The Best of Cambodia & Laos

206
PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO LAOS
10
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
which is now a veritable mecca of young
people. The place remains beautiful, but
the town itself has a rather desperate air,
largely created by the thousands of budget
travelers and including illegal drugs.
Laos has a low population density,
unspoiled diverse ethnic lifestyles, and
perhaps the richest, most extensive network
of ecosystems on the Indochina
Peninsula. There are over 800 species of
birds and more than 100 large mammals
already identified in Laos, with new species
being discovered every year. Some of
the more exotic species include tigers,
Sustainable Travel Tips for Laos
For the budget traveler, Laos is busy
and interesting. You will certainly meet
many like-minded souls as you make your
way around.
8 SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
clouded leopards, douc langur monkeys,
gibbons, the Irrawaddy dolphin, hornbills,
peafowls, ibis, crested argus, and silver
pheasants. A network of 20 national protected
areas was designated to protect and
conserve its ecosystem. It is often cited as
one of the best designed protected area
systems in the world. It covers nearly 14%
of the country with large tracts of tropical
While in Laos, you can make your trip a constructive one by following these
simple guidelines:
• Eat Lao food as much as you feel able. Purchasing fresh foods in the market
and eating Lao dishes ensures that your money stays local and supports
Lao farmers. When on a tour, request to eat in the village instead of taking
food with you from town. This will provide villagers with income and you
with an authentic Lao meal.
• Purchase local crafts. Purchasing handicrafts in markets or villages directly
supports local artisans and their traditional crafts.
• Use local guides. Taking a village guide and/or a local guide from town
will make your trip more enjoyable and will help employ local people.
Inquire about packaged tours that include local guides, local food, and
local accommodations.
• Stay overnight in villages. Staying overnight in a village as part of an
organized tour provides a genuine and rewarding experience of Lao culture
and Lao people. Remember to compensate villagers for accommodations
and for food and to visit villages with a local guide.
• Visit national protected areas. Visiting national protected areas can help
generate income and awareness to support the protection of threatened
wildlife and forest ecosystems.