7 Days Northern Laos Trekking And Homestay Tour

7 Days Northern Laos Trekking And Homestay Tour
Tour Itinerary

Starting and finishing in Luang Prabang - the magical UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, this journey takes you through stunning scenery and friendly local villages. Marvel at jungle waterfalls, ride in a long-tail boat through the rugged, mountainous Nam Ou River valley, and explore the beautiful villages of Nong Khiaw and Muang Ngoi. Visit the “100 waterfalls” on an exclusive visit to Nong Khiaw, take in beautiful landscapes, and trek to remote areas. Encounter the locals and enjoy an enriching cultural experience with homestays and genuine Laotian food and witness everyday life on the shores of the Nam Ou River. En route back to the city we stop at the mysterious pilgrimage site of Pak Ou Caves before arriving in the heart of Luang Prabang.- Explore Nong Khiaw & Muang Ngoi - Hike through the jungle along the Nam Ou River - Experience authentic remote villages - Boat trip to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves

Day 1 : Arrival Luang Prabang

Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel. Luang Prabang is a very special city! It enchants with its magnificent location amidst mountain ranges and its historic temples, which gave the city the title of World Heritage Site by UNESCO. You will have free time to explore the city if time permits.

Overnight in Davita Boutique Hotel or similar.

Day 2 : Luang Prabang To Nong Khiaw, Lao Leu village ( B , L , D )

You will meet your guide in Luang Prabang and enjoy a scenic drive winding along the Nam Ou River to the small town of Nong Khiaw. Along the way, we’ll stop for a visit at Ban Na Nyang, a Lao Leu village known for its Lao Leu traditional-style houses and handicrafts. Arrive in Nong Khiaw in the afternoon and have time to explore. Your guide will show you around and take you to sample some local food for dinner.

Overnight in Nong Kiau Riverside or similar

Day 3: Nong Khiaw - 100 Waterfall trek & riverside Khmu village ( B, L, D )

Wow, that is what the first travelers said after coming back from this simply amazing waterfall hike and river trip. Starting the day with a peaceful boat ride on the Nam Ou you will be able to explore a small Lao village along the riverside before heading into the waterfalls. Learn about their way of life along this river. Walking through small streams and rice paddies you arrive at the base of the 100 Waterfalls. For the next few hours, you will see only water and jungle and hear the 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 near the falls in the middle of amazingly green nature. A small villagers’ trail on the top of the 100 Waterfalls will lead us back down into the valley offering wide views over the landscapes of the Nam Ou valley. We hike back to the Nam Ou River for our boat transfer to Ban Houay Goong, a traditional Khmu village in a stunning setting on the riverbanks, where you will spend an overnight homestay. Note: Strap-on sandals or quick-drying shoes are ideal for this trek as your feet may get wet. You will need to pack and carry an overnight bag today. Your main luggage will stay safe with the boatman who you will meet back up with you tomorrow.

Trekking time: ~5-6hrs. Overnight: Khmu Village homestay (multi-share)

Day 4: Ban Houay Goong - Na Luang Trek ( B , L , D )

After breakfast, we will transfer by boat and vehicle to the trailhead, and head to Na Luang. We start walking along small paths past rice paddies (seasonal) and through the preserved forest with huge trees and great views. Here we enjoy lunch in the jungle setting and make stops along the way. The trekking is 5-6 hours, medium difficulty, up and down hills, and we will make our way to a Lao-style village, still living traditionally. This can be slippery if wet so good shoes are recommended. You will explore the village with your guide and you might have a chance to visit the Clay School built and maintained through the proceeds of visitors such as yourself. We then prepare ourselves for an overnight stay in the village and enjoy the local cuisine. In the villages, we eat with the locals, so food is prepared depending on seasonal availability but you can be sure that the produce is fresh and flavors authentic. Take your time to explore the tranquil village and surrounds yourself in the evening or perhaps join in some games with the village children. Note: You will have access to your main luggage this morning but will again be packing an overnight bag as your main luggage will again stay with your boatman.

