The orchid trek in Phu Khao Kwai

Philosophie and mission

• Promote awareness to local people on the consequences of the extinction of species and their natural habitats, in particular, orchids.
• Give local forestry poachers an alternative to their unlawful activities with properly paid lasting jobs.
• Promote responsible business practices, which cooperate closely with local authorities and people to support poverty alleviation and deliver conservation benefits.
• Provide a source of income to conserve and sustain the Phu Kwa Kwai protected area.
• Maximize the benefits for the Lao national economy, especially local businesses and people living in the protected area.
• Ensure that tourism does not exceed the social and economic in limits set by local residents.
• To provide training to UNL students in botany

he National Protected Area of Phou Khao Khouay is the nearest National Park to Vientiane, situated just over an hour an half away. The park is very representative of the Lao Fauna and flora.

The friendly village of Ban Hatkhai “Trekking Village” is a good place to learn more about the lifestyle of the Lao people.Besides some great scenery and beautiful waterfalls, the NBCA offers trails through dry evergreen and mixed deciduous forests.

Description :

You will see a panel of Orchids species all day long:

• Aerides
• Agrostochilus
• Arundina graminifolia
• Coelogyne
• Bulbophyllum
• Doritis pulcherima
• Eria
• Pholidota
• Dendrobium
• Rhynchostylis
• Thrixspermum
• Vandopsis

Listing not exhaustive

Don’t forget that orchids are rare plants, even in national park!! Most of them blooming one time a year and just a few days, some just appear in rainy season,but there is some blooming everymonth, the pick is January to June.

In PKK, we can find around 50% of Lao orchid species. We can enjoy two beautiful waterfalls: (1) the impressive Tad Xai (60 m high) and (2) Pha Xai (30m), with a large natural swimming pool at the foot in dry season .

Scheduler

• We start at 7h30 from Vientiane to Ban Hatkhai.One hour an half good road drive.
• Arriving in Ban Hatkhai around 9h00 where a long-tail boat takes you up the Nam Mang River (around 30 minutes).Only when the water level is enough.
• Continuing by trail along the Houay Xay River, one of the Nam Mang’s many tributaries, with a 2 hours trek passing under an evergreen forest.
• Passing past the impressive Tad Xay waterfall, we will continue to Dan Kwouan, an Orchid spot.
• Next we will continue to Pha Xai and have lunch. In dry season Pha Xay has a pool recommended for bathing where we can relax after the lunch.
• Along the return way (around 2 hours walk), you can observe beautiful different wild native Lao orchids in mixed deciduous forest.
• The trek crosses magnificent orchid fields.If we are lucky, it could be blooming time and we can see some birds.Most species bloom February to June.
• We will be back in Vientiane around 17h00.

Resume:

• Start : 7H30
• Back: 17H30
• Every days
• Difficulty : 2-3 midlerange
• Lunch: Lao pic-nic, fruits and water.
• Maximum 8 people
• Transport: 4x4 or mini Van with air/con changing with the season and the number of participant.

Price :

Price include: All Transports, lunch, local guide, orchid guide, taxes and water.

5% of the price is going to Orchids conservation

• 1 pax: 189$
• 2 pax: 180$
• 3 peoples: 222$
• 4 peoples: 220$
• 5 peoples: 325$
• 6 peoples: 348$
• 7 peoples: 378$
• 8 peoples: 360$