Laos & Cambodia

Important note: all travelers should arrive with the flight:
Vientiane – Luang Nam Tha by Laos Airlines, QV603B VTELXG 14:00-15:00 (flight cost is not included in the price).

Upon your arrival at Luang Nam Tha in Laos, you will be welcomed by a Rahhalah representative and, all together, you will drive to Houayxay: a town by the Chiang Khong borders with Thailand (a 4-hour drive).

Once there, you will spend the rest of the day at leisure, relaxing or exploring the neighborhood at your own pace.

Accommodation: Houayxay- Mone Thong Hotel or similar.

After a very early breakfast, you will check out and proceed to the Gibbon Office, where you should arrive by 8:00am at the latest. However, the actual starting point of your Gibbon Experience (a unique adventure, like no other in the world) is still many kilometers away.

You will drive from Houayxayto Baan Toup (83 km, around 2.5 hours), on a road that can be quite rough depending on the weather. At the village, local guides will welcome you, leading you through an uphill hiking trail (1 hour) to the canopy infrastructure. There, you will split up in small groups, put on a harness, and glide across the first cable. You will continue gliding and trekking until you reach your treehouse (1 to 3 hours depending on your treehouse).

In the afternoon, the guides will take you on a two-hour hike to familiarize yourselves with the cable network.

Overnight in a canopy-level treehouse.

Note:
Although the landscape is of 5-star quality, the accommodation is rather basic. For three days, you will be surrounded by the jungle, protected by an exceptional canopy, and, at night, by millions of stars, but your tree house (accessible only by ziplines) must be shared with other guests. Each mosquito net provides a semi-private room for two people, and when a treehouse is at full capacity, solo travelers may end up sharing a mosquito net canopy.

Today, you will spend the full day in the jungle, using the cable system to soar through the rich canopy, surrounded by peace, mountains and the dense jungle. You may also choose to relax in your treehouse or go for short hikes on your own to observe the wildlife of the area. Dawn is the best time for wildlife encounters, and you may even get lucky to spot the famous black gibbons (Nomascusconcolorlu) in their natural environment. On most days, you can hear their territorial hooting. However, sightings of the endangered black gibbon cannot be guaranteed.

Important notes to best enjoy the Classic Gibbon Experience:

• For safety reasons, people weighing over 110 kg / 243 lbs will not be allowed on the cable system.
• The Classic Gibbon Experience is relaxing and peaceful, with only an hour of necessary walking. There is no strict schedule, and it is up to you to decide how to use your time so that you get the best out of this experience. Food will be served when you are hungry, and the guides will escort you to your treehouse and around. This option usually enables gibbon encounters with little effort.
• The Gibbon Office makes sure that the area does not get overpopulated by tourists, which would disturb the wildlife and the quality of the overall experience. As such, up to three groups of eight people depart on alternate days at 8 am for three days and two nights, accommodated in treehouses scattered within the Nam Kan National Park.
• During the Gibbon Experience, you will be asked to keep your personal items to a minimum as you will have to carry them throughout your trip in the jungle. Bedsheets and towels are provided in your treehouse. You will need a daypack, gloves or old socks, a water bottle, mosquito repellent (and long-sleeved shirt and pants to avoid bites and stings), a camera and a headtorch.

Overnight in a canopy-level treehouse.

You will spend the morning enjoying the last hours of the Gibbon Experience before being transferred back to Houayxay by bus (leaving at around 03.00pm).

In the afternoon, you can explore the city of Houayxay, strolling around, visiting the local Marchket and the ruins of the French colonial-era Fort Carnot and making sure to check the sunset over the Mekong River.

Accommodation: Houayxay- Mone Thong Hotel or similar.

After breakfast, you will head to the pier to embark a traditional river boat that will take you to Pakbeng. On the way, you will enjoy a traditional Lao lunch on board, and you will visit a Kamu village (Ban Houa Phalam) that hosts around 90 families. There, you will get acquainted with the rural lifestyle in such a remote area.

The boat will arrive at Pakbeng before the night.

Accommodation:Pakbeng -Sanctuary Pakbeng Lodge or similar.

You will depart at 8am towards Luang Prabang, following a beautiful part of the river, surrounded by jungle and wild nature.

On the way to Luang Prabang, you will stop at Ban Baw village, where three ethnic groups - Lao Loun, Shan and Tai Lue – live in harmony. In the afternoon, you will stop at the Pak Ou Caves (Tham Ting) that host over two thousand Buddha statues. It is one of the most important pilgrimage places for the Lao people.

The boat will arrive in Luang Prabang before 4:30pm. Upon your arrival, you will be welcomed by your new guide who will transfer you to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the evening at your own pace, exploring the neighborhood and visiting the Night Marchket.

Accommodation: Luang Prabang- Le Bel Air or similar

In the morning, you will wake up before dawn to witness an ancient ritual: the offering of alms to hundreds of saffron-robed monks – an awe-inspiring sight. If you wish, you can also join the locals for a bowl of delicious noodle soup after the alms giving ritual.

Note: Please inform your guide a day in advance if you wish to make an offering yourself, so he/she can prepare some food for you to hand over to the monks. If you do not wish to make an offering, please keep an appropriate distance and observe the ritual in silence. Dress appropriately: shoulders, chest and legs should be covered.

Before returning to the hotel for breakfast, you will visit the Morning Marchket where you can see a diversity of mountain and river products.

After breakfast, you will embark on a short, guided tour around the city, visiting the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, Wat Mai (the holy temple) and the National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings to the last sovereign.
Afterwards, you will be transferred to airport for board your flight to Siem Reap (the cost of flight is not included in the price).

Upon arrival at the Siem Reap International Airport, you will be welcomed by your new guide who will take you to the hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, until you all meet again for dinner.

At dinner, you will enjoy a performance by classical Apsara dancers depicting scenes from Khmer mythology

Accommodation: Siem Reap-Lynnaya Urban River Resort & Spa or similar.

After breakfast, you will head to Angkor Wat: one of the most impressive religious monuments in the world and a symbol of the Khmer heritage. Its stunning base relief, massive towers and huge entrance will take your breath away.

Today is meant to be a meditative day as you will explore on foot some of Angkor’s most beautiful temples. Soon, as your eyes get accustomed to the shapes and patterns, you will catch yourself “discovering” new structures around every corner of the jungle.

Among other things, you will visit the former capital Angkor Thom (Bayon, Terrace of the Elephants) and Ta Prohm, which is famous for its massive, overgrown trees. It may look familiar to you, as it was used for the setting of the movie Tomb Raider.

Hiking distance: approx. 20 km.
Level: Moderate.

Accommodation: Siem Reap-Lynnaya Urban River Resort & Spa or similar.

After breakfast, and depending on your departure details, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back home.