Magical Northern Laos

Upon arrival at the airport in Chiang Rai, our driver will pick you up and transfer to Chiang Khong, bordering with Laos in Huayxay. Arriving in Chiang Khong, we transfer directly to Lanjia Lodge, which locates 30Km from town, at the top of the mountain.
- 15h00 - Tour the Hmong and Lahu hill tribe village, including a visit at the shaman’s house of the Hmong. Drink tea with the shaman and discover why the fireplace is important to the Hmongs and why they bury the placenta and umbilical cord of their newborn babies. Evening dinner and watch traditional Hmong dance

After breakfast, our driver will transfer you directly to the border, where we will take the public bus crossing the bridge to Laos side.
Upon arrival in Lao side, our guide and driver will pick you up and transfer directly to Luang Namtha, located on the banks of the Namtha River, which is a land of rugged mountains and beautiful tropical forests and shares its border with China and Myanmar.
This road has recently been improved and is now a very smooth and comfortable drive.  
We visit hill tribe villages along the road at Muang Phouka and other surrounding area. 
We arrive in Luang Namtha mid-afternoon and continue driving further north to Muang Sing, the remote town of the northern Laos
Upon arrival, check-in your simple hotel in town.
Overnight in Muang Sing
 

Departure from Muang Sing 8:00 AM by 4-wheel-drive to Ban Mom (Tai Lue village), Buag Yha Say Mai (Akha village), traditional lunch will stop eaten on the way. 
Next start walking from Ban Bohae (Akha village) to Ban Xay (Tai Lue village) the village located on the bank of Mekong River where we stay overnight for the first day. 
We will arrival the village around 17:00.
While waiting for dinner walk on the bank of the Mekong River to see beautiful sunset, visit people back from working, talk with the villagers to get new experience, learn about their culture, tradition and you will see the style of leaving with the neighboring country such as Thailand, Myanmar. 
After dinner you will receive a massage which is traditionally given to the guests stay overnight in the village.
 

In the morning you will get experience of Thai Lue daily lifestyle. 
After breakfast, 9:00 AM start walk up to Lung Pha (Akha village) about two hours, spend the time about 20 minutes to visit the village and talking with the local people. 
Then walk up to the mountain visit Ban Eula (Akha village), lunch will provided on the trail. 
After lunch two hours walking visit Ban Lo Ku (Akha village) where you stay overnight, they are Akha Jeejor, also to see Akha lifestyle and Akha massage
 

In the morning you will get experience of Akha daily lifestyle. 
After breakfast, depart for Ban Khor Phen (Akha village), Ban Pa Xang (Akha village).
There are plenty of chance to admire the culture and local lifestyle, enjoy the stunning panoramic view over the region.
We take the four-wheel-drive back to Muang Sing and continue further back Luang Namtha to spend the night
 

The traditional two-day excursion, led by a local English speaking guide, starts at Ban Chaleunsouk, south of Luang Namtha town. 
You’ll ascend through a forest and pause on a ridge, which offers great views. 
The trail then descends through centuries-old trees and past an Indochina War gunnery emplacement to the Nam Ha River and Ban Nalan (Khmu Village). 
Dinner is often enjoyed in the company of a prominent village elder, from whom you can learn about Khmu culture. 
Moreover, he might offer you an insight into your own lifestyle. 
Remember, curiosity runs both ways, especially when sipping Lao Hai (rice wine) from a jar through bamboo straws.

The second day follows the Nam Ha River, through stands of large hardwood trees and bamboo patches, to Ban Nalan Tai (Khmu Village) and Ban Namkoy (Lanten Villae). 
The trail becomes quite challenging as it climbs under a pristine tree canopy teeming with bird life, and ends up on a ridge with a stunning view of Luang Namtha town, visit the last village of Lanten (Ban Namlue), that is, before the final descent and a ride back to town with memories to will last you a lifetime.
 

After breakfast, we will drive to Tad Namdee waterfall, which locates 6 km out of town inside the hidden jungle track.
Along the way, we will also visit the village of Ban Namdee of the Lanten tribe people.
Spend time to relax by the waterfall before transferring back to town to explore That Luang Namtha locating at the top of the mountain overlooking the city of Luang Namtha and the surrounding area.
In the afternoon, transfer directly to Namkat Yola Pa Resort, which locates 30Km from Oudomxay center. The resort is famous for its pure natural surround with the thick jungle, and especially the amazing Namkat Waterfalls, which we will explore in the next days. Upon arrival, check in your riverside bungalow. Free for the rest of the day at the resort pool, or just relax and enjoy the sound of nature. Overnight at Namkat Yorla Pa.

