56 Download detailed itineraries from www.himalayankingdoms.com e: info@himalayankingdoms.com Left: Bronze Buddha Photo: Jude Limburn Turner Right: Paradise of Four Thousand Islands Photo: Steve Berry Laos The Mekong & Minorities Eco Trek We believe this was the first trekking holiday in Laos to be offered in the UK! With assistance from UNESCO, local tourism offices have organised a number of hill tribe treks across Laos. Guides, porters, produce and handicrafts are supplied from the villages. UNESCO has funded the construction of a few simple lodges, and local families take it in turns to ‘entertain’ visiting trekkers. In this way trekking becomes a positive benefit for the hill tribes and evenings in the company of village elders is an experience not to be forgotten. Staying in colonial style hotels and quality lodges adds to the enjoyment. A cruise on the Mekong and time in Luang Prabang and Vientiane round off a unique experience, meeting people who still believe the world is flat! £1,995 £1,555 Thu 07 Feb – Fri 29 Feb Thu 13 Nov – Fri 05 Dec £2,160 £1,620 Fri 12 Dec ’08 – Sat 03 Jan ’09 Price TBC: 2009 dates: Thu 05 Feb ’09 – Fri 27 Feb ’09 land only land only Grade: Moderate On Trek: 8 days In-country Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 10 Lodges: 6 Village houses/Guest Houses: 5 Optional: Single Room £295 Insurance: £99 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary Duration: 23 days 1–2 Fly to Bangkok 3–4 Fly to Chiang Rai, drive to Laos border, begin cruise on the Mekong 5–12 Eco treks from Luang Namtha and Muang Sing 13–16 Boat trip to Luang Prabang, day walks, fly to Vientiane, sightseeing 17–20 Drive to Savankot, hill tribe trekking 21–23 Return to Thailand, at leisure, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of2clients The Indo China Experience This is a really thorough cultural tour of Laos. There is no trekking as such but plenty of day walks. After Bangkok we fly to Chiang Rai, cross the border at the Golden Triangle and cruise down the Mekong for two days to Luang Prabang. Time to enjoy the night market, visit the king’s palace, walk around the old quarter and witness the early morning giving of alms to saffron-robed monks. Driving to the Plain of Jars we spend two days exploring this extraordinary and unique archaeological site. Hundreds of iron-age megalithic stone jars lie scattered across a plain, the largest being two metres high and weighing ten tons. Sightseeing in Vientiane is followed by a flight to Pakse and time to relax in the paradise of Four Thousand Islands. Spot the gangetic river dolphins and enjoy an exceptionally beautiful and unspoilt region of delta, islands and waterfalls. £2,095 £1,560 Mon 04 Feb – Thu 21 Feb Mon 03 Nov – Thu 20 Nov Price TBC: 2009 dates: Mon 02 Feb ’09 – Thu 19 Feb ’09 land only Grade: Cultural Tour In-country Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 15 Lodges: 1 Optional: Single Room £325 Insurance: £75 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary Duration: 18 days 1–3 Fly to Bangkok, at leisure 4–8 Fly to Chang Rai, drive to Laos border, cruise to Luang Prabang, day walks 9–11 Drive to Plain of Jars, fly to Vientiane 12–16 Fly to Pakse, boat trips at 4,000 islands, elephant ride, sightseeing, return to Thailand 17–18 Sightseeing, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of clients Visits the Plain of Jars 2 The former kingdom of Laos has received few visitors, partly due to the war in neighbouring Vietnam, and partly because of a restrictive communist government. The Indo-China experience of the languid Mekong River, jungle-clad mountains, temples and French villas is a well-kept travel secret. Another Laos itinerary – see page 55 Other cultural tours – see page 17, 29, 38, 39, 52 & 58 Other Christmas treks – see pages 21, 23, 28, 29, 32, 34, 53, 55, 58 & 67 Gentle Trekking in Laos Fly via Bangkok to the former capital, Luang Prabang. Here it is so easy to imagine bygone days when the king occupied his palace on the banks of the Mekong. After two days walking the old city and villages on the opposite bank, we move north to Luang Namtha and Muang Sing. From the Boat Landing Guest House we make day walks to villages whose women wear tribal costumes lavishly decorated with silver. Back to Luang Prabang by boat, and fly to Vientiane to see the tree-lined boulevards and grand temples. Throughout this trek we will be staying in colonial style hotels or atmospheric lodges. £1,850 £1,395 Thu 21 Feb – Thu 06 Mar Thu 30 Oct – Thu 13 Nov £1,950 £1,395 Sat 20 Dec ’08 – Sat 03 Jan ’09 Price TBC: 2009 dates: Thu 19 Feb ’09 – Thu 05 Mar ’09 land only land only Grade: Gentle Day Walks: 5 In-country Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 8 Lodges: 5 Optional: Single Room £250 Insurance: £95 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary Duration: 15 days 1–2 Fly to Bangkok, at leisure 3–5 Fly to Luang Prabang, village walks 6–9 Drive to Luang Namtha and Muang Sing, hill tribe day walks 10–11 Boat trip on Nam Ou and Mekong rivers 12–13 Fly to Vientiane, sightseeing, fly to Bangkok 14–15 Sightseeing Bangkok, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of clients Other Christmas treks – see pages 21, 23, 28, 29, 32, 34, 53, 55, 58 & 67 2

