The Trail: Hire a local guide at the District Tourism Office in Boun Tai district for this 2-3 day trek that starts in Na Mak Village.
On the way to Na Mak, visit an old Tai Lue style temple in Na Vai Village. It is also possible to spend the night in the Na Vai village guesthouse, a traditional Lue style home.
From Na Mak, the walk continues down the Nam Lan River Valley to Na Taen village, a Tai Yang community in which every family has a large stone mortar to hand-mill rice. Village guides can take visitors to the hot springs nearby.
After spending the night in Na Taen's traditional lodge, a 5-hour walk leads to the Akha village, Chakkham Daeng, high in the mountains overlooking the Lao border with Yunnan, China.
Spend the night in Chakkham Daeng before descending to the road at Lak 78, where a vehicle returns trekers to Boun Tai or further to Phongsali.
Booking: To arrange a trek in the Nam Lan Conservation Area, visit the Guide Service Unit located at the District Tourism Office in Boun Tai district, Phongsali Province. Advance bookings are not necessary.
