LEA Tours to Laos

We’re planning a possible tour to Laos in December 2010! Our June tour is already booked! The tour in December would last last about ten days and we would accept a maximum of six participants and based upon six people going the approximate cost for the tour within Laos (participants are responsible for arranging their travel to Laos) would be $1700. The itinerary will focus on northern Laos, beginning in Vientiane, flying to Sam Neua, possibly driving to Phonsavan or flying back to Vientiane then flying to Luang Prabang and ending the trip by returning to Vientiane.

This tour will appeal to anyone interested in learning more about the textile arts in northern Laos, the history and rich ethnic diversity in Laos and the photographic opportunities will be outstanding. Peter and Bai will be the tour leaders and with Bai having grown up in Laos and being a native speaker, Bai will always be ready to answer questions and translate wherever we may be. Plus, she loves to bargain and participants will have the opportunity to purchase quality silk handwoven textiles at amazing prices

If you’re interested in a December tour let us know (peterlaos@hotmail.com) and we will put you on a mailing list of interested participants.

The following testimonial is from Elli, in the photo above with her friend Earl. We've guided Elli three times to Laos (the latest being in June 2009) while she's been working on research for a book she plans to publish in a couple of years. “We had a great time — you did such a wonderful job planning the trip, Peter. It couldn’t have been better. Earl and I have not stopped talking about all the people we met, the things we saw and all the things we learned. It was, of course, great for me — I saw (and bought!) textiles that were new to me, and it was wonderful to talk to people about the meanings of the design elements and uses of the pieces. The surprise for me was Earl. He just lapped up learning about the culture and hasn’t stopped telling me (as you can imagine...) all the things he learned about village economy and technology. Earl is now a budding anthropologist... Thanks so much for putting so much time into this. It was an experience of a lifetime for both of us, and we are so grateful to you both for being patient and encouraging with us as we began our education about Lao culture. And Bai! Thanks so much for interpreting for us, for me, and for doing such a great job in bargaining for “discounts.” I loved watching you in action, and am very appreciative of having extra pennies to get just a few more things.” - January 2007, Elli Findly, Chair, Religious Studies, Trinity College

Over the past five years we've led two general tours to Laos (2002) (2003) and two specifically designed for a professor doing research on Tai Daeng (Red Tai) textiles in northern Laos (2006) (2007) [see photo and testimonial above]. And here's a link to a blog I wrote about our first guided tour with Elli.

Our first tour in 2002 actually evolved out of a Southeast Asia Institute we coordinated for the International Studies Project in Sacramento and the tour became what we call a study tour.

At Laos Essential Artistry we strongly believe in the transformative power of international travel. Our tours are designed explicitly to enable participants to expand their historic and cultural insights while making important connections. Unfortunately most tours become commodified (typical tourist experience) and trivialized – a mere producer of cultural products, such as food, dance, and art, for our consumption. It is the our belief that this typical “tourist” approach robs participants of the chance to gain significant cross-cultural understanding. Our tours are carefully planned so that participants gain insights into the importance of

Attitudes: curiosity and openness, readiness to suspend disbelief about other cultures and belief about one’s own

Knowledge: of social groups and their products and practices

Skills of discovery and interaction: ability to acquire new knowledge of a culture and cultural practices

Critical cultural awareness: ability to evaluate, critically and on the basis of explicit criteria, particular perspectives, practices and products in one’s own and other cultures and countries.

Our tour in 2003 evolved when the Special Projects Director at Merced City School District contacted us and wanted to know if we were going to do a tour and that he wanted to pay for two teachers to go on a tour. We were able to recruit three other people and led another "study" tour for three weeks. The link here takes you to a photo album page on our blog which actually combines photos and descriptions from our first two tours.

Our 2006 research tour evolved when Elli, the professor, contacted us about putting together a tour just for her and her companion Earl that would facilitate her understanding of Laos and focus on learning more about the weaving and textiles of the Tai Daeng (Red Tai). We did a follow-up three week tour for her in December 2007.

Our expertise? Northern Laos, an Education focus, weaving/textiles, PHOTOGRAPHY, and Hmong, Mien and Tai Daeng and Tai Dam cultures. And with Bai being Lao and being an excellent English speaker you will have an interpreter always present, which makes a HUGE difference in how much you learn and understand about Laos, it's history and rich tapestry of ethnic groups (around 50).

If you are interested in a tour we're limited right now to going during the months of June and July. It's the beginning of the rainy season in Laos, but it really rains very little and with the planting of rice, it's one of the most beautiful times to be in Laos.

We are proud of the fact that there is no one else who provides the documentation about what a tour experience is like other than us. We're passionate about wanting people to learn more about Laos and one of the reasons we’ve created Laos Essential Artistry!

If you're interest in a tour, contact us at peterlaos@hotmail.com or call (916) 996-4553