WAY OF THE MAHOUT Elephant Caravans in
Northern Laos
3, 4, 5 days elephant caravans in Northern Laos Luang Prabang office Sisavangvong Road Ban Xieng Mouane, Luang Prabang, Laos Tel: +856-71-212093, Fax: +856-71-254982 Mob: +856-20-23 02 52 10 Vientiane office Hang Boun Rd, Next to Hay Sok Guesthouse Vientiane, Laos Tel/Fax: +856-21-264528, 218373 Mob: +856-20-55 02 53 26, 55 41 87 30 Email: info@elephantadventures.com
www.elephantadventures.com
Proposed by
We support:
Our treks in brief
Trekking from Luang Prabang or Pakbeng 4 day tour – Half a day of transport (car and / or boat), 2.5 days elephant ridding and one day cruising on the Mekong. 5 day tour - Half a day of transport (car and / or boat), 3.5 days elephant ridding and one day cruising on the Mekong.
Alternative Package This package is a 3 day tour without a cruise. This package is ideal for clients on existing tours that would like to add an elephant trek or for those wishing to minimize costs. The tour begins at 10:00 am at Thasouang pier and concludes on the Mekong river banks. This package is similar to our classic tour but doesn’t include the Mekong river cruise. For customers coming from Thailand, Houeyxay or Pakbeng and going to Luang Prabang, or the opposite, trekking in Hongsa is ideal. Hongsa district is located 2 hours from Pakbeng and offers an ideal stop over during the long cruise to Luang Prabang or Thailand. In order to minimize the cost, this package doesn’t include transport.
‘Way of the Mahout’
I
n Sayaboury Province, elephants are considered sacred. Historically, they have served Lao people in the forest and have played an integral role in the practice of Buddism. If the species were to become extinct, a fundamental part of the area’s cultural heritage would also be lost. ‘Way of the Mahout’ is a unique experience in the heart of Sayaboury’s jungle. Ride your elephant and learn the secrets of Laos’ most experienced mahouts. Share their lifestyle during this incredible journey along rivers and lush untouched forest. By keeping elephants in their traditional environment, this initiative aims at conserving local elephantlore and supporting the reconversion of logging elephants into tourism in order to improve the living conditions of both mahouts and elephants. Fair and environmentally friendly tourism can help preserve the last populations of Asian elephants and favour the development of sustainable solutions for letting people and elephants live side by side. This is why we donate 5% of the price of each trek to the Mobile Elephant Clinic run by ElefantAsia non-profit organization. Funds are used to purchase medicines for sick and wounded elephants, support emergency care missions and promote breeding. For further information please visit – www.elephantadventures.com and www.elefantasia.org We are happy to tailor any itinerary to your precise requirements; therefore please feel free to talk to us about any improvements you feel can be made. The essence of the trip 4 days tour from Luang Prabang or Pakbeng • Contribute to the protection of the Asian elephant • Discover the Lao forest on elephant back • Meet the most experienced mahouts in Laos and share their traditions • Enjoy a downstream cruise on the Mekong river • Experience life with Lao people from various ethnic groups A flexible tour: Elephant Adventures 4 days / 3 nights classic tour (additionnal days possible) from Luang Prabang or Pakbeng: Luang Prabang – Viengkeo (Hongsa) – Tai Lue Village – Khammu Village – Mekong river bank – Luang Prabang OR Pakbeng – Viengkeo (Hongsa) – Tai Lue Village – Khammu Village – Mekong river bank – Luang Prabang Or a 3 day alternative package without transport: Tha Souang pier – Viengkeo (Hongsa) – Tai Lue Village –Khammu Village –Mekong river bank
4 day tour from Luang Prabang or Pakbeng Day 1: Luang Prabang – Viengkeo – Ban Then Breakfast at Leisure. Your guide will pick you up at your hotel in the morning. You will travel to Ban Viengkeo by private car from Luang Prabang (4 hours) or by boat (2 hours) and car (1 hour) from Pakbeng. You will have lunch in Viengkeo, one of the most famous mahout villages in Laos. In the early afternoon, after meeting your elephant and mahout, you’ll start your trekking journey in the direction of Ban Then. You will start along rice fields and then follow the Nam Khene river. Just after you have arrived in Ban Then village, you’ll give your elephant a bath before your guide takes you through the village for a visit. You will stay overnight in Ban then (camping or homestay). Approximately 5 hours of driving (four wheel drive) from Luang Prabang or 2 hours cruising and 1 hour driving from Pakbeng. 3 to 4 hours elephant riding. Meals: lunch / dinner.
