Laos...Laos - Officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, or commonly referred to its colloquial name of Muang Lao is a landlocked country in the heart of the Indochinese peninsula

contents

Laos Brief IntroductionWeather and Map

Top 4 Recommended DestinationsMajor Airport in Laos

Recommended UNESCO World Heritage Sites in LaosLaos Cuisine

Electricity and VoltageLaos Currency

Helpful NumbersLaos Visas & Passports

Flexible, Time-saving, Fast & Easy Tailor-making Procedure Novaland Tours Clients’ Photos

Tailormade Tour Guide

Laos

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Laos - Officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, or commonly referred to its colloquial name of Muang Lao is a landlocked country in the heart of the Indochinese peninsula of Mainland South-east Asia, bordered by Myanmar (Burma) and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambo-dia to the southwest, and Thailand to the west and southwest.

The country with an area of 236,800 sq km, is divided into 19 provinces.The Lao population is 6.8 million people (estimated early 2009) with a population density of 27 people per sq km. Around 80% of the population live in rural and mountainous areas relying on subsistence rice farming.

This small country is still home to some 49 ethnic groups whose lifestyles have remained relatively unchanged for centuries.

Knowing what you really love is important. Your preferences, interests, favorite attractions, habits, travel purpose & budget, etc, please feel free to fill in the form. Or send email to [email protected]. Then we can tailor-make your most suitable tour proposal free of charge. Easy & save your time!

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The Laos climate is mainly tropical, with a seasonal monsoon and this means the weather is warm, humid and there is a lot of rain in the wet season.

The average temperature is around 29°C (84°F). During the warmest months the temperature can rise to 40°C (100°F+). In cooler months the temperature often drops to 15-20°C (58-68°F) at night in lower land like Vientiane and it can drop to below freezing in the mountainous areas. Days are usually warm and sunny almost all year round.

Laos Brief Introduction

Weather and Map

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Rainy season runs from May to October, is characterised by a downpour for a few hours every few days rather than all day rain.

During the wet/rainy season the humidity is much higher than normal that tends to make the temperature to feel much higher than it is, when the humidity and temperature are at their peaks it is usually followed by a downpour. After heavy rain you'll appreciate cooler, fresher and cleaner air.

Dry season runs from November to April or early May, can be further sub divided into two distinct sections: November to February is the cool dry season and March to April or early May is the hot dry season.

The former is the most comfortable time to visit Laos particularly in November and December, the rivers are high enough to make river travel a breeze. However it's more expensive to travel in Laos during this period as it is the peak season.



After I grown up, I’ve learn how difficult to be a parent and hardships of parenting, the loves I received from them were such strong and with no regrets. I have been in searching for ways to return, hope to be able to make their life comfortable, easy and happy. I’d love travel very much, every well planned and enjoyable trips became a unforgettable experi-ence in part of my life. After hard works, I was always dreaming to visit different cities in different countries, it is not necessary to be a luxury and expensive trip, but a leisure and budget tour. In my mind, traveling is life's most luxurious enjoyment, so I want to arrange a wonderful trip for my parents.

I cannot wait to share my idea with my parents, I believe they would love of my plan. When I announce travel proposals, my father interrupted me, said he doesn't like to travel, he don't want to go out. I am very surprised why he is so against to it. They are not young, it is the time to enjoy life.

"My dear dad, you used to travel a lot, why you want to quit this time?" I asked.

He answer: “You are right, I’ve done lots of travel before, but none of them could really let me enjoy the time. I had to wake up early morning every day, and rush to each so-call must-to-visit tourism site with very short visiting time or only a photo time; also, I had been forced to shopping, without any consumes, you would receive anger from tour guide immediately. I would rather staying at home than paying money for nothing. Most importantly, many of the tour attractions arranged factually are not what I love. I don’t think I enjoyed them but wasted my time and money.

