Trekking in Laos
In summary
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Sports
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Duration16 days
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LevelConfirmed
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DestinationAsia / Laos
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AgeFrom the age of 18
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CO₂-Emissions5553.54 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
In a few words
Embark on an incredible trek designed for adventurers seeking total immersion in the lives of hill tribes! Located in the heart of the Indochinese Peninsula and landlocked, Laos is a land of mountains and dense forests. Your journey begins with a visit to the unmissable Luang Prabang , the royal city and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Next, you'll explore the north of the country, a remarkably unspoiled and less frequented region. This unique trek will lead you to meet diverse ethnic groups living in near self-sufficiency in the forest, at altitudes of over 1,000 meters . Your route will take you through primeval jungles and areas of slash-and-burn agriculture. This trip offers an exceptional adventure in a remote region, following a trekking route rarely seen by tourists.
The highlights
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Nine days of trekking off the beaten track, in a small group
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Laos, the wildest country in Southeast Asia
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The city of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Photos
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
In figures
Trekking
- Average duration/day: 5h
- Average distance/day: 13 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 494 m
- Average daily descent: 494 m
Autre
- Average duration/day: 4h
- Average daily elevation gain: 190 m
- Average daily descent: 557 m
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 3h
- Average distance/day: 10 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 250 m
- Average daily descent: 250 m
Management
Program
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Paris - Vientiane
- Transportation Plane - 16h - 9244km
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Departure from Paris and flight to Vientiane.Day 1 -
Arrival in Vientiane - Luang Prabang
- Transportation TGV - 02h30 - 310km
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
Upon arrival in Vientiane, we are met at the airport by our French-speaking guide and transferred to the train station to catch a train to Luang Prabang. We are then taken to our hotel on the banks of the Mekong River. Our first immersion in the heart of Luang Prabang begins. From our very first interactions, the Laotians surprise us with their calm, respect, and detachment; here, there's no honking in traffic! *If your flight arrives too late in Vientiane, the first night will be spent in Vientiane. You will be met at the airport by an English-speaking representative and will take an early train the following morning to Luang Prabang.Day 2 -
Luang Prabang
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
An early morning train to Luang Prabang if the journey couldn't be made the previous day. The first day of our exploration begins with a visit to Luang Prabang, one of Southeast Asia's most beautiful cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We'll take our time admiring this former royal capital from Mount Phousi, appreciating the splendid temples of Wat Mai, with its famous bas-reliefs, Wat Sisunnarath, and Wat Xiengthong, considered among the most beautiful temples in Luang Prabang. Then, we'll head to the old town and the former royal palace.Day 3 -
Luang Prabang - Mouangsay - start of the trek
- Transportation Minibus - 04h - 194km
- Activity Trekking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 390 m
- Negative elevation 390 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
This morning, we travel to the far north of the country by train and then bus to reach the starting point of our trek, where our local team—guide, assistant, and cook—will be waiting for us. Together, we set off on a six-day trek through the mountainous regions of Phongsali. This trek offers stunning scenery and views. We hike through numerous cultivated fields (rice and banana plantations, food crops) and a dense forest teeming with tropical flowers. We pass through villages and encounter different ethnic groups: more than 26 ethnic groups are represented in Phongsali province. We hike for about three hours on relatively flat terrain through cardamom and galangal plantations and visit two authentic villages inhabited by the Akha Luma people. The locals are often busy with their daily tasks, the children are amazed to see hikers, and domestic animals roam freely... From the very first day of our trek, we are immersed in the unique atmosphere of the Laotian countryside. We arrive in the village of Bane Kham and at the home of our Akha Pala family, where we spend the night.
