TREK THE CLOUD FOREST OF LAOS
Part of travelling sustainably is avoiding those places that are already creaking under the weight of tourism. Consequendy, InsideAsia’s rugged Trekking the Cloud Forests of Laos tour eschews the beaten track for the raw, remote jungle of Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park, taking a five-day trek into one of the largest wilderness areas in Laos. Its difficult location means few make it this deep into the jungle, and guests will have the rare opportunity to stay with remote Khmu communities, who receive a portion of the profits from the trip. It’s about as far off-grid as it gets, as you explore waterfall-striped forests where elephants, gibbons, clouded leopards and sun bears roam freely, embark on a trip to summit Phou Louey mountain (2,257m), camp out at salt licks with park rangers to spy wildlife, and sleep in spectacular hanging ‘jungle nests’. It is a world that few outsiders ever get to see. InsideAsia (insideasiatours.com). Departures are year-round (best: May-Oct); 10.
