Day 1: Ban Chaleunsouk - Ban Nalan
Set out from Ban Chaleunsouk, a Khamu village approximately 20 km from Luang Namtha on a trail that ascends through 10- to 20-year-old secondary forest before emerging an the village's upland rice fields.
The local guide explains the area's natural history, while trekkers take in the great views from the path as it levels out along a ridge before re-entering the forest, where the trees are older and support a wide range of plant and animal life.
Enjoy a Lao-style picnic lunch along the way, either in the forest or in the shade of a farmer's hut.
In the afternoon, the trail enters the Ban Nalan community forest, and as the path begins to descend to the village, it passes a small clearing, which served as a gun position during the early 1960s, when Pathet Lao revolutionaries and royalist forces fought in the area.
Arrive in Ban Nalan and enjoy dinner with villagers before relaxing and chatting with them to learn about Khamu culture and exchange. Spend the night in a Ban Nalan lodge overlooking the Nam Ha River.
Day 2: Ban Nalan - Ban Nam Lue
Begin the second morning with a pleasant walk following the Nam Ha River. Here, the forest varies from stands of large hardwoods to new growths of bamboo. The trail passes through the village of Ban Nalan Tai (South Ban Nalan) and the open cultivated areas of the Lanten village of Ban Nam Koy. Enjoy lunch is eaten in one of the village houses.
The trail leaves the river and climbs for a couple of hours. This is the most challenging section of the trail, but also the most beautiful, as it passes through the least impacted forest of the trip. Trees up to four or five hundred years old create a dense canopy which provides a habitat for many birds. Pause quietly for a minute and listen to the forest come alive with the sounds of birds and insects.
From the top of the ridge, enjoy spectacular views to the north with Luang Namtha visible in the distance. The final descent goes past mountain rice fields and cultivated areas of the mixed Lanten and Khamu village of Ban Nam Lue. The trail here can be steep and slippery in places, especially after a rainfall.
The trail ends at the Lanten village of Ban Nam Lue. Return to Luang Namtha by tuk tuk towards the end of the afternoon.
Situated on the banks of the Nam Ha River, Ban Nalan is a Khamu village of approximately 35 families. Visitors will see traditional Khamu culture, such as their method of pounding rice and the weaving of distinctive square-based baskets.
Ban Namkoy is a Lanten (Lao Huay) village, while Ban Namlue is a mixed Lanten and Khamu village. During the day, most of the adults are away working in their rice fields, but trekkers will be invited inside a villager's house for refreshments and, in Ban Namlue, there may be an opportunity to purchase traditional Lanten handicrafts.
This trek charges for a minimum of 4 persons. Groups withe fewer than 4 people must pay for 4 persons.
