Orange Robe Tours
Authentic cultural tours that give back
Orange Robe Tours is a profit-for-purpose social enterprise, based in Luang Prabang, Laos. We employ former Novices and Monks who have recently left the temple to give culturally appropriate tours to tourists, providing much-needed support during their transition from temple life to layperson life, while preserving the traditional culture and customs of Laos.
Join us on an authentic cultural tour that gives back. Book Now
Our mission
Transitioning into layperson life can be overwhelming. A lack of support during this time of transition results in many former Buddhist Novices and Monks returning to their villages, where they under-utilise the education and skills they’ve spent years acquiring. It is Orange Robe Tours' mission to bridge the gap that exists and create a network of support for these young men, whilst preserving Lao culture.
How We Give Back
We give former Novices and Monks the opportunity to earn a fair wage and continue their education while passing on their extensive knowledge and expertise to tourists. We also donate part of the profits back to the surrounding temples included in the cultural tours to aid in their ongoing restoration efforts.
About Our tours
Our 1-hour tours are operated exclusively by former Novices and Monks, providing you with a unique opportunity to learn all about Buddhism in Laos from a first-hand source.
Our tours are limited to 7 people to ensure everyone has an intimate, fulfilling experience.
Cultural temple tour
09:00-10:00AM / 13:30-14:30PM Mon-Sat
A guided tour of a local temple, focusing on Buddhist culture, architecture, appropriate temple etiquette and the daily life of Novices and Monks. This is your opportunity to find out everything you would like to know about Buddhism in Laos.
Guided meditation experience
10:15-11:15AM / 14:45-15:45PM Mon-Sat
Held inside a local temple, this experience gives you the opportunity to learn and practise the same meditation techniques taught inside the temple and will give you a better understanding of the importance of meditation in Buddhism.
*The Guided Meditation Experience is not recommended for those with existing knee issues or children under 13, unless highly supervised by a parent.
We highly recommend that visitors do both tours combined (at a discounted rate) to gain a full understanding and appreciation of Buddhist Culture in Laos.
Booking & Availability
Book NowTo check availability & book a tour please click on the 'Book Now' button above (or scroll to the bottom of this page), select your tour package, then the date, then the time and continue to fill out the details.
For the below in-store prices (per person) opt to 'pay on arrival'. (Age 5-12 half price, under 5 free)
SINGLE TOUR = 100,000kip
BOTH TOURS = 180,000kip
To inquire about private tours please email inquiry@orangerobetours.com.
Reviews
"Authenticity at its best..."
"The best way to learn about Lao culture"
"The highlight of my highlight"
See why we are ranked #3 of Tours in Luang Prabang by reading the full reviews of our tours on TripAdvisor.
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Contact
contact@orangerobetours.com
orangerobetours.com
Office opening hours
Mon-Sat 8:30AM-5PM
Orange Robe Tours @OrangeRobeToursWhy isn’t the tour and the meditation led by a Monk?
As opposed to other tour operators we work alongside the temples we visit rather than depend on them to lead the tours. All our tours are led by former Novice and Monks, those who have taken the decision to leave the temple. The tours are designed to be to run solely by our tour guides so that we never have to rely on anyone inside the temple.
Do you do an Alms Giving tour?
No. We contemplated doing an Alms Giving tour for a long time, but ultimately decided against the idea. All of our tours are designed to be culturally appropriate and, while it would be a good opportunity to educate tourists on how to give Alms properly, we are also very conscious of turning Alms Giving into an "attraction".
More so now, there has been a lot of contention over tourists participating in Alms Giving. Typically, it is regarded as a religious ceremony, one that you should only participate if you truly believe in the practice. We want to avoid the myriad of guesthouses and hotels that offer it to simply accommodate tourists.
The Monastery and your organisation gives support to males in Laos, what about females?
While it is possible for females to join the temple as Buddhist Nuns, this is typically a role for elderly, widowed women. This isn’t something that young females tend to seek as an option. We are dedicated to equal opportunity and are always open to hiring women. We are looking for a female who has had experience inside the temple to join our team.
We currently have plans to routinely support a local woman’s charity and hope that once we are more established we can begin making monthly donations. For now, we are contributing to the temples that help support our tours and continually make contributions to the community in any way that we can.
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