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2 Days The Nests and Wildlife Observation Tower

The Nests and Wildlife Observation Tower - 2 Days. Trek into the heart of the National Park and overnight in spherical baskets hanging from the trees – ‘The Nests’. Identify proof of wildlife along the trail (footprints, scat, scratches, etc) and verify wildlife camera traps. Try your luck to hear the critically endangered Northern White-Cheeked Gibbons and to spot birdlife and wildlife from the observation tower overlooking a salt lick that attracts animals such as the rare Sambar deer from far and wide.Please note that the itinerary below is approximate. Small change can occur as we are in remote and wild Laos and it is impossible to predict everything. However, please trust that the National Park’s guide will do the most to ensure you have the best possible wildlife experience

This out-and-back trek with an overnight at The Nests camp offers great birdwatching opportunities and a chance to spot wildlife at night from an observation tower located above a salt lick and near a ranger station.

Duration : 2 Days 1 nights : Difficulty : Moderate - Hard :  Length : 15 km trek & 10 km tok-tok : Elevation range : 600-1000m

Highlights

  • Wildlife observation tower
  • Birdwatching
  • Camera Trapping
  • Overnight at The Nests
  • Ranger station

Wildlife species

The Nests wildlife observation tower is located above a salt lick and offers excellent birdwatching opportunities. You may see Blyth’s paradise flycatcher, rufous-faced warbler, long-tailed and silver-breasted broadbills, pale-headed woodpecker, greater and lesser yellow napes, and many more.

Detail Itinerary

Please note that the itinerary below is approximate. Small change can occur as we are in remote and wild Laos and it is impossible to predict everything. However, please trust that the National Park guide will do the most to ensure you have the best possible wildlife experience.

Day 1: Enter the National Park. The Nests Wildlife Observation Tower

Distance: 5 km tok-tok & 7.5 km trek
Duration: 1h tok-tok and 4-hour trek
Elevation Gain/Loss: +460m / -420m
Meals: L/D

At 8am, meet your guide at the national park visitor center for a brief orientation ( or pick you up at your guest house in Muang Hiem ) Then, travel for about 30 minutes to a small Khmu village, where you’ll meet the community ecotourism team.

For the first 5 km of the trail, ride a tok-tok (hand tractor) through rice fields to the park boundary, then trek 7 km through the park to the camp, identifying signs of wildlife along the way.

Once at The Nests camp, relax, and enjoy late afternoon birdwatching. After a campfire dinner, head to the observation tower located next to a salt lick for nighttime wildlife spotting. Overnight in The Nests.

Day 2: Return To Muang Hiem

Distance: 7.5 km trek & 5 km tok-tok.
Time estimation: 4h trek, 1h tok-tok.
Elevation Gain/Loss: +420m / -460m.
Meals: B/L

Start the day with birdwatching and verifying the wildlife camera traps. Twelve surrounding villages involved in the ecotourism program receive monetary bonuses through the ecotourism benefit fund that is based on the wildlife spotted on the tours and in the camera traps.

Trek out from the national park and enjoy birdwatching along the way, then ride a tok-tok (hand tractor) back to the village. Return to Muang Hiam in the mid-afternoon. Recommendation: spend the afternoon relaxing at the hot springs.

You will be then transferred back to Muang Hiem by private truck or van.

-End of the Tour-

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