Day 2: Ban then – Ban Nam Thap On day 2, you will trek all day to Ban Nam Thap village. After an early morning breakfast, the caravan will depart the village and head into the surroundings in the direction of the Khammu village of Nam Thap. You will travel through untouched natural surroundings, closely following the Nam Thap river. You will pass through fields and forests, learning some basic mahout craft and ensuring that your elephant remains suitably fed! After arriving at Ban Nam thap, you will set up camp in the forest just on the outskirts of the village or stay in a local’s home within the village. After bathing in the nearby river, you can relax in this lovely area before having dinner. You will stay overnight in Ban Nam Thap (camping or homestay). Approximately: 4 to 5 hours elephant riding. Meals: breakfast / lunch / dinner
Day 3: Ban Nam Thap – Mekong river bank Early in the morning, you can follow your mahout into the forest to pick up your elephant and get it ready for the day (groom, feed, bath). You’ll start the day’s trekking crossing a forest. You will then enjoy a picnic near the forest. In the afternoon you will follow a small river along a valley. By now you will have learned the necessary skills and commands to ride your elephant without your mahout having to be close by. In the evening you will reach the Mekong river bank where you will break for an ‘elephant driving test’, allowing you to show off to your mahout how much you have learnt in the past few days. The test consists of a number of commands such as: go, stop, back, right and left... and more. Your elephant is then taken to the Mekong River for a leisurely bath before setting up camp. Evening time is spent close to the Mekong, where you can enjoy time to relax or join your guide on a walk through the surrounding countryside. You’ll have dinner close to the river.
After dinner we can arrange a traditional Baci ceremony. The purpose of which is to call escaped spirits back to the body, a tradition which is very important for Lao people before major events such as weddings, births, travel or when welcoming friends. Once again, you can choose whether to camp on the river bank or stay with a local family. Approximately: 4 to 5 hours elephant riding. Meals: breakfast / lunch / dinner
Day 4: Mekong river Bank / Luang Prabang You will have breakfast on the Mekong river bank. As you prepare your bags to board the boat to Luang Prabang, the elephants arrive to say goodbye. A picnic lunch is taken onboard and you will arrive in Luang Prabang in the afternoon after a six hours downstream cruise. Approaching Luang Prabang in the late afternoon is a wonderful way to arrive at this UNESCO designated World Heritage Site. The ancient royal city is surrounded by mountains and is situated at a junction of the Mekong and Khan rivers. In the centre of the city is Mount Phousi. Climbers of the 328 steps are rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding temples and hills. Luang Prabang, a city where time has seemingly stood still, is also an outstanding example of the fusion of traditional Lao architecture with structures built by the European colonial authorities in more recent times. Its unique, remarkably well-preserved townscape illustrates a key stage in the blending of these two distinct cultural traditions. Approximately: 7 hours cruising along the Mekong river. Meals: breakfast / lunch / dinner
www.elephantadventures.com
WAY OF THE MAHOUT ELEPHANT CARAVANS
Tour Operators’price List 2010 Classic tour package from Luang Prabang or Pakbeng 4 DAYS - 3 NIGHTS
Price List
2010
5 DAYS - 4 NIGHTS
(in US $)
2 PAX
3 PAX
4 PAX
5 PAX
6 PAX
1300 1420
1000 1060
870 930
830 890
760 820
Supplement for elephant specialist guide 700$ (group)
Alternative tour package (from Pakbeng only) Price List
3 DAYS - 2 NIGHTS
2010
2 PAX
3 PAX
4 PAX
5 PAX
6 PAX
980
790
680
630
590
Supplement for elephant specialist guide 700$ (group)
(in US $)
Classic Tour Information Departure
Luang Prabang OR Pakbeng
Arrival
Luang Prabang
Start time
7:30am at your hotel in Luang Prabang 9:30am at your hotel in Pakbeng
End of our service
6:00pm at Luang Prabang pier
Duration
4 or 5 days
Activities
Mekong river cruise, elephant trekking, trek, Village visits
Trekking grade
Easy
Transportation
Boat, car, elephant
Accomodation
Camping (or Homestay)
Meals
All meals listed in the program
In your bag
Hat, sunglasses, torch, warm clothes for evening time, mosquito repellent, sleeping bag.
Included
Water, all meals listed, English speaking guide, one elephant per guest
Children price (10 – 14 years old)
Children under 14 years old will have to share an elephant with one parent. A 50% discount on the adult price will be offered.
