This 13 days northern Laos trekking tour is perfect for visitors and active travelers seeking an in-depth experience. This journey will take you through the rich history, vibrant culture, and everyday life of both village and urban settings, blending modernity with tradition. You will engage in various adventures, including trekking, kayaking, cycling, and elephant interactions, showcasing the diverse activities Laos has to offer. This trip also provides a unique opportunity to explore Laos, from the royal elegance of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to the rural villages where you will stay overnight with a local family, experiencing their authentic way of life.
Upon your arrival at Luang Prabang Airport, our driver will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel in the city center.
Check in to the hotel and the rest of the day is yours to discover the city at your leisure.
Included: Accommodation and airport pickup.
After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the National Museum in Luang Prabang, formerly the royal palace and home to King Sisavangvong in the early 20th century. Here, you can explore a range of personal artifacts from the Lao royal family, as well as the Phra Bang Buddha image and the throne from the Lan Xang Kingdom.
Next, visit Wat Xieng Thong, one of the most significant monasteries in Laos. This temple is a monument to religion, royalty, and traditional art, and you’ll be amazed by its complex structure and gold decorations.
Wat Xieng Thong
We then proceed to Wat Mai, where you can admire the impressive architecture unique to this Laotian city.
In the afternoon, we will visit the excellent Arts and Ethnology Centre, offering further insight into the ethnic diversity and culture of Laos. Following this, we will explore the weaving and textile villages of Ban Xangkhong and Ban Xienglek.
Our final stop of the day is a climb up Mt. Phousi, considered the geographical center of the city and an excellent lookout point. At the peak, you can get a closer look at the golden stupa while soaking up sweeping views of the surrounding countryside.
Return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Free for dinner.
Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide, Meals: breakfast, lunch.
After breakfast, we will take a local boat on the Mekong River for a 2-hour journey to the renowned and spiritual Pak Ou Caves. Here, you can witness the confluence of the Mekong and Ou Rivers. Since the 16th century, villagers have placed thousands of Buddha images in these caves.
Pak Ou Caves
On the way, we will stop at Ban Muang Keo, a village famous for its traditional Lao rice whisky production.
After visiting Pak Ou Caves, continue to cruise to Pakbeng. Lunch will be served on the boat.
Arrive in Pakbeng at dusk. Check in to the hotel and relax.
Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide, Meals: breakfast, lunch.
Begin your day by crossing the river to the Mekong Elephant Camp, where you can observe and assist with bathing the elephants. If you do not prefer to participate, there is a nearby platform offering a great view of the elephant bathing.
After the bathing session, you are helped onto the elephants’ backs to start the trek.
Mekong Elephant Camp
The trek begins with a ride along the riverbed, surrounded by bamboo plants, and then continues into the forest. You will wind through lush foliage and travel along paths that connect various villages. There will be opportunities to guide the elephants down to the river for feeding and to learn basic mahout techniques.
As you alternate between walking and riding on the elephants, you will pass through the typical Laotian countryside. The valleys offer panoramic views of alluvial plains where sweet corn and tobacco grow, alongside traditional houses and gardens. The view then opens up to the broader surrounding countryside.
End of the trekking tour in the mid-afternoon. Return to your hotel in Pakbeng. Free for dinner.
Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide, Meals: breakfast, lunch.
Wake up early for a visit to the morning market, where residents from nearby villages and hill tribes gather to buy and exchange goods.
After lunch at the lodge, we will depart for Luang Nam Tha. Along the way, you will experience local rural life, visit roadside markets, and enjoy closer views of corn and banana plantations as well as stunning mountain vistas. Passing through Oudomxay, the provincial capital, you’ll notice its transformation from a sleepy town to an important trading hub, reflecting the rapid changes in the region.
Luang Nam Tha, Laos
As we continue our journey, we’ll leave behind the bustling town and head into unspoiled nature, highlighting the special experiences found in the remaining wilderness. Luang Nam Tha, situated on the banks of the Namtha River, is known for its rugged mountains and beautiful tropical forests. It borders China and Myanmar.
We will arrive in Luang Nam Tha in the afternoon. Check in to the hotel. Free for dinner.
Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide, Meals: breakfast, lunch.
After a leisurely breakfast, our guide will meet you at your hotel. We will begin the day with a short visit to the Luang Namtha Museum, followed by a trip to the Luang Namtha Stupa, offering stunning views of the city.
Next, we will visit the old Phou Pouk Stupa and then explore Ban Nam Ngean “Tai Dam” and Ban Pieng Ngam “Tai Deang,” both known for their diverse handicrafts. Stroll around the villages to learn about Lao whisky making, traditional weaving, blacksmithing, and bamboo basket making.
A traditional meal at Ban Pieng Ngam
From there, we will travel approximately 6 km along a dirt road to reach the village of Ban Nam Dee “Lanten.” Here, you will learn and have the opportunity to practice making paper from young bamboo, natural dyeing, and traditional weaving. Participate in a traditional Baci ceremony, enjoy local music, taste local meals, and discuss the village’s history with the homestay owner before retiring for the night at a homestay.
Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide, Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
We start our day early, heading east through some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in Southeast Asia. Along the way, we will have numerous opportunities to stop and visit different Khmu and Hmong villages.
Our journey includes a visit to the remarkable Pra Xack Kham Temple, home to a sacred Buddha image said to be over 400 years old. This legendary statue is believed to possess many supernatural powers and is widely revered by local Buddhists.
Phongsaly
Afterward, we will drive along flat roads and mountain slopes to reach Phongsaly. On this route, you’ll enjoy beautiful landscapes, banana plantations, and local village life, with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Your guide will be happy to stop whenever you’d like to take pictures.
We will arrive in the town of Phongsaly in the late afternoon. The town is known for its narrow paved streets lined with traditional Chinese wooden houses. Check in to the hotel in Phongsaly and stay the night.
Free for dinner.
Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide, Meals: breakfast, lunch.
We have a full day to immerse ourselves in Phongsaly’s evergreen forests, green tea, and green Lao whiskey.
After a leisurely breakfast, we will walk from Phongsaly along a track that offers breathtaking views of the endless mountains. After 3-4 hours, we will arrive at a whiskey-producing Phunoy village for lunch, where you can enjoy your first taste of green Lao whiskey.
Our adventure continues into the jungle forest on a trail that climbs up into the mountains. We will pass through tea plantations before reaching a mountain ridge that provides a spectacular 360-degree view, extending as far as China to the west and Vietnam to the east. We will continue along a small jungle path, ascending to Phu Fa Mountain (1625m – 400 steps), which offers stunning views over Phongsaly Town.
The way back to town will be a relaxing walk through the forest. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure.
Included: Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Meals: breakfast, lunch.
Today, you will have the chance to explore the renowned 400-year-old tea plantation in the village of Ban Komaen, located about 30 minutes south of Phongsaly. According to famous tea experts, this village boasts some of the oldest tea trees in the world. The extensive root system of these ancient trees reaches deep into the mineral-rich soil, giving ‘Phongsaly Tea’ its unique aroma and flavor. The oldest trees stand 6 meters high with stems up to 30 cm in diameter. The Phunoy people regularly prune these trees, climbing them to collect the valuable leaves. They process and sell the tea in cigar-shaped tubes.
Tea harvesting in Ban Komaen, Laos
In the village, a newly built tea-tasting shop offers food and sells 400-year-old tea. You can also visit the local temple and see its distinctive Buddha statue with big ears.
After our visit, we will drive to Muang Khua for about four hours.
Check in to the hotel in Muang Khua and stay the night. Free for dinner.
Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide, Meals: breakfast, lunch.
In the morning, we will board a long-tail boat and travel downstream on the Nam Ou River to Nong Khiaw, a charming boutique town nestled along the gentle Nam Ou River. The scenery along this route is considered the most spectacular part of the Nam Ou River. Along the way, we may stop for a drink at one of the bars in Muang Ngoi, which offers a beautiful view of the river. We will arrive in Nong Khiaw just in time to admire the sunset before checking into your guesthouse. Free for dinner and overnight in Nong Khiaw.
Nam Ou River
Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide, Meals: breakfast, lunch.
Begin this day of adventure with a tranquil boat ride on the peaceful Nam Ou River, where you will experience life in a small Lao village along the riverside. You’ll have the opportunity to observe the local people and their way of life along this Northern Laos river before starting the ‘100 Waterfalls Adventure Trail.’
Passing through small streams and rice paddies, you will reach the base of the 100 Waterfalls, which were first discovered in October 2008. Over the next few hours, you’ll encounter nothing but water and jungle, accompanied by the constant sound of cascading waterfalls. The pools around you are perfect for a refreshing dip. Your guide will lead you through the cascades, and you will enjoy a local-style lunch surrounded by lush, green nature.
Trekking in 100 Waterfalls
A small village path at the top of the ‘100 Waterfalls’ will guide us back down into the valley, offering wide views over the expansive Nam Ou valley. Once back in the village, we’ll have some more time to experience the daily life of the Nam Ou riverside village before returning to Nong Khiaw by boat.
Overnight in Nong Khiaw.
Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide, Meals: breakfast, lunch.
After breakfast at the hotel, you will take the road back to Luang Prabang. En route, stop to visit Ban Na Yang and meet the local people of Thai Lue minority. Admire their traditional houses and participate in hand-weaving if you want.
Arrival in Luang Prabang. Check in to the hotel and relax.
Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide, Meals: breakfast.
Have breakfast at the hotel and enjoy your last moments in Laos.
Upon the flight schedule, our driver will transfer you to the airport for a flight back home.
End of 13 days Northern Laos trekking tour.
Included: Airport drop-off and breakfast at the hotel.
– There may be cancellation fees charged by suppliers (hotels, airlines, boats, trains…) once these bookings are made and paid. These fee shall by paid by travelers.
– These are maximum cancellation fees to be flexible applied:
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