Listing ID: 51793
10 Day Lazy Laos Adventure
With a little bit of everything for the nature, culture and adventure lover alike, this sleepy diamond in the rough is sure to please even the most discerning backpacker. Travel Laos now while it’s still one of SE Asia’s lesser known gems. Duration: 1 Day (approx.)Easy Cancellation - Cancel 3 days before for a full refund
Printed or mobile voucher accepted
Fast booking confirmation
Laos is a little more laid back than some of their neighbours. Life unfolds at a very relaxed pace here, and for travelers like us, that can be a very pleasant break from the often-hectic pace of SE Asia. There are no skyscrapers, malls, movie theatres or busy motorways here, but that’s okay. Instead Laos offers jaw-dropping nature, authentic cultural experiences, and a laid-back vibe that can’t be matched. Here you can hike through some of the most bio diverse rain forest in the world, stopping to take a dip at some of the most spectacular waterfalls and fresh water pools you will ever see. Visit exquisite golden roofed temples and witness the monks accept their daily offerings at dawn during the alms ceremony. Take a boat trip down the Mekong to stunning caves containing ancient relics. Jump off rope swings and zip lines into crystal clear lagoons, or get a little wet and wild with fellow backpackers from all over the world while tubing down the Nam Song River, surrounded by some of the country’s most stunning natural landscape. Laos is as wild and as authentic as it gets. With a little bit of everything for the nature, culture and adventure lover alike, this sleepy diamond in the rough is sure to please even the most discerning backpacker. Travel Laos now while it’s still one of SE Asia’s lesser known gems.
- What Will You Do
You arrive in Bangkok late the first evening. The group meets for welcome drinks and a short info session at our guesthouse. If you’re up for it, we make our way over to Khao San Road, where you can get an authentic Thai meal and a grab a cold drink after a long day of travel. If you wanna get really “Far Out”, you can grab a “bucket”, or try one of the street cart “delicacies”, such as fried insect larvae and crickets! This is also a great spot to get any last-minute supplies you may have forgotten at home. Our 2nd day is in Bangkok is a great day to go check out a couple markets, enjoy some of the world class shopping opportunities around the city, or take a day tour to the one of the city’s many tourist attractions. In the evening we take a private mini-bus to the train station where we will be taking the overnight train to the Laos border, a can’t miss experience.Our train arrives early in the morning Day 3 in Nong Khai, Thailand. After crossing the “friendship bridge” into Laos and getting our visas, we hop into a private mini bus for the ride north to Vang Vieng. After a long trip from Thailand, the group gets together for a delicious traditional Laos meal at our guesthouse, before heading out for a night on the town. Day 4 the group hits up the Nam Song river for a day of lazy river tubing, while taking in the mind-blowing views of the surrounding cliffs, and stopping in at the awesome bars that dot the. Days 5 and 6 are yours to check out the amazing caves, lagoons, temples, kayaking, mountain biking, etc. Vang Vieng is a beautiful place with endless opportunities for adventure.
The morning of day 7 we board our private minibus and make our way north for the incredibly scenic ride to our final stop in Laos, Luang Prabang. After we arrive at our guesthouse we get the group acquainted with a walk to the downtown/riverside area. Here you can enjoy an authentic Laos dinner and watch the incredible sunset on the banks of the mighty Mekong, go for a sunset “booze” cruise, or visit the night market (one of our favorites in Asia) to stock up on mementos and souvenirs. Day 8 the group heads to Kuang Si waterfalls for an unbelievably fun day hiking through the lush green rain forest to some of the most beautiful waterfalls in SE Asia. For the final day in Laos you can spend your morning at the alms ceremony at dawn watching lines of Buddhist monks in their orange robes, collecting their food for the day. In the afternoon visit some of the many golden roofed temples, take a river tour to some of the many caves in the area, or visit some more world class waterfalls.
Rather than taking the overnight train back to Bangkok, we cut the travel time short and board a plane from Luang Prabang back to Thailand for the final night of our Far Out Adventure. Our hosts in Bangkok have a special send off celebration planned for us. Say goodbye to the amazing new friends you’ve made over the past 10 days, and prepare yourself for your onward journey home.