After breakfast, we will transfer to the starting point where we will have a short presentation about the Namkat Yorla Pa complex.
After a short safety brief, we will ride the ATV toward the jungle, about 5KM.
Reaching the entrance, we start trekking through the jungle path to the hidden Namkat waterfall. 
Along the way, we will pass by about 13 flying bridges, admiring plenty of big tree, and hearing the sound of nature.
The trek will take about 1 hour or more depending on your speed.
We have plenty of time at Namkat waterfall to relax and enjoy the picnic lunch. If you wish, take a refreshing dip at the waterfall or walk further into the jungle
In the afternoon, we will join the 9-course zipline back to the entrance of the park. 
From the entrance, we take the ATV ride back to Namkat Yorla Pa Resort.
The rest of the day is your own free time to relax by the inviting pool of the resort or stroll around the nearby villages.
Overnight at Namkat Yorla Pa

After breakfast, you will depart for Ban Bountai, Phongsaly province. The road is in good condition and at mountains’ slope. You will see beautiful landscapes, banana plantations, local rural life in the villages that border the road and panoramic views over the surrounding mountains. You can ask your guide to stop whenever you want to take pictures on the way.
We will arrive at Ban Bountai early afternoon. Check in your hotel.
After a soft rest, our guide will walk you out to visit the local village with the rural market, and the village temple.
The life is really slow here, that you will the chance for you to step back to watch and relax.
There is also a small sauna in town if you wish to treat yourself after the long transfer.
Overnight in Ban Bountai

After breakfast, join the public tuk tuk transfer, where you might share the seat with Akha people coming back from the market, through the side road to Pouli and Eupa village.
We have ample time to visit these tribe village. Please notice that this route is rarely explored by the tourists, so the villager might be shy and do not want you to take photos. Please check with your guide to ask for permission if you wish so.
From there, we start trekking via a small mountain path up to the high village where Akha people will be your host for the night.
After refreshing, join the traditional welcoming massage.
You will then share the dinner with the host family, talk with them about their daily life and our guide will help translate before going to bed.

After breakfast, we will descend to this mountain and ascend another nearby mountain to another village of Loma tribe people.
We will arrive there around noon time.
The afternoon is dedicated to stroll around the village, talk with local people to learn more about their daily life. You can find a suitable job to help them if you wish so.
Dinner will be shared with the host family
Overnight homestay

After breakfast, say goodbye to the villagers before descending the mountain.
We will arrive to the main road around noon time.
From there, catch the transfer to Muang Khua, the riverside village nested along the Nam Ou river.
In the afternoon, we will start exploring the village of Muang Khua.
Walk via the suspension bamboo bridge to the nearby village of Ban Natoun, we will visit the local school, watching the kids playing in the ground or joining the classes.
Muang Khua is lined up with some beautiful riverside bar, where you can make a stop, enjoy a cold BeerLao, and watch the sun setting behind the mountain.
Overnight in Muang Khua
 

After breakfast, we will board on a long-tail boat downstream the Nam Ou River.
The scenery along the way is said to be the most beautiful part of the gently Nam Ou River. 
We will arrive at Ban Danlam, where we can have the lunch at the village or the river beach.
After walking around the village and admire their daily life, we back to the boat and cruise further to Ban Hatsaphei.
From there, we start an easy trek along the Nam Ou river to Ban Sopchem, the beautiful weaving village with the thatch roof and bamboo houses. This is where we will stop for the night
After meeting the host family and leave your luggage at the house, we start walking through the paddy field watching people working on the field.
The dinner will be served by the host family.
Overnight with the host family

After breakfast, say goodbye to your host, then take a short cruise further to Muang Ngoi.
Upon arrival, begin trekking 2 hours to Ban Houay Bor (a Khmu and Tai Deng ethnic village).
We continue trekking to Ban Na (ethnic group of Tai Deng and Khmu village), which will take about 30-minute via the paddy field. Here we will have the lunch
In the afternoon, another 30-minute walk will bring us to the village of Ban Huaysene before coming back to Muang Ngoi via another road.
We will also visit Tham Kaang cave, which is said to be have supernatural power.
We arrive back to Muang Ngoi just in time to catch the sunset.
Overnight in Muang Ngoi

