• Ecotours & Outdoor Adventure
  • Luang Namtha
  • Luang Prabang
  • Vang Vieng
  • Vientiane
  • Khammouane
  • Champassak
• Package Tour
  • Laos-Vietnam
  • Laos-Cambodia
• Elephant Adventure
• Mekong Cruises
• Our Service
  • Hotel
  • Other Services
  • Terms & Conditions
• Travel Info
  • Laos Info
  • Do's & Don't
  • Links
• Gallery
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Maps
• About Us
  • Our Latest News
  • Company Profile
  • About us
• Reservation

The first 3 days trek is entirely in the forest. This is a trip for those who want a true forest experience within the Nam Ha National Protected Area, an ASEAN Heritage Site. The villagers of a Khmu village will host us at our first forest camp deep in the forest. At the second camp Akha villagers will be your hosts. The camps, built out of bamboo and wood by the villagers themselves, are places to immerse oneself in the beauty of the jungle. Along the way, local Khmu and Akha guides will explain the forest products used by villagers for food, medicine, materials and religious ceremonies. Rise early on the third day for the sunrise and go with an Akha bird caller to learn how the Akha can call the birds in.

The 2 days following takes us into a mountainous forest camp and the world of the Akha people where you will spend time learning about the lives and culture of these famous woodsmen. Learn about the birds, animals, plants and trees of the forest. Walk along a stream to a refreshing little waterfall. Spend the night with your Akha hosts and taste their special forest spices.

The last 2 days takes us through three Lanten Villages and two Khmu villages. Ban Nalan Tai, a Khmu village, and Ban Nam Goy, a Lanten village, can only be accessed by foot or by boat. This trail climbs a ridge near the Nam Ha River and goes through forested areas bordering the Nam Ha Protected Area. On the second the trail crosses over the Nam Ha River to cut through a section of old growth forest with abundant signs of wildlife before we pass through rice paddies and finally cross the Nam Tha River to Ban Hot Yawng. The overnight stay alternates from trip to trip between Ban Nam Goy or Ban Nalan Tai. On this trip we will learn about the upland agricultural practices, the uses of the forest and we’ll enjoy the hospitality and food of the Lanten.

Itinerary:
Day1: Luangnamtha - Ban Don Sai - Khmu camp
Depart Luang Namtha by songthaew, we drive north into the Nam Ha Protected Area. We meet our village hosts at Don Sai village. We hike along a forested stream into the mountains of Nam Ha National Protected Area while taking time to learn about plants and animals. The guides and villagers will show us how to collect wild herbs and vegetables for dinner. Cook over an open fire with Khmu hosts, then fall asleep to the sounds of the forest. If you want to go wildlife spotting at night this is the place to do it. Make sure you take along a good flashlight or head lamp to look for wildlife.

Approximately: 30 minutes transfer/ 6 hours trekking

Day2: Khmu Camp - Akha Camp
We wake up early to watch the sunrise from a top the mountains above camp and to see the jungle bird life. We explore nearby forests or help village cooks prepare a traditional Khmu breakfast. We then depart on a moderate walk through the Nam Ha forest. The village guides will go ahead to prepare a picnic lunch for us in the forest.
Arriving at Nammat Mai village of Akha ethnic group, we can take a walk to visit the village or just relax and enjoy the simplicity of Akha village life. We share a meal of fresh food with village hosts. Here we will have a chance to see how the jungle is reclaiming an old village site. This night will also have another opportunity to spot wildlife.

Approximately: 6 hours trekking

Day 3: Akha Camp – Ban Nam Mat May – Peang Ngam
We get up early before breakfast to go to the hunting grounds. Our Akha guide will call birds and may be able to call them in. If we really want to see the birds, we’ll have to act like a hunter. If he can’t find wildlife for us to see, he’ll show us signs. We return to camp to enjoy an Akha late breakfast prepared by our hosts. After breakfast, we start trekking through jungle until lunch time. Picnic lunch is prepared near by the stream.

After lunch, we continue to Ban Mat May pass rice paddy field and then on to Peang Ngam of Black Thai village for home stay overnight.

