Lao Airlines Focusses on Chinese Bookings
Lao Airlines announced Chinese inbound passenger bookings could soar to more than 240,000 in 2019, a 42% jump over last year’s 170,500 flight reservations. China is now the Lao national carrier’s top market. Lao Airline’s site shows 21 direct weekly flights to China. From Vientiane, seven flights head to Kunming, three to Guangzhou, two
Plain of Jars Awaits July Decision on World Heritage Status
The Lao government remains optimistic that UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee will grant the Plain of Jars full listing status when it meets in July. The Plain of Jars “All the necessary documents were submitted last year,” said Director General of the Heritage Department, Thongbay Phothisan. “At the end of last year the World Heritage
Sayabouly Elephant Festival Dates Announced
The 2019 Sayabouly Elephant Festival will take place from 20-27 February, according to TourismLaos.com. The parade of pachyderms In Vientiane Province, the Meuang Feuang Festival will run from 9-10 February, and feature a street fair selling ODOP products and traditional performances. Feuang District is about 130km from Vientiane and visitors can easily reach it
Kids to Compete in Luang Prabang Folk Fest Battle
The Luang Prabang Cultural Office is holding the second Luang Prabang Folk Song Festival on Saturday, 30 March, in which school children from each of the province’s districts compete in a traditional showdown at the Cultural Office’s grounds. Traditional instruments in kids’ hands. According to event organizer Somboun Keoduangchit, “Last year was a great
Lao Airlines Launches Direct Shanghai-Vientiane Flights
Lao Airlines has launched a weekly Shanghai-Vientiane service aimed ate the expected influx of Chinese tourists and other passengers during Visit Laos-China Year 2019, according to a Vientiane Times report. Lao Airlines takes off to Shangai The flight takes about 3.5 hours, and is the best option for passengers wanting to avoid transiting through
Bangkok Air to Launch Chiang Mai-Luang Prabang Service
Bangkok Airways is planning to commence three weekly Chiang Mai-Luang Prabang flights on 2 April. According to the airline’s website, flights are scheduled for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday on board a turboprop, most likely an ATR 72 500/600. PG983 will depart Chiang Mai at 16:30 and arrive at 17:45 in Luang Prabang. The return
Festival & Event Update
Lao festival and event schedules and details for February and March are starting to take shape. Boun Kabongyay Festival procession Kabongyay Festival Savannakhet will hold the Boun Kabongyay Festival from 5-7 February, Ban Phonngam, Atsaphon District to join the Brou people, who were recently recognized by the government as Laos’ 50 ethnic group, in
View BikingMan Tutorials on Lao Bikepacking
BikingMan recently shared two new tutorial videos on the Lao round of the World Championship bikepacking race to share key advice on bike and gear setup to attempt to race across the Last Frontier of Southeast Asia. Steep climbs and descents in Laos In its latest newsletter, BikingMan founder Axel Carion shared an interview
ECC to Start Elephant Release Process
The Elephant Conservation Centre (ECC) in Sayabouly, Laos, announced they will start the process of releasing elephants into the wild this year. A herd at ECC “Our goal in 2019 is to gather as much data as possible on the existing wild elephant population currently living in the Nam Pouy National Protected Area in
Luang Prabang Holds Mega-Team Building Event
White Elephant Adventures organised an 81-person, three-day MICE event in Luang Prabang on 9-11 January, for the Southeast Asia division of the $10 billion dollar multinational Atlas Copco, which included what could be the UNESCO World Heritage city’s largest ever team building event. The 81 participants from Atlas Copco The event was split
