DESTINATIONS ASIA
Beyond
the
border
Increased accessibility means more operators
are combining northern Thailand with Laos.
Chris Coplans reports
Adventurous Southeast
Asia tour operators such
as Audley Travel and
All Points East (formerly
Gecko Travel) are
blazing the way in Thailand by
combining itineraries to Isaan,
one of the country’s least-visited
areas, with overland trips into
neighbouring Laos.
With just the Mekong dividing
Thailand from Laos, and with
several international border
crossings opening up in the past
few years, combining Isaan in
SAMPLE PRODUCT
Audley Travel off ers a 12-day
tour on a bed-and-breakfast basis
through Isaan and Laos from
£2,650 per person, including
transfers and excursions, domestic
and return fl ights on Thai Airways.
Highlights in Isaan include Khmer
sites, Mekong fi shing villages and
the Pha Taem National Park. In
Laos, the itinerary includes a twonight
cruise between Pakse and
the 4,000 Islands, before fl ying to
Luang Prabang for three nights.
(01869 276 200
8audleytravel.com
All Points East off ers a 12-night
escorted tour of Thailand and Laos
from £2,125 per person, taking in
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, a Golden
Triangle tour, jungle trek, hill-tribe
villages, Luang Prabang and
Vientiane. International fl ights and
accommodation are included.
(023 9225 8859
8allpointseast.com
www.travelweekly.co.uk
northeastern Thailand with Laos
has become easy.
Audley Travel Southeast Asia
regional manager Kate Dicks said:
“In the past year interest in the
northeastern region of Thailand has
more than doubled. Thailand has
always been a popular destination
to combine with Laos, given
the ease and convenience of three
international border crossings,
which make a tour of the Isaan
region an ideal combination.”
Isaan is home to some of the most
ravishing Khmer temples in Asia.
Most of them are clustered around
the Burinam, Surin and Khorat
provinces, including the 11th century
temple complex at Phimai, less than
a three-hour drive from Bangkok,
which will feature prominently in
the Tourism Authority of Thailand
marketing strategy this year.
TAT London director Khun Tanes
Petsuwan said: “Isaan is among the
new areas we are promoting. This
is a region of importance, aimed at
those visitors in search of something
new. It is an area rich in culture.
In major provinces such as
Ubonratchatanee, Khonkann and
Udon Thani there is now a selection
of boutique and fi ve-star hotels.”
But there is more to Isaan than
Khmer temples. The large region
stretches east to the Mekong river
that separates Thailand and Laos,
south to the Cambodian border and
north as far as Nong Khai.
Some of the small towns dotted
along the Mekong make ideal bases
from which to explore the area and
cross over into Laos. Kong Jiam, on
a peninsula at the confl uence of the
Mun and Mekong rivers, has not one
but two of the region’s few boutique
Travellers can
enjoy views of
Laos from
Pha Taem
National Park
hotels. I stayed at the Tongsang
Khong Jiam, which sits on the
Mekong river bank, with views of
the river and mountains of Laos on
the other side and a great base for
exploring the area, including a
couple of national parks.
South of Khong Jiam at Chong
Mek, visitors can cross the Mekong
to reach Pakse, the gateway to
southern Laos. Further north are
another couple of international
crossings, the major one being the
Friendship Bridge, which links
Nong Khai with the Laos capital,
Vientiane. Further north in the
Golden Triangle area both Audley
Travel and All Points East off er tours
from Thailand that enter Laos from
Chiang Kong. This crossing is ideal
for boat trips down the Mekong to
Luang Prabang.
All Points East managing
director Lesley Scofi eld said:
“Even during the current economic
situation we are noticing a rise in
dual destinations and the desire for
a holiday that provides a
fresh and adventurous
experience.” TW
8For more
Southeast Asia
information
and hotel
reviews go to
Laos capital
Vientiane can be
accessed via the
Friendship
Bridge
March 6 2009 | Travel Weekly | 55
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