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3 Days 2 Nights 'Cloud Forest Challenge' Trek (No Nests & No Homestay)

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3 Days 2 Nights 'Cloud Forest Challenge' Trek (No Nests & No Homestay)

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3 Days 2 Nights 'Cloud Forest Challenge' Trek (No Nests & No Homestay)

Overview

In brief: Shorter version of the full 5 Days 4 Nights Cloud Forest Challenge Trek. Excludes first and last day of the 5 day Cloud Forest Challenge. No homestay at the Khmu village, no PhouPaMai Mountain pass and viewpoint, no wildlife observation tower, no Nests camp.

This trek offers a unique opportunity to enter one of the most important wildlife habitats of the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park. Feel as field biologist for few days as you track and identify proof of wildlife along the trekking trail. Direct wildlife observations are difficult on the trekking tour, but if lucky you can spot giant flying squirrels, various civet species, macaques, serow, muntjacs, and birdlife including silver pheasants and hornbills, as well as hear the beautiful morning calls of the critically endangered Northern White-Cheeked Gibbons. Thus, you might notice wild cat, wild dog and bear presence, as you identify the footprints, scratches, scat, and view camera trap images set along the trail. The data from the camera traps is further incorporated into the national park’s wildlife-monitoring program.

Tour Inclusion

National Park’s Conservation Fund Fee,
Ecotourism Benefit Fund Fee for wildlife sighting bonus,
District Office of Information, Culture & Tourism Fee
National Park’s Tour Guide (Lao, English, Khmu, Hmong speaking)
Village team services: wildlife spotter, boatmen, porters, cooks, cleaning, handicraft group (depending on tour type)
Transportation from Muang Hiam to the village where the tour start and back to Muang Hiam
Food and water
Sleeping equipment
Leech Socks

Recommended Attire

Long pants/sleeves and trekking shoes

Thing You Should Bring

We ask that you please bring just one small backpack and leave large suitcases or long‐haul backpacks in the village or your car.

Please bring the following:

light rain jacket or poncho (strongly recommended)
fleece jacket (strongly recommended as November to February can be very cold)
both sun hat for daytime and wool cap for night
long pants for walking in the forest
good walking shoes and sandals for bathing
clothes for bathing (shorts and t-shirt). Please no nude/bikini bathing.
Warm clothes for sleeping (as November to February can be very cold)
snacks (food is provided, but you might want to bring something to snack on)
water purification tablets (for multi-day treks the water is boiled)
towel and toiletries
insect repellent
flashlight
binoculars
reusable water bottle (help us reduce waste)

Thing You Should Know

Seasonality: DRY SEASON ONLY (Oct-June)
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 note that we provide boiled stream water on the multiple-day trekking tours. Please take your own water purification tablets.

Optional:

Your own sleeping bag and/or sleeping sheet (we provide a sleeping bag, but you can use your own if you have)
Our porters will carry all camping equipment, however if you would like someone to carry your personal items for you, you may pay extra for an additional porter. Please ask our staff about this.

Term and Condition

Cancellation Policy

100% refund at least 14 days before the tour date
50% refund at least 7 days before the tour
0% refund if least than 5 days before the tour date

Note

If you have questions or encounter problems with the tour, please contact WhatsApp/Tel: +856 20 59 533 720

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Company

Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park

Duration

3 Days 2 Nights

Start Price

175 $

Code

HO-3D2N-NEPL-07

Availability

Seasonality: DRY SEASON ONLY (Oct-June)

Physical Level

Hard to Challenging

Pick Up

Exclude

Start Point

Muang Hiam

Pick Up/Start Time

08:00 AM

Drop Off

Exclude

End Point

Muang Hiam

Drop Off/End Time

15:00 PM

Travellers

Family Without Young Children , Friends , Solo , couple

Destinations

Luang Prabang , Houaphanh

Things To Do

Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park

Day Tour Type Type

Day Tours

Join

Booking Date

Booking Code (join)
Join

Adult

0 $

Lao Resident

0 $

Total Price

0 $

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Day 1

Overview

Day 1. Transfer and walk to a remote Khmu village. Overnight in the village.

(1.5 hour Transfer & 5km trek. Elev. Gain/Loss +380m/-240m; Avg. Slope +13%/-9%)

Morning

The National Park’s English-speaking guide and driver will meet clients at around 8:00am at the guesthouse in Muang Hiem.