Important information Inclusive: • Local English-speaking guide • All accommodation listed • Transport from Luang Prabang or Pakbeng to Luang Prabang by car and private boat (except for alternative package) • All meals listed Exclusive: • Entry visas • International and domestic flight tickets • Airport departure taxes • Any meals not listed in the itinerary • Drinks other than water on activity days • Travel insurance • Personal expenses (tips, drinks, telephone...) Please note: all itineraries and quotes are correct at the time of sending; however, they are liable to change. Booking is confirmed when the whole payment has been made / when the total amount has been paid. Why travel with us? Elephant Adventures supports the elephant conservation program run by the National Animal Health Centre and ElefantAsia non-profit organization in Sayaboury Province, Laos. Elephant Adventures donates 5% of its turnover to the Mobile Elephant Clinic. The project aims at rescuing and providing medical care for elephants in remote areas. The Mobile clinic provides registration, information and preventive medicine, regular health care and treatment and general emergency medicine. To learn more about ElefantAsia’s programs in Laos, visit www.elefantasia.org
www.elephantadventures.com
Your guide A local English-speaking guide will be present during your journey with Elephant Adventures. Though knowledgeable and enthusiastic, our local guides are not elephant experts. If you have specific questions related to elephants, do not hesitate to ask your guide to translate them to the mahouts. On demand: elephant specialist guides If you want to, you can ask for an elephant specialist guide from ElefantAsia NGO to join you during your caravan. ElefantAsia guides speak Lao, French and English and will provide you with specific information about elephants’ biology, role in local culture and conservation issues. Responsible tourism At Elephant Adventures we feel passionately about the regions we visit and the people that make our trips such wonderful experiences. We truly believe that the efforts we all make today will help to sustain the culture and environment in the future. We do as much as possible to minimize our footprint in Laos and will only work with local travel partners who have the same beliefs as us. Tipping You are very welcome to tip your guide and mahout if you wish and of course it is very much appreciated. However, it is not a requirement and is left entirely to your discretion. If you feel unduly pressurized into tipping at any stage, please report the incident to us. Medical care and vaccinations It is essential that you seek professional medical advice before departing your country of residence. It is recommended that you do not drink tap water during your trip. Bottled and filtered water is available at all times and is a far safer option. Always check that the seal is unbroken when purchasing water. Visa A visa is required for this journey. This can be obtained either in your home country or at one of Laos’ international border checkpoints. Do not hesitate to contact us for further information. Trekking grade We recommend people are phycically fit when they undertake one of our treks, although there are no particular difficulties. Spending 3-4 hours walking or on an elephant on undulating trails combined with a tropical climate can be strenuous. Therefore, children should be a minimum of 10 years old to participate in a tour. During the trek, meals are prepared by our cooks. Food is local, simple and tasty. The accommodation is also rudimentary; you can choose between spending the night in a home stay or camping. Travelers are thus expected to be open-minded and to look for an authentic experience in the heart of Laotian forest.
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT LUGGAGE – Please, put your belongings into two bags : 1 backpack and 1 large travel bag (if needed). • 1. Backpack; this bag has should be no more than 6kg. For logistical reasons, you will take only this bag with you during the trek. • 2. Travel bag; This bag will contain the rest of your belongings. You will recieve it at the end of each day of trekking CAMPING • Sleeping bag (standard 0 to 5 degrees) CLOTHING – SHOES • 1 hat • 1 short • 1 wind-resistant coat • Sandals • 1 polar sweat shirt (from December to February) • 1 set of swimwear • 1 long shirt • Light walking shoes • 1 rain cap (from April to October) • 4 T-Shirts • 1 pair of trekking trousers • 1 sarong (bathing suit for shower - for women) OTHER EQUIPMENT – Head frost light + batteries and torch, lighter, sunglasses, sunscreen (also for lips), water bottle, environmentally friendly products for showering. INDIVIDUAL PHARMACY – Your usual medicine PROVIDED EQUIPMENT – Provided by Elephant Adventures: tents, mattresses, cooking equipment, common pharmacy.
Terms and conditions CURRENCY: All amounts mentioned in this quotation are stated in US$. BOOKINGS: To secure a booking, Elephant Adventures/Green Discovery requires that the full payment is made to our account number (see below). Once the booking is accepted a contract is entered into and we will issue you a written confirmation of booking. BANK DETAILS Please kindly forward the payment by swift transfer to ACCOUNT NAME: GREEN DISCOVERY ECO-TOURISM 2 ACCOUNT NUMBER: 010-0-22-01-13109 BANK NAME: PUBLIC BANK BERHAD, VIENTIANE. SWIFT CODE: PBBELALA. Funds in USD IMPORTANT : Please indicate the customer name in the transfer description field
CANCELLATION CHARGES • More than 30 days before departure: full refund (exc. bank charges) • 15 to 29 days before: 90% refund (exc. bank charges) • 7 to 14 days before departure: 50% refund (exc. bank charges) • 2 to 6 days before departure: 30% refund (exc. bank charges) • No show: no refund CANCELLATION BY ELEPHANT ADVENTURES / GREEN DISCOVERY LAOS Elephant Adventures / Green discovery laos reserves the right to cancel any trip departure due to reasons beyond its control (i.e.: natural disasters or political instability). In such a case Green Discovery Laos will offer a full refund.
