Activities in Laos
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Big Brother Mouse
Pop into Big Brother Mouse and pick up some books to distribute to local children. Books cost 15,000 kip each and the idea behind the programme is to encourage visitors to hand out something more beneficial than candy, while promoting literacy. Run by a retired American publisher, the staff is made up of Laotian college and high-school students, all of whom contribute to the content, illustrations, and admin of the office. You can also purchase books at the night market or make a donation to support the production of new material, and the office gladly accepts volunteers when the need arises.
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Houey Hong Vocational Training Center for Women
You can learn how to dye textiles using natural pigments and then weave them on a traditional loom at the Houey Hong Vocational Training Center for Women. The NGO group, run by a Lao-Japanese woman, established this centre north of Vientiane to train disadvantaged rural women in the dying art of natural dyeing and traditional silk-weaving practices. Visitors can look for free or partake in the dyeing process (US$12, two hours, two stoles) or weaving (US$15, whole day). You keep the fruits of your labour.
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Tiger Trails
Single- and multi-day trips involving trekking, rafting and cycling around Luang Prabang. Longer trips to Muang Ngoi or Muang Khua and accommodation homestays. Tiger Trails also has an elephant camp about 15km outside of Luang Prabang on the banks of the Nam Khan, where it offers elephant treks and mahout (elephant trainer) courses. This company places a strong emphasis on conservation and community support. Prices range from US$29 to US$40 per day.
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Shooting Range
At the southeast corner of the National Stadium a nondescript door leads into a shooting range, where you can take aim at a paper target with a range of handguns and rifles. Prices start at US$1.20 for five rounds with a 0.22 calibre handgun.
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Sengdara Fitness
Vientiane’s first Western-style mega-gym, with stacks of machines, sauna, pool, massage, aerobics and yoga classes, and a juice bar and restaurant. Visitors can buy a US$6 day pass, which includes use of everything plus a one-hour massage – a very good deal.
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Green Discovery
At the time of writing, tours were offered by the privately owned Green Discovery. Those offered by Green Discovery differ to those offered by the Tourism Office, in order to eliminate direct competition and increase the spread of proceeds.
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Lao Red Cross
Housed in a nicely preserved Lao-French building with half-timbered walls. Proceeds go towards the Lao Red Cross so really any visit here is an act of pure selflessness. Take your own towel or sarong.
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Nam Ha Ecoguide Service
At the time of writing, tours were offered by the Nam Ha Ecoguide Service, a wing of the Provincial Tourism Office.
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Vientiane Swimming Pool
The Vientiane Swimming Pool is central and usually fine for swimming laps.
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Diethelm Tours
Plain of Jars and Muang Khoun tours plus kayaking on the Nam Nguen from May to September.
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Cycling
Luang Prabang is far bigger than the inner grid many people stick to and exploring the surrounding bans and wats on a bicycle is a beautiful way to enjoy the city. Bikes can be rented from guesthouses, tour companies and shops around Th Sisavangvong.
The old quarter can be easily covered in half a day, taking in temples and other sights. It doesn't take much effort to get out of town either: head south past Talat Phousy (Phousy Market) and into the hills, but watch out for punctures on rocky roads.
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OckPopTok
OckPopTok has a weaving and cultural centre where you can witness the silk- and cotton- weaving process from scratch. The skill and patience required to master these looms is quite remarkable and the 15 weavers here are true masters. Fortunately you can try your own hand at the art by taking a small-group class in dyeing and weaving. A Lao lunch is included and you take home your handiwork. Make bookings at its gallery.
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Clinic Keo Ou Done
- Pakse, Laos
- Activities › Other
The professional and popular massage and sauna Clinic Keo Ou Done has an air-con massage room and herbal sauna segregated by gender. A massage (highly recommended!), usually with medicated balms, costs US$2.50 per hour. Unlimited use of the herbal sauna costs US$0.80. To get there, take a jumbo east on Rte 13. About 100m before the Km 3 marker, turn right and follow the ‘Massage Sauna’ signs another 800m.
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Vientiane Hash House Harriers
The Vientiane Hash House Harriers welcome runners to their two weekly hashes. The Saturday hash is the more challenging run and starts at 3.45pm from Nam Phu. It’s followed by food and no shortage of Beerlao. Monday’s easier run starts at 5pm from varying locations – look for maps at the Scandinavian Bakery or Asia Vehicle Rentals, where owner Joe Rumble is more than happy to help out.
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Bicycle Shop
Cycling is the ideal way to explore the wats, waterfalls, bans and landscape surrounding Luang Nam Tha. If you’re not up for a multiday mountain-bike tour, you can head out at your own pace by renting a mountain bike or ubiquitous rabbit-ear bicycle for US$0.30/1 per hour/day from the Bicycle Shop on the main street. It also rents motorcycles for US$2 to US$3 per day.
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Phu Khao Khuay Npa
Covering more than 2000 sq km of mountains and rivers to the east of Vientiane, the underrated Phu Khao Khuay NPA is the most easily accessed protected area in Laos. Treks ranging in duration from a couple of hours to three days have been developed in close consultation with two villages on the edge of the NPA, Ban Na and Ban Hat Khai.
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Baw Nyai
A hot mineral spring can be visited near Muang Kham. Baw Nyai is large and lies 18km east of Muang Kham, 51km from Phonsavan. The spring source is in a heavily wooded area where several bamboo pipes have been rigged so that you can bathe nearby, although the experience is a little disappointing owing to the muddy texture of the water.
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Vientiane Bowling Centre
Vientiane's bowling alleys are a fun diversion popular among travellers and locals alike. Watching some of the local form is certainly entertaining, but we've also heard an evening's bowling rationalised as a chance to drink plenty of Beerlao while 'working it off with a bit of exercise'. 'Exercise'? You be the judge.
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Muang Ngoi Tour Office
Run by a former village school teacher, Muang Ngoi Tour Office is located behind the main street 300m south of the boat landing –look for the signs directing you. From here you can organise small-group treks to Hmong and Khamu villages for around US$8 per day including food, and fishing trips.
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Lao Youth Travel
Highly recommended for its focus on community-based ecotourism. One- and two-day tours between Vientiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang, and rewarding multiday trips to minority villages in the far north. Prices around US$35 to US$50 per day, all inclusive.
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Children’s Cultural Centre
Rather than trashing your used water bottles, cans and other recyclable waste, donate it to the Children’s Cultural Centre, which on-sells the waste to other dealers and uses the funds to provide after-school activities for kids.
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Papaya Spa
In an old French villa west of town (follow the many signs), this is one of the classiest massage operations in town. Services include Lao massage (US$6), Swedish oil massage (US$12), facials, waxing, body scrubs, reflexology and sauna.
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Exotissimo
Exotissimo have a recently-opened office right next door and offer day trips to eight different villages in the area. Their operation may have expanded to multi-day trips by the time you read this.
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Sousath Travel
Trips further afield include Tham Piu, Muang Sui, Sam Neua and Long Cheng (former site of the CIA’s infamous mountain base during the Second Indochina War).
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Centre Culturel et de Coopération Linguistique
The French Centre, as it’s known, has a busy schedule of movies, musical and theatrical performances, a library and French and Lao language classes.
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