Now, I see what my dad worry about. He always took very old fashioned traveling: Group Depar-ture, which provides economic price with shopping sites, but everything is fixed, you have to stick to all arrangements provided, and there is no chance to have your own time for your favorites, and follow your own interested itinerary.

I explained my dad, we will choose a totally different style of traveling, a Tailor-made itinerary as per our requests, there will be no forced shopping, no rushing, we see what we would like to see, we go where we are really interested in. Finally, dad agreed to go.

Since then, I was thinking what if there was a travel company could do things as below: to tailor made very travel enthusiasts a unique trip, which will be enjoyable, leisure, full of fun and unforget-table memories. The traveling supposed not to be the way as my dad’s through; it ought to be : a road full of fun and happiness; a place where you could totally relax; very spots and destination will inspire you; experiencing a different life, which could be beautiful, warm or delightful; it will be unforgettable even you've return home. I guess, it might be the biggest enjoyment of travel.

The Tailor-made Tour Specialist(TTS) In Novaland Tours (NLT), who are familiar in every tourism spots, hotels, transportation, food, attractions in every destinations you are willing to go; fully understand what are your interests; provides you a one-on-one service, design you an exclusive trip ; arrange you appropriate tour guide, driver and hotel ect. let you totally out of tedious prepared and bad experience in the line

So right now, do not waste your time, let’s traveling out, to see the world attentively. Let’s bring real enjoyments back. This is what NTL’s goal is and what we insist to reach.

Introducing Novaland Toursnovaland tours story

_4Knowing what you really love is important. Your preferences, interests, favorite attractions, habits, travel purpose & budget, etc, please feel free to fill in the form. Or send email to [email protected]. Then we can tailor-make your most suitable tour proposal free of charge. Easy & save your time!


Tailor-made Travel / Tailor-making What You Really LoveNovaland Tours are very proud to give you a better travel experience. We specialize in tailor-made tour service based on your personal interests, tastes and budget. Your entire holiday is designed around your personal needs. Explore your interests at your own speed. Enjoy the tour what you really love.

Tailor-made Tour SpecialistOur Tailor-made Tour Specialists (TTS) are experienced and well-trained. Your 1-on-1 TTS pays attention to knowing you — your goals, desires, preferences, etc. He/she is patient, on standby 24-7, and full of useful suggestions. He/she wants to become your friend, think what you think, to arrange your best unique tailor-made tour.

Flexible, Time-saving, Fast, and Easy Tailor-making ProcedureIt could be so painful to plan a wonderful tour before journey. You need to do so much studying during your busy daytime job & life. In the end, you probably found that you still have not studied well to arrange a really good tour. In Novaland, you don’t need much time to study but just tell us your favorites, and we do the rest. It is flexible, time-saving, fast and easy.

Tailor-made Travel Price According to Your Personal NeedsTailor-making tour according to your travel budget. For us, tailor-making is not equal to high price. One enjoyable tour must be operated in a reasonable and worthy budget. Although it is truth that you get what you pay for, but it needs the help of professional judgment of what are really suitable for you. How much you spend is closely bound up the tour characteristics you choose. If you are comfortably fixed for money, we can provide more choice and more noble experience. But if you don’t want to live frugally after finishing travel, we will definitely recommend you cost-effective, affordable characteristic experience.

from others

What makes

Novaland Tours Different

10 Reasons Why Novaland Tours is #1 in Tailor-making Tour and You Should Choose Our Good Tour Service in

1. Tailor-making What You Really Love2. Tailor-made Tour Specialist3. Flexible, Time-saving, Fast, and Easy Tailor-making Procedure4. Tailor-made Travel Price According to Your Personal Needs5. See a Real Laos 6. In-depth Experience Distinctive Taiwan Culture7. Worry Free Customer Service8. 4 Principles of Reception in Travel9. Standardized and Experienced Management of Reception10. Wonderful Membership Benefits

_5Knowing what you really love is important. Your preferences, interests, favorite attractions, habits, travel purpose & budget, etc, please feel free to fill in the form. Or send email to [email protected]. Then we can tailor-make your most suitable tour proposal free of charge. Easy & save your time!