- What To Expect
Vang Vieng - Vang Vieng hasn’t been on the travel map long, but made a hard landing when some genius decided to jump in an inner tube and float down the river some time around 1999. Since then backpackers have been flocking to Vang Vieng for a float down the Nam Sok, hopping from bar to bar along the riverside, and enjoying a game of beer pong or flip cup while taking in the wondrous rock formations and stunning limestone cliffs that surround the area. The float back to town is a stunner, so you’ll want to grab one of the waterproof camera bags available all over town.Although the city itself may be small, it’s big on fun and natural beauty. Vang Vieng is also home to numerous caves, temples and lagoons that are only a short ride away. Because of the abundance of activities available, the town can feel quite sleepy during the day, but things really come to life in the evening when the backpackers return from their day trips. Certain to please the nature lover, adventure seeker and night owl alike, Vang Vieng offers wild and dramatic scenery and a party scene that’s equally wild.
Luang Prabang - Set in a background of vibrant forest greenery and rugged mountain scenery, the sleepy city of Luang Prabang rests at the foot of Mt. Phousi where the mighty Mekong and Nam Song rivers meet. Known for being home to some of the most beautiful temples and incredible waterfalls in Southeast Asia, no Laos adventure is complete without a trip Luang Prabang. A charming mixture of golden roofed temples, traditional Laos wooden structures and colonial French style architecture, this stunning little mountain city has a charm unlike anywhere else in SE Asia.
Witness long lines of monks collecting their food for the day during the alms ceremony at dawn. Go for a hike through the jungle to the jaw dropping Kuang Si waterfalls, considered some of the most impressive in all of Asia, or trek along lush rain forest paths to the beautiful waterfalls of Tad Sae, spotting monkeys and other other rain forest wildlife along the way. Climb Phou Si hill and to see the incredible Buddhist temples and golden monuments that dot the trails leading to the top. In the evening you can have dinner at a riverside restaurant and enjoy the incredible sunset on the Mekong, then head to the Luang Prabang night market, one of our favorites in Asia, to barter for gifts and souvenirs. An 11pm curfew for businesses in town has prevented the establishment of much of a nightlife, however these rules don’t apply to the bowling alley located just outside the city, which as such serves as the de facto nightclub for Luang Prabang. Not your standard nightclub environment with 10 pin bowling and a late-night archery range, it is nonetheless a super fun place to spend an evening with your friends, getting to know other travelers.
- What Is Included
Included• Welcome Dinner
• Far Out Welcome Package: There’s a trip information guide, a welcome dinner, and a few welcome gifts to keep you comfortable on your Far Out Adventure.
• Not one, but TWO knowledgeable and fun leaders who know the lay of the land and will help make sure you’re having the time of your life, every day of your trip.
• All accommodations during your trip. We’ve scoured our destinations for the best group accommodations available. We always look for the perfect combination of environment, comfort, fun, friendly service and safety.
• All transportation between trip destinations and to included activities.
• At least one Far Out activity in each destination we visit, normally the top “must do” activities. The 10 Day Lazy Laos Adventure includes the following activities.
• Tubing and Lagoon Trip in Vang Vieng
• Kuang Si Waterfall tour
- What Is Not Included
Not Included• Spending Money: For budgeting tips visit www.faroutadventures.ca/about/your-travel-budget/
• Additional/optional activities
• Travel Visas (30-day Thai Visa On Arrival available for most nationalities arriving by air. Please contact your local Thai consulate or embassy for more information.)
• Laos Visa on arrival ($30-42 USD for most nationalities. Please contact your local Laos consulate or embassy for more information.)
• Food and beverages (except those mentioned above)
• Transportation for personal/optional activities not included in the tour.
- FAQ
Why should I travel with Far Out Adventures?
We have designed a group backpacking trip that offers you the freedom and options to choose and experience your adventure exactly the way you would like to. We are a network of travellers who have been all over SE Asia for the last 9 years, so we have a lot of experience in the places we travel to. We know everything you need to know to help you design the experience of a lifetime.
