Elephants trundle off to Luang Prabang

LUANG PRABANG  An elephant caravan from Paklai in Xayaboury province will begin a trek to Luang Prabang, in October, to support the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Luang Prabang being listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Lao News Agency quoted Elephant Conservation Centre general manager, Sebastien Duffillot, saying the elephant caravan was a project that would highlight a historic elephant trek across rural Laos, while providing educational conservation activities for village children along the way. The trek will culminate in an artistic and culture festival celebrating Luang Prabang’s 20 years as a UNESCO World Heritage Site 8 to 9 December.
Twelve elephants will cover 500 km across eight districts in two provinces. It will take them just short of two months to complete the trip.
inside no 3The actual anniversary celebration will include seminars on the protection of the town as a World Heritage site, as well as a parade, photo exhibition and cultural performances.

Luang Prabang was recognised as a World Heritage site in 1995.It has captured the imagination of travellers because of the fusion of traditional and French colonial architecture during the 19th and 20th centuries and its chill-out ambience that still survives despite a tourism boom. It is one of the few remaining towns in Asia that reflect a blending of two distinct cultural traditions.

sourced:ttrweekly.com