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  • Northern Laos

    Code: LOT02 - Duration: 6 Days
    Start: Luang Prabang | Finish: Luang Prabang
  • Known as the ancient kingdom of the “Millions of Elephants”, Laos has awe-inspiring nature full of rugged mountains, impressive waterfalls and the mighty Mekong River winding its way through the slim country. This 6-day tour takes you to Northern Laos – one of the Southeast Asia’s most precious assets. From Luang Prabang, we travel to Oudomxay to reach Phongsaly located in the extreme North of the country. You will be impressed by the hill tribe people in nice villages completely isolated. The trip is followed by Muang Khua with a private long tail boat for a cruise down one of the most scenically beautiful stretches of river in Laos to Muang Ngoi and Nong Khiaw before ending in Luang Prabang.

    Highlights:Northern Laos 6 days

    • Experience trip to the northern spots of Laos: Outdomxay, Phongsaly, Muag Khua, Muang Ngoi, Nong Khiaw
    • Adventure trip to visit the beautiful isolated villages in Phongsaly and Muang Ngoi
    • Downstream boat trip from Muang Khua to Muang Ngoi and to Nong Khiaw with stunning scenery and remote villages
    • Charming hotels in great locations
    • Comfortable & spacious vehicle for transfers

    Itinerary in brief:

    Day 1: Luang Prabang - Oudomxay (-/-/-)
    Day 2: Oudomxay - Phongsaly (B/L/D)
    Day 3: Phongsaly - Tribe Trekking (B/L/-)
    Day 4: Phongsaly - 400 year old Tea Plantation - Muang Khua (B/-/D)
    Day 5: Muang Khua - Muong Ngoi - Trekking (B/-/-)
    Day 6: Muang Ngoi - Nong Khiaw - Luang Prabang - Departure (B/-/-)

    • Ability to change the direction of the program
    • Possibility of an extension in Vietnam & Cambodia 

    Notes:

    - We specialize in “tailor-made” tours for groups of two or more. We carefully inspect each step of your journey from the accommodation to the perfect guide to suit your needs
    - The itinerary is open to modification to fit your personal travel needs
    - Modifications to the itinerary may increase the price of the package
    - For the price of this trip, just ask for a quote by clicking on "TOUR PRICE"

    - If you are looking for a trip modified to your requirements, please send us your needs by filling out the form in Customize your trip” 
    - We will contact and send you a quote, excluding holiday period, within 48 hours of receiving your request. 

  • Day 1: Luang Prabang - Oudomxay (-/-/-)

    Luang Prabang - Oudomxay: 193km, ~4h drive

    oudomxayThis afternoon, our guide and driver will meet you at your hotel lobby for a drive to Oudomxay. On the way, you can observe the local rural life, local markets on the side of the road, clear views on corn and banana plantations and amazing views over the mountains. Arriving in Oudomxay, you will visit Wat That Pha, a temple located on a hill with a panoramic view on Oudomxay city and the surrounding mountains. During the sunset, this is a perfect spot to take amazing pictures. Arrive in Oudomxay around 5:30pm and check-in at your hotel. The rest of the day is free at leisure.

    Meals Included: None
    Accommodation: Hotel in Oudomxay

    Day 2: Oudomxay - Phongsaly (B/L/D)

    Oudomxay - Phongsaly: 230km, ~7h drive

    phongsalyAfter having breakfast at hotel, we depart for Phongsaly. The road is in good condition and at mountains’ slope. You will see beautiful landscapes, banana plantations, local rural life in the villages that borders the road and panoramic views over the surrounding mountains. You can ask our guide to stop whenever you want to take pictures on the way. Stop at Ban Bountai around 12:30 and enjoy a delicious picnic lunch. You can also visit the local market. Continue to Phongsaly for about 4 hours. We will arrive around 16:30 and check-in hotel. Then, our guide will accompany you for a walk through the streets of Phongsaly. The charm of the town is made by the narrow paved streets borded by traditional Chinese houses in wood. Our guide will explain you more about the history and culture of this multicultural city and the harmony that reigns between Lao people and Chinese immigrants. We will also visit a Chinese temple where you can enjoy a nice view over a small pond and Phongsaly. Then walk to the quiet Wat Keo, where the monks are playing petanque or football in the evening. After the tour, enjoy dinner in a local restaurant.

