Adventure & Eco-Tours
Meet the tribes (15 days)
Highlights
• Two day Gibbon Experience
• Meet other tribes such as the Hmong, Laenthen, Khmu, and Yao
• Elephant riding
Price:
Price on requests
Day 01) Arrival Ban Houai Xai
Upon arrival on the Lao side of the river at Ban Houeixay we will walk up the embankment to the small building,which houses the Lao customs. After passing through customs we will meet our Lao guide and continue to check in the guesthouse that we’ve booked for you. At 18.00 pm you’ll catch up with your local Lao guide. He will give you a short briefing about the itinerary for the next coming days.
Day 02) Ban Houai Xai – Gibbon Experience
9 am: departure from the office
Around 10 am: arrival at the village to meet your guides. Start a 3-hour hike dotted with approximately 10 ziplines to get to your tree house. You will have a sandwich break during your trek.
Around 1 – 2 pm: arrival at your tree house, relaxing time
3 pm: explore surrounding ziplines as well as the biggest tree in all of Lao!
5 pm: food is brought to you: dinner time is left up to you. The rest of the night is yours
Day 03) Gibbon Experience – Houeixai – Luang Namtha ( B/L/- )
6h30 – 7 am: guides will bring you tea and coffee
7 – 8 am: optional hiking and ziplining (**visit the other tree house)
8 – 8h30 am: breakfast
9h30 – 10 am: leave your tree house, continue the trek for 3 hours (including 7 ziplines) through the National Park and over the Nam Nga River.
Around 12 – 1 pm: lunch break by the river. Relaxing time and optional swimming. The car picks you up there except in the rainy season, as you must walk 1 hour more before pick up.
Around 2 – 3 pm: return to Houayxay office and continue to Luang Namtha.
Day 04) Luang Namtha – Muang Singh ( B )
After early rise we’ll visit the local market where tribes exchange their wares. We will take our private vehicle to Muang Singh. On the way, we will have a short visit at a Laenthen village
Day 05) Muang Singh ( B/L/- )
Today we have planned a trek of half a day into the surrounding hills, visiting dwellings of the Yao,Thai Lu and Ikho en route. The walking is moderate and will be undertaken at an easy pace with plenty of stops.
Day 06) Muang Singh – Oudom Xai ( B/-/- )
We have a long drive out of Muang Singh today.The condition of the roads in this part of the country very much depends on the weather and therefore you should be prepared for some landslides and delays. The scenery however is spectacular mostly forested with slash and burn cultivation and with many hill tribe villages along the way.
Day 07) Oudom Xai – Nongkhiaw ( B/-/- )
Climbing out of the Oudom Xai valley, we are rewarded with some amazing views. Most of the villages are inhabited by the Hmong people who are distinctive in the way they dress. Late afternoon we’ll reach in Nong Khiaw, where we have to overnight here at Local bungalow near the river. It’s nice to walk around this area and crossing the bridge over the Ou River.
Day 08) Nongkhiaw – Luang Prabang ( B/-/- )
After breakfast you’ll have some time left to enjoy the village life before we board our wooden ‘sampan’ and continue our trip on the Ou Rriver. Before reaching Luang Prabang, we will stop to visit the Pac Ou caves, where we climb steps up the limestone cliffs to reach the sacred Buddhist shrine. Around lunch time we will arrive in Luang Prabang. This afternoon you’ll have some time to relax and un wind or to explore a bit of this world heritage town.
All the main sites of interest are close together so you can comfortable wander around and visit several Wats by yourself. Don’t miss the Wat Xieng Thong (the golden temple built in 1559) which is strikingly decorated in brilliant red and gold designs, with an imposing tiled roof and mosaic motifs. Late afternoon you can climb the small temple on top of MountPhousi and enjoy fine views over the town and the surrounding hills (B).
Day 09) Luang Prabang city tour ( B/-/- )
Luang Prabang, the former royal capital, is best known for it’s ancient temples and romantic setting at the confluence of the Mekong and Kane Rivers. Because of the compact size of the peninsula, Luang Prabang is best explored on foot. In the morning we will have a tour, visiting the National Museum (formerly known as the Royal Palace), wat Xieng Thong, wat Sen and wat May. The afternoon is free to explore or relax on your own. Perhaps you’d like to climb the Phousi Hill to enjoy excellent views of the lush green World Hertitage city and the Kane and Mekong River.