See a Real LaosExperience the diversity of modern and tradition, the big differences between coun-tryside and cities, the natural and social complexity, fascinating and beautiful land-scapes, and the normal local life.

In-depth Experience Distinctive Laos Culturein-depth experience distinctive Laos culture Get beyond the tourist facade of the countries and enjoy a cultural holiday. Focus on the local culture, past and present, and discover the lifeblood of any country (peo-ple)

Worry Free Customer ServiceOver 98% good & excellent satisfaction. 24/7 care while in travel. First time responses and 100% satisfaction of problem-solving. Money back guarantee.

4 Principles of Reception in Travel4 Principles of Reception for local tour guides, drivers and other suppliers to stan-dardize and ensure service quality and improving customer satisfaction. Principle 1: Who Serves, Who Answers for; Principle 2: Integral Cooperation Service; Principle 3: Standard Excellent Service, Customer First; Principle 4: People First, Safe Tour.

Standardized and Experienced Management of ReceptionWe are strongly capable of managing every parts of travelling, tour guides, drivers, cars, meals, etc. We have strict, experienced and the whole instructions, rules and specifications to supervise our tour guides, drivers, etc to serve our guests better. Even for emergency problems, we have concluded for a long time and full of experi-ence how to deal with them well. Our operation team are full of passion of nev-er-stop-pursing best service. We don’t fear problems or dissatisfactions but will deem them the pedals to be the best one.

Wonderful Membership Benefits After booking one tour with us, get long-term benefits of Novaland Travel Club. For example: Free-design tailor-made itineraries whenever you need. Free travel guide books regularly elaborately designed for many countries. Freely join in membership activities. Membership club points for gifts. Exclusive tour packages for members. One community for making new friends with same interests. And many other Nova-land Travel Club benefits.


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Top 4 RecommendedDestinations

◆Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is a Lao province located in the northern part of the country. The city sits at the confluence of Nam Khan River and the Mekong River enriched by mountainous backdrop.

The city was formerly the royal capital and seat of the government of the ancient Kingdom of Lane Xang or the Land of Million Elephants. A charming city with a lot of French colonial houses scattered in every corner of the city, small alleys with bougainvillea flowers in front of the houses, cafes with dim lights and cute outdoor terraces.

The sense of calm antiquity that first brought visitors to the city when Laos opened to tourism in late 1980s has been well preserved. The town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995. It has both natural and historical sites, and it's well known for its numerous Buddhist temples, its monks and its well-preserved culture and traditions.

Its stunning natural surroundings, the karst landscape, the Song river, caves and cliffs make Vang Vieng interesting and popular among visitors. These have always been the main attractions that draw visitors to this tiny town.

◆Vang Vieng Laos

Vang Vieng is a small tourist-oriented town about 150km north of Vientiane capital (3.5hrs driving), located in Vien-tiane province.

Located on the Nam Song (Song River also spelt Xong), Vang Vieng boasts a natural beauty. The town is surrounded by a picturesque backdrop of limestone karsts and is surrounded by farmland, a quiet spot in the lovely countryside.



◆Vientiane

Located on a curve of the Mekong River, Vientiane Capital has a recorded history that stretches back to around 1,000 AD. The area was originally settled because of the fertility of the surrounding alluvial plains, and Vientiane became the capital city of Laos around the mid-16th centu-ry. It is the home to the most significant national monument in Laos

Vientiane and Luang Prabang both pay homage to the French Indochina time period, Luang Prabang has retained a lot of the buildings where Vientiane has retained a large portion of the Culture.

The city offers a great choice of accom-modation, restaurants and pavement cafes some adding a French air with their style of architecture which con-trasts pleasingly with the old Buddhist temples dotted around.

