in Kiet Ngong Village
The elephant festival in Kiet Ngong Village, Champasak Province, is held every year in late January/early February (depending on the lunar calendar) to celebrate and honour the elephants of Champasak Province. The festival is held the day before the annual alms giving ceremony at the ancient Vat Phou Asa Temple, which is also located in Kiet Ngong Village. The festival is typically small with mainly local patronage. Activities include elephant procession, traditional dances and music and an elephant baci ceremony. (This festival should not be confused with the elephant festival in Sayabouli Province in the north, which typically is held about 1-2 weeks later with support by Elefant Asia.)
The dates for the 2010 elephant festival are 16-18 January. The schedule is as follows:
| Day 1 (16 January) |
All day and evening
Preparation for the festival
|
| Day 2 (17 January) |
Early Morning
Opening Ceremony
Elephant Procession
Traditional music and dance
Elephant baci ceremony
Afternoon - Elephant riding
Evening - Homestay
|
| Day 3 (18 January) |
Early Morning
Alms giving atop Vat Phou Asa |
All guests are welcome. It is recommended that guests stay overnight in a homestay, at the village guesthouse or at the Kingfisher Ecolodge the evening before the event so that they can rise early in the morning for the opening ceremony and the alms giving ceremony atop Phou Asa Mountain. Homestays can be booked directly at the village visitor centre. Homestay prices are 30.000 Kip/night/person, and 20.000 kip/person per meal. Please be advised that all guests entering Xe Pian National Protected Area must pay a park entrance fee (30.000 Kip/person) at the check point located en route to Kiet Ngong.
For directions to Kiet Ngong click here |