Day 10) Luang Prabang – elephant riding ( B/L/- )
At 09.00 am, a vehicle will pick you up from your hotel. After a half hour ride we’ll arrive at a local village called Ban Muangkhai. Here we will enjoy a scenic elephant ride and feeding, depending on the trail and weather conditions. The route will give us wonderful views on the country side. Afterward we will go to the beautiful Kuang Si waterfalls where turquoise waters cascade over limestone formations. The abundance of water forms a magnificent display of nature. Below the Kuang Si are large ponds perfect for swimming and cooling off under the spray. Before enjoying a picnic lunch next to the pools, we will pass stupendous landscapes, teak forests. Near the waterfalls it’s worth while to visit a centre where the endangered black Asiatic beers found a safe shelter
Day 11) Luang Prabang – Vang Vieng ( B/-/- )
Free in the morning until transfer to the train station and take the electric train from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng ( 1 hrs). This tiny village is settled between a spectacular spread of limestone karsts and is surrounded by green lush paddy fields. The terrace of your hotel offers splendid sun-sets amidst these magnificent natural settings.
Day 12) Vang Vieng – day at leisure ( B/-/- )
The whole day is at leisure. You probably like to enjoy some excursions such as exploring the surrounding caves by bicycle, hiring a canoe, tubing or rafting.
Day 13) Vang Vieng – Vientiane ( B/-/- )
Free in the morning until transfer to the train station and take the electric train to Vientiane. Vientiane is a friendly sleepy town resting on the shores of the mighty Mekong River. The city boasts oriental temples, shopping places and a bizarre Buddha park nearby, which is worth visiting.
Day 14) Vientiane – City tour ( B/-/- )
Vientiane is a friendly sleepy town resting on the shores of the mighty Mekong River. The city is blessed with temples as wat Sisaket, wat Prakeo and the impressive That Luang Stupa, the country’s most important monument. Also visit the Arch of Triumphe, the National museum and the ‘morning market’ where you can wander around and buy silver, silk or other items you like to take back home. In the evening you can stroll along the banks of the Mekong River.
Day 15) Vientiane – Departure ( B/-/- )
Following breakfast and transfer to the airport for the departure
Tour information
Depart from: Ban Houyai Xai
Arrival at: Vientiane
Start time: depend on your arrival time
End at: Last day in Vientiane, at the airport
What to bring:
Good shoes for hiking, 1 change of clothing, sarong for bathing (required for women), mosquito repellent, flashlight, sunscreen/hat, camera, some money to purchase handicrafts, raincoat (in rainy season), sheet (hygiene), and a towel.
Terms and conditions
Please read our term and conditions page (on this website) carefully
Rates Include:
• Accommodation based on twin or double room with daily breakfast ( 2-3*hotels )
• Meals as indicated in itinerary
• Services start after you have checked in your guesthouse in Ban Houai Xai and end on day 15 at the airport
• Guidance of English speaking local guide from day 01 until day 10 and 14, 15
• Private vehicle/boat as mentioned in the itinerary
• All excursion as mentioned in the program
• Electric train from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng to Vientiane as per program
• Elephant riding excursion in Luang Prabang
• Entrance fee during guided time
• All service charge and the government taxes
NB: People travelling on their own will share a room with companion of the same gender
Rates exclude:
• International airfares and taxes
• Visas and visa fees
• Personal expenses such as bar, telephone and laundry bills.
• Border crossing from Chiang Khong to Ban Houai Xai (30 Bath p.p.)
• Foods and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary.
• Tips and gratuities
• Entrance fees during free time
• PERSONAL travel insurance ( Compulsory )
• Bank surcharge and transferred
Additional days
Adding extra days is simple – by arrangement before or after the tour. If you need advise, please do not hesitate to ask us.
Level of difficulty of the trekking
To gibbon experience the walking is – moderate, some steep ascents/descents
The day walk in Muang Singh is moderate on flat area
Distance – 4-5 hours walking (depending on weather and your condition)
N.B. Depending on the season, you may have to cross some small rivers.