◆Pakse

Pakse is the capital of Champasak Province, founded by French colonial-ists in 1905. The kingdom was destroyed in 1946 after which the Kingdom of Lao was created. Pakse is located at the mouth of the rivers Xedong and Mekong. The term Pakse means the ‘Mouth of the River Se’.

In the Pakse area, there are about 62 tourist sites: 32 natural, 7 historical, and 27 cultural. There are many French colonial style buildings remain-ing in the city. From Sedon Bridge, often called 'old bridge' by the people of Champasack, you can walk around to see the old French style quarter. The Lao – Japan Mekong River Bridge was constructed in 2002 and is a route to Thailand.



Major Airport in Laos

There are four international airports in Laos, where you can get visa on arrival:

Wattay International Airport in Vientiane CapitalPakse International Airport in Champasack Province Luang Prabang International Airport Savannakhet International Airport

Wattay in Vientiane has regular service from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Kunming, Guang Zhou, Singapore, Seoul and Kuala Lumpur.

Direct flights are available to Luang Prabang from Bangkok, Hanoi and Chiang Mai. Lao Airlines has regular service to all domestic destinations and a number of regional capitals. Major interna-tional carriers with flights to Laos are Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways International, Vietnam Airlines, China Southern Airlines and Air Asia.

Recommended UNESCO WorldHeritage Sites in Laos



Recommended UNESCO WorldHeritage Sites in Laos

LUANG PRABANG THE WORLD HERITAGE TOWN

The ancient town of Luang Prabang in the center of northern Laos has been described as one of the most charming and best preserved towns in Southeast Asia. There are 34 Buddhist temples among Luang Prabang's colonial and Chinese architectures, all set in a backdrop of lush green mountains. The Mekong River frames the town's western border, and it remains an important commercial and recreational transportation link.

Vibrant cultural traditions, rituals and distinctive artwork such as temple murals, woodcarvings and pottery make Luang Prabang an attractive destination for a wide range of interests. Due to its out-standing cultural and natural features, the town was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.

The town is directly accessible by air from Bangkok, Vientiane and Chiang Mai, and travelers looking for a bit of adventure can opt for overland travel from all directions in dry season. There is also regu-lar boat service on the Mekong (a two-day voyage) to and from Houeixai, which borders Chiang Khong in northern Thailand.

WAT PHOU COMPLEX

The Wat Phou Complex and the surrounding Champasack Heritage Landscape is located 500 kilome-ters south of Vientiane on the east bank of the Mekong River in Champasack province. Wat Phou is an excellent example of early classical Khmer architecture, dating from the 7th - 12th century AD. At the foot of Wat Phou is the ancient city of Shestupura, which was settled in the 5th century AD, and is believed to be the oldest urban settlement in Southeast Asia. Besides the main Wat Phou Temple Complex, there are several archeological and nature sites nearby that can take some time to explore. Considered by many to be the most beautiful of all Khmer temples, Wat Phou Champasack is distinguished as much by its dramatic and symbolic environmental setting as it is for its masterful architecture and iconographic arts. The site along with other outlining temple was inscribed on UNE-SCO’s world heritage List as Wat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasack Cultural landscape on 14 December 2001.

ANCIENT KHMER ROAD

Traces of the Khmer road were clearly identified though examination of a series of aerial photo-graphs covering the area from Wat Phou to Angkor. Some extensive sections of the road are still clearly visible at ground level. The road was built after the Khmer Empire was unified, when travel-ling through provinces was no longer too dangerous. The connection from the Wat Phou temple complex to Angkor again points to the enduring sacred significance of the temple and the Lingapar Wata or Linga Mountain.



Laos Cuisine

Khao niaw: Lao glutinous rice (aka sticky rice) is the national staple; simply roll it up into balls and pop in your mouth.

Tam mak hoong: Laos’ favourite salad is an incendiary mix of pounded green papaya, peanuts, dried shrimp, green beans, fish sauce and palm sugar.

Laap: A lip-smacking salad made from minced meat, fish or vegetables tossed with mint, chilli, lime juice, garlic, onions and powdered rice.

