Vientiane Orchid Trek

Our guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in Vientiane around 8:00am. You will take a two hour drive from Vientiane to the village of Ban Hatkhai and the gateway to Phou Khao Khouay National Protected Area. Then hop on a truck to the village of Pha Xay.  After crossing dirt tracks and skirting rice paddies, set off on foot along a network of trails. As you walk through the forest, your local orchid guide will tell stories that illustrate the plant’s beauty and mystery. The best place to see orchids tends to be near a local waterfall, which is also a refreshing place for a swim.  As you wander further into the foliage along winding trails, you’ll see many rare and wild plants used by locals for cooking and traditional medicines. Your guide will explain which herbs are used to treat certain illnesses. Later, enjoy a picnic in a forest clearing before returning to Ban Hatkhai, a settlement of about 30 farming families, and have a brief look around. Ban Hatkhai is a pristine – and increasingly rare – example of a traditional Lao village. Return to  Vientiane late in the afternoon. End of services.