Skydiving
Pattaya, Thailand

Fantastic - so you want to learn to fly...When, and where, do you want to go??

The weather in Laos is good 365 days a year. Even on the days when we have rain it's normally only for a few minutes and shortly after it's sunny and rapidly drying!
Learn to Skydive with Extreme Sports Café from a Helicopter in beautiful Laos over, The Mekong River. Extreme Sports café is pleased to offer you this unique chance to learn to Skydive over the famous Mekong River from a Mi-17 Helicopter. Tandem skydives are also available during this time.
During the month of April the Buddhist New Year begins. Learn to Skydive and join us to celebrate the New Year in Lao and be part of the first wave of skydivers in fascinating Laos, skydiving over Vientiane alongside the amazing Mekong River.

Why not come and do a Tandem Skydive with us over the Mekong River whilst on holiday in Laos? You need no previous experience and will go away with a smile, life changing memories and a DVD with it all recorded forever!

Dates: Friday April 13 until Tuesday April 17 2007. (Jumping noon Friday through Sunday, with a possible extension till 17th depending on demand.)
Location: Vientiane! This is the Capital city of Laos PDR. Most jumps will take place on the grounds of the Don Chan Palace hotel next to the virtually unlimited landing area of the seasonal beach on the mighty Mekong River.
Aircraft: Mi-17 helicopter - 30-35 jumpers, tailgate, turbine, 4,000 meters in 15 minutes.

Learn To Skydive In Laos
• Level 1 - 9 IAF - includes all instruction and coaching.
• All kit hire for the IAF course.
• USPA Insurance / membership
(1 month starting from the date of the course.)
• "Pack Jobs" for the duration of the course.
• Free instruction during consolidation jumps.
• Accommodation included for the duration of the IAF course.
• Transfers for the duration of the IAF course.
• Free instruction during consolidation jumps.

International jumpers will gather April 13-17 to jump from Mi-17 helicopters over Vientiane, Laos. Nick Ascot and Darel Davenport, two North American skydivers residing in the region, say the Mekong River Boogie is one of the first of its type.
Jumpers will be able to take off in the Mi-17 helicopter from the five-star Done Chan Palace Hotel, exit at 4,000 meters, and land back at the hotel. The Mekong's dry season provides virtually endless clear landing area in front of the hotel.
Mi-17 helicopter operator Lao Air of Vientiane and Lao government and aviation officials agreed to conduct the Mekong River Boogie following a proof-of-concept trial conducted Saturday January 6, 2007.
Civilian skydivers from Malaysia, Singapore, Europe, and North America joined the Lao military parachuting team to make the first civilian-style jumps known over the country and the first by foreigners in many decades.
Spectators also witnessed the first tandem jumps ever made in Laos, and six people made first jumps. Tandem jumps will also be available at April's Mekong River Boogie.

Boogie participants may purchase a package deal, which includes pick-up from the Vientiane International Airport (direct flights from Bangkok) or the nearest land border crossing from Nong Khai, Thailand, 22 km south.
Regional skydivers may also find their own way to Vientiane and purchase Mi-17 jump tickets singly for $35.....

Boogie Package
• Transportation to and from the Friendship Bridge at Nong Khai, Thailand. (closest land border—22km)
• Or from Vientiane International Airport. (Vientiane International Airport has several daily direct flights to and from Bangkok.)
• Accommodation at the five-star Don Chan Palace with the city’s most popular discotheque. (twin share, single supp. avail.) The boogie hotel is 12 minutes from the Vientiane International Airport.
• Breakfast every day - Lunch most days.
• Welcome & farewell banquets.
• Ten jumps to 4,000 meters (13,000 feet); additional jumps $35 U.S.

Included In Package:
• Registration fee - 10 jumps tickets to 4000m.
• All ground transport & transfers.
• All accommodation in twin-share rooms at the Don Chan Palace Hotel.
• Meals listed as per the above itinerary.
• Army truck for 12-minute transfers b/w Don Chan Palace and Airport for loads after re-fuelling of helicopter.
• Buffet lunches every day.

Price: (min 50 pax): Based in USD per person in twin sharing rooms.

Boogie Package Prices:
• Jumpers - $770 USD
• Non – Jumpers - $470 USD
• Single Supplement - $130 USD
• Extra jump - $35 USD per jump

Not Included in Package:
• Extra jumps after you have used 10 jump tickets.
• Meals not listed in the program.
• Alcohol and other personal items.

Please do sned us an enquiry for more information on this skydiving boogie.

Associated Services and Options
• Packing Service by Lao military. (100B per pack job?)
• Traditional Massage will be available all day on the DZ.
• Medical assistance will be available on the DZ.
• Qualified doctors will make determination of medical status, and serious medical emergencies may be treated in Udon Thani, Thailand.

Walk-in Boogie Prices:
• Registration fee: $30 USD per Day
• Jumps: $35 USD per jump

We will be taking off and jumping at the hotel starting noon Friday through Monday at sunset (scheduled—extensions possible). The dry Mekong riverbed provides a virtually unlimited landing area. (Some jumps may take place at the equally vast Vientiane International Airport, 12 minutes away by ground transportation.)
On Tuesday, we will tour the city and celebrate the first day of Songkran. Become part of the world’s biggest international festival to celebrate the region’s Buddhist New Year!

