Exotissimo Electronic Newsletter

As of 15 August, the Mekong River water levels have rose past the flood danger level. The Mekong River Commission predicts the water levels to remain high for the next few days.

Laos is now on flood alert and flood-hit provinces include Vientiane and Luang Prabang.

For navigation safety, Luangsay Mekong Cruises has suspended some of their services along the Mekong until further notice. Kamu Lodge is closed until the end of August. Many roads in Laos, especially in the north are now flooded.

Exotissimo Travel is monitoring the daily weather forecasts and water levels of the Mekong River. We will do our best to get reliable updated news on the feasibility of all routings in the country. We assure all clients that we will exercise flexibility and do our utmost to optimise guests’ travel experiences in Laos despite the unfavourable circumstances.

During 5th – 25th December this year, Champassak Province will be the host for the 8th Champassak National Games which will take place in Pakse, but the official opening ceremony will be on 13th and end on 22nd December.

The Exotissimo team is advised to double check for availability when booking rooms in Pakse. This is to ensure that we will have the room confirmation for our clients during this period.

Please note that the Villa Santi Hotel will undergo renovations from 25th May to 31st September 2008. During this time, only 14 rooms will be available for occupancy. The Kingfisher Ecolodge in the Xe Pian Protected Area will be closed during the low season from 1st May to 30th June 2008.

The Lao Immigrations office is becoming strict with certain countries, namely: Bangladesh, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Republic, India, Iran, Iraq, Lesotho, Liberia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Travelers from these countries are no longer able to obtain a visa on arrival and will require official letters from the government to board in-bound flights.

During 5th – 25th December this year, Champassak Province will be the host for the 8th Champassak National Games which will take place in Pakse, but the official opening ceremony will be on 13th and end on 22nd December.

The Exotissimo team is advised to double check for availability when booking rooms in Pakse. This is to ensure that we will have the room confirmation for our clients during this period.

The 3 Nagas by Alila will be renovated this summer, from May to June 2008. This upcoming high season will see a jump in traffic to Luang Prabang this year, and without a doubt the 3 Nagas is one of the nicest properties in the area. The 15 rooms and suites will be updated with Laotian touches matched with quality linens and bath products. During this time, the service team will undergo training to ensure every guest is well-taken care of. The hotel will remain open during this time, though with limited capacity.

The Hotel d’Lyon is a new 3-star hotel recently opened in Luang Prabang. Sitting outside of town on the way to the airport, the 24-room hotel has is a good option for regional guests who may enjoy bathing in open air Jacuzzis. With room inventory being quite limited in Luang Prabang, the Hotel d’Lyon is a reasonable alternative when rooms cannot be found.

Everyone raves about Laos’s natural beauty and the wonderful temples that dot the country. We at Exotissimo Laos believe that the various peoples of Laos are worthy of further exploration. The Arts and Ethnology Centre in Luang Prabang is a great introduction the various cultures that make peaceful Laos their home.

The Royal Ballet and Theater will be closed for two months, from 1st May to 31st June 2008 for its low season. The theater will still be available for special bookings.

The Villa Santi will be closed from May to September 2008 to renovate during the low season. Likewise the 3 Nagas Restaurant will take advantage of the low season to redecorate, and will transfer management to the 3 Nagas Hotel.

The embarkation dock for the Luangsay Cruise has been moved to Calo Pier and is no longer in front of Vat Xieng Thong. The new departure time will be 7:30, and a continental breakfast will be provided. Luangsay Cruises will be closed for the low season for the entire month of June 2008.

Please contact Laos@exotissimo.com for further details.

Puang Champa Cultural House is a small local organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of traditional Lao culture. The artists here work together to cultivate and develop traditional Lao dance, music, singing, lacquerware, textile working and other handcrafts.

If you are organizing a very VIP tour or an exclusive, there is no better showcase of Lao arts than the Puang Champa. Their dedication to their art goes beyond simple performances, and this dedication creates a uniquely authentic evening of Lao art and culture. We at Exotissimo Laos are working with them to offer a nuanced event to expose our clients to authentic Lao art.