Tad Xai waterfalls, Laos

Tad Xai waterfall: the trek is what makes it special

For Visit Laos-China Year 2019, Vientiane Times is publishing a series of feature articles and images promoting the two countries’ collaboration in tourism and hoping to inspire more people, especially from China, to experience the nature, culture, history and hospitality of Laos, the jewel of the Mekong.

Tad Xai waterfall in Borikhamxay province is not just a place to go for the wonderful scenery, a picnic, and the waterfall itself, but is also a great place for trekking. 

In training for a Vangvieng Trail hike at the end of this year, my friends and I would normally walk along the Mekong riverbank to prepare for such an event but one recent weekend we decided to try somewhere different. 

Out of the many places we considered, we settled upon the Tad Xai waterfall at Ban Hatkhai in Borikhamxay province, which lies within the Phou Khaokhouay National Protected Area.

Reached by travelling on Road 13 South, it’s near the border between Vientiane and Borikhamxay province, and is about three hours drive from Vientiane. 

We chose this place because we heard that trekking guides are available, which we thought was a good idea because we were by no means experienced trekkers.  

I have been to Tad Xai a few times before, but mostly just to have a picnic and enjoy the waterfall, which is one of the most beautiful of the many that are to be found in the national protected area. This was the first time I would be able to explore the area more fully.  

We arrived at Ban Hatkhai around 10 am where a local tourist officer was waiting to guide us on the walk. The fee for each of us was 45,000 kip. It was several kilometres from the village to the park itself and some sections of the road were quite rough. Drivers would need a vehicle with good clearance or four-wheel drive. 

e arrived at the parking place which was shaded by large trees and bordered by a stream which burbled through various shaped rocks. It would make a good picnic spot and you could also have a dip as the water was not at all deep. A sign pointed the way to Tad Xai waterfall, which could be found at the end of a 400 metre path. 

But we were intent on having a long walk so we went in another direction along a small trail which passed through woods, so the tree canopy protected us from the hot sun.

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 We quickly became immersed in our environment and stopped to look at the unfamiliar plants and flowers that we encountered in profusion. 

Our surroundings were so enjoyable that we walked slowly and took loads of photos, forgetting that the purpose of the expedition was to get in training for the strenuous Vangvieng Trail. Never mind, the whole experience was all part of the goal, we told ourselves.  

After a while we heard the unmistakable sound of a waterfall, which soon came into view. The water cascaded down from a high cliff, so it is aptly named Pha Xay waterfall, or cliff waterfall. It was one of those hidden gems that you would only encounter by walking deep into this scenic area. 

After lingering for a while to enjoy the view and taking more photos, we continued on our way through more oddly-shaped trees and plants and then came to an open field of green grass interspersed with rocks.

Then we were back in the forest again, walking through small and large trees, listening to the sounds of insects and birds against the backdrop of faraway waterfalls, and observing the strange plant life around us. We became engrossed in our surroundings and never had time to feel tired. Now and again we saw groups of colourful butterflies, and stopped to relax near a small stream. 

The many streams that traverse the park meant we sometimes had to walk across wooden bridges and near the end of the trail we came upon a mass of different sized boulders piled up on top of each other alongside a large stream overhung with dense foliage. 

The tall thick trees were a wonderful sight and created a calming atmosphere so we took a long break and breathed in the smells. We felt we had earned a rest as this was the first trek we had made in this kind of environment. 

From here we took a different path back, which led us to the main Tad Xai cascade where most people come to enjoy a picnic. 

The waterfall has seven levels over which pours a torrent of foaming white water on its way through Phou Khaokhouay, creating a spectacular sight. 

This made another great rest stop and we loitered here for some time before making our way back to the parking area, deeply satisfied with our achievement and our decision to visit this awe-inspiring area.

Source - Vientiane Times 

#Cambodia - Tractor rides and hiking to reach Oral Mountain’s peak

Though Oral Mountain is the hightest peak in Cambodia, even those without trekking experience won’t find reaching the summit hard. But the real obstacle to the summit is the tricky road journey before, with the use of a tractor almost essential.

Nearby Srae Ken village is home to about 300 Suoy Malou indigenous families. They use tractors as their daily transportation as their village does not have paved roads.

“When tourists reach the villages, we provide a tractor to take them anywhere, whether waterfalls or the peak of Oral Mountain. As you see, the road in the villages is quite hard for vehicles to drive on. Here, aside from bicycles and motorbikes, only tractors can transport materials, people and tourists,” said Theang Soth, one of a handful of local guides from Srae Ken Community, where tourists start their journey to the mountain.

It is 8km from Srae Ken village to a waterfall named Prek Snar at the mountain’s foot – a journey that takes more than two hours for tourists on a tractor driving down an unpaved road.

Soth, 47, a local guide for more than 17 years, told The Post: “One tractor can take seven to eight people, and normally we have one driver and one or two guides to help during the difficult journey. We charge $35 per guide for a day and tractor hire costs $50 per day.

“Some people come to visit a few places and then go back home – most of these people are from around Kampong Speu province. Others stay overnight, trekking from one waterfall to another on the same stream. A one day trek is not enough to explore all the waterfalls.”
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Muth Pech drove his tractor with a large family from Thpong district and carried a speaker on his shoulder playing loud music.