DAY-1 / Fri 13th April 2007: Arrive Vientiane Laos – Cultural Orientation / Skydive Briefing – SKYDIVE! – Welcome Dinner – Vientiane
Arrive at Vientiane airport or at the Friendship Bridge, and after customs/immigration formalities please look for the signs to the desk, labelled skydivers, where transport to the hotel will be arranged for you. Upon arrival at the hotel, please go directly to Skydiver Check-in (follow the signs).
Meet staff, guides, skydive organizers during the following short briefings..

Cultural Orientation: To insure that Guests/ Participants of the first-ever Skydive Laos Mekong Boogie know how and when to show suitable respect for our hosts, the Lao people, we ask that you follow simple “Do & Don’t” guidelines covering cultural sensibilities and expectations.

Skydive Briefing: View the DZ from simple maps (handout) and then walk 5 minutes down from the hotel onto the wide beach running along the Mekong River with staff and organizers to familiarize yourself with local conditions and the DZ itself.

The signboard in the hotel lobby will announce any changes or updates to the below itinerary and jump schedule.
After jumping we return to the hotel for the Welcome Dinner at 1930hrs. Meet our hosts who have made this event possible. Those who wish to experience the local nightlife may speak with guide or hotel staff for suggestions. (Note: the most popular night scene in town is at the disco in the hotel).
Accommodation: Don Chan Palace
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

DAY-2 / Sat 14th Apr 2007: SKYDIVE!
After breakfast walk out to the DZ behind the hotel, find your tent, load up and SKYDIVE on the Mekong. Buffet Lunch of local or Western food supplied by hotel, served at private skydiver’s venue on the hotel grounds. Dinner is on your own. Vientiane is full of excellent local, Thai and European restaurants.
Accommodation: Don Chan Palace
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY-3 / Sun 15th Apr 2007: SKYDIVE!
After breakfast walk out to the DZ behind the hotel, find your tent, load up and SKYDIVE on the Mekong. Buffet Lunch of local or Western food supplied by hotel, served at private skydiver’s venue on the hotel grounds. Dinner is on your own.
Accommodation: Don Chan Palace
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY-4 / Mon 16th Apr 2007: SKYDIVE! – Farewell Dinner
After breakfast walk out to the DZ behind the hotel, find your tent, load up and SKYDIVE on the Mekong. Buffet Lunch of local or Western food supplied by hotel, served at private skydiver’s venue on the hotel grounds. Farewell Dinner will be served in a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Don Chan Palace
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5 / Tue 17th Apr 2007: SKYDIVE! – Vientiane Laos – Next Destination
After breakfast jumping will continue until 1330hrs (when lunch finishes). Most flights from Vientiane will leave in the afternoon, and this will also give those who arrived by train or by air from Udon Thani Thailand to get to the border and Udon, or the Nong Khai Train Station.
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Please note that there are three ways you can arrive in Vientiane from Bangkok.

Fastest, easiest - Fly direct from Bangkok, Thailand to Vientiane, Laos, where we will meet you at the gate and take you to the hotel only 12 minutes away.
Less expensive - From Bangkok, Thailand, fly to Udon Thani, Thailand and continue by bus (55 km) to the Friendship Bridge border crossing at Nong Khai, Thailand where we meet you upon arrival on the Lao side.
Most economical - Take a train (1st and 2nd class sleepers) from Bangkok, Thailand to the Friendship Bridge border crossing at Nong Khai, Thailand, where we meet you upon arrival on the Lao side. Check the latest prices and schedules via the service link on: http://www.railway.co.th/

Other important Notes
• You require a visa to enter Laos, which you can obtain on arrival at the border crossing or at Vientiane International Airport. The cost will vary according to your country of origin.
• All prices are in U.S. dollars. Exchange rates for other currencies will be calculated at the time of transaction.
• This is the dry season in Laos, with temperatures ranging from 22 C (65 F) at night to 38 C (95 F) during the day.
• Modest clothing is appropriate in public for both men and women.
• Most establishments in Vientiane readily accept Lao kip, Thai baht, euros, and U.S. dollars.

So why do we run our Tandem, IAF, IFF and AFF courses in Thailand?
(Pretty much the same reasons as we concentrate on skydiving in Spain for Europe)

1. The weather. It's much more predictable & reliable than the UK! If you want to learn in as short a time frame as possible - Skydive Thailand (Pattaya / Jomtien) is the place to do it. We recommend you come over for a 7-10 day period for one of our scheduled skydiving courses (some previous students have graduated in just 3 days! and spent the remainder of the trip fun jumping). We know a number of people who decided to learn in the UK, but because of the weather, it took them a lot longer to complete the programme. Don't waste your time sitting around a wet dropzone, staring up at the clouds, praying for blue skies!!! Join us in Spain, or in Pattaya, Thailand to learn to skydive.