Gibbon Experience

Hotel Grade: Simple (if that really applies in this case!)

Overview

The basic premise is simple and exhilarating: spend 2 nights in a jungle treehouse and zip-line through the canopy 40 metres up from tree to tree!

The Gibbon Experience is an eco-project in North Laos designed to protect the native flora and fauna from forest clearance and benefit the local community by creating a profitable sanctuary. The natural environment takes centre stage; this is not a tourist sideshow.

The transfer into the jungle takes a few hours by jeep and an hour’s walk into the jungle. You will need walking boots and we would recommend that if possible you visit in the dry season, otherwise access becomes much more of an effort.

There are gibbons in the reserve and you may hear their siren calls echoing through the jungle canopy, but they are rare and hard to see. The best time is early morning and the guides will be on hand to help you find them. They are also there to help you enjoy the reserve, explore by zip-line or on foot and deliver the evening meal. Even if you don’t see any gibbons the chance to live in such an unusual environment and wake up to the sounds of the jungle should not be missed.

Facilities

Facilities are really the zip-lines and jungle. At “base camp” you will be given your harnesses and instructions before being released on your first zip-line.

Stay calm, breathe and then jump, there’s no turning back as zip-lining will be your method of travel for the next 2 days. Most people are surprised how quickly they get accustomed to treehouse life and how zip-lining becomes second nature.

From the canopy you’ll get a gauge of the size of the forest they are trying to protect, not a sign of human habitation for miles, just endless shades of green. Fantastic!

Rooms

The tree houses sleep up to eight people over three levels, more than 40 metres above the ground. Bedrooms are private with mosquito nets.

Amenities included a toilet, a gas stove and panoramic views of the Nature Reserve. The treehouses are well stocked with food and drink.

All meals are included and drinks are available to purchase. Dinner is served by the guides.