LAOS & ANGKOR WAT CERAMICS EXCURSION
February 16 (Bangkok) - March 2 (Bangkok), 2009

FOLK POTTERIES • TEMPLES • TRADITIONAL ARTS & CRAFTS

Excursion highlights
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Timetable
Package Includes
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Itinerary

Excursion Highlights

LUANG PRABANG
Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Luang Prabang is the splendid old capital of the Lan Xang Kingdom, featuring a cluster of shimmering royal temples, remnants of the faded grandeur of the Laos monarchy. Its location is stunning. Cradled among the high forested mountains of northern Laos, the city stands in marked contrast from anywhere else you can imagine. It has been described as jewel-like: tiny and compact. The “setting “ is what gives it a jewel-like aura: the town is encircled by peaks and camouflaged by palm trees and dense tropical foliage. The town is sited on a tongue of land at a strategic junction of the Mekong and Khan Rivers. It has been awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO, ensuring its glorious temples, royal architecture, culture and traditions will remain pristine for residents and visitors alike. The UNESCO report identified 33 temples, and 111 historic Lao-French buildings for specific restoration, citing Luang Prabang as the best-preserved traditional town in Southeast Asia-a kind of outdoor museum. It has the aura of a place caught up in a time warp, with orange-robed Buddhist monks making their rounds, market and Mekong commerce, women cycling along with parasols to ward off the midday sun.
We will stay in a old French-style hotel, close to the Mekong river, and experience the charm of the town and its culinary delights.

BAN CHAN POTTERY VILLAGE
Hands-on pottery workshop in the pottery village of Ban Chan. Participate in coil/thrown forming methods, brick extrusion sculptural projects, the firing of a wood- fired underground scorpion-shaped earthenware kiln. Access to this small village is via boat on the Mekong river from our historic hotel in Luang Prabang. I have volunteered to help with a village project and to this end, a part of your excursion fee will assist the villagers with the development of a water pumping system.

EXCURSIONS FROM LUANG PRABANG
Included are boat excursions to the Pak Ou Buddhist cave temples, silk weaving villages, a rice whiskey-making village, hill tribes, and the scenic Kuangsi waterfalls. There are many exciting activities in this region including hiking excursions and treks to Hmong hill tribe villages, elephant riding, overnight slow boat trips up the Mekong, and much more.

ANGKOR WAT TEMPLES,CAMBODIA
This immense area of temples is truly a major world historical site. There are many temples, the largest is called Angkor Wat.

“Angkor is not orchestral; it is monumental.It is an epic poem which makes its effect, like the Odyssey and like Paradise Lost, by the grandeur of its structure as well as by the beauty of the details. Angkor is an epic in rectangular forms imposed upon the Cambodian jungle.” Arnold Toynbee, East to West

“Occupying an entire square kilometer, Angkor Wat is the world’s largest temple and the best preserved of all the Angkorian temples. This masterpiece of Khmer design is comtemporary with the major Gothic cathedrals of Europe. Angkor Wat’s cental tower soars 65 meters, equivalent to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Angkor Wat is estimated to contain the same cubic volume of stone blocks as Egypt's pyramid of Cheops. Every stone surface at Angkor is carefully dressed, carved, and decorated.” Micheal Buckley, Moon Handbooks

This only one of the fantastic temples that we will visit in our three days in this area. We shall approach the temples in very small groups using local guides where necessary.

We will stay at a small charming character hotel, with shady grounds and a small swimming pool, and renowned for its cuisine.

See Participants' Photos NEW! or Denys's Photos from past excursions to Laos & Angkor Wat.

Timetable
February 16, early morning: Bangkok airport. (Feb 14 or 15, departure from Vancouver)

March 2, early morning: departure from Bangkok. (March 2, arrival in Vancouver)

Please note that the package does not include airfare (see options below).

Package Includes:
1. Airfare return from Bangkok to Luang Prabang, Laos
2. Airfare return from Bangkok to Siem Reap (Angkor), Cambodia
3. Airport-hotel-airport transfers in Luang Prabang and Siem Reap
4. Airport to hotel transfer on final night in Bangkok
5. Accommodation (based on double occupancy) in Luang Prabang
6. Accommodation in Bangkok, including breakfast and dinner
7. Accommodation in Siem Reap (swimming pool), 3 nights
8. All breakfasts and 2 special dinners
9. Several Mekong River boat excursions
10. Tuition in a 6 day hands-on pottery workshop and firing experience
11. Daily Mekong River transport to pottery village
12. Elephant riding excursion in Luang Prabang area
13. On-board local guide and translator in Luang Prabang
14. Guide and translator and transportation in the Angkor region
15. On-board ceramic artist and trip organizer

Options

►Special return air fares from Vancouver to Bangkok with Cathay Pacific Airlines including transfers can be arranged on request.

►Variable return dates are available. Extend your Asia experience with an add-on experience from Bangkok.

Payment Information

Itinerary

To be announced.

See video of pottery coiling & throwing, Ban Chan, Laos (Windows Media Video, 1.2mb)