We begin at 8am and start off by boarding a local long boat and head off upstream through some fantastic landscape before making our first stop of the day at a small riverside village. Here we take some time to look around and if during a weekday pay the local school a visit to see the charming children as they take part in their classes.
After this we continue onwards to Tad Mork which is located close to the ethnic Khmu village of Ban Sop Kong, an hour trek from the river. At the waterfall, we shall have time to swim and enjoy a picnic lunch.
After that, we will start trekking through the jungle to Ban Phayong, the village of H’Mong ethnic. The trek will take about 2.5 – 3 hours up to a small hill. 
Arriving in the village, you will take a stroll around the town to get familiar with the local villagers. Before having dinner with the host family, we will join the Baci Cenremony. This rite is performed mostly for family and friends who are going or coming back from a long trip. This is their way of saying thank you to you for your visit. Your guides will portability explain more about the ceremony.
Spend your night at Ban Phayong

Wake up early, you can help the host to prepare the breakfast, or watch the sun rising over the mountains.
In the morning, we will have 3 hours trekking downhill via the paddy, corn fields to the bank of Nam Ou river. 
From there, we board on the cruise downstream to the town of Nong Khiaw.
Upon arrival, check in your hotel. It is high time to relax and take some rest.
Overnight in Nong Khiaw

Still want to fill up your day?
We recommend the hike up the Nong Khiaw Viewpoint. Start from your hotel at around 3:30PM, you will reach the peak around sunset.

Start this day of adventure with a peaceful boat ride on the Nam Ou River where you will be able to explore a small Lao village along the riverside. Learn about the villagers and their way of life along this Northern Laos River before beginning the '100 Waterfalls Adventure Trail'!
Walking through small streams and rice paddies, you will arrive at the bottom of the 100 Waterfalls which were only first explored in October 2008! For the next few hours you will see only water and jungle and hear the constant sound of clear waterfall cascades. The pools around you are very inviting for a refreshing splash.
Your guide will lead you through the cascades and prepare a local style lunch that you can enjoy on the falls surrounded by amazingly green nature. 
A small village trail on the top of the '100 Waterfalls' will lead us on our hike back down into the valley, offering wide views over the expansive Nam Ou valley.
Once back in the village we will have some more time to experience the daily life of the Nam Ou riverside village before heading back to Nong Khiaw (Nong Khiau) by boat.

After breakfast, transfer directly to Nam Et – Phou Louey NPA. 
The 3.5-hour transfer will take us to the village of Ban Nam Soy.
Here we will meet the village guide who will give you a brief orientation about the following tour. 
From here you will get on a tok tok (a hand tractor used for plowing rice paddies and convertible to a transportation vehicle) along a 9km trail crossing local villages and overlooking agricultural fields to Ban Navene, a remote Khmu village. 
Enjoy late lunch in Ban Navene, hosted by the village cooking group at the village visitor center.
In the afternoon, guides will give a short orientation about the village and you will be introduced to your homestay family. 
Enjoy the rest of the afternoon exploring the village and helping your homestay family with the daily tasks around the house or in the nearby fields.
You will spend the evening with your homestay family and experience the tranquility of life in a remote, off-the-grid village with limited electricity. 

After an early breakfast and saying your goodbyes to your homestay family, we depart for the first of the two-day ascent to the peak of the Phou Louey Mountain.
The first 5 km of the trail climbs up through a mosaic of shifting agricultural fields, with rest stops taken at the farmer’s huts. Your guide will explain about local agriculture, which villagers depend on for their both their food and income.
After approximately a 2-hour walk, the trail enters the forest and the core zone of the protected area. Continue walking through forests about 30 minutes until arriving at Tad Ang Waterfall, an amazing waterfall that has bowl-like jungle infinity pool. Enjoy swimming while the village cook will prepare a lunch.
After lunch, the trail continues a gradual ascent until finally reaching the first campsite where you will stop for the night, Houay Kaneng camp, located 4km after the substation.
Follow the guide to the nearby camera trap to change the memory card. 
Once back at the camp, enjoy a traditional Khmu dinner by campfire prepared by the village cook. In the evening help the guide to sort through the photos of wildlife taken by the camera traps during the previous night. These photos will be uploaded to the website after your trip for viewing and download.
Overnight in bamboo huts (two people per hut).

