Salawin River Hilltribes Trek - 4 Days / 3 Nights

Nicole Niedik & Patrick Zuechner

Dear Mr. Granier,
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

On the occasion of our journey in northern Laos from 5th to 15th of November we like to thank you and the overall Exotissimo team for the wonderful time. We find it helpful to go into detail concerning some involved team members and provided services to express our complete satisfaction.

Your company was recommended to us by Mr. Vanhphenh Sengnham who we know well from our last year's journey. Beginning with the very helpful websites we could easy find our preferred way of travelling based on a set of various useful hints and proposals.

Our first idea was checked and completed by Mr. Jean-Yves Paille. We like to express our special thank to Mr. Paille. He respected all of our wishes, gave a lot of helpful details and answered all of our questions in a comprehensive, and courteous and uncomplaining way. We enjoyed both his great flexibility and his obligatory service.

We used the transport service offered by Exotissimo from Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong boarder station. We had a warm welcome in Thailand and a speedy but save ride and arrived just in time although our time schedule was ambitious. Mr. Sengnham collected us right at the ferry pier therefore also the immigration was unproblematic.

For the next days we had a comfortable and save ride every time. In Luang Namtha we spent a night in The Boatlanding which is a nice resort even. A special day for us was the biking trip in the surroundings of Luang Namhta on 7th of November. Our special thanks go here to the local guide from Green Discovery who made the day an unforgettable event introducing us local villages and surrounding highlights as well as cultural background and workaday life. The trip was well selected and scaled, the bikes in a good condition.

The very highlight of the whole journey was the 3 day trekking trip to the Akha villages round Muang Sing. We first have to thank the Exotissimo Muang Sing Office for the warm welcome and the safekeeping of our remaining luggage. Our special thanks go here to all involved people who offered a various range of services to us (planning/organising of the trip, preparation of accommodation and meals, massage etc.) especially to the local Akha guide. He shows an excellent example of his people's hospitality and proudness of its own way of life. He was always a good leader and bridge to his people and answered all of our questions in an unorthodox and professional English spoken way. We had a good board and lodging. Complementary to the local table the Akha guide and Mr. Sengnham show oneself as talented cooks. Especially the evening together with the villagers in Ban Lao Khao was an unforgettable experience. They let us feel their spirit and we had always the feeling to be a most welcome part of the community and their life.

We enjoyed this way of tourism very much and are proud to have the change to get part of it. We have the greatest respect for the founders and operators of the project as we could consider many hurdles on the way to this nearly perfect organisation resulting from language and cultural differences. We go to any lengths to give all of our friends a better understanding of the project and the life of the Akha as an example for the way of living of minorities in Laos in accordance with both own history and nature and environment. As a slight notice we would appreciate the purchasing of some new mosquito nets to replace older ones.

Our following night we spend in Phetsoksai in Pakbeng as backup for originally proposed Pakbeng Lodge. We found the hotel very nice, didn't miss anything and are therefore able to recommend this hotel.

Our remaining nights in Luang Prabang we spend in the Villa Maydou which is a very nice place and typified for the spirit of Luang Prabang from our point of view. In the Exotissimo Luang Prabang Office we had a great time exchanging experiences with the very friendly team members.

But our very special thanks go to Mr. Vanhphenh Sengnham. Without him the whole trip won't be such a great experience because he was always our bridge to the local people and their culture. He selected the appropriate local restaurants according to your wishes. He managed all the small problems resulting from booking mistakes or other things which could happen at such a trip with great professionalism and in his smooth manner.

We appreciate his friendly behaviour and his deep knowledge of country and culture. In addition he speaks German really like a native speaker and this will make a trip much easier for us. Most important we admire Mr. Sengnhams very individual and personal style. You don't need to ask but he will know your wish before. We are sure to travel with an old friend at any time.

Sincerely yours,

Nicole Niedik & Patrick Zuechner
Dortmund (Germany), 16th of December 2008

Gregg Swanson

I would like to send you my profound thanks for helping and advising me.  Since this was a new situation for me, your help was invaluable.  While I'm sure you had many concerns, including the cancellations and questions from around the world, you were upbeat and professional in every way, which gave me great reassurance and reflected very positively on Exotissimo.

Even after I left Chiang Mai, you continued to assist, making a booking in the JB Hotel in Hat Yai in the south for me and maintaining contact.  Two days later, I received another message from you, as I was riding a minibus south from Hat Yai toward Malaysia.  

Gregg Swanson
USA
December 08