Trekking time: ~5-6hrs Overnight: Village homestay (multi-share)

Day 5: Jungle trek to Nam Ou River, boat to Muang Ngoi ( B, L, D )

We enjoy breakfast before departing the village via a local walking trail to the Nam Ou River. This is one of the most spectacular routes in the area taking you through a canyon pass with mountains rising on both sides. Again this is medium-difficulty trekking and takes about 4 hours. There is one uphill stretch of an hour so today can be a challenge in the heat and very difficult unless you are fit. We walk through the jungle, across rocks, and through rice fields. We will stop to visit a Khmu village nestled on the banks of the Nam Ou River and see its gardens. Along the way, we will enjoy another Lao-style lunch. Later we have a transfer by private boat to the secluded village of Muang Ngoi.

Trekking time: ~4hrs Overnight: Lattanavongsa Guesthouse or similar

Day 6 : Boat to Nong Khiaw, Pak Ou Cave to Luang Prabang ( B , L )

After breakfast, take a short boat trip to Nong Khiaw and continue our return by vehicle to Luang Prabang. En route, we stop to visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, located at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ou Rivers. There are two caves ‘Tham Ting’ and ‘Tham Phoum,’ and these photogenic caves are renowned for their collection of thousands of Buddha sculptures and images left over the years by pilgrims.

Overnight: Davita Boutique Hotel or similar

Day 7 : Departure  Luang Prabang ( B )

Your Northern Laos Trekking Explorer comes to an end this morning in Luang Prabang. After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport and the trip concludes.

 

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Departure date:  Based on your inquiry

Group Size: From 2 to 25 pax

Tour cost: Contact Us

TOP THINGS TO DO IN LAOS

Laos is a treasure trove of natural and architectural wonders. With a little patience and some time you can see incredible man-made and natural wonders from north to south in the Lao PDR. Don’t miss these top 10 things to see and do.

Wat Xieng Thong

Luang Prabang's best-known monastery is centered on a 1560 sǐm (ordination hall). Its roofs sweep low to the ground and there's a stunning 'tree of life' mosaic set on its western exterior wall. Close by are several stupas and three compact little chapel halls called hŏr. Hŏr Ɖąi, shaped like a tall tomb, houses a standing Buddha. The Hŏr Ɖąi Pha Sai-nyàat, dubbed La Chapelle Rouge – the Red Chapel – by the French, contains a rare reclining Buddha.

Fronted in lavish gilt work, the Hóhng Kép Mîen stores a ceremonial carriage, festooned with red-tongued naga (river serpents) designed to carry the golden funeral urns of Lao royalty.

Pha That Luang

Pha That Luang, Vientiane Laos
Pha That Luang, Vientiane Laos |
Boun That Luang takes place every November, over three days around the full moon. The stupa in Vientiane is the national symbol of Laos and is said to house a piece of Buddha’s breastbone. Thousands of pilgrims gather at That Luang to give offerings to the monks who come from all over Laos. Processions, parties, and a trade show follow. Even if you don’t make it to the festival, the stupa is a sight to behold any time of year. Join the faithful and place offerings of flowers, candles, and incense at the alter, or quietly stroll around the massive enclosed yard.

Vat Phou / Wat Phou

Wat Phou
Along with the Champasak Cultural Landscape, the 5th century Khmer ruins of Wat Phou is the second inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List of Laos. Wat Phou, meaning ‘mountain temple.’ Blended into the surrounding nature, the remains of Wat Phou are dotted all over the mountain face. Oriented toward the east, the ruins have two large reservoirs on either side of a long column-lined road, leading toward the mountains. Past the palace ruins, up a steep staircase, you’ll find the sanctuary with a modern Buddhist shrine and a natural spring considered to be sacred.

Tad Lo

Tad Lo
Tad Lo is 56 miles (90 kilometers) away from the southern town of Pakse. Soak in the visual and aural splendor of the falls or take a dip and cool off from the heat. Three cascades make up the falls: Tad Hang, Tad Lo itself, and Tad Suong. Accommodations are available to spend the night and enjoy the surrounding scenery. Tad Lo is an impressive three-tiered waterfall in Salavan Province. Several guesthouses and restaurants around the falls make it an ideal lunch spot or stopover for trekking, swimming, and tubing. Tad Lo is accessible by bus, motorbike, or as part of a group tour package of the Bolaven Plateau.