Approximately: 5 hours trekking

Day 4: Peang Ngam – Ban Nam Lai
Today, we head to the heart of Nam Ha Nation Park. On the way, our guide will give us information on wild life such as animal, eatable leaves, medical herb. Our lunch is served along the way. We head up the mountain to the Akha forest camp of Nam Lai. Meet our hosts and settle into the camp’s lodge before wandering around the village experiencing Akha forest life. We enjoy a home cooked Akha meal before retiring for the evening.

Approximately: 6 hours trekking

Day 5: Nam lai Village – Ban Chaluen Sook
After breakfast, we hike through rice paddies and along a forested stream into the mountains of the Nam Ha National Protected Area to the Nam Yen Waterfall while learning about plants and animals.

We continue heading up mountain to Chaluen Sook of Khmu village where we spend a home stay overnight.

Approximately: 7 hours trekking

Day 6: Ban Chaluen Sook - Ban Nalan - Ban Nam Goy
We follow the trail ascending from Ban Chaleun to the ridge line. Along the trail we will pass through forest in various stages of regeneration as well as some upland fields. Ask the guide to tell you how we are working with the villagers to conservation and regenerate the forest. We will meet local villagers along the trail coming from or going to market. Descend from the ridge down to the village of Ban Nalan Tai on the banks of the Nam Ha. In order to distribute the benefit between villagers, trips alternate overnight stays between the lodges of Ban Nam Goy and Ban Nalan Tai ( Khmu) Ban Nam Goy ( Lanten). If you are staying Ban Nam Goy you will walk another 40 minutes along the bank of the Nam Ha River from Ban Nalan Tai.

Approximately: 6 hours trekking

Day 7: Ban Nam Goy - Ban Hot Yawng – Luang Namtha
After breakfast, we continue through the forest along the banks of the Nam Ha. Monkeys have been reported in this area. If we walk quietly and luck is on our side, we may hear them. Meet the villagers in the forest along the way for a forest picnic. We will cross the Nam Ha River on a bamboo raft before entering the Nam Ha National Projected Area. Here the trail traverses old growth forests, follows streams along which we will notice signs of the abundant wildlife in the area. If we are lucky, we may even see some. We continue over the ridge passing through rice paddy before reaching the banks of the Nam Tha and crossing by boat to Ban Hot Yawng.

From here, we will return to Luang Namtha either by boat motor or pick-up truck. The optional return by river is in a traditional motor boat operated by area villagers. On your way up the river you will may see water birds along the banks of the river and make your last pass along the border of the Nam Ha Protected Area. If returning by pick-up truck, the road may be a bit rough and a little dusty.

Approximately: 5 hours trekking / 1 ½ hour boat or 2 hours transfer

Note: Return by boat may not be possible from March- June and a return by pick-up may not be possible July – September.

* Maximum of 8 per tour

Where does your money go?
From 8 people Nam Ha Challenge 7 Day Trip in 2008
Actual distribution may differ slightly from trip to trip due to exchange rates, changing costs and specific conditions of a particular tour

From 8 people Nam Ha Challenge 7 Day Trip in 2008 return by truck
	: Green Discovery, overhead, equipment costs, marketing, product development, profit 23%
	: Villager 36%
	: Guides, drivers, restaurant 14%
	: Nam Ha NPA 8%
	: Community Based Tourism Development Fund 6%
	: Taxes 13%

From 8 people Nam Ha Challenge 7 Day Trip in 2008 return by boat
	: Green Discovery, overhead, equipment costs, marketing, product development, profit 23%
	: Villager 39%
	: Guides, drivers, restaurant 12%
	: Nam Ha NPA 7%
	: Community Based Tourism Development Fund 6%
	: Taxes 13%

Green Discovery recognizes that the welfare of our business depends on the welfare of the people, communities and environment around us. It is for that reason that we take extra effort to ensure that benefits from our trips are distributed broadly. Each trip is a bit different but all trips benefit the local economy and contribute to protecting the environment. The guides, drivers, the food and most of the villagers benefit from your presence. Most notably you’ll see that every village we visit not only receives some of the money that you paid for the tour, they also are active business partners in the tour. We also pay $2 per day per person to the National Protected Area and set aside 10% of the above expenses for training of guides, villagers and development of more community-based tourism programs.

Top

..........................................................................................................................................................................................
Copyright © 2005 Green Discovery, all rights reserved