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Sustainable Ecotourism in Thailand and Laos

Naga Fireball Festival in Nongkhai (9 days/9 nights)

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 From 440 € per person 

Naga fireball festival in NongKhaiOne of the most popular festivals in Thailand is the Naga Fireball Festival in Nongkhai at the full moon every October. It is a mysterious natural phenomenon we invite you to discover: fireballs rising towards the sky out of the Mekong River! The Legend tells us that once Lord Buddha went to heaven to visit his mother, and on his return the Naga snake welcomed him by sending fireballs into the sky.
The town is all decorated and you can admire many illuminated Naga boats on the Mekong River as well as sculpted Naga, everywhere in Nongkhai.
After the festival and its lights, we offer you to go trekking in Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary and Reserve, where you’ll meet and share the culture of local Thai villagers.

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Day 1: Bangkok - Udon Thani - Nongkhai (Naga Fireball Festival)

  • Early morning: meet your English-speaking local assistant at your hotel as agreed.Naga Float
  • Transfer to Hualamphomg rail station.
  • 8:20 AM Departure by train to Udon Thani.
  • During the journey you will get an introduction into Thai culture and language, and appreciate the tropical landscape.
  • Transfer from Udon Thani to Nongkhai at the end of the afternoon (1hr).
  • Dinner and overnight stay at the Nongkhai Resort Hotel.





Day 2: Nongkhai - Nong Patana - Nongkhai (Naga Fireball Festival)

  • Breakfast at your hotel. Daily life in an Isan village
  • Transfer to an elementary school in Nongkhai. Presentation and meeting with the children, get involved in activities with them (drawing, singing, games).
  • Transfer to Nong Patana village (1h30).
  • Isan lunch in a family (learn how the food is cooked with the mother).
  • Discover and participate in the daily activities of the village such as salt lick collection and process of hull removing.
  • Dinner at a restaurant on the way back.
  • Overnight stay at the Nongkhai Resort Hotel.


Day 3: Nong Khai – Kham Pia village (Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary)

  • Breakfast at your hotel (you can leave some personal belongings at the hotel to lighten your luggage). Trekking in Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Transfer to the village of Kham Pia, in Phu Wua (3hrs).
  • Lunch on arrival.
  • Settle in and rest in your home stay.
  • Short trek to scenic viewpoint of the sanctuary for a presentation of Phu Wua by the local guide.
  • Dinner at a restaurant in the village of Bung Klaa.
  • Transfer back to Kham Pia and overnight stay in the village.

Day 4: Phu Wua trekking

  • Breakfast at your home stay A monk at Tham Hook in Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Transfer to the forest to trek to the waterfalls of Cha Nan and Tham Foon.
  • Picnic at Tham Foon Waterfall.
  • Butterfly and bird watching while trekking. Pick up of some herbs and plants in the forest to use for your dinner meal and learn how it is cooked.
  • On the way, stop at Tham Hook cave to meet the monks and see the elephant bones.
  • Dinner and camp in the forest for the night (or back to the village if raining).

Day 5: Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary

  • Breakfast at your home stay or transfer toElephant tree house at Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary
    the village to rest.
  • Meet with the children in Kham Pia’s school (optional).
  • Lunch in the village.
  • Trek to the elephant tree houses. Afternoon in the trees to watch the elephants, if you’re lucky, or to learn more about Thai wildlife.
  • Dinner and overnight stay in the tree houses (or back to the village if raining).





Day 6: Mekong River – Kham Pia village

  • Trek back to the village to have breakfastView of the Mekong
    and rest.
  • Transfer to the Mekong River and lunch at a restaurant with view on the Mekong.
  • Transfer to Kham Pia village. Visit of a rubber tree plantation and learn the process with the local guide. Watch and learn to weave cloths and baskets from the local artisans.
  • Dinner and overnight stay in the village.



Day 7: Phu Tok – Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary

  • Breakfast at your home stay.Phu Tok sandstone
  • Transfer to Phu Thok, to massive sandstone covered by a series of walkways and with a magnificent viewpoint of Phu Wua. Just before the top you can stop in a cave temple (pay attention because very slippery during rainy season).
  • Lunch at a restaurant on the way.
  • Transfer to Tham Phra Waterfall. Go for a swim.
  • Transfer to Kham Pia.
  • Dinner and stay overnight in the village.

Day 8: Kham Pia village – Nongkhai

  • Breakfast at your home stay.Meet the Bouddhist monks at Nongkai Buddhist University
  • Transfer to Nongkhai Resort Hotel. Relax and rest.
  • Thai cooking lesson at OpenmindProjects and lunch.
  • Transfer to a Buddhist University in Nongkhai. Visit and meet with the monks
  • Dinner cruise on the Mekong River aboard the Nagarina boat.
  • Overnight stay at the Nongkhai Resort Hotel.


Day 9: Nongkhai – Bangkok

  • Breakfast at your hotel. Sala Kaeo Ku Park in Nongkhai
  • Proceed to visit Sala Kaeo Ku Park.
  • Transfer to Tha Sadej Indochinese Market for a lunch with view on the Mekong River.
  • Visit of the market (and close by a nice antique shop).
  • Free afternoon.
  • Baci ceremon.
  • 18:00 PM Transfer to Nongkhai railstation.
  • 19:15 PM Departure of the night train.
  • Arrival in Bangkok in the morning.
  • Pick up to hotel or airport.


This tour includes:

  • Transportation: By air-conditioned van and by air-conditioned train.
  • Accommodation: Hotel (air-conditioned room and private bathroom) and home stay (mattress and fan, toilet and bathroom with bucket and cold water).
  • Meals: Breakfast-lunch-dinner.
  • Guide: English-speaking guides.

This tour does not include:

  • International flights (available on request).
  • Thai visa.
  • Travel and cancellation insurance (available on request).
  • Drinks (soft drinks and alcoholic beverages).
  • Meals on the train.

Fares in Euro per person

 

2 persons

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8-10 persons

935 €/p

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440 €/p

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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 04 November 2009 10:14 )  

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Testimonials

Thank you very much for a wonderful stay. The people are very friendly and welcoming. The hiking had great views. We liked seeing rural Thailand.

Thank you!

Carmen and Mike - Canada

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