travelling days:  january 26  and  february 22

class starts monday 27/01 at 9h30 am

End friday 22/02 afternoon, about 1 pm

This page content informations about:

registration and cancellation policy / accomodations/ what to bring / how to get there( from chiang mai and bkk) / meals / visa / local amenities and services in the circus / Luang prabang general infos and more pictures...

REGISTRATION

The cost for this course is 2250 usd if you stay in an individual tent. If you want to stay in one of the few bungalows available, the price is 2500 usd

Space is limited… You may register early to ensure your space… The previous years the Circus was filled up months before.

To register enter in contact with Arno L’Hermitte : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

You have to submit a deposit of 700 usd  to register.

CANCELLATION POLICY:

• If you cancel at least 60 days before the course, you will be refunded your deposit (less administrative fee-120 usd ).

• If you cancel between 0 and 60 days prior to the Circus, there will be no refund of your deposit.

ACCOMMODATION : all  accomodation  in tent / bungalows or big house . includes pillow, sheet, sleeping mat

The circus camp offers two types of accomodations:

- individual TENT

- Traditional teck share big Lao house or  individual bamboo hut are same price

big house house  have electricity. cute small individual bambou hutt are also spread along the rivers, no electricity

WHAT TO BRING

- A good sleeping bag or a blanket. you can also find in Luang Prabang for few $

- A torch ( dont forget this one , we need every day)

- A yoga mat.

- A swimsuit & towel

-please bring organic soap and shampoo to preserve circus land and nature

The weather is usually dry and sunny during this season. But it gets for sure chilly at night and in the early morning.

THE MEALS :

our kitchen chef, MarkPing , helped with Felix master of the  wood oven  and together with  Lao sisters are doing the miracle of serving 3 healthy meals a day based on good natural and local products. When booking please inform us if you follow a particular diet or if you have allergies. Circus kitchen is vegetarian and delicious... We serve eggs (separetly) few times a week. The local village is ten minutes walking away from our Circus camp if you feel having personal extra food along the month

HOW TO GET THERE:

the following informations has been given by Ghan circus travel agent and friend in Chiang Mai that is helping our circus from the first year.She also gave us this year amazing informations to grow the  circus organic garden....

4 OPTIONS TO GET TO LUANG PRABANG FROM CHIANG MAI

OPTION 1

MINIBUS+ BIG BUS (1 DAY 1 NIGHT) COST 1,400 BAHT

10:00AM   6 HOURS DRIVE TO BORDER TOWN OF CHIANG KHONG

16:00PM ARRIVE CHIANG KHONG AND ACROSS THE BORDER (DINNER BOX PROVIDED)

17:30PM  13 HOURS BY BIG BUS AIR-CONDITION TO LUANG PRABANG

06:00AM ARRIVAL LUANG PRABANG

OPTION 2

BUS & SLOW BOAT (3 DAYS 2 NIGHTS) COST 1,750 BAHT

10:00/12:30   6 HOURS DRIVE TO BORDER TOWN OF CHIANG KHONG AND OVERNIGHT (GUEST HOUSE AND DINNER INCLUDED

16:00/18:30 ARRIVAL CHIANG KHONG

07:30AM INCLUDE BREAKFAST AND TRANSFER TO IMMIGRATION AND ACROSS THE BORDER

10:00AM SLOW BOAT TO PAKBENG (INCLUDE LUNCH BOX)

17:00AM ARRIVE PAKBENG (NOT INCLUDE SLEEP & FOOD)

09:30AM LEAVE PAKBENG TO LUANG PRABANG 7-8 HOURS BY SLOW BOAT

17:00PM ARRIVAL LUANG PRABANG

OPTION 3

BUS & SPEED BOAT (2 DAYS 1 NIGHT) COST 2,500 BAHT

10:30/12:30   DRIVE TO BORDER TOWN OF CHIANG KHONG AND OVERNIGHT (GUEST HOUSE AND DINNER INCLUDED)

16:00/18:30 ARRIVAL CHIANG KHONG

07:30AM BREAKFAST AND TRANSFER TO IMMIGRATION AND ACROSS THE BORDER

10:00AM SPEED BOAT 8 HOURS TO LUANG PRABANG (INCLUDE LUNCH BOX)

