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Outdoor Adventures: Laos
Outdoor Adventures: Laos
Laos might not be as popular as other crowd-pulling Southeast Asia countries, but it’s becoming more and more popular among travelers who crave nature, quiet corners, and relaxed laid-back atmosphere. Besides its diverse ethnic, history, culture, and food, it is safe to say that the country is heaven for nature enthusiasts. With its lush paddy fields, tea leaves that cover the mountains, turquoise waterfalls, river caves, and dark jungles, it is indeed an outstanding location for outdoor activities and ecotourism.
Take a Dip in Natural Pools
When you visit the UNESCO World Heritage Town of Luang Prabang, Kuang Si Falls is a must-visit. Surrounded by flourishing jungles is a large cascade of milky turquoise blue water that spills from a series of limestone tiers into a beautiful natural pool. It’s perfect for cooling off from the humid and hot air. You can take a dip or even swim in some of the pools, especially those in the main area. Taking a dip in the beautiful pools will make you feel like you’re in a fairytale. There are also rope swings and a tree where you can jump into the pools from! Don’t forget to hike to the top of the falls when you’re done swimming. It offers a spectacular view. Just be careful since the path is very steep.
Take note that there are some areas with a ‘no swimming’ sign, be respectful since some pools are considered sacred by the locals. Laos has a pretty conservative culture, so make sure to wear appropriate clothing. You can also visit the Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Center nearby after you’ve had your fill of the waterfalls.
Zip-Line in Jungles
Photo Credit: wanderant.com
Overcome your fear of height by hiking and zip-lining through the Dong Hua Sao National Park. You will get a full aerial view of the charming Bolaven Plateau. In addition to the beautiful lush jungle are waterfalls and swinging between treetops on a 400m zip-line will give you a new interesting perspective of the national park. If flying over the trees is not enough, you can sleep in one of the treehouses equipped with comfortable en suite bedrooms.
Trek National Parks
Photo Credit: namet.org
Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park Protected Area (NPA) is one of the national parks in Laos that offers ecotourism attractions called the wildlife conservation trekking tours. It is an exclusive opportunity to witness and learn about important wildlife habitats. Tourists can join in tracking wild species like wild cats, wild dog (dhole), and bears. You can also experience an exciting night safari, where you can join former village hunters in looking for wild and endangered animals and identify medicinal plants. While you’re in the national park, challenge yourself to hike the Phou Louey Mountain.
If you have extra time, be sure to take the 2 – 5 days’ tour. You will sleep in a unique ‘Nest’ homestay where you will feel one with nature. It’s a spherical basket suspended in the tree. …
Outdoor Adventures: Hoi An
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Hoi An draws tourists from all around the globe thanks to its white sandy beaches, peaceful vibe, Chinese temples, and Japanese merchant houses. This beautiful town is now filled with tourist businesses such as hotels, bars, and travel agents. Tourists with any budget can enjoy everything that this town has to offer. Located in the center of Vietnam, this town is not only historic, but it also boasts a lot of outdoor adventures. Travel a few kilometers further from the center, and you’ll find fantastic activities under the sun.
Bicycle Tours
Photo Credit: hoianservices.com
There is probably no better way to experience and explore this town than cycling through its photogenic alleyways and village paths. You can discover the unique side of Vietnam and get a glimpse of Hoi An. This tour offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan cities. Don’t worry about traffic because the biking routes are usually in countryside areas away from the main roads. Children can also partake in this fun adventure because many tours offer small bikes. The land is pretty flat so it is an easy cycle.
Within a quick 10-minute ride from the town center, you can see farmers working in the paddy fields, fishermen in the river, and the beautiful landscape along with simple local life. If you don’t want to have a guided tour, you can simply rent a bicycle. Nearly everywhere offers bike rentals.