What kind of overall experience will I have on my Far Out Adventure?
We don’t like to blown our own horn too often, but it is not unreasonable when you travel with Far Out Adventures, to expect to have an amazing journey full of life changing experiences with amazing people in some of the most beautiful places on earth!! Each and every one of our adventures is designed to immerse you in the beauty, culture and history of our locations, while providing you access to all the best activities and amenities, along with the freedom to choose what you want to do. That way you get the most out of your trip and you get to spend your time doing the things that interest you most.
Our travel concept is not to sell you a package where we have decided how the group will spend their time, but to help you design the best experience for you. At Far Out Adventures we feel like this is your trip, and our job is to make life easy on by making sure that your only concern on this trip is how much fun you are going to have today.
Our trips are light on itinerary and heavy on choice. Our trip leaders are also very knowledgeable and experienced in the areas we travel to, so no matter what you have on your list that needs accomplishing, we will have the time and expertise to help you do and see anything you have your mind set on. Even if there is a location somewhere not included on our itinerary that you want to take a couple days to explore on your own, our trip leaders will be able to help you plan any such side getaways and get you back to the group safely and easily to enjoy the rest of your journey.
And as for the people you will be travelling with, your group will be made up mostly of like-minded folks who are all out here for more or less the same reason you are; to experience something beautiful, new and exciting and to expand and broaden our world perspectives. One of the best things about travelling with a group of fun loving like minded people is that in a matter of days you will find yourself making a number of new friendships that will last a lifetime.
In short, travelling with Far Out Adventures is an amazingly exciting, dynamic, and worry-free travel experience that is every bit a personal journey custom tailored to your needs as it is a group experience. We take you to some of the best places on earth, with some of the most amazing people you’ll ever meet and give you the freedom to enjoy your trip doing the things you enjoy doing.
Will I get to experience other cultures?
In our opinion, and in our own experience, immersing yourself in new cultures is one of the most rewarding parts of travelling, so on our trips we give you plenty of opportunity to do just that. Whether you’re learning about a country’s history as we explore ancient temples, eating authentic local food, hanging with the locals in some of their favorite spots, or learning some of the local language, the opportunities to have authentic and meaningful interactions with local people and cultures is plentiful on our adventures.
Is this going to be a party trip?
Our trips are not designed to be party trips per se. Our focus is and always has been sharing our favorite travel destinations with others and helping you have the trip of a lifetime, whatever that entails for you. That being said, when people get together in beautiful sunny destinations with a shared interest in beautiful places and awesome times, it’s inevitable that some partying is going to happen.
That being said, our destinations have LOTS to offer for the night owl AND the day adventurer alike. If partying isn’t your thing you will never be at a loss for ways to have an amazing time. One of the great things about travelling in a group is that there are always people doing different things, so however you prefer to spend your time and socialize there will be plenty of opportunities to do so with like minded people.
We do occasionally plan parties for the group in certain destinations, but needless to say drinking is always optional and not necessary to have a great time. If partying is a concern of yours, we assure you there is no reason to worry. There will be lots of ways to fill your days with fun, and our trip leaders always put just as much emphasis on enjoying the surrounding environment and taking in the local history and culture, as they do on anything else.
I see there is a lot of free time. How much do additional activities cost?
We don’t load your daily itinerary with included activities essentially because we don’t want you paying for activities that you may have no interest in doing. That’s not to say that you will have nothing to do most of the time, because there will be loads of options available to you. We just want to make sure you have the best time possible, doing only the kinds of things you want to do. That’s why we only include 1 awesome activity in each place we go. We pick the one big thing that basically everybody wants to see/do in each place we go to, so we can be reasonably certain that everybody will be able to participate and enjoy it.
In terms of your overall budget, we can give you a pretty good idea at faroutadventures.ca/about/your-travel-budget where we offer a general breakdown of costs for meals drinks, shopping, activities, etc based on your specific trip.