First, visit the National Park’s headquarters and Visitor Center in Muang Hiam. The guide will share a presentation of the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park and introduce the on-the-ground efforts in protecting wildlife.

After around 1.5-hour drive along curvy roads through mountainous landscape and villages surrounding the National Park, you will arrive at Ban Nam Soy village.

From Ban Nam Soy, we will start walking along a 5 km trail overlooking agricultural fields to Ban Navene, a remote Khmu village. A village tok tok (a hand tractor used for plowing rice paddies and convertible to a transportation vehicle) might join us and give us a lift (depending on the availability). Once in Ban Navane, meet with the village ecotourism team and guide. Enjoy late lunch in Ban Navene, hosted by the village cooking group at the village visitor center.

Afternoon

After approximately a 2-hour walk, the trail enters the National Park. Trek through the forest for around 2 hours passing by the former ranger substation until arriving at Tad Ang Waterfall, an amazing waterfall that has bowl-like jungle infinity pool. Enjoy swimming while the village cook will prepare a lunch.

After lunch, the trail continues a gradual ascent until finally reaching the first campsite where you will stop for the night, Houay Kaneng camp. The camp is located nearby a waterfall where you can relax and refresh. Walk silently to the waterfall as you might spot some animals if you are lucky.

Evening

Follow the guide to the nearby camera trap to change the memory card. Once back at the camp see the camera trap photos and enjoy a traditional Khmu dinner by campfire prepared by the village cooks.

Night
Overnight in hammocks (one person per hammock).

3 Days 2 Nights 'Cloud Forest Challenge' Trek (No Nests & No Homestay)}

Day 2

Overview

Day 2. Enter the National Park and enjoy waterfalls along the way. Overnight in a jungle camp.

(10 km trek. 7 hours. Elev. Gain/Loss +850m/-275m. Avg. Slope +12%/-8%)

Morning

After an early breakfast and saying your goodbyes to your homestay family, we depart for the first of the two-day ascent to the peak of the Phou Louey Mountain.

The first 5 km of the trail climbs up through a mosaic of shifting agricultural fields. Your guide will explain about local agriculture, which villagers depend on for both their food and income.

Afternoon

Evening

Follow the guide to the nearby camera trap to change the memory card. Once back at the camp see the camera trap photos and enjoy a traditional Khmu dinner by campfire prepared by the village cooks.

Night

Overnight in hammocks (one person per hammock).

Day 3

Overview

Day 3. Last day. Morning Gibbon calls and Waterfalls. Exit the National Park

(6 km trek. 4 hours. Elev. Gain/Loss: +550/-1225m. Avg. Slope: +7.5%/-11%).

Morning

Wake up early and before breakfast walk up to a nearby mountain to check for wildlife photos on camera traps set there, bird watch, and possibly have the opportunity to hear the calls of the rare Northern White-Cheeked Gibbons. After returning back to the campsite, enjoy breakfast.

After the breakfast, start the last day of trekking and visit the Tad Louey and Tad Loy waterfalls. Your final day of trekking is mostly a descent through mixed deciduous and bamboo forest.

At the edge of the forest and fields, enjoy a picnic overlooking fields and the backdrop of Phou Louey Mountain (Optionally, lunch can be hold at the village). If weather conditions allow and the sky is clear you may be able to see Phou Louey Mountain and the trail that you hiked over the past couple days. Hike through the village’s rice, tobacco, and cornfields until you arrive to Ban Sakok, an ethnic Khmu Village, situated on the edge of the national park boundary.

Once in the village your guides and village team will bid you goodbye and you will be transferred back to Muang Hiem by private truck or van. You will be transferred back to Muang Hiem by private truck or van, in an early afternoon.

-end of the itinerary-

Departure suggestion (If travel with local transport)

Overnight in Village home stay or in Muang Hiem after the tour.

The local bus to Sam Neau and Phonsavan junction departs at 8am every morning from the Muang Hiam bus station.

The local bus to Nong Khiaw and Luang Prabang passes through Muang Hiem every day at approximately 12pm -1pm.
In the morning go for walking through the school forest trail and/or enjoy the Muang Hiem Hot Springs before getting the bus at noon at the bus station.