“Z” Speleology Club organizes a new speleological expedition in Laos, between February 17 and 10 March, 2019. We now invite any keen, speleologist, mountaineer, photographer, climber, or a biologist to join us on a unique adventure in the wonderful and mysterious Laos.
Explorations will be in Bolikhamsay and Kammouane counties. In Bolikhamsay will explore Pha Hong, a 35 km long and up to 4.7 km wide highland plateau, climbing firstly a level difference of 900 metres. In this plateau is hiding perhaps the deepest pothole from Laos. It needs only to be discovered. In the Khammouane county near Nahin locality will be explored and mapped several limestone cliffs hiding a lot of labyrinthical caves. The main objectives of the expedition are exploration and mapping resuming of the large Pha Soung system (21,012 m development in 2018) and Tham Nam Kouan Moo Yo (1,684,1 m already mapped in 2018), Tham Dan Makhia (2,026,0 /2018), Tham Kammatan (exploration on 1 km and no map in 2016) and not in the last, Tham Lom Yan (941 m length /2018). Although this expedition is strictly a speleological one, will be organized two visits into two famous caves of the area. Firstly in Tham Kong Lor cave where will cross and sail with the motorboat on the 6.5 km long underground river. Then, another visit will be in Tham Pha Fa, the cave with 229 Buddha statues partially covered by massive gold. We mention that because the exploring authorization fee has increased 4 times in the last 2 years and for sure a new increasing will be performed for 2019, this expedition probably will be the last one in this country.
PROGRAM
17 Feb. 2019. The arrival of the participants in Bangkok. Evening time (20:20 hrs), travels by a fast bus from Bangkok to Laos, the Nakhon Phanom – Thakhek border point.
18 Feb. 2019. Moving from the Nakhon Phanom – Thakhek border point to the Lak Sao town. In the evening, welcome festive dinner.
18-20 Feb. 2019. Explorations in Lak Sao area.
21 Feb. 2019. Exploration in Nahin area. Visit to Kong Lor Cave In the evening moving from Nahin to Takhek city.
22 Feb. – 5 March 2019. Explorations in the Ban Na area, especially in the large Pha Soung System (length 2018: 21,012 m) cave system.
6 March 2019. Travel to Gnommalath.
6-9 March 2019. Explorations in the two largest caves in the area. In the evenings, festive dinner closing the expedition.
9 March 2019. Return to Thakhek and then cross back the border to Thailand, NP. Evening fast bus to Bangkok.
10 March 2019. Arrival in the early morning hours in Bangkok.
We specify loud and clear that this program is a guidance because in function of the discoveries that will be performed the expedition leadership can change it strictly in the scientific and speleological purpose.
For additional relationships:
Liviu Valenas, Lenau Str. 16, D-90431 Nürnberg, Germany
Tel .: 0049-911-8014898, 0049-911-8014899, 0049-174-7872593
Fax: 0049-911-8014900, E-Mail: liviu.valenas@gmail.com
DURATION: 22 days.
PERIOD: February 17 – March 10, 2019.
PARTICIPATION FEE: 1,290 Euro/person (for minimum 6 participants, excepting the organizers). Includes all transport costs in Thailand and Laos, full board and lodging, plus fees paid to the Lao authorities (Exploring and Residence Fees in Ban Na Village). It will assure also the payment of the local guides. About half of overnights will be in hotels of 1-2 stars, but decent, with European toilet and hot water showers in every room. Accommodation in hotels is in double rooms, but who wants a separate single room will have to pay more (150 Euro). The transport on the Laos territory will be performed with 1-2 pickup cars on all the expedition period. In the participation fee are included also the transport and visiting tickets for the two Touristique caves, Tham Kong Lor and Tham Pha Fa. Also included in the price is a participation folder, with topographic maps of the caves and the area and a T-shirt with expedition logo. For those who want to participate in the expedition for a shorter duration, with a reduction (between 10 and 20%) of the participation fee this is possible. The last date for application is 15 September 2018. The participation fee will be sent to the following account:
Maliwan Valenas
Targo Bank Nürnberg – D
IBAN: DE65300209005390037093
BIC CODE: CMCIDEDD
Those wishing to participate in the expedition will have to send us a short CV about their speleological activity. Also, some explanations regarding their skills in caving (exploration, climbing walls, topography, photo, scientific research, etc.). Air tickets to Bangkok, Thailand, round trip, will be reserved and paid exclusively by each participant. From Europe to Bangkok, round-trip, with a cheap flight, e.g. China Air, Etihad or Aeroflot, with a mandatory stopover, costs about 500 Euro/person, round trip.
LIVIU VALENAS
Speleology Club “Z” President