Bicycles, Boats, Jungle and Jars

4 Days, 3 Nights

Our Newest Tour and not offered by any other tour company!

Day 1  Luang Prabang - Nong Khiaw by cycling and boat trip (-/L/-)

Day 2 Nong Khiaw -  Son Koua Village - River trip to Nam Nern Substation - Wildlife spotting (B/L/D)

Day 3 Nam Nern Substation - Morning Walk -  Son Koua village – Phonsavan – Plain of Jars (B/L/-)

Day 4 Phonsavan – Phoukhun – Luang Prabang (B/L/-)

Day To Day Itinerary

Day 1:

A short transfer to the boat pier and you embark a boat for a leisure cruise up the Mekong River. At the confluence of the Nam Ou River and Mekong River, you will visit Pak Ou Cave – a religious site and home to thousands of Buddha images. On the way, you may stop at Ban Xang Khong known for its lao lao whiskey making and Ban Xang Hai known for its Sa paper making.

After lunch, you will cycle along the Nam Ou River. Cycle as much as you can and if you get tired, put your bike on the car. The road is narrow and winds through various local villages. You arrive in Nong Khiaw by late afternoon, check in and refresh. Nong Khiaw is a small town located on the Nam Ou River, the longest inland river of Laos.

Accommodation: Nong Khiaw Riverside Bungalow

Day 2: Nong Khiaw -  Son Koua Village - River trip to Nam Nern Substation - Wildlife spotting (B/L/D)

*** This 2 days 1 night trip takes you deep into the Nam Et Pouy National Protected Area, home of the most Tigers in Laos! Very few tourists have done this journey and it will remain a low number tour for quite some time. 

6:30 am – Depart Nong Kiew for Son Koua Village (located 51 km past Viengthong on the road towards Sam Neua/Phonesavanh)

12:00 pm – Arrive in Son Koua Village. Upon arrival at Ban Son Koua, an ethnic Khmu Village, village guides and boatmen greet guests and take them on a short tour of the village where they will learn about the animist tradition of appeasing the village spirit. After that, guests will have lunch in the village.

13:30 - Guests then embark on a 1.5-hour journey to the park substation on the Nam Nern River by long-tail boat, along the way learning about upland rice cultivation and having opportunities to spot monitor lizards and bird life.

15:30 - After arriving at the park substation, the group will receive a briefing by park staff about the on-the-ground efforts in protecting tigers and their prey.

16:00 - At mid-afternoon, the group departs for the night safari. Stopping near a salt lick, the group hikes into the forest. The local guide, a skilled hunter and tracker, explains how local people track deer and other wild ungulates. The guides point out evidence of wildlife, such a tracks or scat at the salt lick.

18:00 - The boats continue upriver to the dinner site, a sandy, flat bank, where the group takes a picnic around a campfire. After dinner, the guides tell Khmu folktales and stories about dragons, wildlife, and ghosts. The guides explain about the species of animals they may see during the spotlighting and the rules and expectations for spotlighting.

20:00 - Depending on the amount of moonlight, the group departs for the night spotlighting 2-3 hours after dark, floating down river with engines off. There is only one light per boat. Only guides use the light, to avoid scaring the animals. The guides and boat drivers communicate via hand signals to avoid talking that might disturb the animals. The boat is very quiet so as not to disturb the animals. Animals that may be seen include Sambar deer, otters, barking deer, various species of civets, slow loris, porcupine and owls.

23:00 - At the end of the spotlighting, the boats arrive at the evening camp. Before going to bed visitors, will be able to check out a variety of insects attracted to the black light set up near the substation.

Accommodation for visitors is currently under construction, visitors will sleep in the park substation building.

Day 3: Nam Nern Substation - Morning Walk -  Son Koua village – Phonsavan – Plain of Jars (B/L/-)

5:30 - Before breakfast, local guides take tourists on a walk around the jungle, teaching about the use of medicinal plants and explaining the history of the site, which was once a major settlement during the Secret War.

7:00 – Breakfast

7:30 – Return to Son Koua Village by boat.

9:00 - Upon arrival in the village, guests are invited to try earthen jar rice wine (lao hai). Before departing, the group will fill out a wildlife monitoring form that is used to monitor wildlife abundance and indicate the amount of bonuses put into the village development fund from the tour costs.

From Son Koua, you travel to Phonsavan. On the way, you stop at Tham Piew – a bomb shelter during the Indochina War II. After arriving in Phonsavan, you check in and drive to Plain of Jars before sunset. You spend time visiting Site 1 and 2. Before diner, you take time to visit the MAG (Mine Advisory Group) offices to view a short movie about unexploded ordinance clearing in Laos.

Accommodation: Xieng Khuang Hotel

Day 4: Phonsavan – Phoukhun – Luang Prabang (B/L/-)

After breakfast, you continue travel by car to Luang Prabang. The road twists while offering fantastic mountain view. Stops at local villages and view points  are upon request. You arrive in Luang Prabang by mid afternoon

Accommodation: NA

List of Things to Bring for 2 days 1 night in Nam Et Pouy National Protected Area

We ask that you please bring just one small bag/backpack and leave large suitcases or long-haul backpacks in the village or your car. Weather can be both very hot during the daytime and very cold at night. It is recommended that you bring clothes for both extremes.

Please bring the following:

• Light rain jacket

• fleece jacket (strongly recommended as the night safari can be very cold)

• Both sun hat for daytime and wool cap for night

• Long pants for walking in the forest

• Good walking shoes that are easy to take on and off and sandals for bathing

• A couple T-shirts and shorts for sleeping/bathing.

• Insect repellent

• Snacks (food is provided, but you might want to bring something to snack on)

• Binoculars (we have just one pair)

• IPod (It can be nice to listen to during the night safari or boat ride)

• Recyclable water bottle (help us reduce waste)

Our trip includes

• English speaking guide
• Accommodation as indicated
• Meals as indicated
• Transportation by car or minivan and boat
• One way flight Vientiane - Pakse
• Tour as indicated
• Entrance fee

Our trip excludes

• International flights
• Visa & visa arrangement
• Meals not indicated
• Drinking water, soft drink and alcohol
• Tips & personal expenses

Prices contact info@remoteasia.com