Northern Laos Expedition

Welcome to Laos at Houeixai pier. Transfer to your hotel for check in and you are free at your leisure to explore the town with visit to the local market and villages nearby. The surrounding areas of Houeixai are home to 34 ethnic minority groups, the second most ethnically diverse province in Laos. Overnight in Houeixai.

Affter breakfast, we leave the town for Luang Namtha. We will drive in the dirt roads with uphill and downhill. In return, the scenery is wonderful and we visit villages of hill tribes at Muang Phouka as well as surrounding area. Luang Namtha, located on the banks of the Namtha river, is a land of rugged mountains and beautiful tropical forests, shares its border with China and Myanmar. We arrive in Luang Namtha in late evening for overnight.

After breakfast, we take a short drive to Ban Chalernsuk, a Khmu minority village where we get off the beaten track into this beautiful mountain region. Today’s trekking may be tough with some steep uphill and down hill climbs, but the experience is unique and rewarding. We arrive at Ban Nalan by late afternoon, where we have chances to understand a little more about the Khmu local culture and their daily lifestyle. We enjoy a local dinner and overnight at the Khmu family house.

After breakfast, we will trek along the river to Ban Namkoy passing picturesque landscape of forests and rice fields. On arrival at Ban Namkoy we will take another 3 hour challenging treks with stops at hamlets and villages where there are fewer footprints of tourists and things still remain as it has been for 30 years ago. The trek will be ended at Ban Namlu villages where we meet up with our vehicle and drive back to Luang Namtha town for overnight.

After breakfast, we travel early by road to Moung Sing, a home of various hill tribal communities. There is a Chinese group living there and a lot of trade goes on between here and China. We stop along the way at the village of Akha hill tribe. This ethnic group with vibrant culture and an interesting history originally lived in China but immigrated into Laos over a century ago. We continue heading westbound over bumpy roads to Xieng Kok, a border town near the Golden Triangle. We drive back to Muong Sing with stopover at the Lantern minority village. Overnight at Moung Sing.

After breakfast, we visit the bustling colorful morning market and the impressive museum of ethnology. This local market also attracts numerous ethnic minorities that converge from the surrounding mountainsides or valley to barter and trade their goods. We then make the way back to Oudomxay via Luang Namtha. In this rough journey we see very few travelers. Overnight in Oudomxay.

After breakfast, we depart early for Nong Khiaw, where we board a traditional boat down the Nam Ou river to Luang Prabang - The Unesco World Heritage site, tranquil with its gleaming temple roofs and fading colonial architecture. En route we stop at mysterious Pak Ou caves where thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues are crammed into the two caves carved out of a towering limestone cliff. We continue cruising to Ban Sang Hay village to sample the local rice alcohol. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Early wake up for a fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clothed monks who collect offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession. You will visit the morning Phousi market where you will see such local different products as dried buffalo skin, local tea and salt among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional handicrafts, and today you will visit local village of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay and Ban Thapene. You may also drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the turquoise pools or walk along the forest paths. We return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Phanom, a well-known weaving village, and then return to the city by late evening for observing the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, we visit The National museum (close Tuesday) at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings to the last sovereign. You will have free time to explore the town and shopping before heading to airport for onward flight. Ends of services.