BASICS - The Rough Guide to Laos - page 48

About a dozen tour companies have sprung up in Vientiane, all offering similar tours in
roughly the same price range, although it never hurts to shop around and bargain. A typical
multi-day package might include a private cruise down the Mekong river on a slow boat op-
erated by the tour company, with guided day-tours around Luang Prabang and other towns.
While some tours include accommodation, meals and entry fees, others don't, so check what
you're getting before paying.
Organized adventure tours are rapidly gaining popularity in Laos. These can be single- or
multi-day programmes and usually involve hill-tribe trekking, cycling or river kayaking, or
combinations of two of them or even all three. Rafting tours are also available, and organized
rock climbing is just starting to take off. The main centres for adventure tours are Vientiane,
Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang and Luang Namtha.
All Laos's tour companies are authorized by the Lao National Tourism Administration,
which ensures that you won't be dealing with a fly-by-night organization.
Guides are generally flexible about adjusting the itinerary, but if you want more freedom ,
an alternative is to set up your own custom-made tour by gathering a group of people and
renting your own vehicle plus driver.

LOCAL TOUR OPERATORS
Diethelm Travel Laos Nam Phou Place, PO Box 2657, Vientiane 021 215920, dieth-
elmtravel.com .
Exotissimo 15 Kaysone Rd, Vientiane 021 454640, exotissimo.com .
Green Discovery 54 Setthathilat Rd, Vientiane 021 223022, greendiscoverylaos.com .
Branches in Luang Prabang, Luang Namtha, Nong Khiaw, Thakhek, Pakse and Vang Vieng.
Lao National Tourism Administration ecotourismlaos.com .
Savannakhet Eco Guide Unit Latsaphanit Rd, Savannakhet 041 214203,

savannakhet-trekking.com .
TigerTrail Sisavangvong Rd, Luang Prabang 071 252655, laos-adventures.com . Also
a branch in Nong Khiaw.
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ACCOMMODATION
The influx of foreign visitors has meant a rapid increase in hotels and improved stand-
ards in tourist centres, although out in the boondocks change comes more slowly and
comfort can be harder to come by. Expect to find higher standards of accommodation,
as well as the greatest variety, in larger towns. Provincial towns, with the exception of