INSURANCE Travel insurance is compulsory for all people travelling with Elephant Adventures / Green Discovery Laos. Your travel insurance must provide cover against personal accident, medical expenses, emergency repatriation and personal liability. We also advise cover against cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects.
PASSPORTS AND VISAS Travellers must carry a valid passport and obtain the relevant visas when travelling with Elephant Adventures / Green Discovery Laos. The passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the duration of the trip. Green discovery lao can not accept responsibility if entry is denied to a country due to incorrect visa or passport documentation.
COMPLAINTS If you have a complaint about your tour, you must inform your guide leader as soon as possible so that he/she is able to take appropriate action at the earliest opportunity. If you are not satisfied with our response and you feel your enjoyment of the tour will be significantly affected you should contact our head office in Vientiane to discuss how we might best resolve the problem. If on return from your tour you remain unsatisfied you must notify it to us in writing within 30 days.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
When booking an Elephant Adventures / Green Discovery Laos tour, travellers must understand that Elephant Adventures / Green Discovery Laos runs adventure holidays in Laos, where the standards of accommodation, transport, safety, hygiene telecommunication facilities, infrastructural development and medical facilities are not the same as in developed countries. This type of holiday inherently involves a higher level of personal risk than a ‘conventional holiday’. Elephant Adventures / Green Discovery Laos , the Government of Laos and the National Tourism Administration cannot accept any responsibility for accidents, injuries, loss of personal effects or death. Travellers must understand that during the course of the tour some events may occur, including, but not limited to, accident or illness in remote places without medical facilities, political instability and natural disasters. Travellers must agree to assume all risks associated with the journey to the maximum extent permitted by law. Travellers must acknowledge that travel on a Elephant Adventures / Green Discovery Laos tour requires a degree of flexibility, and should understand that the itinerary, accommodation and modes of transport are subject to change without prior notice due to local circumstances. Should Elephant Adventures / Green discovery lao deem it advisable to amend an itinerary for any reason, it may do so by shortening, varying or re-routing any trip. These changes are binding and additional expenses will be charged to you, if the reason for any alteration is outside Elephant Adventures / Green Discovery Laos control. While travelling with Elephant Adventures / Green Discovery Laos, travllers agree to accept the authority of the leader or local operator at all times. Travelers must be aware that travel within a group may involve compromise to accommodate the diverse desires and physical abilities of group members. Travellers should understand that Elephant Adventures / Green Discovery Laos reserves itself the right to decline or accept the presence of any person as a member of the group at any time. Travellers must acknowledge that Elephant Adventures / Green Discovery Laos contracts with a network of companies, government agencies and individuals throughout the country, to assist in the running of its tours. To the best of Elephant Adventures / Green Discovery Laos knowledge, these third parties are qualified to perform the duties they are contracted to perform. However Elephant Adventures / Green Discovery Laos will not be held liable for any injury, damage, loss, delay or irregularity that may occur due to the behaviours of these third parties. Elephant Adventures / Green Discovery Laos will not accept responsibility or liability for any traveller who contravenes any law or regulation of any country visited. No employee, servant or agent of Elephant Adventures / Green Discovery Laos has authority to change these conditions.
ADDITIONAL EXTRAS
Several additional extras can be added to the standard packages described above. These include
ch.
- A private boat with several standards available (from the typical traditional “slow boat” to luxury boats with private cabins and deck, bar...)
- A conference aboard the boat with an elephant specialist from ElefantAsia.
- A visit to Pak Ou Buddha caves on the way back to Luang Prabang.
A Welcome Kit which includes printed material about the elephant, its biology, role in local culture and conservation issues. The Kit includes four booklets (Lao basic vocabulary, Mahout’s handbook, an overview of Laos and the “All you want to know about Asian elephants” brochure), a silk sleeping bag, elephants commands and safety regulations memo, a map of Luang Prabang... Several products can be purchased as gifts for guests.
DVD and Book, old Lao etchings on elephants, elephant bells, framed pictures, T-Shirts and postcards can also be purchased.
ane Lao PDR Mob : +(856-20) 502 53 26
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Contact us for prices.
www.elephantadventures.com
Head Office: Hang Boun Rd, Next to Hay Sok Guesthouse Vientiane, Laos Tel/Fax: +856-21-264528, 218373 Mob: +856-20-55025326, 55418730 Email: info@elephantadventures.com
Luang Prabang Office Sisavangvong Road (Rue Principale) Ban Xieng Mouane, Luang Prabang, Laos Tel: +856-71-212093, Fax: +856-71-254982 Mob: +856-20-23025210
Les Nouveaux Paradis - “Laos, au fil du Mékong” ARTE
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Sept à Huit - “Le Pays des Eléphants” TF1
http://videos.tf1.fr/sept-a-huit/l-emission-du-21-mars-2010-5778933.html