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    Accommodation: Hotel in Phongsaly

    Day 3: Phongsaly - Tribe Trekking (B/L/-)

    trekking laosAfter breakfast, we transfer to Bountai and meet our local guide for the day. Then, transfer to Ban Aya, the village where we will start your trekking (~4-5 hours). Ban Aya is a Hmong tribe village. After the visit of the village and its people, our local guide will lead you trek through the amazing jungle and green rice fields. On the way, you will enjoy seeing wonderful landscapes of the mountainous area. Stop en route to enjoy a typical Lao picnic lunch.

    After lunch, we will descend to Ban Aneng, another Hmong village located in a lower area. Explore the village and learn more about their cultures and traditions. We will then visit some other tribal villages of Akha Mouchee, Tai Yag, Laopan and Tai Yue, before going back to Bountai by private car. Transfer back to your hotel in Phongsaly. The rest of the day is free at leisure.

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
    Accommodation: Hotel in Phongsaly

    Day 4: Phongsaly - 400 year old Tea Plantation – Muang Khua (B/-/D)

    Phongsaly - Ban Komaen: ~30min drive; Ban Komaen – Muang Khua: ~4h drive

    phongsali 2After breakfast, we drive to the famous 400-year-old tea plantation, located in the village of Ban Komaen, about 30 minutes south from Phongsaly. According to some tea experts, this village has some of the oldest tea trees in the world. The large root system of the old trees extends deep into the mineral-rich soil and gives ‘Phongsaly Tea’ its specific aroma and taste. The oldest trees stand 6 m high with a stem up to 30 cm in diameter. There are regularly cut and kept to a reasonable size by Phunoy people, climbing to pick the precious leaves. They then process and sell this rare tea in cigar-shaped tubes. The road to Ban Komaen is passing through more recent tea plantations and offers a stunning view on Phongsaly and surrounding mountains. In the village a newly built tea-tasting shop serves some food and sells the 400-year-old tea. You can also have a look to the temple and its characteristic Buddha statue with big ears. After the visit, you will drive to Muang Khua for about 4 hours. Stop en route to have lunch in a local restaurant (on your own expenses). Arrival in Muang Khua and check-in at your hotel. Enjoy dinner at a restaurant which has a nice view over Nam Ou River.

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
    Accommodation: Guesthouse in Muang Khua

    Day 5: Muang Khua - Muong Ngoi – Trekking (B/-/-)

    Muang Khua - Muang Ngoi: ~4-5h by boat

    muang khua - tonkin travelAfter breakfast at a local restaurant, we board a private long tail boat for a cruise down one of the most scenically beautiful stretches of river in Laos. Compared to the Mekong, the Nam Ou is considered more dramatic and wild and also has far less traffic. Arrive in Muang Ngoi on time for lunch time and check-in at your hotel. After lunch, we will enjoy a soft trekking tour to see the most beautiful unspoiled nature, particularly mountain landscape around Muang Ngoi.

    1:30pm, meet our guide at your hotel lobby to begin a soft trekking during 30 minutes to visit Tham Kaang, the former sheltering cave for local villagers during Indochina war (1960-1972). It has never been damaged and offers beautiful surrounding. After visiting the cave, walk again 30 minutes through rice fields to Ban Na, a village of T'ai Deng ethnic group. After visiting local’s working and living condition, we will return to Muang Ngoi. On the way back to Muang Ngoi, we will have beautiful panorama view. Arrive in Muang Ngoi at about 4:30p.m. The rest of the day is free at leisure. Don’t miss the sunset on the river from your balcony!

    Meals Included: Breakfast
    Accommodation: Hotel in Muang Ngoi

    Day 6: Muang Ngoi - Nong Khiaw – Luang Prabang – Departure (B/-/-)

    Muang Ngoi - Nong Khiaw: ~45min by boat; Nong Khiaw - Luang Prabang: 134km, ~3h drive

    muang ngoi - tonkin travelAfter breakfast at hotel, we embark for 45 minutes on your boat to Nong Khiaw, which is famed for the dramatic limestone mountains which surround it. Arrival in Nong Khiaw, transfer back to Luang Prabang for your flight to next destination. End of our services!

    Meals Included: Breakfast

  • Prices

    This trip is private and therefore can be altered to suit your needs, date of commencement and budget requirements.

    Prices vary due to a number of specifics:

    • Seasonal: during high season (October-April), the prices of services are generally higher when compared to the low season (May-September).
    • The number of participants: the more of you that travel together the less you will pay!
    • The choice of hotels: Fairly obvious one here; a 5-star hotel can cost ten times as much as a 2 star hotel.
    • The activities during the trip: Two trips on the same itinerary and of the same length can have two different prices depending on the number and nature of activities included.
    • The booking date: In some cases, booking your trip late can drastically affect prices due to their low availability.

