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For any nature lover, staying overnight in a tree house and gazing at the sky in the middle of a vast forest creates an unforgettable experience. The Gibbon Experience is one of the perfect choices for this.
Wading through streams, crossing forests, and sometimes witnessing the daily lives of indigenous people, a trip to The Gibbon Experience offers visitors the chance to set foot at the top of a tree.
The Gibbon Experience is one of the perfect choices for this (Cre: Gody.vn)
The nature reserve is located outside the town of Huay Xai, Bokeo province and is a famous nature reserve known for its conservation work to protect the black-cheeked gibbon. The story of the treehouse began in 1996 when founder Jef Reumaux went trekking in Laos. While hiking, he spotted black-crested gibbons and took some pictures of them.
It turned out that this particular species of gibbon, endemic to the area, was critically endangered. That’s when they realized they had to find a way to preserve these beautiful forests. He then came up with the idea of creating a series of trails, treehouses and zipline networks as a way to bring tourists to explore and conserve, while also generating revenue for forest protection. The first treehouses and ziplines opened in 2004.
Working with local authorities, the Gibbon Experience project area, covering 136,000 hectares of mixed deciduous forest, was officially recognized as a national park by the Lao National Assembly in 2008.
The Gibbon Experience, covering 136,000 hectares of mixed deciduous forest (Cre: gibbonexperience)
There are many ways to get here, either by plane or by car. You can fly to Luang Namtha or Huay Xai, or you can drive here. The tour includes a guide who will help you during the Gibbon Experience and provide you with unique experiences. They will give you a harness and gloves to start your adventure.
Read more: Laos tours 15 days
The best time to explore this place is during Laos' dry season, which runs from November to April. The dry weather is great for outdoor adventures and helps you see everything around you more clearly. Also, visiting during the dry season will make you safer on the ziplines.
Besides, exploring the Gibbon Experience during the rainy season also brings romance and seeing everything become greener.
The best time to explore this place is during Laos' dry season (Cre: rita_t3)
Exploring and observing the animals in the reserve is both interesting and worthwhile. The purpose of the project is to conserve gibbons and other animals.
Black-crested gibbons live in family groups, each consisting of a male, a female, and usually no more than five members. These fascinating creatures spend most of their lives in trees, moving from branch to branch using their arms to support their bodies and swing—something that few other gibbons or monkeys can do. Black-crested gibbons can reach speeds of about 50 km/h using this method.
Observing and exploring helps you gain more knowledge about the species and raises awareness of nature conservation.
Exploring and observing the animals in the reserve (Cre: Translndus)
The treehouses at The Gibbon Experience are one of the most unique features of this project. Built directly into the canopy of the rainforest, these tree houses not only provide a close-to-nature living experience but also create opportunities for visitors to observe and enjoy the wild beauty of the forest.
The houses are built entirely from natural materials and are known to be very sturdy. All treehouses are made of wood, with beds covered by mosquito nets and a few other essentials. Each treehouse bathroom is open plan and has its own private freshwater shower.
Authentic Lao meals are cooked in a nearby village and delivered to the treehouses by staff via zipline, along with fresh fruit and local snacks. The early morning views are said to be particularly impressive to visitors, as the mist reveals glimpses of the vast forest and the wildlife and birdlife surrounding the house.
The treehouses at The Gibbon Experience are one of the most unique features (Cre: Gibbon experience)
The special thing about this project is that you will travel entirely by zipline to go from one house to another. The ziplines, which are tens of meters high, are perfect for tourists who love adventure. Tourists will be fully equipped with safety gear and will fly over the cool green forests, enjoying the wild beauty of nature from above.
However, a recommendation is to keep your luggage compact and convenient, like a backpack, since you will be moving around a lot. Other items can be sent to the Gibbon Experience office.
Zipline slides tens of meters high are the perfect choice for adventure-loving tourists (Cre: Gibbon experience)
Enjoying delicious food brought by local people using the zipline will definitely be a good opportunity for you. While enjoying delicious food, many typical dishes of Laos, you also have the opportunity to interact with the people to understand more about their lives. A unique opportunity at the rewarding experiential trips at Gibbon Experience.
A unique opportunity at the rewarding experiential trips at Gibbon Experience (Cre: backpackinspiratie)
The Gibbon Experience project can attract the attention of nature lovers, people who like wildlife observation, and everybody who wants to draw awareness for the need for conservation. Besides, such unique activities as sliding down the zipline or staying in tree houses will be very special in memory.
It should hopefully turn out to be the perfect destination for your whole journey in Laos.
Read more: Laos excursions
