Where the Adventure Begins in Luang Namtha
Stroll down Luang Namtha’s main street near the Night Market and step into a postcard world of a laidback tourist hub: a cluster of clean and comfortable guesthouses, small restaurants serving local and international dishes, and tour operators in tidy, open-front shops with tour-menu slates out front.
Those lists of activities have grown over the years, but trekking and homestays in the Nam Ha National Protected Area (NPA) still dominate the charts.
Trails and villages are within reach of all ages. A short tuk tuk ride from town leads to Ban Nam Dee’s homestay, and the short hike to its waterfall, perfect for families and baby boomers. Hardcore adventurers can sign up for rigorous multi-day treks with overnight stays, forest retreats, and jungle camps. More moderate two-and-three-day programs offer similar experiences without steep climbs.
Kayaking on the mountain-lined Nam Tha River remains a big hit, especially during Adventure Season (June-October) when the water level is high. Trips range from paddling on calm waters to navigating challenging whitewater, and overnight village stays await those on multi-day expeditions. You can also hire a long-tail boat to do all the work. Cycling tours visit ethnic villages and pedal on to Sing District. Travelers can also rent bicycles and motorbikes to reach communities and attractions closer to town.
Adventurers are increasingly climbing onboard new multi-day combination tours, which offer trekking, kayaking, and cycling components selected from existing programs.
To help you navigate the choice of tours available from Luang Namtha Town, check out the adventure activities we spotlight, which can be booked at the Visitor Information Center.
A Walk in the Woods in Luang Namtha
Select a trek in the Nam Ha NPA, and embark on an adventure in pristine wilderness you’ll never forget. You can pick a path that climbs to peaks overlooking waves of green mountains, or a trail that uses bamboo rafts to cross rivers. At night, stay in an ethnic village home or lodge, camp under the jungle canopy, or sleep in a small forest retreat.
The Luang Namtha Eco-guide Unit and local tour operators offer a myriad of one-, two-, and multi-day treks, and your greatest challenge, aside from a day hiking on rugged terrain, may be in choosing the program that best meets your needs.
When picking the perfect trek, put your priorities first. Are you a nature buff dreaming of trails that pass 300-year-old trees and offer possible glimpses of wildlife? Do you want a guide who teaches you how to catch fish and cook meals with products you gather in the forest? How about camping overnight next to a river, or sleeping in a secluded forest lodge?
You might want a trek with a cultural lean. Sure, you want to learn about forest products, but visiting ethnic groups that use them in their daily lives really piques your interest. You can visit and spend the night with mountaintop Akha villagers, easy-to-reach riverside Lanten people, hillside Hmong villagers, Khmu communities, Tai Lue folk, and distinct lowland Yao groups.
Whatever your trekking desires, review the various itineraries, look at the pictures in the tour operators’ books, and see if you fit in the scene.
Paddling Down the Nam Tha River
Ease into a kayak and paddle down the province’s main artery, the Nam Tha River. You’ll stop at ethnic villages and tackle rapids, as the river winds through steep, tree-lined shores, while skirting the Nam Ha NPA.
A handful of Luang Namtha tour operators offer one- and two-day kayaking tours, each unique in its way, but all pass through the green-filled landscape. Of course, the longer you sign on for, the further you’ll go, the more villages you’ll visit, and the greater the choices you’ll have for spending the night.
Kayaking tours begin south of Luang Namtha Town with basic lessons, before entering the river with oars at the ready. The first stop is the Lanten village of Ban Sop Tod, where you can experience the people’s lifestyle and purchase their crafts.
The kayaking continues over the Tiger Leaping Rapids and through the thick forest to Ban Sop Sim, a Khmu villa ge where the Nam Ha River empties its waters into the Nam Tha. Some one-day tours end here with a ride back to town, while five-hour expeditions continue to Ban Houei Luat or Ban Hat Yawng.
Those on a two-day program can overnight at a forest camp, homestay at Hat Yawng or Houei Luat, or a community lodge in Ban Sop Sim. The second-day continues downriver to Ban Sin Oudom and returns to Luang Namtha by motorboat or pickup truck.
Consider an Adventure Season (June-October) kayaking tour when the river is high and the whitewater presents a greater test.