    Inclusion:

    • Accommodation as recommended or similar category according to availability.
    • Transfers according to program by private air-conditioned vehicle with driver except free day
    • English-speaking guide’s assistance at every stage
    • Meals as indicated in program (B: Breakfast /L: Lunch / D: Dinner)
    • Entrance fees for attractions included in the program
    • All activities and cruises clearly mentioned in the program
    • Boat cruise Muang Khua – Muang Ngoi – Nong Khiaw
    • Water and cool tissues
    • Government taxes & service charge

    Exclusion:

    • Other drinks and meals not clearly mentioned
    • Early check-in, late check-out
    • Personal expenditures, tips
    • Personal insurance (compulsory)
    • Any service not clearly mentioned in the program
    • International air transfers associated with airport taxes
    • Visa and visa arrangement (available upon request)

    Booking

    Here are 2 steps to book your trip with Tonkin-Travel:

    Step 1. Focus on your travel program:

    You can choose this trip as is or customize it to your specific desires. Just click on the “Customize this trip” tab and fill in the form. One of our travel consultants will contact you within 48 hours to develop the travel program based on your specifications.

    Step 2. Booking:

    • Following the first step, tour program is selected and we access the rates.
    • Upon confirmation of the trip, the registration must be accompanied by a deposit up to 25% of the total estimate.
    • For programs with private junk (cruise) and/or 5 star hotels, the deposit is represented by 30% of the total estimate.
    • Tonkin-Travel carries out the booking process upon receipt of the deposit. Confirmation of these reservations is sent to customer within 10 days via email

    Nature of travel

    This trip is private. That implies:

    • You will be escorted by a private guide and driver. This approach guarantees a smooth trip with fewer organizational constraints.
    • You will be the master of your trip. We guarantee flexibility in organizing visits at your request.
    • Our services will be personalized according to your desires. Thus the proposals in this package are not fixed and you can bring suggest all the desired changes.
    • You receive individualized care: ample food, organizing small events (anniversary, honeymoon, etc.), targeted information, followed necessary modifications, etc.

    Accommodation

    • Accommodation is an important expenditure of your trip. When you choose a luxury trip for example, the accommodation can represent three quarters of the price. Thus, your choice of hotels is closely related to your budget.
    • Tonkin-Travel has negotiated rates with a wide range of hotels from 2 to 5 stars.
    • In some places you will have the option to choose ‘home-stay’. Although this provides less comfort that a hotel it is a truly authentic experience and highly recommended for at least one night of your journey.

    Transport

    All transfers during your trip are covered by private vehicle with driver, unless otherwise indicated in our offer. We ensure that our vehicles are new and comfortable. Fuel, tolls, accommodation, compensation and the driver are included in our offer. Only gratuities are not included and are at your discretion.

    The size of the selected vehicle is based on the number of tour participants according to the following quality standards:

    No. of participants

    2 pax

    3 pax

    From 4 to 7 pax

    From 8 to 14 pax

    From 15 to 20 pax

    Vehicle size

    Car 4-7 seats

    Car 7 or minivan 
    16 seats

    Minivan 16 seats

    Bus 24 seats

    Bus 35 or 45 seats

    Domestic flights

    If your trip includes domestic flights if any, they will be operated by Vietnam Airlines, the largest airline in Vietnam. The fleet consists mainly of Airbus and Boeing. On some short trips, the company operates 72 ATR and some Fokker.

    Rail transport

    Train travel can be offered (particularly between Hanoi-Lao Cai and Hanoi-Hue). Travelling at a speed of 60km/h on average it is not necessarily the fastest but an interesting experience nonetheless.

  • This form allows us to establish a tour proposal suitable for your needs. It is free and without obligation

      (*) : Required fields

      Have you already booked the flight?
      What type of accommodation do you want?

      Regarding meals, you want the agency to offer you:

      Your message (Ex: The desired steps and activities, what you like, what you do not,
      the health condition of the participants, your questions on this trip...)

    • This form allows us to establish a tour proposal suitable for your needs. It is free and without obligation

        (*) : Required fields

        Have you already booked the flight?
        Which country would you like to discover? *
        What type of accommodation do you want?
        Regarding meals, you want the agency to offer you:
        Describe your trip
        These ideas are a guide for creating a trip suitable for your needs and expectations
        • Your desire to travel (culture, adventure, beach extension, local meetings, nature, etc.)
        • The desired pace of your trip (moderate, free and easy, etc.)
        • Your knowledge of the country. Your interests
        • The opportunity of your trip (vacation, wedding anniversary, cultural group, etc.)
        • Remarks (Room types, diet, special requests, etc.)

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