December 31, 2009 - January 12, 2010

Laos is a country permeated by the ancient spirit of Buddhism. This manifests in the gentle, peaceful demeanor of the populace, the large monastic community and the beautiful temples. Most Laotians consider themselves Buddhist and every man is expected to spend at least part of his life as a novice in a Wat (temple). Many stay for longer periods, and reenter several times during their lives in order to speed their route to Nirvana. Temples also educate, feed and house any poor young person who wishes to enter as a novice, and are popular and populated.

Every morning at 6:00 monks and novices begin a walk around town from their respective temples, alms baskets swinging open to receive sticky rice, money, and whatever the local people have cooked for them. The completely silent procession of saffron robes, with locals on the sidewalk giving alms is breathtaking. We will join in this ancient sacred ritual that dates back to the time of the Buddha. We will also participate in morning meditation and afternoon chanting at various temples.

Laos is a landlocked country a quarter of the size of its neighbor, Vietnam, but sharing much of its history. It has a beautiful lush landscape, with numerous mountains, rivers and waterfalls. Sparsely populated and heavily forested, the northern, mountainous area hosts farming communities of indigenous hill tribes, who also maintain homes along the Mekong and Nam Than rivers. Laos is also known for its delicious and fresh food and unique arts and crafts, including woven goods, papermaking and silver jewelry. A developing country who only recently opened to tourism, it has the dubious distinction of being the most heavily bombed country in the world from the Vietnam war.

Our first stop will be to the sleepy capitol city of Vientiane. It is sparsely populated, with wide, pleasant boulevards dotted with decaying French colonial mansions. It is the home of many wats including Wat Sok Pa Luang which offers Vipassana instruction, herbal steam baths and massage. We will also visit the lively marketplace and view performances of traditional dance and music.

Our next stop, just a short flight from Vientiane, is the smaller town of Luang Prabang. Arguably the most beautiful town in Southeast Asia, Luang Prabang has such an abundance of architectural treasures that the entire town has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This is where we will spend the majority of our journey. Luang Prabang sits in the mountains in the north, is framed by two rivers, and hosts thirty-two temples and a correspondingly large monastic population. During our stay in this unique locale, we will explore the stunning architecture with local experts, visit the old palace and museums, meet local artists and craftspeople, and tour the vast array of tranquil temples.

We will also explore the countryside, enjoying a beautiful short trek to the gorgeous Kuangsi waterfall, visit local villages, and take an idyllic  excursion by boat up the Nam Ou river to the Tamting Cave, housing thousands of Buddha’s brought by devotees. We will kayak to the nearby Elephant Rehabilitation Camp and take a ride, enjoy a class in making traditional food, and visit some local hill tribes.

Throughout this trip Vipassana teacher Adrianne Vincent will offer meditation instruction, lead meditation sessions, discuss Buddhist philosophy and provide spiritual guidance. We will also hear teaching from local senior monks. We will learn to integrate Buddhist approaches and perspectives to bring greater depth, ease and openness while traveling together as a community. This trip is an opportunity to explore our spiritual growth as well as explore the culture of Laos. Experienced meditators as well as beginners are welcomed to join this journey.

Whenever possible, Adrianne will lead an early morning session of silent meditation with short teachings and discussion. Impromptu teachings and meditations will be offered “on the spot” as we visit Buddhist’s shrines and temples. We will also join the monks and novices in their chanting practice in the afternoons. Some evenings there will be opportunity for a casual “debriefing” including sharing, discussion and short meditations.

Most of our visits will support local NGO’s and service projects, like our visit and donation to the Cooperative Orthonic and Prosthetic Visitors Center (a programs for prosthetic limbs for Laotians with missing limbs, many due to explosives leftover from Vietnam War). This will allow us to practice “dana”, the Pali word for generosity, by giving something back to the Laotian people.

Yoga/Meditation Instructor
Adrianne Vincent

Itinerary

Day 1: Wednesday December 30, 2009: Arrive at airport to check in 1-1/2 to 2 hours prior to departure.

Day 2: Thursday December 31, 2009: Depart after midnight aboard Eva Airways or China Air for Tai Pei.

Day 3: Friday January 1, 2010: Tai Pei/Bangkok/Vientiane (B,L,D) Happy New Year! You arrive in Tai Pei, make a transfer for your flight to Vientiane, Laos. You apply for entry visa upon arrival and meet your Laotian local guide, and are transferred to Novotel Hotel.

