The Akha Village Experience
NEW Village Based Home Stay Project in North Laos
Unique Volunteer/Voluntourism program in North Laos...
Are YOU seeking a very different traveling experience? YOU want to learn about traditional ethnic life of rural Laos in a remote, off-the-beaten track place? And YOU want to travel in a responsible way and get a deeper understanding of sustainable tourism practices...
Tiger Trail Outdoor Adventures has created an innovative and new interaction program that gives travelers the opportunity to experience traditional life in a beautiful minority village in Northern Laos while actively taking part in daily activities in a non-intrusive way.
The Akha Village PROJECT
The “Akha Village
Experience Project” is a co-operation between Tiger Trail Outdoor Adventures,
the UNODC (United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime), the PADF
Phongsali Alternative Development
Fund, and Lao P.D.R.
government offices. The project has been established
in Dec. 2009 with the main purpose to
generate alternative income to former Opium growing communities through sustainable
volunteer-tourism (voluntourism). Through those activities the project
is meant as a pioneer idea/example for further initiatives to follow. You support
and contribution will make a difference
The Akha Village PROGRAM
Your
stay at the village will give you the rare opportunity to be a visitor with a purpose as you
will partake in day-to-day activities and immerse yourself in ethnic Akha community
life. During the day you will be busy supporting villagers within their work on
the fields and at home which may include collecting forest products, carrying water,
planting rice, harvesting, feeding chicken, as well as housing chores such as preparing
daily food supplies, cooking or looking after kids, teaching English while learning
Lao and Akha language, but also learning traditional ethnic handicraft like waving
or basket making. All depends on the specific needs and circumstances.
A local, experienced guide/interpreter will be with you throughout your stay to facilitate communication and interaction and to provide support at any time.
YOU can be more than a normal tourist and visitor! YOU can actively help to generate income and support some of the poorest communities in Laos! You can actually make a difference!
Accomodation and Food
You
will be sleeping at a Family Home with amazing views over the lush surrounding mountains.
At night you will be eating traditional Akha meals prepared in local fashion. A
small personal bathroom was established to guarantee basic hygiene needs. The equipment,
mattresses, blankets and others are 100% natural and hand made in another project
target village helping to preserve the culture of weaving and embroidery.
The Akha village program includes:
- all transports, guiding, village fees taxes and fund payments an orientation session, intro walks daily village activities as per season a trekking and “food hunting day” (no guns, we get our own food in forests and fields...) - handicraft activities and introduction into local productionsa ridge walk to view points and an evening ceremonya special farewell dinner and local Akha massage...
Location of the Akha project:
The village is based in Muang Khua in Phongsali Province, the northernmost, remotest and poorest region in Laos. You will live in an Akha ethnic minority village, a quiet, peaceful hillside location, reachable only on foot on two to three hours scenic walking trail through stunning landscapes. > Read more on Muang
Akha project sample itinerary:
Day
1 Transfer
from Luang Prabang to the Project destination in local public bus
in Muang
Khua by minivan (7 hrs+), orientation session, briefing, overnight at Hotel
Day 2 Trek to your village (2-3 hrs) introduction to the village, start of your activities
Day 3 Daily life activities in Akha ethnic minority village (field work, cooking, handicraft…)
Day 4 Ridge walk trekking, forest "food hunting” collect your own food evening ceremony
Day 5 Basket making, gardening, local cultural activities, farewell dinner in host community
Day 6 Hiking to the road (2 hrs), transfer back to Luang Prabang in local bus (5-6 hrs)
This sample itinerary of 6 days includes all meals, public transfers, guides, local fees, taxes and donations, local village guides and activity charges. Price 399,- USD p.p. for 6 days
Program info : need to know!
The min. stay of this program is 3 nights/ 4 days as it more beneficial and less disturbing for the Akha host community. Extended stays with volunteering are very welcome, please contact us.
The program has been established as a pioneer project in Dec. 2009 and is still, and will remain, a novelty and very experimental experience for all involved. The community is restricted to a max. number of visitors to protect them from mass tourism. Changes from the sample itinerary might be possible at any time in order to enhance the experience for the traveler and to maximize the positive impact on the village. Your Tiger Trail guide and interpreter will be informing you and give regular briefings about any program details or possible changes.
Join our Voluntourism programs and dare to experience Laos differently!
Complete new Guide to Voluntourism from Brave New Traveler
Link to Voluntourism website from VolunTourism.org
A description of Voluntourism:
The
conscious, seamlessly integrated combination of voluntary service to a
destination and the best, traditional elements of travel — arts, culture,
geography, history and recreation — in that destination.
What Is VolunTourism?
In the broadest sense, Voluntourism represents voluntary service experiences that include travel to and in a destination in order to realize one's service intentions. It also may include tourism activities in the destination itself.
In a more refined and balanced approach, Volun-Tourism is the integrated and balanced combination of voluntary service to a destination with the traditional elements of travel and tourism incorporating elements of culture, geography, history, ethnic diversity and recreation - while in the destination.
All pictures of the project are taken by Mr. David Chantoiseau
Become a Voluntourist on our Village
Activity Stays
in north Laos. A Voluntourism and cultural exchange
program , a village service project in ethnic villages to support the locals
through tourism.
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"Fair Trek" |
"Voluntourism" |
"Culture Lodge" |
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Supporting locals through tourism on our "Fair Trek" project. We support through our village fund and... |
Ethnic minorities in the far north of Laos benefiting from tourism interaction. A new pro-poor tourism approach... |
An ethnic village, hosting guests in their community, letting them taking part in daily life...a real experience 2 hrs from Luang Prabang |