DAY 1

The tour begins at the Into The Wild-office at 8:30 AM. There the leading guide will give a short briefing on the trek and you can prepare. At 9:00 am you will be picked up by the tuk tuk, that will take you to Ban Chaleurnsouk (Khmu village), where the local guide will join you. From there the tuk tuk will continue for another 5 minutes to the starting point of the trek.

 

The trek will start with climbing gradually into the hills, through a variety  of primary forest and deep into the Nam Ha protected area. During this part of the trek the guides will give an explanation on edible, poisonous and medicinal plants such as  wild cardamom, galangal, rattan, bamboo shoots and wild banana stalks. When you reach the top of the hill after about 2.5 hours, you will have a picnic lunch with your guides in the forest alongside the path.

 

After lunch the trek continues for another 2.5 hours, until you reach Ban Phouvan, the Akha-village. Before the trek ends on the first day, you will visit a waterfall where you can enjoy the beautiful nature views.

 

Once you have arrived at the village the local hosts will prepare dinner. At this time  you can bathe and walk around the village, where you can watch the daily life of the locals and enjoy the fantastic scenery of the farmland and the surrounding Nam Ha protected area.

 

After dinner you will receive a special Akha style massage that is traditionally given to guests that spend the night in their village.

 

DAY 2

In the early morning,  you are free to take another walk around the village. The morning time offers an excellent chance to see how the Ahka people prepare for their daily activities in the fields and to see the fog that covers the Nam Ha landscape.

 

At 9:30 am, the trek will start with a walk uphill through the fields of the Phouvan villagers, where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Nam Ha protected area. The path continues through primary and secondary forest. After approx. 3 hours of trekking, you will make a stop to have a traditional Akha lunch in the forest together with your guides.

 

After lunch you will continue walking through lush primary forest. The trek will end around 4:00/5:00 pm in the Charleurnsouk village. The tuk tuk will pick you up and take you back to the Into the Wild office in Luang Namtha. 

 

What to bring?

Hat banana, sunscreen, extra set of clothes and shoes in case you get wet, mosquito repellent, warm clothes for the evening (Nov-Mar) women need a sarong for bathing, towel, rain jacket (if wet season), flashlight, money to buy  handicrafts and extra drinks.