LOGISTICS
Fly into Capital Vientiane
Team meet and gather on ground information (topography maps)
Drive south on highway 13
Stay Champasak Province, Based out of capital Pakes.
Explore the Bolavan Plateau Area.
This area has been highly recommended by the teams Contact in Laos.
In this area there is the highest concentration of steep rivers
and waterfalls that exist in Laos.
Logistically it will be the best option to establish the team in
one area and spend time extensively exploring the area.
Possible rivers:
- The Champi,
- Se set,
- Se Nam Noi,
- Bangliang rivers,
- Patsuam Falls on the Champi,
- Tadlo falls,
Drive
highway 18 to Attapeu
Explore first descent possibilities of
- Saephe falls (23 meters high and 100 meters wide)
- Samongphak waterfalls (10 meters high 30 meters wide)
FIRST DECENT expedition
Xe Kaman,
This area is very steep and pristine environment. Unfortunately
it is in the process of being dammed so it will most likely be the
last expedition as well.
This expedition will be highlight/ major goal of the trip. Expecting
to take 6 days this area is completely unexplored and very remote.
As dam construction has all ready begun we will be the first and
only group to document this area before it is lost forever.
Drive
west to along highway 18 to Dong Khong
(Base out of the island of Don Khong for remaining time)
- LI Phi
- Khone Phaphendg
- Famous 4000 island
View
Larger Map The Mekong deltas between 4000 islands (14km wide)
and drops off a Rock shelf creating a essentially 4000 waterfalls
side by side
The team will either buy a boat or hire locals to portage the team
around the bottom of the drops daily.
Dangers:
- Remote expeditions of this nature are obviously dangerous due
to the remoteness of where the team will be in some case’s
(Xe Kaman expedition) The team could be days paddle from a town
or village with medical help in these areas of Laos being less then
basic. Trained members of the trip will carry full first aid and
medical equipment.
- The Bolavan Plateau was unbearably bombarded in the late 60’s
by Americans creating the problem of unexploded ordnance (UXO).
The area is victim of nearly 100 years of Warfare. Statically speaking
the UXO risk for the average foreign visitor is low but local knowledge
of cleared areas will be vital.
- Bolaven Plateau (Dong Hua Sao NPA) is home to a population of
tigers that have the reputation of attacking the occasional hunter.
Not usually a problem but due to the remote areas the team will
be visiting we should be aware of there presence.
- Opium plantations (the people running them) are a danger that
the team hopes we don’t run into on our multi-day trips. Local
knowledge will be essential to avoid these problems.
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