Things to do in Laos: Gibbon Experience
In my opinion, the Gibbon Experience in Laos should definitely be on your bucket list. Ziplining through the jungle, sleeping in a tree house, and with a little luck, seeing and hearing the gibbons, a special species of monkey that only lives in Southeast Asia. During my trip through Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, I booked the three-day tour with the Gibbon Experience, and I would like to share this special experience with you.
Ziplining in the jungle of Laos
The Gibbon Experience is an eco-friendly experience in the jungle of Laos. In a group of up to 8 participants, you will stay in the jungle for one or two nights. From the office in Houayxay, you will be taken to the jungle, where, after lunch in a remote village, you will enter the jungle on foot. You will walk to the starting point of the zipline, where you will first receive an explanation before you actually zipline through the jungle. In the evening, you will sleep in a tree house where you will fall asleep to the sounds of the jungle. Depending on which tour you book, you will either return to Houayxay on day two or spend the whole day in the jungle and only return on day three.
Traveling to Houayxay
The Gibbon Experience office is located in Houayxay, in northern Laos, near the border with Thailand. I traveled from northern Thailand (Chiang Rai) to Houayxay by bus. I booked my bus ticket to the border online and took the bus from the station to the Thai-Lao friendship bridge. Here I had to show my passport to leave Thailand and then wait in no man’s land for the bus to the other side of the bridge. A bus ride of less than five minutes to the other side of the river. Here you have to apply for your visa for Laos at a customs office and pay for it in dollars or Thai baht. (Please note that if you pay in dollars, the bills must look as good as new without any creases. Otherwise, there is a good chance that they will not be accepted). The cost of a visa for Laos is approximately €40. Once you have your visa, you can walk across the border, where tuk-tuks are waiting to take you to the village (for a fee, of course).
Sign up for the Gibbon Experience
The Gibbon Experience is a popular activity among young travelers. Dutch backpackers in particular know how to find this special activity. If you want to be sure of a place in a group, you can book online in advance. I chose the three-day route and booked about two months in advance via the website. This was necessary because the groups fill up quickly as there is a maximum of 8 people per group. The two-day tour, with one overnight stay, often has more space available. However, it is also advisable to book this tour in advance. Houayxay is a sleepy village with little to do during the day. It would be a shame to be there and have to wait a few days before you can do the Gibbon Experience.
Wildlife during the Gibbon Experience
The Gibbon Experience is named after the gibbons, a special species of monkey that is only found in Southeast Asia. Gibbons live in the area of the Gibbon Experience, but there is no guarantee that you will actually see or hear them. The chance of seeing gibbons is greatest during the three-day trip. Unfortunately, I did not encounter them in Laos (but I did eventually see them in Khao Yai National Park in Thailand). Other animals were also rarely seen in the Laotian jungle. I saw some spiders, a small snake, insects, and a giant squirrel (from a distance). Probably because we made too much noise as a group.
Food and drink during the Gibbon Experience
I did the three-day Gibbon Experience tour, which is fully catered. You leave from the office in the morning and after a few hours’ drive you arrive at a village in the jungle. On the way, we stopped for a short toilet break and there is a small shop where you can buy some last-minute snacks. (To be on the safe side, I would put some snacks in your backpack). In the village, you will be given lunch before walking into the jungle. At the end of the afternoon, you will be welcomed to the tree house with some snacks and an extensive dinner in the evening. On day two, you will also receive three meals, and on day three, you will receive breakfast and lunch. You can refill your water bottle in the tree house, so don’t forget it! In principle, you don’t need to bring anything else in terms of food and drink. But if you like to snack, I do recommend bringing something with you.
Rest day in Houayxay
After three days of Gibbon Experience, I decided to plan a rest day in Houayxay before continuing my journey to Luang Prabang. Houayxay is a great place for a rest day, but don’t expect to do much more than relax. The village comes to life in the early morning when the groups for the Gibbon Experience and the slow boat depart. And then again at the end of the afternoon when the new groups arrive in the village. So I spent most of my rest day in my hotel room, reading and calling home. The next day, I traveled on to Luang Prabang. I booked a minivan and train ticket through my hotel. Early in the morning, I was picked up at my hotel and taken to the station. It wasn’t a short trip, but took four hours.
My Gibbon Experience
The Gibbon Experience was the only “destination” I had planned in advance, apart from the first week of my trip. This was because I had heard from several people that it was an absolute must in Southeast Asia. Looking back on this experience, I can only agree with them (provided you’re not afraid of heights). I found it a special experience to stay in the middle of the jungle and sleep in a tree house. I also really enjoyed ziplining. The first few times, I found it very exciting and also a little scary. What if something goes wrong? But after gliding through the air a few times, all I could think was, wow, I’ll never forget this experience! So if you have any doubts about booking the Gibbon Experience, I say go for it!
Southeast Asia Tour
In 2024, I quit my job and traveled solo through Southeast Asia for three months. During this extraordinary trip, I visited Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, three remarkable countries where I saw beautiful and impressive places. Of course, I wrote blogs about these destinations, which you can find on my website. Do you have any questions about the Gibbon Experience or other places I’ve been? Leave a comment, send me an email, or contact me on Instagram.