Swim in the Mekong at 4000 Islands

French Bridge at Sunset on Don Det
French Bridge at Sunset on Don Det |
Don Det has a beach at its northern tip that doubles as a ferry landing. You can also take a dip in the Mekong, the largest river in Southeast Asia, on either of the two beaches on Don Khon–one by Liphi Falls and one farther south. Easy Go Backpackers Hostel on Don Det has a beach area and Don Som Riverside Guesthouse has a swimming spot on Don Som. If river swimming isn’t your thing and you’d rather lounge by the pool, check out the one by Little Eden Guesthouse at the north end of Don Det or the Blue Lagoon Swimming pool at the southern tip of the island.

Tat Kuang Si

Thirty kilometers southwest of Luang Prabang, Tat Kuang Si is a many-tiered waterfall tumbling over limestone formations into a series of cool, swimmable turquoise pools; the term 'Edenic' doesn't do it justice. When you're not swinging off ropes into the water, there's a public park with shelters and picnic tables where you can eat lunch. Don't miss the Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre, where wild Asiatic moon bears, confiscated from poachers, are given a new lease of life.

Many cheap eateries line the entrance car park at the top end of the Khamu village of Ban Thapene, selling everything from local snacks to grilled chicken and fish.

Visiting Kuang Si by hired motorcycle is very pleasant now that the road here is decently paved and allows stops in villages along the way. By bicycle, be prepared for two long, steady hills to climb. A tuk-tuk from Luang Prabang costs 150,000K for one person, and 50,000K per person in a group of three, so it's best to get a group together. A private minivan will cost 350,000K.

Plain of Jars

Plain of Jars - Site One
Plain of Jars
Plain of Jars’ thousands of mysterious megalithic jars are scattered throughout Xiang Khuang Province in northeastern Laos. Dating from the iron age, the oldest jars go back to 500 BC. The largest “King Jar” is at Site 1 and the longest jar is at Site 2. It’s possible to hire a guide to take you on a trek from Site 2, which is behind a rice paddy to Site 3, which is in the forest on top of a hill. The leading theory suggests these stone vessels were used in burial rituals. Evidence suggests that bodies were distilled in the jars until only bones remained. The bones were then removed and interred in a ceramic jar or on the ground. Nine of the 90 sites containing jars have been cleared of UXOs, so stick to the established routes and bring a guide out trekking with you.

Kuang Si Falls

Kuang Si Falls
In the north of Laos lies Luang Prabang, a portion of the old town that is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site. Ride or cycle to Kuang Si or Tad Saw waterfalls, take a boat cruise down the Mekong river, and eat local Lao or fantastic French food at one of the restaurants in town. This former royal capital is home to some of the most elaborate and best-preserved temples in the country. Visit the Royal Palace and the watermelon-shaped Wat Wisunarat or hike up Mount Phousi for sunrise or sunset.

Tour Cost Includes:

  • Accommodation in tour - 6 nights ( Hotel, resort, and Homestay accommodation on a multi-share basis  )
  • Mealsin tours : B = Breakfast , L = Lunch , D = Dinner
  • Lunch in Midway restaurant/City Restaurant or Pack Lunch
  • Boat trip, local ferry in tour
  • Back up AC vehicle for the complete tour ( Bus, + Truck for the group )
  • English speaking Local Guide - Cum trekking guide
  • Fresh Fruits/Snacks (Only trekking part)
  • Unlimited filter water during trekking (Only trekking part)
  • All road and transport taxes
  • Driver Allowance
  • Toll and Parking charges
  • 10% Government Taxe

Tour Cost Excludes:

  • International flight tickets, visa
  • Other personal expenses
  • Tips and Gratitude
  • Travel insurance
  • Any Hard and Soft Drinks with meals
  • Northern Laos Trekking And Homestay Tour - 7 Days 1
  • Northern Laos Trekking And Homestay Tour - 7 Days 2
  • Northern Laos Trekking And Homestay Tour - 7 Days 3
  • Northern Laos Trekking And Homestay Tour - 7 Days 4
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