If you’re into travel adventures that combine local knowledge, community-based tourism initiatives, and physical activity, and rugged nature— kayaking the Nam Ha River in northern Laos is the next destination you should put on your itinerary.
Read MoreLuang Namtha Province in northwest Laos is filled with natural landscapes and cultural diversity, making it an ideal place for ecotourism. Especially since it is home to the Nam Ha Biodiversity Conservation Area and various outdoor tourism initiatives.
Read MoreTad Thong Waterfalls is likely a place you’ve never heard of, and don’t feel bad about that! Most people come to Luang Prabang with a short bucket list that includes the stunning {albeit crowded} Kuang Si Waterfalls. Laos has no shortage of waterfalls to explore and visitors shouldn’t limit themselves to only the most visually appealing and well-known. Those looking for a crowd-less cascade of water off-the-beaten-path should head to Tad Thong Waterfalls for a jungle trek and fresh water to cool-off in. It’s also a great place to play “Jane looking for Tarzan” in.
Read MoreAs a total surprise to me {and I can count the number of times I’ve actually been surprised on two hands}, I was told only to pack an overnight bag and swimwear, I was at an absolute loss for what to expect. Whisked away on the back of a motorbike, I was more and more confused as we got further and further south. Surely, we were heading to the waterfalls? But…there’s no place to stay the night at the waterfalls? I WAS CONFUSED. We pulled up near the gate of Kuang Si and took a turn down a dirt alleyway. Pulling up to an area filled with open seating and pools of teal water I’d never seen before, Luke jumped off the bike and said, “We’re here.” And that’s how our time at the hidden hotel I’d never heard of in all my time in Laos started— the Vanvisa At The Falls Homestay Resort.
Read MoreI love exploring new cities. That being said, what I miss most when I’m hitting the pavement of a cosmopolitan locale is nature. Ya girl likes her greenery! So, when I found out via Travel Dream Seekers Instagram account that there was a park where you could get aerial views of Kuala Lumpur with a dose of Mother Nature, I was more than a little eager to visit!
Read MoreAn eco-tourism haven, Nahm Dong Park is an oasis you’ve probably never even heard about right outside the city limits of Luang Prabang. Don’t worry, I knew nothing about it either! Until one day, paint fumes of a newly renovated office space dizzying my head and fingers hurting from whipping out writing work, it was suggested that I hop on the back of a motorbike and head to Nahm Dong.
Read MoreMount Maunganui is a hike I’ve heard people talk about for ages. While I was living in Auckland particularly, people would always recommend I make the trip to Tauranga to do the walk and peep the view from the top. I simply never made the trip or had the time. It wasn’t that far up my priority list. Luckily for me, a day of good weather and no work brought together a few of my favourite humans for a trip to the Mount to mark it off all our lists!
Read MoreHave you ever wondered where your food comes from? Maybe you make the effort to buy organic fruits and pesticide-free vegetables? But what about your rice? Do you know where it comes from? I didn’t. More than that, I didn’t know how much work it was to grow it, harvest it, and get it on my plate.
Read MoreI pull another leech off my leg as Lan, my guide, sprays it with a lemongrass and water mixture he carried in a fanny pack. “You just donated blood to nature,” he says, laughing. I’m unbothered by the little leech. I’m walking in the jungle of Laos on a day when the heat isn’t insufferable…next to elephants. And all thanks to the conservation efforts of Mandalao.
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