It was extremely hot and sunny during my first two weeks here in Luang Prabang, a rarity during the ‘rainy season’. For my first weekend, I decided to cool off from the mid-day sun and experience some cultural diversity by visiting the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre. While some may think that the TAEC is
Last Thursday and Friday, Tiger Trail had a two-day tour guide training session at a local college in Luang Prabang. This was one of the few times of the year that all of our guides are together in one room! This training workshop was lead by both Peter Richards and Markus Neuer. Peter was an inspirational speaker and
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Rice is Life Learning how to grow sticky rice at the Living Land Farm near Luang Prabang Living Land Farm The other morning I went to the Living Land Farm just outside of Luang Prabang to experience the Rice is Life program. It was fantastic! Our small group met with Mr. Laut Lee – a phenomenal farmer and
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Upscale New Hotel Breaks Ground in Luang Prabang The latest in the Laos tourism boom is the beginning of construction on the Anantara Resort and Spa. The operator already has branches in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Maldives, Mozambique, Qatar, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam. The design of the new five-star hotel will follow the operator’s model
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Coffee Roasters in Laos serve delicious coffee and help communities One of my absolute #1 favorite things in the entire world is a good cup of coffee. When you arrive in Laos, it might seem that 3-in-1 packets of instant coffee are the only option, but let me let you in on a little secret
The Story of Noy – an orphan baby Elephant in Laos. The Elephant Conservation Center is located in Sayaboury, in Northwestern Laos. This area is home for most of the domesticated elephants in the country. It has been chosen to establish the first elephant hospital in Laos, as well as an Eco touristic camp.
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The Kajsiab Foundation Bokeo Province, Laos The Kajsiab Foundation offers support to locals in the far north east of Laos. This update encourages to give help to this great initiative. “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love” Mother Teresa Do you want to help the
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The Living Land Farm a community Business in Luang Prabang An interview with the project and business founder, Mr. Mark Schnebli The Living Land Farm was created some 7 years ago by combining the rice fields of 9 farmers into a community project. Some of the owners were elderly and found it difficult to
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Akha Culture Experience Tour in North Laos Laos Travel tip on cultural home stay adventure with an Akha community in remote northern Laos, a 4-7 day cultural interaction program. The question has to be asked: Is the drive and all the ‘roughing it’ worth it? I’d have to answer an emphatic YES! The
Community Based Tourism in ASEAN Countries As part of their commitment to social responsibility, Tiger Trail sent me as a Fair Trek representative (as well as a representative from Laos) to join a two day conference in Bangkok organized by the Thailand Community Based Tourism Institute. The conference included researchers, community representatives, government,
No Beers for Bears… A story about an amazing bear brain surgery at the Luang Prabang bear rescue center. The donations that go to Free the Bears have helped create a variety of initiatives in South East Asia that maintain rescue projects and build sanctuaries for those bears that are rescued
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Laos Elephant Conservation Centre in Sayaboury – Video release “Way of the Mahout” – We are happy to share with you this wonderful video about Lao elephants in Sayaboury. A short film showing the Elephant Conservation Centre in Sayaboury in Northern Laos in full HD quality. Laos used to be famous for large amounts
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Volunteering and teaching in Laos & Luang Prabang There are a number of organisations bringing English to the residents and novices of Luang Prabang. Ranging from highly organised ‘voluntourism’ with all the bells and whistles, through to more low-key set ups, and a drop-in center for students, local Lao wishing to learn English have
In many ways, Laos is one of the most diverse countries in the world. There are three major ethnic minority groups in Laos: The Lao Lum, The Khmu and the Hmong. The history of the Hmong people is hardly researched. Most scientists believe the Hmong people used to migrate from the steppes of Mongolia across
Books for Laos, Momobooks Helping improve the quality of education in Laos, DONORS WANTED Hello, my name is Martin, and I first came to Laos in 1999 and was instantly charmed by the country. Everywhere I went, I met young people who were so eager to learn. Looking back, things haven’t changed that much.
Empowering Lao Ethnic Communities through Culture, TAEC Luang Prabang. – DONATE TO PROJECT NOW – This project supports Laos’ rural ethnic communities in the revitalization and sustainability of their traditional arts through livelihoods development, outreach, and diversity awareness education. TAEC, the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center in Luang Prabang is facilitating and managing
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Laos Home Stay Experience in a Lao Hmong Village I work as an intern on a Community Based Tourism (CBT) project for Tiger Trail Fair Trek. Tourism benefiting communities translates into an alternative way of tourism through cooperation with the locals. This is one of the definitions I found: “CBT is tourism that takes
Volunteer in Laos Leave More Than Just Footprints Volunteer in Laos at Daauw Home, Kajsiab Project, Hauy Xai, North Laos Early in the year of 2004 Nzoua Vue’s family was beset by tragedy. His beloved sister, Kajsiab, died a preventable death due a minor infection and inadequate health care. She was thirteen years old. Sadly,
LAO OLYMPIC FLAG IS COMING HOME! LEOT project Luang Prabang acquired the Olympic flag The Lao national flag which was recently carried before Lao’s top athletes at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies in the recent London Olympics has been acquired by the newly opened LEOT English Learning Centre (LELC) in Luang Prabang. The
Motorcycling in Laos, for a good cause! Riding Laos on a motorcycling holiday last year was a real eye opener for me. The scenery is nothing short of stunning the trails are hidden and follow through rugged mountains forever. We were humbled by what we saw, the people, poor as they are, are warm
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