Information about collecting butterflies in Laos

[arnaud75]

I someone has experience in collecting butterflies in Laos?

Thank you
Arnaud

[Adam Cotton]

Which part of Laos are you planning to go to?

I have been to Thabok, Nahin and Lak Sao many times, but the last time was 10 years ago now, and once to Luang Nam Tha and Oudomxay in NW Laos, also in 2008.

Paul K has collected in Southern Laos many times more recently than me.

Adam.

[arnaud75]

Many thanks for your answer
I wish to go for my first « exotic » butterflies collecting trip in South East Asia (Laos or Thailand) but i don’t know where exacltly to go to make quite a simple and efficient journey

According to your experiences, which places would you recommend me
Is it recommended to get a guide, is it necessary to get a collect permit
Do you know some nice localities with nice variety of species
Should you have any recommendation or advices i will appreciate a lot

[Adam Cotton]

If you have no tropical experience at all, either in country, forest habitat or butterfly behaviour I strongly recommend you contact Steeve Collard in Luang Prabang. I assume you are French from your name, and so is Steeve, but he also speaks good English. He runs a butterfly tour business, and will act as a guide for either collectors or photographers who want to visit Laos. You can contact him for prices and recommended times and itineraries on steevecollard at yahoo dot com. Without any experience I really do not think you will have a good time just arriving there on your own and trying to get around or find good butterfly collecting places.

I speak fluent Thai and can understand Lao which is mostly very similar, and when I went to Laos I took my own truck across the border and drove around Laos in it, so I didn't have any transport problems. If you just turn up with no language or transport it will make things much more difficult.

As far as I know there is no collecting permit required, except inside the Lao equivalent of National Parks (you won't get an official permit for these places, so don't bother trying).

Adam.

[Paul K]

I agree with Adam, going to Laos on your own will be a big challenge for you.
I collect in Laos but my wife she is Laotian, I speak Thai very little but can communicate in critical or basic situation and I also have my car there so transport is not a problem.

There are two ways to go collecting in tropics.

If you have large amount of money to spend on it go with the tour company which specializes in butterfly collecting trips. They are expensive but will take care of everything for you.

If your budget is limited then buy an air ticket and rent a car at airport drive outside the city. Look for some collecting spots and accommodation in advance but don’t be surprised when you arrive to find location not as good as you thought at first. I did that once in Costa Rica. I wouldn’t say it was very successful trip but always an adventure.

There are few location within 300km drive from Bangkok.
You will find new species for you, however don’t expect something rare (unless you will have some luck).

Paul

[wollastoni]

Agree with Adam, you should ask Steeve to be your guide.
A guide is a must to directly find the good collecting spots and to avoid any issues.

+ Steeve is a good guy.

[arnaud75]

Thank you very much all of you for the quality of your responses, it helps me a lot.
I know Steeve and i am in touch with him about this issue, it is true he isa very nice a reliable person.
I was just suprised by the price for such a trip but i am sure it worth it
Thanks to Adam, Paul and Olivier

[Adam Cotton]

It is worth bearing in mind that many things in Laos are relatively expensive. Fuel, much food and almost all other products are imported, and most things are cheaper in Thailand. As a result even locally produced things tend to be more expensive, including meat and vegetables.

Laos is a totally landlocked country so cannot directly import products from overseas, it has to buy everything from the countries around it or pay a premium to import things from ports in Thailand or Vietnam.

Adam.

[wollastoni]

A good entomological guide is expensive, but how many people knows local collecting spots, local blackmail traditions, local behaviours and so on.
It is a very rare skill, so the cost is high.

But I am sure you won't regret it !