18:00PM ARRIVAL LUANG PRABANG

OPTION 4

BY PLANE FROM CHIANGMAI (1 HOUR)

LAOS AIRLINE ONE WAY 5,100 BAHT

RETURN 9,500 BAHT

DAILY FLIGHT CHIANG MAI – LUANG PRABANG 15:05PM - 16:05PM

DAILY FLIGTH LUANG PRABANG – CHIANGMAI 13:10PM – 14:10PM

3 OPTIONS TO GET TO LUANG PRABANG FROM BANGKOK

OPTION 1

BY PLANE FROM BANGKOK (1 HOUR)

LAOS AIRLINE ONE WAY 5,950 BAHT

RETURN 10,950 BAHT

DAILY FLIGHT BANGKOK – LUANG PRABANG 10:20AM – 12:00PM

DAILY FLIGHT LUANGPRABANG – BANGKOK 07:30AM – 09:30AM

OPTION 2

BY BUS FROM BANGKOK (25 HOURS) 1 DAY 1 NIGHT

**CONTACT YOURSELF AT EASTERN BUS TERMINAL IN BANGKOK & BUS STATION IN VIENTIANE***

BANGKOK – NONGKHAI//NONGKHAN – VIENTIANE//VIANTIANE – LUANG PRABANG

OPTION 3

BY BUS AND PLANE (BANGKOK – UDONTHANI BY BUS 12 HOURS THEN FLIGHT FROM UDONTHANI TO LUANG PRABANG) BUT THE FLIGHT TO LUANG PRABANG ONLY THURSDAY AND SUNDAY

COST (FLIGHT ONLY) price from 2011

ONE WAY 3,620 BAHT

RETURN 7,100 BAHT

UDONTHANI – LUANG PRABANG 12:20PM – 13:10PM

LUANG PRABANG – UDONTHANI 10:50AM – 11:40PM

VISAS

- You can get a visa at the airport, at the border (Thaïland/Laos, Nong Kaï) when you arrive at the airport.

Price is about 30 TO 40  USD and maximum validity is one month.You can pay only with Us dollards, Thai bath or Lao kip. You ll be asked 1 id picture. This picture can be done in the aiport too.

You can extend easily and immediatly  your visa in Luang Prabang at Tourist immigration, from few days up to one month, and renew this extension 3 times, so 3 month stay maximum

Visas are issued for one entry and must be used within three months of issue date.

The cheapest, fastest and easiest option is to get a visa on arrival at Vientiane Airport, Luang Prabang Airport or at the Friendship bridge.

LOCAL AMENITIES

- There is now several ATM in Luang Prabang, markets, internet, and one million guesthouse....

- You can change all kind of foreign currencies.

- From the Circus camp,  the next door Kuang Si village is only ten minutes walk, with waterfall, restaurants, touk touks service...

- The circus organise a laundry service 3  times a week

-We have electricity on the land for charging  laptops, telephones , cameras...

-we have NO INTERNET connection (and we dont want it in our retreat) but we do have telephone network coverage. not telephone in class time ....

LOCATION : Luang prabang

- Luang Prabang is the jewel of Indochina, and an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. It is indisputably one of the most beautiful cities in Asia, boasting numerous projects to help preserve and maintain the traditional old town in all its prestige.

The ancient royal city is surrounded by mountains at the junction of the Mekong and the Khan river. In the centre of the city is Mount Phousi with stunning views of the surrounding temples and hills. With about 20000 inhabitants and many bicycles, Luang Prabang is a small city where time seems to stand still.

- Until this day Luang Prabang still holds a strong Buddhist presence, whose population proves extremely active and faithful towards their religion. With dozens of golden temples, covering a third of the city's surface area, and thousands of orange-robed monks decorating the streets, Luang Prabang remains the heart of numerous religious festivals and activities. It is a place with a strong spiritual energy and a magic quality not to be found nowadays in many cities in Asia.

- Although tourism in Luang Prabang has increased over the past few years with the arrival of an international airport and frequent tourist boats along the Mekong, this city has somehow managed to preserve the tranquility and authenticity of a Laotian village.