Enjoy breakfast back at the camp to the sounds of early morning bird calls before starting the final climb up to the Cloud Forest and Phou Louey Peak.  We ask that clients be prepared to wake up early and get prepared in a timely fashion so that the summit may be reached before 2 PM.
The climb is a very steep 12 km to the peak.  It is steep and direct the entire way, so this can be very difficult for clients who are not in peak physical fitness. The peak is usually covered in clouds all day year round, however, if you’re lucky with good weather conditions and clear sky, you may see a breathtaking view of thick, old growth forest covering “Forever Mountain” for as far as the eye can see.
To minimize the negative impacts on this fragile and extremely special ecosystem, lunch will be taken before the summit. Please do not pick any plants from the Phou Louey Peak area and please stay on the trail to reduce the footprints on this rare plant community.  
At the summit additional camera traps will be opened to change memory cards.
After enjoying the wonders of the cloud forest, the trail descends down to Tad Loy camp, which is about 8 km from the top. Along the way, you will help to check one more camera trap and change their memory cards. Phou Louey is known for its abundance of wildlife, and so the chance to see some great camera trap photos of different species is quite high (click here to see the list of the animal species).
Arrival to the camp in late afternoon. Enjoy free time to relax and bathe in the nearby river. Help your guide to sort through photos of wildlife taken by the camera traps during the previous night. These photos will be uploaded to the website after your trip for viewing and download.
Enjoy a traditional Khmu dinner prepared by the village cook and porters.
Enjoy the dinner at the campfire and the wild outback of Nam Et-Phou Louey, your guides may tell you also some Khmu folktales and stories about dragons, wildlife and ghosts.
Overnight in bamboo huts (two people per hut).

Wake up early and before breakfast to walk up a nearby mountain to check more camera traps, bird watch and possibly hear the calls of the rare White-cheeked crested gibbon. After around an hour, return back to the camp to enjoy breakfast.
After returning back to the campsite, enjoy breakfast. Today you will trek from the foothills of Phou Louey Mountain across the rugged and mountainous landscape to Poung Nied and The Nests campsite. The trek is approximately 9km with a steep ascent to the top of Phou Phamai Mountain followed by a gradual descent down to Poung Nied Salt Lick and The Nests camp. The route traverses some unique forest and landscapes and trench remains from the war.
Enjoy a picnic lunch along the trail. The village cook prepares the lunch in the morning before your departure from the Tad Loy camp.
You will arrive at The Nests camp in the mid-afternoon and will be shown to your accommodation – the hanging spherical “nest”. Enjoy free time to relax, bathe in the nearby river and enjoy the nature.
Enjoy a traditional Khmu dinner prepared by the village cooking group at around 6-7pm – before it gets dark. It’s important to take an early dinner so that the smell of food and fire is not strong when you visit the wildlife observation platform later this evening. Dinner is eaten at the camp and is not allowed at the observation tower.
After dinner, you will receive a short briefing by your guide about wildlife viewing at the Poung Nied Salt Lick – one of the largest salt licks in the protected area. It’s important to follow the introduced rules about the observation tower, such as: no talking, no eating at the salt lick and how to return to the camp in case you need to use the toilet. The guides will also educate tourists about the species of animals they may see during the spotlighting and explain the rules and expectations for spotlighting.
Spot the wildlife at the observation tower until not later than 11:30 pm. An overnight sleeping is not allowed in order to reduce any negative impacts and disturbances to the wildlife. The most common animals that you might spot include Sambar and Barking deer and various species of civets, although, if lucky, you may see also other rare animals such as bears, dhole, several species of wild cats and others.
Please wear warm clothes as it can be quite cold in the late evening/night time.
Overnight in The Nests. Maximum two people per Nest for your safety and comfort.

Before breakfast, your guide will walk you back to the salt lick to identify wildlife tracks. Spend approximately one hour in the observation platform to see birds and enjoy the awakening of a new day. Your guide will also show you the camera traps, and you can help to change the memory cards.
Once back at the camp, enjoy breakfast and help your guide sort through the photos of wildlife taken by the camera traps during the previous night. These photos will be uploaded to the website after your trip for viewing and download.
Twelve surrounding villages involved in this project receive monetary bonuses in form of village development fund based on the number and type of wildlife spotted at night and captured by the camera trap. (This fee is included in your tour price.)
Your final day of trekking takes you along a 7 km forest path built and maintained by the village. This trail passes through thick jungle and mixed deciduous forests. The local guide will show you medicinal plants and identify animal tracks along the way.
The trek has a couple moderate ascents before descending into agriculture fields. At the edge of the forest and fields, enjoy a picnic lunch inside farmer’s hut. From here another tok tok will pick you up and take you through the village rice and corn fields for about 7km to Ban Nam Poung Village, an ethnic Khmu Village, situated on the edge of the national protected area core zone boundary.
Once in the village your village guides will bid you goodbye and you will be transferred back to Muang Hiem by private truck or van. We will arrive in Muang Hiem in afternoon.
Check in your simple guesthouse in town.
Take some rest or walk a bit out of town to visit the hot spring, which is very famous among locals
 