What’s the average age of trip participant? Is there a maximum age?
Our trips are designed for 18-30 somethings. This is due mostly to the inherently active nature of our trips, which are admittedly a little more physically demanding than your typical group tour. We do a lot of walking, climbing, hiking and the such in some very hot temperatures, which can be a challenge for some. Within that age range the majority of our guests seem to fall in the 23-29 range.
That being said, we believe that anyone who is up to the task should have the opportunity to participate, so we do occasionally accept travellers outside of that range, as long as they are comfortable undertaking the inherently active nature of our trips.
How many people are normally in a group?
Groups sizes can vary quite a bit depending on the tour and the time of year, but are typically between 8-14 guests plus 2 guides.
How do I meet up with my group?
Whether you are flying on your own or we are arranging your flight for you, we will send you an email after booking detailing the process for meeting with your group leader. In general, it is a very simple process. We will have a facebook group set up for each and all of our tours detailing the itinerary and including instructions for meeting at the arrival destination.
Airport pick up is generally free. All customers on flights booked by Far Out will be picked up at the airport with their fellow group members and transported to their accommodation free of charge. For customers booking their own flights we will make every effort to have a guide meet you and pick you up for free. If not possible due to schedule, we will give you all the necessary information and assistance to make your transportation from the airport to our accommodation simple and worry free.
Will there be Wi-Fi access?
Wi-Fi access is largely available everywhere you go nowadays, and our trip destinations are no exception. Wi-Fi is available at all our accommodations, as well as most bars and restaurants, so you can post all the awesome jealousy inducing pics you want, and mom and dad don’t have to worry about being able to contact you.
Are there a lot of early mornings?
There may be a few early mornings on days we need to catch a train or boat or something of the sort, but for the most part you are free to get up whenever you please. It’s your trip and we won’t tell you when it’s time for you to get out of bed.
Will it rain a lot?
You have probably heard of terms like “wet season” or “dry season” used to describe the weather in warm places. While there are certainly seasonal weather patterns, we would be hesitant to say it never rains during dry season, or it always rains during wet season. While you are certainly likely to see more cloudless days during dry season, you still get plenty of beautiful days during wet season and when it rains its usually only for a few minutes and then the sun is back out. The other bonus to wet season is that the vegetation is lush and beautiful, and things like rivers and waterfalls are flowing at their full potential (perfect for tubing).
Wet season normally starts around May and lasts till October in Laos, similar to other South East Asian countries. August is generally the wettest month of the year. Also in line with other SE Asian countries, it is normally characterized by a couple hours of rain each day, rather than constant downpour. Due to Laos’ mountainous terrain, landslides are not uncommon during wet season and the rivers can become quite wild. While this can be great for activities like tubing and kayaking, it can also lead to a lot of road closures. Luckily boat travel comes into its own during the wet season with boats making much better pace in the high waters.
Laos has 2 distinct dry seasons. The cool dry season lasts from November to February, and is generally the high season for tourism. This is an excellent time to visit as the weather is pleasant, and the rivers are at an ideal level for river travel. The hot dry season usually only lasts the months of March and April, but it is very hot. Temperatures in the 40’s are not uncommon.
What’s The Best Time To Book?
The simple answer to this question is as soon as you can. We operate a small number of trips with limited space, so trips can fill up fast. For most of our trips we are able to accept reservations up to 2 weeks prior to departure as long as there is still availability, but we generally recommend booking at least 3 months before your planned departure to allow us and yourself time to prepare for your trip, especially if you need help booking flights or need to arrange a payment plan. Booking early will also ensure you aren’t planning a 20 day adventure of a lifetime, only to find out you waited just a bit too long and now the trip is full.
How much spending money should I bring?
Ultimately the amount of spending money you will need will depend on the country you are travelling to and your own spending preferences. In general though, a minimum of about 25 EUROS a day is recommended for food, drink and basic necessities. It is POSSIBLE to eat for less than that, but you don’t always want to be eating street food or burning time hunting down the cheapest menu in town. If you want to partake in a few additional activities, do some shopping, and indulge in a few drinks in the evenings, then we would recommend increasing your budget accordingly.
