Life lessons are being dealt thick and fast for a group of Nagle College students over in Laos at the moment, part of a month-long adventure that includes two hikes and building a bear cage.

The group of 18 students, aged 16 and 17, and three adults left Australia last Saturday, December 8, and won’t return until Saturday, January 6.

Science teacher, Sue Whitbourne, is accompanying the group and was on a similar trek two years ago.

“It’s fabulous, it’s such a good experience for the kids,” Ms Whitbourne said.

“We back them up but they’re responsible for meals and booking restaurants, they get a budget sheet and book our transport and accommodation. There are lots of bargaining skills learnt.

“The kids gain so much maturity and independence.”

The group’s first stop was Vientiane in Laos where they undertook some obligatory sightseeing and then a ‘short’ three-day trek over mountainous terrain to Luang Prabang in northern Laos.

The tour is hosted by the World Challenge organisation, and group leader, Matthew Chafer, a veteran of five tours, said the group would help the local community to build a bear sanctuary enclosure in Luang Prabang.

“It’s a huge learning curve. What they put in to the experience is what they get out of it,” Mr Chafer said.

“We’re there to help wherever we can, the locals are very appreciative and positive and always give a good send off.”

For many it will be the first Australian Christmas they have missed out on but for Shaun Smith it was a simple choice.

“Family means everything to me but I want to get out there and see what the world is like,” he said.

Mikaela Baylis was looking forward to trekking across the country and spending time with the locals in Laos and Vietnam.

“We’re planning for Christmas, we’ll be like a new family,” she said.

Last Thursday, on what was their second-last day in Australia, the students brought their 65-litre packs and contents to school for a final pack. After all, they need to cart the 15 to 18 kilogram packs every day for a month.

The second trek is a five-day stroll through terraced rice fields and Christmas Day will be spent in Sapa, in north-west Vietnam.

Finally the tour will finish at Hanoi for a bit of rest and relaxation and a cruise of the picturesque Halong Bay before flying home.

PICTURED: Nagle College intrepid adventurers Shaun Smith, Wil Capes, Flinn Carroll, Xavier Woodland, Nick Ramirez, Lachlan Bush, Darcey Ballinger, Hannah Martin, Mia Kleehammer, Min Min Bao, Ayla Etheridge, Mikayla Collins, Grace Selleck, Samy Churches, Billie Moorhouse, Charlie Darcy, Mikaela Baylis, Ginger Kleehammer and teachers Sue Whitbourne and Rhianne Obst, with World Challenge’s Matthew Chafer.