Pho: White rice noodle soup, usually served with beef or pork; it’s subtly flavoured and locals spice it up with fish sauce, dried chillies and herbs.

Khao jee: Baguettes are a legacy of the French colonial period, often served with tomatoes, cheese and pork in chilli sauce.

Sai oua: Traditional Lao sausage, flavoured with lime leaves, onion, garlic and Lao herbs.

Kai paen: Weed from the Mekong River – a Luang Prabang speciality – usually served dried into sheets with sesame.

Khao poon: Spicy soup with vermicelli noodles, chilli, lime leaves and strongly-flavoured perilla leaves.

Ping Kai: Lao-style grilled chicken, seasoned with pepper, coriander root, garlic and fish sauce.

Or Lam: A rich jungle stew or dried buffalo meat or game, chilli, mushrooms, beans and mashed eggplants.

Lao lao: The local rice whisky, traditionally prepared in village stills.

Beer Lao: The nation’s favourite brew.

Cafe pakxong: Lao coffee, brewed using beans from plantations on the Boloven Plateau.



Electricity and Voltage

Laos operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz frequency. Outlets in Laos generally accept 2 types of plug:

If your appliances plug has a different shape, you may need a plug adapter. Depending on how much you plan to travel in the future, it may be worthwhile to get a combination voltage converter and plug adapter.

Lao currency is called kip (LAK).

The exchange rate is around 8,000-9,000 to US$1. US cash and Thai baht is com-monly used for larger purchases. Kip is a non-convertible currency, meaning once you have left Laos, it's useful only as wall-paper.

Banks outside Laos will not accept nor exchange kip. International access ATMs dispensing US dollars can be found in most major tourist centres across the country.

LaosCurrency

LaosElectricityand Voltage

Flat blade plug Two round pins



LaosVisas &Passports

All visitors entering Laos must possess valid passports. Visas can obtained from Lao Embassies and Consulates abroad. In addition, visas can also be obtained on arrival at the international checkpoint.

Visas can be secured in advance of arrival at Lao Embassies. This can be done in several ways through a tour company recognized by the Lao PDR, from Lao Embassies or Consulate in countries.

For those wishing to extend their stay, it is possible to extend your visa at the Immigration Office in Vientiane, through travel agencies. It is also possible to obtain a Visa-on-Arrival at international checkpoints.

Validity starts from day of entry into Laos. Tourist/Business: 30 days (can be extended twice in Vientiane for 30 days). Visas must be used within three months of being issued.

Helpful Numbers

PoliceTourist Police

FireAmbulanceElectricity

191192190195199

LaosHelpfulNumbers



Tell us as much as possible about your ideal tour, such as your tour purpose, your special needs and interest, and your approximate travel budget, etc.

Know Your Personal Needs & InterestsStep 1

Tailor-made Tour Proposal from Your 1-On-1Tailor-made Tour Specialist(TTS)

Step 2 Email you within 24 hours (it may take up to 48 hrs on weekends or major public festivals).

Based Our Communications, Get Several Prices Proposal.Step 3Several prices according to different types of tour, then revise pricing according to your travel budget and personal needs.

Choose the Most Suitable Price & Tour ProposalStep 4

Arrange Tour According to Your PreferencesStep 5Your preferences include food, tour guides, sleeping habits, etc, to ensure the best travel experienc-es for you.

Enjoy Your Most Unique Tailor-made Travel.Step 6

Your TTS Call You in Tour and Ask for YourValuable Feedbacks After Travel.

Step 7

Your TTS will call you 2-3 days after your tour started to see if everything is in good hands. Please feel free to communicate with your TTS during your tour.

Flexible, Time-saving,Fast & Easy Tailor-making Procedure

Novaland Tours

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Laos...Laos - Officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, or commonly referred to its colloquial name of Muang Lao is a landlocked country in the heart of the Indochinese peninsula