Challenges
The trip occurred shortly after Laos re-opened its borders following a two-year closure. COVID-related regulations were changing frequently yet despite the last minute nature of the trip, EXO Events was able to obtain the private plane landing permits and arrange required testing without disrupting the planned itinerary.
Another challenge was coordinating all VIP services post-COVID as many suppliers had closed or were operating with limited capacity. To ensure all experiences ran smoothly, EXO Events provided extra staff and implemented back-up plans to support the service providers.
‘We wanted to incorporate as many elements of traditional Laos culture as possible and in a way that was authentic and memorable.‘
Dinner with a Prince
EXO Events arranged a special evening dinner with PrinceTiao Nith, a descendant of Laos’ Royal Family. Held at his beautiful historic villa, the event featured a traditional dance and puppet performance before a catered dinner accompanied by a Laos orchestra. Tiao Nith was a wonderful host and his extensive collection of art and antiques were on display for guests to view.
Mekong River cruise and picnic
For lunch, EXO Events arranged a memorable excursion on the Mekong River. Guests cruised upstream to visit the Pak Ou caves and then were treated to a special lunch on a riverside beach. Guests enjoyed a buffet of European and Laos delicacies while admiring the views of the surrounding limestone cliffs and waterway.
‘The timing of this trip presented many challenges, as the post-COVID rules were changing frequently. We created back-up plans and worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the clients had the best possible experience.’’’
Sao Sinh: Laos traditional dress
As a surprise, EXO Events arranged traditional Laos outfits (called sao sinh) for guests to wear to dinner on the second night.
The outfits were laid out in guests’ rooms while they were out touring, along with instructions on how to properly don the attire. EXO arranged for staff to be on standby at the hotel to assist with any guests who needed help with the outfits.
The guests enjoyed this surprise and feeling ‘like a local’ for the evening.
City tour by tuk tuk
To introduce guests to local forms of transportation, EXO Events arranged 20 tuk-tuks to transport the guests during their half day city sightseeing.
This also allowed for more flexibility in the touring. EXO split the guests into three smaller groups and arranged a slightly different routing for each group so as to avoid overcrowding at each site.
To carry out the tour smoothly, a pre-set schedule was arranged with the drivers and EXO staff were on hand to help with logistics. Additionally, 13 guides accompanied the group to ensure each guest had an insightful, enjoyable tour of Luang Prabang’s heritage sites.