Day 4 -
Akha Kham village trek - Gniou village
- Activity Trekking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 12 km
- Positive elevation gain 350 m
- Negative elevation 350 m
- Accommodation Staying with a local resident
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We leave our hosts and set off for a beautiful day of hiking with unobstructed mountain views throughout. We are in Akha country, home to a hill tribe who migrated from China around the 18th century. This morning, we follow a trail along a hillside path that climbs to a large Akha Eupa village perched atop a mountain. Our arrival surprises the villagers, who rarely see Westerners. We explore the village with the local children. We have lunch there, and then a short climb takes us to the ridge, which we follow for a while before descending to another Akha village. We greet the villagers returning from the fields. Overnight stay with the Akha Eupa people.Day 5 -
Rabit Village Trek - Phousati Village
- Activity Trekking
- Duration of the activity 4h30
- Distance 11 km
- Positive elevation gain 340 m
- Negative elevation 340 m
- Accommodation Staying with a local resident
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We continue our trek through rice paddies, teak forests, and food crops... We climb steadily to a pass at an altitude of 1,700 meters. This is the highest point of the trek. Along the way, we visit a village inhabited by the Akha Muchi minority. We take a break at the pass and then descend steadily down the other side of the mountain to a village of the Khamu ethnic group. This group is characterized by its beliefs based on animism and shamanism. Khamu houses are often oriented towards the east, and the cemetery towards the west. The Khamu live in wooden houses on stilts. Rice granaries and livestock are often kept outside the village. In the late afternoon, we set off to explore the village.Day 6 -
Trekking: Nam Ma Valley
- Activity Trekking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 10 km
- Accommodation Staying with a local resident
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
With a bit of luck, we wake up to a beautiful sunrise with a sea of clouds covering the valley below. After breakfast, we thank our hosts and begin our day's hike. This morning, a pleasant descent through the forest leads us to the river, which we ford. We have a picnic lunch by the river. Those who wish can take a dip. After lunch, we face a steep climb through the bamboo forest. Throughout the day, we enjoy beautiful views of the mountains covered in dense tropical vegetation. The landscape is quite different from the first few days of the trek. After a two-hour climb, we arrive at the village of Khamou.Day 7 -
Trek: Muang Khua - Bane Hasta
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 3h30
- Positive elevation gain 160 m
- Negative elevation 900 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
This morning, we leave the village of Khamou to reach the banks of the Nam Ou River, which originates in the Sino-Laotian mountains in the north of the country, flows through the provinces of Phongsaly and Oudamxay, before emptying into the Mekong River. During the hike, we encounter locals using this trail through forests and cultivated fields to reach their fields and villages. We then follow a track to the road and transfer to Muang Khua, a market town located on the banks of the Nam Ou.Day 8 -
Trek: Kiouxang Village - Bane Hatsa
- Activity Trekking
- Duration of the activity 6h30
- Distance 16 km
- Positive elevation gain 900 m
- Negative elevation 900 m
- Accommodation Staying with a local resident
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We leave Muang Khua by boat. We navigate the Nam Ou River, bordered by a densely forested mountain range. We glimpse a few small fishing villages nestled along the banks. After two hours on the water, we arrive at the starting point of our second short trek, which offers yet another perspective on the landscape. A relatively steep climb through a dense bamboo forest leads to a small Khamou village perched on a ridge at the edge of the forest, completely isolated from the modern world. We greet the villagers and continue our hike along the ridge. We have an unobstructed view of the Nam Ou Valley and the surrounding mountains. We continue our trek to another Khamou village where we spend the night.Day 9 -
Trek: Bane Hatsa - Muang Gnoy
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Positive elevation gain 160 m
- Negative elevation 570 m
- Accommodation Staying with a local resident
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
After breakfast, we set off on a hike down to the Nam Ou River. Along the way, we pass through sesame fields. The view of the river's meander offers a magnificent panorama. After a picnic lunch, we board a boat for about ten minutes, which will take us to a fishing village. Enjoy some relaxation time in the village to end the day. We can experience daily life and share moments with the locals.Day 10 -
Trek: Muang Gnoy - Kiou Khane Village
- Activity Trekking
- Duration of the activity 5h30
- Distance 17 km
- Positive elevation gain 980 m
- Negative elevation 980 m
- Accommodation Staying with a local resident
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We embark on a trek through varied landscapes, between rice paddies, fields, forests, and villages, until we reach the village of Kiou Khane. We spend the night with the Khamou ethnic group.
Day 11 -
Kiou Khane village trek - Muang Gnoy
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Positive elevation gain 250 m
- Negative elevation 200 m
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
After breakfast, we walk back down to Muang Gnoy along the river. A boat is waiting for us in the village of Sopchem to take us to Muang Gnoy. We spend the night at the hotel.
Day 12 -
Muang Gnoy - Luang Prabang
- Transportation Boat - 04h - 140km
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
After breakfast, we board our boat for a 4-hour cruise to the dam, where our bus awaits. Along the way, the boat stops to admire rock paintings on a cliff. We arrive in Luang Prabang in the late afternoon.
