10days, Northen Laos Hilltribe discovery

Transfer with no guide from Chiang Rai to the Thai-Lao border crossing, Houei Say.

Our guide will meet you at the Lao immigration office. After the visa process, we will take a drive to the plateau of Luang Namtha, stopping along the way at a Lanten village. The name Lanten is a Chinese term meaning “the people who dye“, as they are famous for their natural dye traditions. They are one of the few ethnic minorities in Lao PDR who follow Daoism. Because of the influence of Daoist texts, the Lanten can read Chinese script. Ancestor worship is also an integral part of their beliefs.

Our journey today will end in Luang Namtha where we recommend that every visitor enjoy their evening at the night market, where street food is available and local handicrafts are sold. Overnight in local guesthouse.

Today we will embark on two days of trekking through the stunning forests, fields, rivers, and mountains that surround Luang Namtha. There are so many interesting and challenging treks in this area, and scenery is ever-changing with the seasons. You choose among a selection of routes to suit your fitness and stamina. Therefore we do not provide a detailed itinerary, as we wish to tailor the experience towards your own immediate interests. Our guides will arrange the most interesting route, points of interest, and resting points for you. There are trails for all levels of fitness, and villages that can be visited for a sense of local culture all having in common very simple, basic life conditions and quite a bit of adventure.

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

Before we leave for our next destination, we’ll take a short look around the plateau of Luang Namtha. A nice mountain stupa and temple await us, along with some views of the region. We will drive through the Nam Ha protected area to the plateau of Muang Sing, near the Chinese border, one of the last frontiers in Lao PDR. After we arrive in Muang Sing, we’ll take the opportunity to explore the small town with its little market and local ethnic museum. It’s a great place to take time for an afternoon walk or exploration of other local minority villages… Or just hang out and relax a bit after your days in the jungle.

Get up 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 will take a private minivan through the countryside to Muang Khoua. You can enjoy the beautiful landscape along the way. Northern Laos is particularly rich in ethnic diversity.

The mountains surrounding Oudomxai, near the Chinese border, are home to various ethnic groups like the Akha, Iko, Hmong, Khmu, and more. Despite modernization, many of these hill tribes still live very traditional lifestyles and follow their local and ethnic customs. You are likely in these regions to see people in their beautiful traditional clothing.

The boat ride from Muang Khoua to Muang Ngoy is an unforgettable journey through endless mountainous jungle from the vantage point of the Nam Ou River. The Nam Ou River is one of the most important rivers in Lao PDR and offers some of its most stunning 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 River. On board the traditional Lao long boat, we’ll journey slowly downstream, allowing you to take in the view and relax along the way.

The boat will pass by many remote villages, rugged mountain terrain, and impressive limestone cliffs. We will stop at a few of the villages, most of which are only accessible by boat and offer a unique look into traditional daily village life along the river. Today’s journey will end in Muang Ngoy, a relaxing little village where we’ll spend the night.

Another wonderful, active day offers us a gentle trekking tour to the nearby village of Ban Na (“The Village Of Rice Paddies“) and its nearby cave. Then it’s back to Muang Ngoy for some relaxation near the river. An easy day within superb landscape,…let’s take a break.

After a short boat ride (private or public boats used) you 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 little waterfalls. After an extended break we’ll hike back to the river area. A small walking trail following the Nam Ou River will bring you to Nong Khiaw.

"Wow!" is what our first guests on this trip reported to us! An amazing day of scenery and activity is waiting for you! Take a one-hour boat trip on the scenic Nam Ou and start exploring and hiking through the 100 waterfalls, a newly 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.

Today we’ll drive a winding route following the Nam Ou River through the mountains from Nong Khiaw to Luang Prabang. Along the way we will visit the village of Ban Na Nyang, 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. The art of cotton weaving in Ban Na Nyang has been passed from generation to generation for almost 300 years.

The local populations from Ban Na Nyang belong to the Tai Lue (Lü) ethnic group, which migrated to this area from the Yunnan Province in the 18th century. In Yunnan, the Tai Lue are officially part of the Dai ethnic group. After visiting the village we will continue to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Luang Prabang, where you will check in to your hotel.