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10 Day itinerary in Laos, Asia

Northern Laos: Hilltribes & Jungles

Trek through the mountains and Valleys of rural Northern Laos, cruise rivers and truly engage with local hilltribes. Starting from your pick up at the Laos/Thailand Border you will be taken on an adventure through tiny villages, which are home to many of the different ethnic groups in Laos. The Na... Read More

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DavidSengBar

By David, Seng and Bar

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Average
help_outline

Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

Huay Xai

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Cycling

Hiking

Rafting

Visit markets

Meet local people

Rural home stays

Indigenous culture

Snorkeling/Diving

Skiing/Snowboarding

Outdoors & Nature

Adventure

Culture & Arts

Start

Night

End

Highlights

1

Trek in Nam Ha National Protected Area

2

Boat ride from Muang Khua to Muang Ngoy winds through mountainous jungle

3

Take a jugle trek to admire rice fields, forests and agricultural land

4

Hike through the "100 waterfalls"

Itinerary

Budget Accommodation expand_more

Day 1

place Thai Border – Huay Xai– Vieng Phouka

After transferring on your own from Chiang Rai to the Thai-Lao border crossing at Houay Xai, our guide will meet you at the Lao immigration office and assist you with the visa process. Then we'll drive to Vieng Phouka, stopping along the way at a Lanten village - the name 'Lanten' is a Chinese term meaning “the people who dye," as they are known for their natural dye traditions; they're also one of the few ethnic minorities in Lao PDR who follow Daoism and read Chinese script. Our journey today will end in Vieng Phouka. a rural village in the heart of northern Laos. Take time to discover the area and meet some of the local people. You'll spend the night in a local, basic guesthouse.

Day 2

place Vieng Phou Kha -Luang Namtha

Today we continue our journey on to Luang Namtha, heading over the mountain route to take in the stunning views. Upon reaching Luang Namtha take a stroll around the town, visit the busy night market where locals come together to trade goods and handicrafts and also delicious street food. Overnight in Luang Namtha

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3

place Trekking in the Nam Ha National Protected Area

We'll embark on 3 days of trekking through the forests, fields, rivers, and mountains that surround Luang Namtha. Many interesting and challenging treks in this area await you, so you'll choose among a selection of routes to suit your fitness and stamina. Our guides will then arrange the most interesting route, points of interest and resting points for you. Overnight in village homestay

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4

place Trekking in the Nam Ha National Protected Area

Spend another day exploring the stunning Nam Ha Protected area. Your guide will lead you off the beaten path to discover the natural beauty and wildlife that abounds in this region. Overnight in a village homestay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5

place Trekking in the Nam Ha National Protected Area

Continue with your trekking adventure in the wilds of Luang Namtha. We’ll end the day back at the city in a clean and comfortable room. Overnight in Luang Namtha

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6

place Luang Namtha - Muang Khua

Rise early like the locals and take a walk to the local market, where you may see members of hill tribes in traditional clothing buying and selling their products. After breakfast, you'll take a private minivan through the countryside to Muang Khua. You can enjoy the beautiful landscape along the way. Northern Laos is very ethnically diverse and the mountains surrounding Oudomxay, near the Chinese border, are home to groups like the Akha, Iko, Hmong, Khmu, and more. Despite modernization, many of these hill tribes still live traditional lifestyles and follow local and ethnic customs. You're likely in these regions to see people in beautiful traditional clothing. Overnight in Muang Khua

Meals: Breakfast

Day 7

place Muang Khua - Muang Ngoy

The boat ride from Muang Khua to Muang Ngoy winds through a mountainous jungle. The Nam Ou River, one of the most important in the Lao PDR, offers here some best scenery. The river runs 448 km from Phongsaly in the north of the country all the way to Luang Prabang where it merges with the Mekong. Onboard the traditional Lao longtail boat we’ll journey slowly downstream, allowing you to take in the view and relax along the way. The boat will pass many remote villages, rugged mountain terrain and impressive limestone cliffs. We'll stop at a few of the villages, most of which are only accessible by boat, and get a unique look into traditional daily village life along the river. The day's journey will end in Muang Ngoy, a relaxing little village where we’ll spend the night. Overnight in Muang Ngoy

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8

place Muang Ngoy - Nong Khiaw

After a short boat ride, you'll reach the village of Ban Hat Sao, with a mixed population of Lao Lum and Lao Thung. From the village, we will follow little trails on a jungle trek through a preserved part of the jungle and into the nearby mountain area. We’ll pass rice fields, forests, and agricultural land on our way to the next highlight, a refreshing waterfall. Much of our route follows the stream and we’ll walk through the river and small waterfalls. After an extended break we’ll hike back to the river area. A small walking trail following the Nam Ou River will bring us to Nong Khiaw. Overnight in Nong Khiaw

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9

place The "100 Waterfalls" Trek

After a one-hour boat trip on the Nam Ou, we'll start exploring and hiking through the "100 waterfalls," a recently discovered jungle waterfall. A village visit is included as well, where you learn more about life along the Nam Ou River. In the evening we’ll ride back on our boat to Nong Khiaw. Overnight in Nong Khiaw (

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10

place Nong Khiaw - Luang Prabang

We’ll drive a winding route following the Nam Ou River through the mountains from Nong Khiaw to Luang Prabang. Along the way, we'll visit the village of Ban Nanyang, which is famous for its traditional cotton weaving. Almost every household has its own weaving loom where the families create beautiful scarves, tablecloths and ornate wall hangings. Then we'll continue to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Luang Prabang, where we'll take you to your hotel or transfer to Luang Prabang Airport for a departure flight.

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (9)
  • Lunch (7)
  • Dinner (1)

Transport expand_less

  • Gound transfer from Houay Xai - Viend Phouka
  • Ground transfer from Viend Phouka - Luang Namtha
  • Ground transfer from Luang Namtha - Muang Khua
  • Boat transfer from Muang Khua - Muang Ngoy
  • Boat transfer from Muang Ngoy - Nong Khiaw
  • Ground transfer from Nong Khiaw - Luang Prabang
  • Luang Prabang Airport Pick up and Drop off

Activities expand_less

  • 3 day trekking in Nam Ha National Protected Area
  • 100 Waterfalls Trek

Not Included expand_less

  • Ground transfer from Chiang Rai to the Thai-Lao border crossing
  • International Flights
  • Airport pick up
  • Meals not specified as included
  • Optional Activities
  • Tips for Guides and Drivers
  • Travel Insurance

About David

TEAM LEAD

+2 Local experts

verified Baboo Certified

Expertise: 

Kayaking

Hiking

Visit markets

Meet local people

Rural home stays

Indigenous culture

Meditation

Wellness retreat

Detox

Cycling

Yoga

Travel with Purpose

Outdoors & Nature

Food & Drink

I have spent a good part of my life travelling the world having all sorts of experiences. We all have specialities and with our team of 60 we have the experience to answer your questions and plan the perfect trip for you.

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FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

$2,406.00 USD