The Best of Cambodia & Laos

monsoon forest, diverse wildlife populations,
spectacular karst limestone formations,
and a diversity of minority ethnic
groups.
ECO-TOURISM
Laos has been fortunate in many ways,
because conservation and environmental
protection took hold very quickly after the
country opened up to mass tourism in the
early ’90s. Both the government and many
tourism-related businesses took the message
very seriously and acted on it. This
doesn’t mean that everything in the garden
is rosy, but what it does mean is that Laos
For those who enjoy the pleasures of
nature and the outdoors, Laos is a place to
really stretch yourself in the most pristine
and interesting of surroundings. For
cycling, Laos is ideal. You are best off
bringing your own bicycle if you can,
though, since those for rent tend to be
clunkers designed only to get around
town. The riding can be tough but the
rewards are immense. Getting villagers to
understand that you pedal for pleasure
even though you could actually afford a
vehicle with an engine might take some
doing. If you prefer, you can take an organized
tour.
Trekking in Laos (particularly the north
and the center around Khammouane) is
now very popular. It is a good way to get a
taste of the real rural Laos. Most tour companies
and many guesthouses will be able
to organize a trek for you or put you in
touch with those who can.
After what happened in Thailand and
Nepal in the ’80s and ’90s, when trekking
became an industry that often bought
9 ACTIVE TRAVELERS
is relatively sophisticated in the support it
gives for an ecofriendly infrastructure.
Although most of Laos’s protected areas
are remote and difficult to reach, there are
opportunities for eco-tourism-themed
activities such as trekking, kayaking, birdwatching,
and camping that allow you to
experience firsthand the country’s magnificent
natural and cultural diversity.
For a list of specifically ecofriendly activities
and places to stay all over Laos, visit
www.ecotourismlaos.com. This website is
maintained by the Lao National Tourism
Administration and reflects its enthusiasm
in pushing the eco-tourism agenda.
rapacious operators into delicate ethnic
communities, there was real worry that
Laos could go the same way. Happily that
hasn’t happened and operators have acted
responsibly to preserve the natural and
cultural environment. Ordinarily a day’s
trekking costs about $20 per person. Bring
stout shoes, a hat, and sunblock.
Kayaking and even white-water rafting
are popular on the northern waterways
of the Nam Ou, the Nam Ming, and the
Nam Xouang as well as the Ang Nam
Ngum reservoir between Vientiane and
Luang Prabang. Local tour operators and
some guesthouses in Vientiane, Vang
Vieng, Luang Prabang, and Luang
Namtha will be able to enlighten you as to
your potential options.
Looking at all that amazing karst limestone
scenery around the country, it is no
surprise that rock climbing is an increasingly
popular activity in Laos. Vang Vieng
now attracts world-class climbers and is in
the running for Southeast Asia’s primary
rock climbing destination.
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PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO LAOS 10
ACTIVE TRAVELERS