - RIVERBOAT TO BAN NA HIN - OLD DEFENSE WALL - THA KAEK TOWN - NAKORN PHANOM After breakfast, say our goodbyes/ farewells with the local village community. Please thank the headman’s family before boarding our boat for the last leg of the River trip to Ban Na Hin. Here we stop for lunch at the local restaurant. After lunch continue toward Tha Kaek, and time permitting, stop to see the Kampheng Nyak, or Giant Wall. Parts of this wall look man-made and local people are divided as to the wall‘s origin. Observers will also wonder how 10-tonne stone blocks could be so neatly stacked. Continue to Tha Kaek town where we will spend the last few hours exploring by foot. Cross to Thailand before 4pm, and transfer to your hotel. Meals: B, L Accom: None |
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Departures: Daily
Note: The program is subject to changes
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Price per Person in USD (US Dollar), based on twin sharing room: |
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| Period: | 2 Persons | 3-5 Persons | Single Supplement |
| 01.05.16 - 31.10.17 | 775.- | 735.- | - |
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PRICE INCLUDES:
- Accommodation by village for other nights.
- All meals as indicated on above itinerary.
- All entrance fees on route
- Baggage handling, tipping and porterage
- Services of English Speaking Guide throughout the tour
- NTA and Laos government tax
- Insurance
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Personal items & hotel incidental charges
- International or Domestic airport departure tax and air tickets
- Laos visa fee ($30-42) depending on nationality
Accommodation:
Accommodation is simple but comfortable and usually at the headman’s house
in any village.
Meals: Our staff can cook central Thai cuisine, and the occasional
Western & Lao dishes. Expeditions usually include transport by foot, jeep & boat
in the NBCA.
Routing: We reserve the right to deviate from the itinerary if our guide
believes client safety is threatened in any manner. Road & weather conditions,
river & cave conditions, individual boat conditions, and other factors that
influence client safety may change quickly, requiring a change in routing &
transport.