Do I need to tip my tour leaders/guides/drivers?
At Far Out Adventures, we do not accept tips. Our Leaders are there to show you a good time and be your friend and we do have a pretty good time doing it. The job itself is reward enough, and we would rather you to keep your money for having an awesome time. As far as the drivers and day tour guides we use along the way, we do believe in rewarding good service, and our trip leaders always tip well on behalf of the whole group.
What should I bring for luggage?
Whatever works best for you will be fine, but we are big believers in the efficacy of the backpack. There are times on certain trips when we may have to walk a little to get to our accommodations, sometimes over sand, or up stairs, so our trip leaders personally prefer backpacks because its easier than dragging a suitcase. That being said you can bring whatever kind of luggage you are comfortable with. We do suggest bringing at least a small “day” bag or backpack.
What should I pack?
After you register and pay your deposit, we will send you a welcome email detailing your booking information and offering tips on how to prepare and pack for your trip. We go by the old adage “less is more”. You don’t want to lug around a heavy bag full of clothes, only half of which you’ll end up wearing. We recommend packing a few changes of clothes and leaving space in your bag so you have room to bring things back home. Laundry services are available everywhere we go.
When do I receive more detailed information regarding my trip?
After you have registered for your trip and paid your deposit, we will send you a welcome email outlining everything you need to know for your trip, including a trip preparation guide and your exact itinerary outlining the places you will go, the dates you’ll be there, how you’ll get there, and where you will stay.
You will also be invited to join a Facebook group for your specific tour, where you can meet and introduce yourself to your fellow group participants, as well as access important information about your trip.
Will I need a passport?
Yes, you will need a passport with at least 6 months validity from the date of your return to travel internationally with Far Out Adventures. Application times for Canadian passports vary so it is best to apply for one asap if you do not have one yet.
Will I need any travel visas?
Visa requirements are different for every country we go to and are usually specific to the nationality of the traveller. Contact the closest embassy or consulate of the country you are travelling to for specific tourist visa requirements.
Will I need to get travel insurance?
Everyone who travels with Far Out Adventures must provide proof of travel insurance before departing for their trip. Please contact us if you have any questions about insurance.
Will my allergies or other health problems prevent me from participating?
We know first hand the difficulties that travelling with allergies presents, but it has never stopped us from getting out and seeing the world. We have personally found google translate to be our biggest ally in the battle against allergies. If you inform us of your allergies, we will make sure to have a print out stating your allergies in the local language so that we can inform the person taking your food or beverage order can communicate your needs to the kitchen.
Following are couple of basic tips for those travelling with allergies.
1) If you have an epi-pen, bring it with you and carry it at all times. Be sure to inform your group leader of its existence and provide them any necessary instructions in the event it is needed. There will be a place to keep it cold in all of our accommodations.
2) Make sure you inform your fellow group members about your allergy and where to find your medication in the event of an emergency. This is important in the event you go on day trips without your guides.
We ask that you let us know about any health concerns you have that may potentially affect your enjoyment of your trip, so that we can properly assist you and help you avoid any health problems in paradise.
What happens if I get sick or hurt?
While it is luckily not very common, one of the unfortunately realities of travelling is that sometimes people do get or hurt or sick. Our Trip Leaders always carry a list of all medical centers and hospitals located in or near the destinations we travel to. They are also trained in first aid, and carry a first aid kit with them.
In the rare event that a traveller requires medical attention, we will immediately have one of the two trip leaders escort them to the hospital or medical center to assist them with the insurance prosses and whatever else is required, such as helping the traveller get in contact with anyone they may need to inform of the situation back home.
Minor illnesses like traveler's diarrhea are more common and generally caused by eating something your stomach isn’t used to like spicy food, or food that has been prepared differently, or something weird and exotic that caught your eye, like fried crickets or insect larvae. While it can be a pain in the butt (pun intended), you will always have access to bathrooms and if we have to make a pit stop along the way, it’s no problem at all.
