Trekking

Trekkers began turning up in Luang Namtha in the 1990s. They used untrained local guides to take them to remote ethnic villages and this often led to adverse impacts on the traditional ways of life.  There are multidays to explore the Nam Ha Biodiversity Conservation Area – one of the most popular trekking locations in Laos. Day and overnight trek available. Book through local tour companies on the main street in Luang Namtha Town. Stay in jungle camps, eco-lodge or village homestays. Meet with remote ethnic minorities in the protected area. Trek programs are available in five districts, Luang Namtha, Muang Sing, Muang Long, Nalae, and Viengphoukha.

For Nalan Trail and Community Adventure:

One of the popular trails is the Nalan Trail, as mentioned above, taking you to a remote Khmu village on the banks of Nam Ha River where you can stay overnight. This trail also can be coordinated with a day of kayaking down the Nam Ha River.  It is a diverse day, starting with a drive out of town through rice fields, stopping at the Ban Phieng Ngam Weaving Center to see the how the Tai Daeng people make their colourful textiles, then onto the high point to start the trail. At first through a cooler forest, your guide will show you the diversity and uses of many plants you pass by. Lunch time is always interesting on a trek in Laos. Guides seem to be able to pull together the most amazingly presented meal with just a knife! After lunch, you descend to follow the stream. Here you are way below the canopy of grand old trees – it is a beautiful area. At the last section, you will come out through a cardamom forest, to the Nalan village. This is a very peaceful and bountiful area. The locals have built small houses for you to stay and they benefit from your visit.
Recommendation for entrance in Nam Ha NPA

Kayaking

Book your kayak trip through one of the qualified tour companies in Luang Namtha. Day and overnight experiences are possible on the Nam Ha and Nam Tha rivers. This is a great way to enjoy the Nam Ha National Protected Area, ethnic villages, wildlife and forested landscape. Low water levels from December to June can make access to some parts of the rivers difficult. The trip in Nam Ha River is only available in Luang Namtha distrcit.

Visiting Ethnic Village

There are more than 20 different ethnic groups live inside and around the Nam Ha NPA. You can meet some of these people by chance on your own or better still, hire a local guide. You’ll discover so much more! There are authentic culture which involve you be a part of their lives, you can  learn the local language, culture, tradition, and culture show in the village you visit, for some especial show shuch as local dance or local singing, please ask for your local guide for booking these activities, if there is event or festival in the village, it is free for you see their performance.

See Cave & Waterfall

Luang Namtha has the beautiful caves in Nam Ha National NPA. The most accessible are the caves near the road (R3A) is “Kao Rao Cave” and the network of caverns at the base of the Phou Prasat limestone formation near Tha Louang Village. To buy ticket before entrance. In addition, there is a cave in Long district and a cave in Nalae District, please ask for more with tourism information center to access these places.

One of the well-known waterfall is “Nam Dee Waterfall” , Hire a bike or tuktuk and head 5.5km out of town to the Lanten ethnic village of Ban Nam Dee (meaning: good water) – Buy ticket for entrnace.  Another waterfall is “Pha Yueang Waterfall” located in the Nam Ha National Protected Area, this can be found 17km south of Muang Sing on the road to Luang Namtha. A 30min walk along the Pha Yueng Trail takes you to the waterfall, for this, you can go by yourself, rent a motorbike and follow on the map you take from tourists information center. Nature lovers enjoy this place, the multi-tiered Nam Keo Waterfall is located about 7km from the starting point to Xieng Tueng  Stupa and can be visited as part of a guided tour from the Muang Sing Eco-guide Service (Muang Sing Tourism Information Center and local agencies).

There are other waterfalls in Viengphoukha, Nalae and  Muang Long, but these are far away from the town, please book a tour programs through local agencies.