Study Tour 2010 to Laos (NOW CLOSED)

If you have ever thought about travelling to Laos PDR, one of Asia’s emerging gems and you are a passionate supporter of development, social justice and great projects then why not combine the two in the APHEDA study tour to Laos.

The tour is planned at the end of the wet season - a great time to visit. It is timed to coincide with the end of Lent ceremony in Vientiane on the Mekong River, followed the next day by the famous annual boat racing festival.

The tour aims to introduce APHEDA supporters to Lao PDR and its unique culture and beautiful scenery as well as provide access to and information on the APHEDA projects and partner organisations as well as communities that APHEDA has been working with over the last 10 years in Lao PDR.

Itinerary

The tour, is scheduled for 15-26 October this year will begin in Luang Prabang where participants will visit projects and partners of APHEDA, including vocational training projects with the Lao Women's Union as well as union building and OH&S with the Lao Federation of Trade Unions. Luang Prabang is so full of fascinating pagodas, temples, nooks and crannies that the whole city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The tour will then board a boat and meander up the Mekong over 2 days, allowing participants to observe rural life, including stopping off at a village to explore and overnight at Luangsay Lodge overlooking the Mekong (twin share or additional single supplement if you want your own room). The Lodge is located at the small town of Pakbeng.
The boat trip will emerge at Houei Say on the border of Laos and Thailand in Bokeo Province. A full description of the boat/lodge component can be downloaded at the bottom of the page

The next day participants will fly to Vientiane, the national capital. Over 5 days in Vientiane participants will meet with the Lao Federation of Trade Unions and over the weekend enjoy the Buddhist lent festival where candles will be released into the Mekong and the famous annual Mekong dragon boat racing.

The final two days will be spent meeting up with the rest of the APHEDA team at our office and meeting APHEDA partners and observing projects - this time with the Lao Women's Union, who are managing vocational training projects. The tour will host a farewell dinner as well as leave plenty of time for tourism and shopping!!

Cost

Total cost for the trip is AUD$1,395 payable before the tour.

This cost does include:

• All travel within Laos, including the two day boat cruise plus car hire to visit project sites etc.

• All accommodation (except if you choose a single supplement for the o/n at Luangsay Lodge)

• Lao-speaking APHEDA staff to act as a guide and chaperone.

• Group gifts to the people we meet with, as is Lao custom.

• Hotel breakfast each day, plus all meals whilst aboard the boat.

• Flight Houei Say to Vientiane

The fee does not include:

• Travel to and from Laos from Australia (participants are to make their own arrangements to arrive in Luang Prabang at the start date and the tour will conclude in Vientiane).

• Travel insurance (this is mandatory and you will have to show evidence of insurance before joining the trip).

• Laos visa fee (currently USD30 and available on arrival).

• Meals and drinks (other than those mentioned above)

• Personal/shopping expenses.

If you have made up your mind and are interested in joining us, please email mhilton@apheda.org.au and let us know.

Places are limited to just 12 and we are expecting to confirm places by the 15 June 2010.

Download File:
Itinerary of the Cruise/Lodge stay component [ doc ]
Contact Details
Matt Hilton
Ph:  (02) 9264 9343
Fax: (02) 9261 1118
mhilton@apheda.org.au

© Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA 2003.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 16-Jun-2010 09:10:35 EST
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