Finding a French-speaking tour operator and/or a local French-speaking guide for our 15-day tour of Laos was quite quick and successful. Indeed, there are few local French-speaking agencies in Laos , which limits the choice and makes the task faster.
As a reminder, we are two couples leaving for Laos at the end of October 2019, spending the last 3 days in Cambodia. We had already planned our itinerary before contacting agencies and local guides to get quotes tailored to our needs, particularly for private transportation (guides and/or private drivers).
15 days tour in Laos - How to get around Laos?
With a very underdeveloped rail network, poor road conditions, and the option of renting a car strongly discouraged, organizing transportation wasn't going to be easy… The best solution was the "all-comfort" option of choosing private transport . As a last resort, we could also consider bus and/or plane travel for certain routes. That being said, we decided to first consider doing our tour with a French-speaking driver-guide or with a private driver plus a local French-speaking guide at certain sites only (see our contacts below).
15-day tour in Laos - Reminder of my itinerary
- Day 01: Luang Prabang
- 02 Day: Luang Prabang - Pak Ou
- Day 03: Luang Prabang - Kuang Si
- Day 04: Luang Prabang - Tad Sae
- Day 05: Luang Prabang - Nong Khiaw - Muang Ngoi
- Day 06: Muong Ngoi - Pak Ou - Luang Prabang
- Day 07: Luang Prabang - Thick
- Day 08: Pakse - Bolovens Plateau
- Day 09: Bolovens Plateau
- Day 10: Bolovens Plateau - 4000 islands
- Day 11: Khone Islands
- Day 12: Khong Islands - Siem Reap
- Day 13: Siem Reap - Angkor Temples
- Day 14: Angkor Grand Circuit
- Day 15: Siem Reap - Tonlé Lake
Why an agency or a local French-speaking guide in Laos?
First, as a matter of principle, I prefer to work with local agencies in different countries or small, well-established agencies rather than large global tourism groups that often tend to exploit locals. I believe it's more appropriate for the economic benefits of tourism in a country to return directly to that country and thus benefit the inhabitants of the countries I visit. Furthermore, in terms of expertise, a local agency will know its country and its tourist sites better than an international travel agency.
Benefits of a local guide
A local guide will save their clients time. They generally know all the tricks of the trade, will book tickets in advance, know the best time to visit the site, are familiar with transport times, and will combine everything to optimize your time.
A French-speaking guide will provide you with information, commentary, and anecdotes that will make your visits much more interesting and entertaining. They can also offer you opportunities to discover their country beyond the typical tourist routes. They can personalize your trip and make it unique and unforgettable.
Finally, the last reason I usually go through a local agency is because their services are often cheaper than with tourist agencies established in France or in Europe ...
How to find an agency or a local French-speaking guide in Laos?
For our 15-day trip , given the distances involved, the most practical solution is to combine a French-speaking local guide at certain sites with a private driver for the entire itinerary. I therefore searched travel forums and specialized websites to obtain a list of reputable and reliable local agencies or independent guides who could meet our needs.
Rather than contacting as many agencies and guides as possible, I eliminated from my list those whose ratings were not good… Then for the others, I submitted the same draft itinerary and asked them for a precise and detailed estimate.
Upon receiving the quotes, I was able to compare them, discuss them, delve deeper into certain points, and, for some, negotiate the price. Since this process is quite time-consuming, I will share the email addresses of only the agencies and guides I contacted:
- Ly from Amica Travel: nguyen.ly@amicatravel.com
- Sandrine from Laos otherwise: contact@laosautrement.com
- Thom from Tonkin Voyage: thom@tonkinvoyage.com
- Thongsavanh Lu: muanglaotour@gmail.com
- Phouy guide in Luang Prabang: phouy@gmail.com Tel. +856 20 52323300
- Bounpheng: bp.sivilay@gmail.com
- Huong from Motaiba: info@motaiba.com
I kept the best agency for the end since I can affirm that it is theMotaÏba agency who was able to best meet our expectations even if in the end we did not take an agency ...
Huong from Motaiba: info@motaiba.com www.motaiba.com - www.facebook.com/motaibatravel
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