High water season, August to January:

Day 01 Biking, boat ride, Tad Sae Waterfall, trek and homestay (L/D)

After getting fitted on one of our quality mountain bikes, begin riding from Luang Prabang city center headed to the Nam Khan River valley. Our first stop will be Wat Pa Phon Phao, a quiet monastery with a wonderful golden stupa and a spectacular view of the city. Next stop is in Ban Phanom, a well-known cotton and silk hand-weaving village (Lao Lum culture). Continue to the grave of Henri Mouhot, the popularized French discoverer of the Angkor Ruins who died here in Luang Prabang in 1861.

Our last stretch of biking will take us to the banks of the Nam Khan River and our Tiger Trail Adventure Camp.

Travel by boat upriver to the Tad Sae Waterfall.  Spend the afternoon enjoying lunch, swimming, exploring the area surrounding the waterfalls.

Finished with an afternoon of exciting activities at the waterfall, we'll hike up the mountain behind Tad Sae Waterfall through rice paddies and jungle about 1.5 hours to a peaceful Khmu village.  Spend the evening exploring the village and its people under the stars and nestled in the foothills of spectacular limestone mountains during this unforgettable hilltribe homestay.

Day 02 Full day big jungle trek to Hmong, Khmu villages, and homestay (B/L/D)

After breakfast, we’ll begin our biggest day of trekking on one of the most spectacular trails in the area. We’ll hike through karst, limestone mountains on trails used by locals in their daily life.

We visit a remote Hmong village on a lake along the way and learn about the various traditional aspects of the minority cultures of Hmong and Khamu tribes. In the late afternoon, we will arrive at the overnight village where we stay tonight. Total hiking time is approximately 4-5 hours under normal conditions covering about 10 Km medium difficult trail (under wet conditions trekking can be challenging and good trekking shoes are recommended).

Spend another night with the locals in a village homestay after this full day of trekking.

Day 03 Jungle trek, Mandalao elephant experience and kayaking on the Nam Khan River (L/D)

Start your morning with breakfast at 7am and farewell to your new Khmu friends before trekking about 1.25 hours to the Nam Khan River. We will take a boat to Mandalao Elephant Sanctuary where you will learn about elephants and explore the beauty of the Lao jungle with rescued elephants and walk alongside them experiencing a profound sense of understanding, respect, and caring for these amazing giants.  This is a perfect way for these happy elephants to enjoy a walk in their natural habitat after decades of hard labor in logging camps. This tour is a 2.5 km roundtrip and takes you through the jungle and local Lao rice fields (Note; rice fields are not planted year-round). A once-in-a-lifetime experience. if Mandalao is unavailable we replace this with Elephant Village next door.

At our Adventure Camp we will pick up kayaks for the afternoon and kayak from Ban Xieng Lom to Gang Noon.

The countryside on our paddling trip is dense with banana and teak trees; rice paddies and terrace pineapple plantations. Pass handfuls of isolated Lao Loum and Theung thatched-roofed villages, and don´t be shy to practice your Lao by shouting out a sabaaidii.  We'll have lunch along the way somewhere along the river. Total kayaking is about 2.5 - 3 hours covering 12 Km. Finish in the afternoon for return transfer to Luang Prabang to complete this full adventure and culture explorer tour.

We'll finish kayaking in the afternoon for return transfer to Luang Prabang to complete this full adventure and culture explorer tour.

Low water season, February to July:

During the low water season, the itinerary may be adjusted to accommodate natural changes in water levels.

*One night on this tour can be spent at the Zen NamKhan Resort or Laos Spirit Resort on the banks of the Nam Khan River.  Inquire for details and pricing.

Services

Included Travel Services

• Bicycles and helmets
• Equipment (kayaks, dry bags, helmet, life jackets etc.)
• English speaking guide with license
• Local guide(s)
• Drinking water and meals as indicated
• Entrance fee and permissions and village project contributions, including Fair Trek Village fund fees
• Elephant experience at Mandalao
• Village Trekking
• Boat transfers
• Kayaking activities on Nam Khan river
• Car Transfers
• 2 nights village stay

Not Included Travel Services

• Specialty Drinks
• Tips for guides

Our statement on elephants in tourism.

- Tiger Trail tours are available every day -