• Trek along Luang Namtha

    Trek along the Nam O River and up an old Akha trail to the mountain top Akha Phouli village of Ban Nam Lo for an overnight stay, before heading through a bamboo forest to a limestone cave on this 2-day adventure.

  • Explore Khammouane

    Explore Khammouane province's Phou Hin Poun Protected Area

  • Bokeo The Gibbon

    mmerse yourself in the Gibbon Experience, two innovative programs centering on a network of canopy huts that provide a rare opportunity to see black-cheeked crested gibbons, once thought to be extinct. Overnight accommodation is in a canopy tree house with excellent views of the surrounding Bokeo Forest Reserve.

  • Discover Oudomxay

    Trekking in Oudomxay: Discover Oudomxay province with a choice of four 1-day tours and a 3-day trek with a home stay in a Khamu village.

  • Journey to Kong Lor Cave

    Journey to Kong Lor Cave, an amazing 7.5 km-long limestone tunnel formed by the Hinboun River

  • Kwang Si Luang Prabang

    Take this great 4- to 5-hour alternative walking route to Kwang Si Waterfall, and trek to Hmong and Khamu villages, green forests and mountain tops before arriving at the falls.

  • Home of Elephant

    Explore northern Sayaboury Province – the home of Laos’ annual Elephant Festival

  • Savannakhet Paradise

    Discover rural Lao life on a 3-day trek around Savannakhet

Trekking in Laos

The treks featured by Ecotourism Laos are mostly operated by provincial guide services and the villagers along the trail, all of who have received training. A significant portion of the trekking fees goes to local guides and villagers for home stays and other hospitality services as well as to support ongoing training, trail and facility maintenance and community development funds.

Resident guides have intimate knowledge of plants, wildlife and local culture, and hiring one through a tour operator or guide service will make your trek much more fulfilling. Booking a trek is the best way to visit a Lao National Protected Area.

Embark on a journey of a lifetime...take an ecotourism trek through the nature and culture of Laos.


The Akha Experience

Experience on this 3-day trek to 8 Akha villages, and spend a couple of nights, learn Akha customs and participate in village activities.
Operated by 8 Akha villages in Muang Sing in partnership with Vientiane Travel / Exotissimo.
Supported by: GTZ

The Akha Experience is an experimental tour, which takes participants on a 3-day learning experience into the culture and daily life of the Akha in Muang Sing.

The participants live the Akha's life in the forest, in the fields and in the village.

Luang Namtha Province is home to one of the largest populations of Akha ethnics, and it is here that the their culture is best preserved and best experienced.

Itinerary

Day 1: Muang Sing - Nam Keo Noi Waterfall - Ban Lao Khao

Depart That Xieng Tueng and follow the old French road to Nam Keo Noi Water Fall.

After 3 hours of trekking through primary and secondary forest, lunch is prepared by Lao Khao villagers at the beautiful Nam Keo Noi Waterfall. Food is cooked in the traditional Akha way using local products, forest vegetables and ancient techniques.

After lunch, walk with the villagers to the old village site and continue through a pine forest and old growth forest before descending to Ban Lao Khao. On the trail, take part in forest activities such as bird watching and collecting bamboo shoots and medicinal plants.

While waiting for dinner, walk around Ban Lao Khao with villages; learn about traditional Akha architecture and houses; and listen to traditional musical instruments, stories and legends while watching the preparation of the evening meal.

After dinner, enjoy a massage provided by the young women of the village before listening to courting songs.

Overnight in the Ban Lao Khao Lodge.

Day 2: Ban Lao Khao - Ban Phou Yae - Ban Houeinagang - Ban Eu La - Ban Tamee

After breakfast, walk to Ban Phou Yae on a trail that passes through old secondary forest. During the trek, participate in forest activities such as bird watching and collecting bamboo shoots and medicinal plants with the village guides.

Arrive in Ban Phou Yae and be the guest of a family for lunch.

Continue to Ban Houeinagang, stopping for an afternoon snack in Ban Houeinagang and participating in a village activity such as cotton spinning, making, playing with children's toys and pounding rice.

Continue to Ban Eu La and enjoy an agricultural activity like planting rice, riding a buffalo or gathering vegetables along the way. Stop for another snack at Eu La village as it is an Akha custom for visitors to stop in the village and chat before passing through.

Continue to Ban Tamee, and while waiting for dinner, visit the village with the Ban Lao Khao hosts. Listen to traditional musical instruments, stories, and legends while watching the preparation of the evening meal. Learn about home life and marriage customs.

After dinner, enjoy a massage provided by the young women of the village before going to listen to courting songs of the youth at the courting grounds.

Overnight in Ban Tamee Lodge.

Day 3: Ban Tamee - Ban Nam Hoo - Ban Phiyer - Muang Sing

After breakfast, take part in village activities such as cotton spinning, pounding rice or feeding the pigs. Villagers will appreciate your attention and willingness to learn about Akha daily life. Spend some time with the children, teach them new games or learn theirs.

Depart for Ban Nam Hou. Along the way enjoy farming activities with the villagers. Take a break in Ban Nam Hoo.

Walk through the forest to witness a magnificient view of Muang Sing., and participate in forest activities with the villagers.

Lunch is served by a family in either Ban Mona or Ban Piyer.

After lunch, visit the village handicraft shop in Ban Piyer and purchase some of the locally-made handicrafts, which supports the local economy while providing a beautiful souvenir from the Akha Experience.

The trek ends with a truck ride back to Muang Sing.

Benefits to Villagers:

The Akha Experience encourages the Akha people to preserve their traditional culture and environment and helps them gain new skills and sources of income.

The Akha Experience is run soley by the villagers as a small-scale business, and they sell the tour through a special partnership with Vientiane Travel/Exotissimo.

The tour is designed for individuals who are interested in learning about Akha culture and the environment, and who wish to participate in a program that protects the environment and benefits the Akha villagers.

Level of Difficulty & Safety:

Moderate. 5 to 6 hours of trekking per day. Some uphill climbs involved.
Trekkers must be in good shape.

Booking

  • Contact Exotissimo/Vientiane Travel at +856 21 241 861-2 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Accommodation & Food

  • Akha ecolodges with common rooms (one for men and one for women) fitting up to 8 people. Mosquito net, blankets and sheets are provided.
  • Common bathroom facilities equipped with solar energy.
  • Local Akha food. Meals include sticky/plain rice, vegetables, meat, chili sauce. Meals on overnight treks are prepared using simple foods purchased in villages, typically rice, vegetables and on occasion some meat or fish. Bring your own snacks/sweets if you'd like.
  • Vegeterian food available upon request. (Note: during the trek there will be no western style breakfast.)

Includes:

Local meals, water, accommodation, transfers to/from Luang Namtha, 2 Akha guides and 1 local English speaking guide, permits.

What to Bring:

Two changes of clothes, long pants and shirt with sleeves during the trek, good hiking shoes, sunscreen/hat, mosquito repellent, sandals for village, sarong for bathing (required for women), camera.

Group Size:

Group size is a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 8 persons.