Day 4: Saturday January 2: Vientiane (B) Begin our day on our private bus with a guided tour of the National Museum for an overview of Laotian history. Then we embark on a city tour, beginning with Watt Pakeo, the original home of the revered Emerald Buddha. Then we visit Wat Sisaket—the house of thousands of graceful Buddha images, and the Pra Thatluang stupa, where the the relic of Lord Buddha is kept. We have lunch at the Makphet training restaurant for street children, and then visit Wat Sok Pa Luang temple, famed for instruction in Vipassana meditation. A forest temple, well-known for its herb garden, it was created by a well known Buddhist nun, Mother Khow Keow. We will partake in their herbal steam bath, perfumed by thirty two medicinal herbs that soak the skin as they waft through the wooden floor. Afterward we will enjoy a cup of herbal tea and lay down for a traditional massage in the forest pavilion. Afterward, a meditation with two monks and an important nun, who will lead us on a meditation and walking meditation through the garden. In the evening we visit a famed local restaurant that features Laotian specialties and a folk dance performance.

Day 5: Sunday January 3: Vientiane (B) Morning meditation at hotel. Today we visit the Anousavari known as the “Vientiane arc de Triumph” and on to the colorful market with a wide array of woven silk textiles, and then the Les Artisans Laos center in Vientiane to see the trainees working and invite you to support them by purchasing their crafts. Our final visit is to the Cooperative Orthonic and Prosthetic Visitors Center to review their programs for prosthetic limbs for Laotians with missing limbs, mainly due to land mines. Late afternoon restorative Yoga session.

Day 6: Monday January 4: Vientiane/ Luang Prabang (B) Depart for a flight to Luang Prabang—A beautiful French-Colonial style World Heritage town registered by UNESCO. Check into our hotel in the ancient capital of the Lao Kingdom, beautifully situated between two rivers, and surrounded by forest enshrined hills. Here time appears to have stood still, giving the visitor an vision of the old Asia. After checking into your hotel, we will take a walking tour through the historic neighborhood in which you will be spending your next 8 nights, and finally concluding on the Mekong River, visiting the Wat Xieng Thong, built by the local king in 1560 and considered the most beautiful and important in Luang Prabang. Join the local monks and novices in their late afternoon chanting in the Wat. Evening meal of local specialties.

Day 7: Tuesday January 5: Luang Prabang (B) Early morning we start with a predawn walk in the temple district to participate in the daily ceremony to earn merit by giving rice to the monks who file down the street with their begging bowls. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Morning meditation at Wat Nong, which will become our regular “home” during our visit. Morning tour of several important local temples: Wat Visoun, a temple for the Vietnamese migrants, and Wat Ahman, where giant puppets representing the ancestors of the local people (Grandmother and Grandfather) are stored. In the afternoon we enjoy our first yoga session and then begin our regular afternoon chanting at Wat Nong.

Day 8: Wednesday January 6: Luang Prabang (B) Breakfast followed by meditation and teaching. Then a visit to the morning market to view the local produce and other exotic items, followed by a visit to the National Museum housed in the former Royal Palace. The collection of former sovereign artifacts and treasures reflect the richness of the Lao throne from the early Kings to last sovereign. Across from the palace, we scale the holy Phousi mountain, climbing 238 steps, and providing an overview of Luang Prabang town and visiting the stupa at the top. Afterwards we will have lunch at a charming cafe overlooking the Nam Khan River. Afternoon free to explore Luang Prabang or have a spa treatment, and then back to our local Wat to participate in afternoon chants. In the evening, visit the night market with a chance to sample local cuisine.

Day 9: Thursday January 7: Luang Prabang (B,L) Morning meditation. Then, a fun, educational and supportive visit to the local Elephant Camp, established as an NGO in 2003 to offer a retirement community for retired elephants from the logging industry. We take a leisurely kayak ride down the river, viewing stunning scenery, and concluding at the Camp, where we take a trail ride to the Tad Sae waterfall and have a picnic lunch. Arrive back in Luang Prabang  in the afternoon in time to chat with some of the neighboring novices about their lives inside the monastery. Adjourn to Vat Nong for chanting.

Day 10: Friday January 8: Luang Prabang (B) Morning meditation at our local Wat. Excursion to visit the Akha hill tribe people and an ethnic Hunan village of weavers. Afternoon return to Luang Prabang for lunch, free time, and our late afternoon yoga and meditation chanting. Evening performance of dance and music at the Palace.

Day 11: Saturday January 9: Luang Prabang (B,L) Morning teaching and meditation. This morning we gather for a fun and fascinating cooking workshop in the history of local cuisine, while learning to prepare local delicacies. We begin with a visit to the market, and work our way through several courses, culminating with lunch. Afternoon chanting at our local Wat.