“We came for bathing and lunch together then we are going back home,” he said, as he took the family to Prek Snar waterfall, which has a slope resembling a water slide that plunges into a 1.2m pool.

Soth is also a good chef, and he prepares lunch in the jungle with basic equipment.
“Tourists order food with us, such as two chickens for six people, and we cook them in the forest with condiments, ingredients and rice. Normally we do chicken sour soup and grilled chicken that is enough for several people,” he said.

Soth takes his guests on a more than two-hour walk after they get off the tractor.

“From the lower stream, we visit Smounh cave where we have installed beds to relax. We also visit Bak Kanhchherl, Steung Kroul and Korki creeks, which all have cascades. If people want to see all the waterfalls, spending just one day is not enough,” he said. 
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For benefit of the whole Srae Ken Community, authorities and locals are working to build a pebble trail that will make access easier.

“We are very happy to see construction vehicles building a road in front of our homes. We’ve never seen such a nice roads in our villages,” said Chhem Chhim, Srae Ken Community chief, which was founded in 2004 in Oral district’s Trapang Chhou commune.

“When we have a new road, Srae Ken Community is going to welcome more visitors who wish to visit Oral Mountain and it will bring ecotourism jobs for our people.”

While guides cook for visitors, all expenses are the responsibility of tourists, including meat, vegetables, condiments and steamed rice.

Source - PhnomPenhPost 

#Cambodia - Phnom Topcheang community turned into eco-tourism magnet

 At about three in the afternoon, Pich Longneth is ready to welcome the clients he has booked in for his guide service.

He has prepared the necessary materials for the trip – a water container, a rice pot, rice, vegetables, meat, fish and beverages, as well as tents and plastic mats to protect themselves from the rain.

“Tourists from one tour company travelling from Phnom Penh arrived in the afternoon. They then packed their luggage for trekking to the top of the mountain because they need to camp near there,” says Longneth, 40, a local guide for the Community-Based Eco-tourism Phnom Tobcheang with 10 years experience.

“Tour groups range from 10 or 20 people and sometimes from 50 to 60 people. They walk on the snake-like concrete road built for the transportation of Kirirom III Hydroelectricity’s construction materials for about one and a half hours to reach the camp site. For materials and food, we use motorbikes to take them there.”

Reaching the summit of Tob Cheang Mountain, visitors are treated to a spectacular view.

“At dusk, if we start hiking at 5:30pm there is a chance to see the mist cloud. When we walk up to the top of the mountain, we can see the cloud lowering down on top of roofs and farms,” says Longneth.

Walking another 30 minutes on the concrete road by the hydrodam, visitors reach an open space with jungle flowers where they spend the night. The flowers are called Chahouy and start to blossom in the rainy season, a sign to welcome the new season and attract campers.

Phnom Tobcheang Community is on the southwest side of the Cardamom Mountains, located in Srae Ambel district’s Dang Peng commune in Koh Kong province.

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With the help of NGOs and the government, in 2001 the community was transformed into an eco-tourism destination for camping, waterfalls, trekking, fishing and bird watching.

The project promotes agriculture, healthcare and natural resource protection for the 300 locals living in Preah Angkeo and Bak Angrel villages.

Phnom Tobcheang Community was recognised and supported by the provincial authority in 2003, and in 2010 the community signed a 15-year contract to control 364ha of land.

“We charge on the basis of the number of local guides. If a tour needs only one guide, we charge $10 for a day and if they need a motordup, we charge them $30 or $35 per guide and motorbike,” says Longneth.

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Nob Koy, Phnom Tobcheang Ecotourism chief, said the community was established to protect natural resources and provide work for local people in the tourism sector.

“Phnom Tobcheang Community was launched in 2001 to protect the forest for the younger generation,” says Koy, 66, adding that during the rainy season, as the jungle flowers blossom and the trees become green, the number of tourists starts to increase.

Koy says that most tourists visiting Phnom Tobcheang community are Cambodian.

“We rarely see expats coming here. We should also attract foreigners, but maybe we do not promote ourselves well enough to reach an international audience,” he says. 

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Seeing the potential of Phnom Tobcheang ecotourism, Seang Makara, founder of tour group Cambodia Camping, set up their first tour package to the area in 2016.

“I have organised tours many times since 2016. I wanted to help the community to create new tourism sites because I see that it has potential with its waterfalls, flowers, river and good geography,” Makara says.

“The biggest tour package I organised had more than 170 people. Now I am preparing to set up a resort up there. In fact, today Phnom Tobcheang Community has one completed resort and four other resorts in construction.”

The community also offers a homestay ($3 per room for two people), breakfast ($2.50 per person), lunch ($3 per person) and dinner ($3 per person).

According to their website, a local guide costs $10 per day, renting a tractor costs $25 per day, hiring a motorbike costs $10 per day, a bicycle $5 per day, a boat trip at $5 per person and a tent is $5 per night.

To reach the community, travel down National Road 48 until you are 50m from Srae Ambel Bridge, at which point you turn right at the sign saying Hydroelectricity Plant Kirirom III. After two kilometres you then reach Longneth’s home, from where you will start trekking. 

Sourse - PhnomPhenPost