Farming and Fishing Tours
Photo Credit: Vietnamnews.vn
Get in touch with the local life by joining farming and fishing activities instructed by local farmers and fishermen. This tour will give you an insight into agriculture. Cultivate the soil with a local farmer, enjoy the paddy fields with water buffaloes, and watch rice farmers tend their crops. When you go to the river, you can learn how to use fishing nets and ride basket boats. This is a fun and memorable family activity.
Kayaking or Canoeing
Kayak tour is the best way to explore the places that can only be reached from the water. Discover the true beauty of Thu Bồn River, the river that plays an important role in the history of Hoi An. Witness the rural life on the river, where many fishing activities take place. You can still enjoy the river even if you don’t have any experience in kayaking, a guided tour in the Canadian canoes are available.
Stand-Up Paddle Board
Photo Credit: South East Asia Backpacker
If kayaking is not adrenaline pumping enough for you, Stand-Up Peddle Board might be the best choice. It is an easy but physically engaging activity. Wake up early and see the most beautiful sunrise you will ever see in your life. The long paddle board can be hard and intimidating at first, especially when you’re new to it. But with a little lesson and balancing, you will find it relatively easy to do. This tour is definitely a must if you visit Hoi An.
Diving
Of the coast of Hoi An is a diving paradise. With hundreds of different varieties of coral and fish swimming in the warm waters, the marine life will give you a memorable experience. The visibility around the diving sites is great, so you can enjoy the beauty of the underwater world. Multilingual instructors are ready to give you the best diving tour ever. Watch out for small jellyfish as they sting and leave a sore rash.…
Outdoor Adventures: Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is full of fascinating culture, amazing temples, friendly locals, and beautiful landscape. This city has a calm and relaxed vibe, making it one of the most favorite places for tourist who wants to get away from a busy metropolis. Whether you want to enjoy luxury hotels or backpacking, tourists with any type of budget can enjoy this beautiful city.
The natural beauty is one of its magical charms that draw people in. You can enjoy numerous outdoor activities here. From cycling, zip lining, camping, all is available for you to choose. This list can help you plan your next trip to Chiang Mai!
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking in Chiang Mai’s many mountains and national parks is pleasant adventure. You don’t have to be an experienced mountain biker because guided tours for any level are available. There are several tracks you can choose; the most popular one for beginners is Doi Suthep National Park. You can enjoy a downhill ride while adoring the beautiful view of the natural park.
Trekking and Camping
This city is packed with waterfalls and national parks, but if you want to trek and camp near a waterfall cool stream, Mae Takhrai National Park is the place for you. The national park is surrounded by many kinds of forests filled with wild animals. It’s the perfect place to get lost in nature! You can trek the jungles and camp in one of the camping grounds. The camping ground in this park is not super popular so you can say that it is a hidden gem. You can enjoy a peaceful day far from any busy traffic. There are also shelters for tourists if you don’t like camping.
Visiting Ethical Elephant Camps
Photo Credit: Save Elephant Foundation
Playing with elephants sparked a lot of controversy because a lot of elephant camps are unethical. So make sure you do your research before going to one. There are responsible elephant camps in Chiang Mai that offers various things to do and see. These elephant camps let tourists be in the elephant’s environment without any forced human contact with the animals. The best places to have an “elephant experience” are Mae Tamman Elephant camp and Patara Elephant Farm.
Zip Lining
Fly with the birds by zip lining in Chiang Mai’s lush jungles. It might sound scary especially if you’re afraid of heights, but you have nothing to worry about because zip lining is actually an adrenaline pumping activity that all ages can enjoy. You can enjoy incredible jungle scenery from above, which makes zip lining a truly memorable experience.
Rock Climbing
Photo Credit: CMRCA Website
If you’re really craving an adventure or excitement, then you should try rock climbing. With over 150 routes and 35 caves, Crazy Horse Buttress is a popular spot for rock climbing in Chiang Mai. Its limestone crag invites people to have an incredible adventure. However, you will rarely see big crowds here; so many routes will be available to climb every day. Come with a partner to make climbing the routes easier. It’s best to bring your own gear, but you can always rent gear (and meet partners) in the CMRCA shop.…