57 tel: 0845 330 8579 (local call rate, UK only) international tel: +44 1453 844 400 www.himalayankingdoms.com Left: Black Dao girl, Sapa Photo: Victoria Sapa Resort Right: Mt Fansipan Photo: Steve Berry Sapa rice field Photo: Victoria Sapa Resort Vietnam Although Vietnam is still associated in many minds with the war against America, it is amazing how quickly the country has recovered due in no small part to the pragmatic nature of the Vietnamese people. The country still retains a French colonial influence and you will have the opportunity to witness some of the most colourful hill tribes in South-east Asia. Hill Tribe Trekking in Vietnam The hill tribe minorities of North-west Vietnam are some of the most diverse in South-east Asia. In the region this trip visits, there are Tay, Tai, Hmong, Zao and Muong tribes. We start off in Hanoi, the cosmopolitan centre of Vietnam, before departing for the north-west to the old French hill station of Sapa. We then head off to spend a few days trekking on gentle paths through classic terraced fields and woodland to visit some of the most colourful hill tribe villages. Many are still largely untouched by modern life. We sleep in village houses. We provide mattresses and clean blankets. Porters are used to carry baggage, and our cooks prepare delicious Vietnamese meals. Undoubtedly, we shall meet village headmen and sample some of the local brews. The trip ends with a relaxing trip to Ha Long Bay on the eastern coast where we explore the curious island rock formations and grottoes of this World Heritage site on a converted junk and spend a couple of nights on Cat Ba Island. £1,895 £1,250 Dates: Fri 07 Mar – Tue 25 Mar, Fri 03 Oct – Tue 21 Oct land only Grade: Gentle/Moderate On Trek: 6 days In-country Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 9 Train: 2 Village House: 4 Boat: 1 Optional: Single Room £265 Insurance: £99 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary Duration: 19 days 1–3 Fly to Bangkok, fly to Hanoi, sightseeing 4–5 Train to Lao Cai, Drive to Sapa 6–10 Hill tribe trekking in Sapa region 11–12 At leisure, board overnight Victoria sleeper 13–17 Drive to Ha Long bay, boat trip to Cat Ba Island, return to Hanoi 18–19 Fly to Bangkok, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of2clients Standing near the border of Vietnam, China and Laos, Mount Fansipan makes up part of the jungle-covered Hoang Lien Son Range and at 3,143m/10,308ft, is the highest peak in Indo-China. This trip takes us from Hanoi to the hill town of Sapa (1,450m/4,757ft), where the French came to relax during the long hot summers during the colonial era. After visiting the exotic market, we embark on the adventurous trek to the peak of Mt Fansipan. This is three days hard work through steep jungle. We are rewarded by fantastic views into China and Laos. We then move on to Ha Long Bay where Vietnam meets the South China Sea. We spend a day and a half on a converted junk exploring the bay, which will also be our base for sea-canoeing exploration. Our inflatable opentop sea-canoes are an excellent way to explore the bay’s The Mount Fansipan Adventure The 3,143m/10,308ft tunnels, many of which lead to forgotten lagoons that boat could hope to reach. The itinerary was further improved as a result of our climbing Fansipan in November 2003. • See also pages 2 and 3 for more information Other trekking peaks – see pages 35, 45 & 69 £1,895 £1,295 Dates: Mon 25 Feb – Thu 13 Mar, Mon 27 Oct – Thu 13 Nov Price TBC: 2009 dates: Mon 02 Mar 09 – Thu 19 Mar 09 land only Grade: Vigorous On Trek: 5 days In-country Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 8 Camping: 4 Train: 2 Boat: 2 Optional: Single Room £270 Single Tent £tbc Insurance: £99 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary Duration: 18 days 1–4 Fly to Bangkok, sightseeing, fly to Hanoi –5 Victoria sleeper to Sapa 6–11 Trekking up Mt Fansipan 12–13 Visit hill tribe village, overnight Victoria sleeper to Hanoi 14–16 Drive to Ha Long bay, sailing and kayaking on the bay, drive to Hanoi 17–18 Fly to Bangkok, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of2clients Mt Fansipan Trekking Peak