Day 12: Sunday January 10: Luang Prabang (B) Morning meditation and teaching. Excursion by boat up the Nam Ou river, one of the most beautiful in Laos. At its juncture at the Mekong river we’ll visit the Tamting holy cave, housing thousands of Buddha's brought by devotees. Following this, we continue on to Ban Shanghai distillation village, where they produce alcohol from sticky rice. Return to Luang Prabang for lunch by the Mekong River. Late afternoon we enjoy another yoga class, then join the monks and novices for their late afternoon chants at the Wat Nong temple.  

Day 13: Monday January 11: Luang Prabang (B,D) Breakfast, followed by morning meditation, then an excursion overland for a beautiful short trek to the stunning Kuangsi waterfall, and perhaps enjoy swimming in the falls. On return we stop at Ban Sangkong, a village making paper from mulberry trees. In the late afternoon, our final chanting meditation with our friends at Vat Nong. Evening meal of Laotian food and a traditional Baci (blessing) ceremony to wish you luck and happiness in the coming year.

Cost: $3575.00  Ground Only deduct $1650.00 (as of 1/31/2009) based on two people sharing a twin or double-bedded room. Single supplement available ($256.00). Minimum 10, maximum 16 participants. Please note that price of airfare may rise due to fuel costs.

Deposits/ Penalties: A $350.00 refundable deposit reserves trip space. A penalty fee of $75.00 will be charged for all cancellations received in writing. After tickets have been issued airline penalties will occur. No refunds will be made after departure. Final payments are due 60 days prior to departure.

Yoga and Meditation Instructor: As an instructor in Meditation, Yoga and the Healing Arts, Adrianne Vincent has been teaching in North and South America and in Asia since 1990. Her passion for creating healing and transformative environments offers trip participants the sacred and personal travel experience of a lifetime. As well, Adrianne is a minister who teaches in hospitals, universities, retreat settings and privately. Having studied Yoga for 34 years, Vipassana Meditation for 28 years and Healing Body Therapies for 27 years. Adrianne continues to live in awe of the potential for growth and transformation living inside each human being.

Tour Organizer: Judy Slattum MFA spent 14 years as a Fine Arts Instructor at Colleges and Universities before starting her own travel company. She has been orgaizing and leading study tours to Asia since 1979. This will her sixth trip to Laos, a country she loves and to Luang Prabang, which she believes is the most beautiful town in Asia.

Airline Options: Participants may depart and return at any time. Price is based on using China Airlines via Tai Pei. Participants are urged to sign up early and make plans regarding dates, as we are traveling during High Season. You may opt to do your own air for discount. Contact our travel agent, Wendy Simon at Pacific Harbor Travel, Santa Cruz (local calls: 427-5002, or 1-800 435-9463) for further details.

Terms and Conditions: In case of unexpected situations, the tour leader reserves the right to cancel or postpone any event. Festivals and special events will be incorporated into the itinerary as optional excursions. Anyone who leaves the tour at any time FOR ANY REASON is on their own. There will be no refunds for missed tour activities and no substitutions.

Accommodations: Are based on double occupancy. We stay in clean, comfortable locally-owned hotels with private baths. In Vientiane we are at the 3 star Novotel Hotel. In Luang Prabang we stay in an attractive, new Guest House, located in the heart of the Old Town.

Medical: This trip is not extremely rigorous, but neither ourselves nor our organization assumes liability regarding provisions of medical care. Participants are urged to check their insurance coverage to be sure it is adequate. You must be in good general health; it is vital that persons with medical problems make them known to us well before departure. The trip leader has the right to disqualify any member from the group at any time if considered medically necessary or to avoid endangering the group, or if the participant in question is physically unfit for the rigors of the trip. Trip members should have a personal supply of medications which they may need. At this time no inoculations are required to enter Laos or Cambodia, so it is up to you and your doctor.

Responsibility of Trip Members: Luggage must be kept to 44 lbs. each, the maximum allowed by domestic flights. Trip members are held responsible for being in sufficient good health to undertake the trip. Trip members are responsible for preparing for the trip by studying the itinerary and pre-departure information packets sent by Danu Enterprise and for bringing the appropriate clothing and equipment as advised.

Additional Options: We are also offering a four night visit to Angkor Wat in neighboring Cambodia which can be enjoyed at the beginning or ending of this trip, or a Trekking and Hill Tribe tour to Northern Laos. Trip members may also join us for our tour, immediately following, in Vietnam. Contact us for further information.

For further information contact Danu Emterpriese, (831) 476-0543, danu@earthlink.net

Next Tour
Back to Menu