Nam Khan River

Explore Luang Prabang with a knowledgable local guide. Visit various highlights to discover why Luang Prabang is considered one of the most facinating place in Asia. There are 3 tour options available: Half-Day City Tour, Half-Day City Tour + Kuang Si Falls, and Full-Day City Tour, all of which allow you to add on the extra activities of joining the early morning alms-giving ceremony and exploring the morning market by choosing the 6am starting option. Customization of private tour destinations is available upon request and consultation in advance (1) Half Day city tour (2) Full day city tour, Morning city tour + Afternoon tour: Paper village, UXO Center, Wat Visoun, Wat Mai (3) Morning city tour, afternoon Kuang Si Waterfalls, Hmong village The 6 AM tour option begins with hotel pickup and an opportunity to join locals in participating a centuries-old traditional daily almsgiving ritual, followed by a visit to the morning market. Return to your hotel for breakfast and a rest before resuming your tour with a second pickup. After breakfast in your hotel, make your way to a small park on the peninsula tip. Get a brief introduction to Luang Prabang, standing where the Nam Khan River meets the Mekong River. From there, walk to Wat Xieng Thong, the most revered temple in Laos. Learn about the typical architecture of Luang Prabang temples with their characteristic low sweeping roofs. Join local pilgrims for a glimpse into the daily Buddhist beliefs of the people. Then, go temple hopping in the neighborhood. Continue to the Royal Palace to see a collection of historical items. Every item tells a story, so listen as your guide tells you about Lao history and royals. Admire a mix of traditional Lao motifs and French Beaux-Arts architecture. The morning tour ends with everyone climbing Mount Phousi and enjoying panoramic views of Luang Prabang from the top. If you would like the tour to continue for one day with us, we offer 3 options; (2) After free time for lunch in the city, visit the paper village of Ban Xang Khong on the Mekong River. Learn about the history of war at the UXO Lao Visitor Center, visit Wat Wisunarat, the oldest temple, as well as Wat Mai, the largest temple in Luang Prabang (3) After free time for lunch in the city, visit Kuang Si Waterfalls. 2.5 hours of free time. Visit a Hmong village on the way back to Luang Prabang.

Start with a morning transfer from your hotel in Luang Prabang 25 minutes out of town to the adventure camp. Cross the Nam Khan River by boat to the trailhead and begin the hike through rice paddies and middle canopy. Your first stop will be a Khmu village named Ban Houay Fai where your guide will introduce you to the local life and customs. Continue along ridges, limestone grottos, and rocky slopes for lunch at a Hmong village known as Ban Thin Pha, which gives this trail its name. Experience a variety of flora and fauna in the mountains and valleys, and weave your way through paddies and countryside. Stop, look, listen, and ask your guide about the life teeming around you. Chat with villagers and ask questions about life in Laos before ending the trek in the riverside village Ban Houay Yen. There, a boat will be waiting to take you down a beautiful stretch of the Nam Khan with a stop at the Tad Sae Waterfall. Relax and soak in Tad Sae Falls before returning by boat and vehicle to Luang Prabang. By choosing this adventure, you are contributing funds to support the local communities you visit. The total trekking distance is about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles), which takes about 4-5 hours through deciduous forest and farmland with elevations of 300-900 meters (984-2953 feet). During the low water season from February to July, the itinerary is the same with the exception that the Tad Sae Waterfall can be very low or dry and may be omitted. You can choose to take the tour in a public, small group or in a private group.

DAY 1 Start the tour with hotel pickup at 8:00 AM and head off for the Longhurst trail, one of the most spectacular trails in the area. The trail has steep jungle-covered mountains on one side and a spectacular view over Luang Prabang and the Mekong River on the other side. You'll cross the Nam Khan River by boat and begin the ascent into the mountains. The trail is an invigorating and sometimes challengingl hike going through canyons to remote villages and small lakes. The full-day hike spans 13km, normally taking 6 hours with breaks included. Under wet conditions, the hiking can be 7-8 hours. You’ll arrive at the Khmu village in the evening for an authentic cultural homestay and a well-earned meal prepared by your guide. Enjoy exploring the village with your guide, have a drink with the locals, and enjoy this incredible night deep in the mountains. DAY 2 Enjoy breakfast and set out for a 1.5 to 2-hour trek through the rice fields and forest. Then make your way up the hillside to a Hmong village of "Ban Tin Pha" , a wonderful place with a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains.  Afterward, continue the trek downhill to a village along the river, "Ban Houay Yen". Here you will board a local boat for a relaxing ride on the Nam Khan to the Tad Sae waterfalls.  Lunch will either be served at the village before the boat ride or at the waterfall as preferred. If you want to cool off after all the trek, take a swim in the pools at the base of the falls or relax in the shade. End the tour by taking the local boat to a camp and then driving back to the town.

This mountain bike trip combines great cycling with the chance to discover authentic Lao rural life. Leave the beaten path and find your own adventure outside of town. Get geared up and ride out of town along the Mekong River. We cross the old communist bridge, and make a stop to visit Xieng Lek Village, famous for its mulberry paper and weaving. We then have to get out of town for approx 15 minutes on a main road. We follow the Nam Xuang River past villages before offroading into the countryside, up and down hills, past rice paddies and local villages. Ride through vast rice paddies and Lao Leum, Hmong, and Khmu villages with locals tending to the daily activities of Lao agrarian life. The last leg of the ride will take you along the Nam Khan River. Before entering Luang Prabang City we visit the very unique and beautiful octagonal temple full of wall paintings, Wat Phon Phao, with its huge golden stupa and an incredible view overlooking all of Luang Prabang.

Start this tour with a hotel pickup from Luang Prabang with a drive from Luang Prabang on a short scenic ride south to the banks of the Nam Khan River. From there, cross the river by boat and then start an easy-to-medium 1.5-hour trek. Hike through jungle, forest, bamboo, and paddy fields and alongside streams to a small Khmu village at the base of limestone mountains. The guide will show you around the village to admire the beautiful bamboo woven houses and meet the locals. Don't hesitate to talk with the locals as the guide is happy to act as an interpreter. By choosing this adventure, you are contributing funds to support the local communities you visit. After exploring the Khmu villages, hike for another 1.5 hours to the Tad Sae waterfalls. Depending on the season, you can enjoy the impressive sight of the high waters or the inviting clear, turquoise waters at the rainy season's end. Enjoy a refreshing swim and explore the surrounding Tad Sae area. Please note that in the low water season (from March to August), Tad Sae Waterfall is dry and not visited. From the waterfall, take a boat ride to the Adventure Camp to begin your kayak adventure down the Nam Khan River. After a short safety review, the guide will teach you how to paddle if it is your first time. Embark on an exciting river journey through the beautiful Nam Khan River Valley's lush jungle as you observe locals engaged in everyday activities. While kayaking, you may stop on the many white-sand beaches to relax, swim, and explore. Also, visit the famous Henri Mouhot's resting site accessible from the river. Kayaking conditions vary between easy to medium and total time is approximately 2 hours, depending on river conditions.  Finally, end the tour with a late afternoon return drive to Luang Prabang City.