Day 13 -
Luang Prabang - Bane Long Lao - Kuang Si Waterfall
- Transportation Minibus - 01h - 30km
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 250 m
- Negative elevation 250 m
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
This morning, we set off for Bane Long Lao, a 50-minute drive from Luang Prabang. Nestled in nature, this village is our starting point for a hike through the mountains that leads us to one of Laos' most beautiful spots. We walk through the forest on a trail connecting small hamlets hidden in the mountains. We'll have a picnic lunch before arriving at Kuang Si Falls. From the mountaintops, turquoise waterfalls cascade through an idyllic jungle, creating beautiful natural pools. Although very popular, this place is a must-see, and it will be hard to resist a refreshing dip! Return to Luang Prabang.
Day 14 -
Luang Brabang - Paris
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Early in the morning, we witness a Luang Prabang tradition: the alms-giving ceremony for monks along the Mekong River. This offering ceremony is practiced with great devotion by most of the city's Buddhists. Afterwards, we explore the vegetable market before returning to the hotel for breakfast. The following day is free. Depending on flight schedules, transfer to the airport for your international return flight.Day 15 -
Paris
- Transportation Plane - 16h - 9244km
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Arrived in Paris early in the morning.Day 16
Note
In order to offer you a greater number of guaranteed departures, this trip is offered by Huwans and Atalante, partners on these departures.
Accommodation
In town:
- You will be staying in hotels (basic comfort) in a double room
- Private bathroom, usually with hot water
During the trek:
- You stay with local people in order to prioritize encounters, discovery and sharing with local populations.
- You will most often be welcomed into the main room of their house, where you will eat meals and spend the night.
- Mattresses and light blankets (sleeping bags or sleeping bag liners are recommended depending on the season) are provided.
- There is no hot water or heating.
Living conditions in Laos are basic. It is the least developed country in Southeast Asia.
In town:
- You will be staying in hotels (basic comfort) in a double room
- Private bathroom, usually with hot water
During the trek:
- You stay with local people in order to prioritize encounters, discovery and sharing with local populations.
- You will most often be welcomed into the main room of their house, where you will eat meals and spend the night.
- Mattresses and light blankets (sleeping bags or sleeping bag liners are recommended depending on the season) are provided.
- There is no hot water or heating.
Living conditions in Laos are basic. It is the least developed country in Southeast Asia.
Access
Go to the starting point
Price details
The price includes
- International flights and airport taxes
- Land and boat transport
- The excursions detailed in the program
- Accommodation in guesthouses and hotels with twin rooms
- Full board except for meals mentioned as not included in the daily itinerary
- Supervision by a Laotian guide-tour leader
- The team of local guides and cooks during the trek
- Trekking permits
The price does not include
- Airport transfers in case of flights different from the group's flight
- Visa fees
- Drinks and mineral water
- Meals listed as not included in the daily price (allow approximately €5 to €10 per meal)
- Taxes and entrance fees for sites and optional activities
- Tips for local teams
Options
- Extra night before stay - Single room : CHF50.31 / unit
- Extra night before stay - Double room : CHF54.89 / unit
- Additional night after stay - Single room : CHF50.31 / unit
- Additional night after stay - Double room : CHF54.89 / unit
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
Equipment
Equipment to bring
- Comfortable and sturdy walking shoes
- Lightweight shoes suitable for the evening
- Sandals for river crossings
- Sleeping bag (comfort rating 10°C)
- Sleeping bag liner for nights spent with locals
- Toiletries (wipes to replace water...)
- Swimsuit (one-piece)
- Quick-drying towel
- Change of clothes for the evening
- One 1.5L water bottle or two equivalent ones (camel bags or rigid water bottles)
- Micropur or Hydroclonazone tablets, or water purification
- Cereal bars and/or dried fruit for a quick snack
- Pair of sunglasses, high protection rating
- Headlamp and spare batteries
- Pair of telescopic hiking poles (optional)
- Toilet paper + lighter
Whenever possible, choose organic products (Marseille soap and shampoo, especially important for overnight stays with locals).
Clothing to bring
- Cap or hat
- Neck warmer or scarf
- Thermal underwear (short-sleeved or long-sleeved T-shirts)
- T-shirts (short and long sleeves), preferably made of quick-drying technical fabric
- Warm fleece
- Sweater (from November to March)
- Windproof, waterproof and breathable jacket
- Rain cape
- Long shorts
- Comfortable walking pants
- Pareo for women and men for showering outdoors
- Walking socks
- Hat and gloves (for the cool nights from December to February)