After breakfast continue driving about 3 hours to Xieng Khouang. Along the way enjoy the beautiful scenery and see local village life. 
Xieng Khouang is a town that has been totally rebuilt after being destroyed during the secret war in Laos. The town is now located 30 km away from where it was originally. 
Today, Xieng Khouang, locally called “Phonsavan” is the gateway to the Plain of Jars. 
After checking into your hotel, we visit the plain of jars site 1, which is the biggest and closest to town.
If time permits, you can visit the MAG Center in the town. MAG is a humanitarian organization clearing the remnants of conflict for the benefit of local communities worldwide. 
Lao PDR is the most heavily bombed nation in the world (per capita). 
Overnight in Xieng Khouang

Early morning, we visit the Central Market of Phonsavanh to watch the different hill tribe people barter and exchange merchandises. 
We then transfer directly to Luang Prabang.
En route we stop off to see the Buddha images at Tham Pra, a site more than 200 years old, and various Hmong and hill tribe minority villages along the way. 
After numerous photo stops, we continue driving, enjoying the splendid natural scenery of the mountains, the forest and landscape. 
The roads are well paved along the way for a smooth journey; we pass some stunning landscape scenery with a mixture of steep terraced fields and hill villages, we take a few photo stops at some small hill tribe village en route. 
Each hill tribe village in Laos has a different feel, some are more prosperous than others but all have plenty of life. 
We will make a shot stop at Ban Phoudam village, where we can see the two hill tribe minorities of H’Mong and Khamu living in harmony, before driving to the photo stop at Ban Kiew Nya for the panoramic view prior to reaching Luang Prabang. 
Overnight in Luang Prabang

After departing at 8:30 am from your hotel, transfer to Nahm Dong park, which locates in Ban Xiengmouk, 10Km from city center.
Arriving at the park, we will have a short welcome by the park manager before joining the morning activities here.
We will first start with the Zipline flying over the jungle and the waterfalls admiring the amazing evergreen scenery. The zipline will take about 1 hour. 
Then we will walk back via the jungle trail crossing some flying bridges, small streams, and clear natural pools, where you can take a refresh splash if you wish so.
The picnic lunch will be served at the viewpoint where you can spread your view over the region, including the view of mount Phousi in the city center.
The afternoon is your free time to relax, you can either stroll around the park or visit the organic garden, join some more activities (extra charge)
Transfer back to town, we climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic sunset view of the city and the Mekong River.  
The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang

After picking you up from town or your hotel we will leave Luang Prabang around 08:30 for the nearby village of Xieng Lom. Upon arrival you are invited to have coffee or tea as your guide for the day provides an in-depth introduction to elephant behavior and the ways we should interact with them.
A quick boat ride across the Nam Khan River will deliver you to the waiting elephants. You will be introduced to your new friends and feed them some special treats - a sure way to begin an instant friendship.
Enjoy observing elephants from the river bank as Mahouts wash them in the Nam Khan river. You can experience elephants washing, swimming and playing in the water. Please note this is voluntary activity for the elephants and Mandalao does not force them to get in the water. (On cold days the elephants are less likely to want to get wet.)
After 2 hours crossing through a beautiful stretch of traditional Lao gardens you will arrive at the jungle-covered Huay Nok stream. As you walk alongside the elephants and crisscross through the cool water you will experience a profound sense of understanding, respect, and caring for these amazing animals.
You and your elephant companions will continue walking past a lovely stretch of rice fields and enter a patch of forest where you can rest, relax, and eat. Lunch will be served in traditional Lao fashion, eating on bamboo mats on the forest floor.
In the afternoon, visit Tad Kuang Song Waterfall, which was named after a Golden Deer spirit seen standing on its crest many centuries ago. If you like, you can take a cool dip, wade, stand under the soft showers of the waterfall, and spend time meditating and admiring the private beauty of this rarely seen natural treasure.
You will sit, watch, and learn as the MandaLao mahout’s show how they communicate and listen to their elephants. This will highlight the special skills each elephant has and give you deeper insight into their individual personalities.
After this, you can take what you have learned from the mahouts and guides throughout the day and spend quiet, uninterrupted time with the elephants—reading their emotions just as they read yours. You will experience first-hand why humans and elephants have shared such an unwavering bond for thousands of years.
Along with the mahouts, you will bring your elephants to their nighttime feeding grounds. Take time for a long goodbye and in knowing that the connection you have built is not only felt by you, but by your new friend as well.
Enjoy a few moments to think about your experiences from the day as you look out at the vast Luang Prabang mountain range from the terrace at MandaLao. We will then drive you back to town. Arrive approximately 4:00pm.

You are free to stroll around the town for your own exploration before taking the departure flight