Into the Sacred Forest
Activity: Trekking with Savannakhet Eco Guides Service
Location: Various protected areas, Savannakhet province
Tip: On the five-day journey, a good level of fitness is needed. Bring photos of your family and home. Local villagers will love it.
Take short or long guided treks to revered forests and lakes and to see the remains of Muang Kao historical site. Stay with the Katong people or take the challenging five-day expedition.
Beside the Xe Banghieng river
Beside the Xe Banghieng river
The experience: The Savannakhet Eco Guides Service specialises in ecotourism. They offer a variety of trekking tours into the forests and ethnic villages of the protected areas in Savannakhet province. The trips range from one to five days in small groups with trained, English-speaking guides. Visitors can make a day or overnight trip to the beautiful Dong Natad Provincial Protected Area near to Savannakhet town, or choose from a number of more adventurous overnight treks. One of these is into the Dong Phou Vieng and Phou Xang He National Protected Area, where there is a chance to see rare wildlife such as Elds deer, hornbills, silvered langur, and, if you are lucky, the stunning and endangered Douc langur.
In Dong Natad you will walk through old-growth forests and around the sacred Nong Lom Lake with visits also to the famous Buddhist That Ing Hang stupa and remains of the ancient city of Muang Kao. The three-day “Katang Trail to the Sacred Forest” trek takes you into the forests of Dong Phou Vieng National Protected Area with local village guides and, briefly, into the fascinating lives of the Katang people, returning by river on the third day to Savannakhet. For those looking for true adventure the five-day trek into Phou Xang He National Protected Area takes you into steep, forested mountains with spectacular views over central Laos combining camping with homestays in remote ethnic villages. A 4WD journey takes you comfortably back.
Village development funds created
Village development funds created
How it helps: The Eco Guides Service and ecotourism programme was developed with help from the Netherlands Development Agency (SNV). The goal is to provide employment and income to local people and promote the improved conservation of the protected areas in Savannakhet. Most of the revenue generated stays in the province benefiting the guides, transport providers, markets and communities involved in the programme. Village Development Funds have been created from tourism revenue to ensure the fair distribution of benefits within participating communities while an additional Conservation Trust Fund, also derived from tourism revenue, assists government staff to monitor wildlife and undertake management activities in the protected areas. As an added incentive for conservation, a bonus payment is also paid to the villages whenever their guides are able to sight rare wildlife for visitors.
Location and booking information
Visit the Savannakhet Eco Guide Service at the Tourism Office on Ratsaphanith Road, Savannakhet or the numerous travel agencies / companies in Savannakhet
Tel/Fax: +856 [0] 41 214203.
E-mail: savannakhetguides2@yahoo.com
The longer treks into the National Protected Areas depart just once a week. Call the Eco Guides Service to find out when.
For more information on treks, visit www.ecotourismlaos.com/ecotourismprojects and click on the protected area site names under “Savannakhet Ecotourism Programme”.
Map: Marker indicates Savannakhet airport, not where the Eco Guide Service is exactly …
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