3 Days Trek Akha Trail in Vieng Phoukha

Trip Overview
The first day easy trek pass forest to visit Khmu village, participate in the forging process, stay overnight in Khmu village, the second day trek to inside Nam Ha NPA, you will be able to see many different kinds of NTP’s (Non Timber Forest Products), also the forest of many wild lives further elephant also bear, tiger, gaur, monkey, barking dear, gibbon, wild pigs, jungle fowl etc…, visit cave, Akha home stay and lunches will be prepared in the traditional way in the forest along the path.

Itinerary
Day 1: Nong Kham-Ban Tah Leng. Approx. 5-6 hours
Start from our office by Tuk Tuk you will be driven towards the drop-off point. On the way you will see your first ethnic village, a Khmu Kheon tribe village called Nong Kham. Here you will stop and pick up a trusty guide.

The first day’s trek leads you across the flat rice field of the Nong Kham people and then up to the mountain through young forest. Here you will be able to see a great view of Vieng Phoukha, where you started. Then you will walk down and through the primary forest and see many types of NTPs (Non-Timber Forest Products). Your guides will share their experience about traditional medicines. This leg should take about three hours. You will stop for a traditional lunch along the bank of a stream.

After lunch, you will head for a nearby mountain. The way will take about three hours; along the way you will be shown many animal trails through the forest. At the top of the mountain is the Akha tribal village called Ban Tah Leng, where you will overnight.

While your local hosts prepare dinner, you can stroll around and check out the daily lives of the villagers, or you can opt for a refreshingly cool swim in the Nam Mai River down the hill. Or you might choose to go gather fishes with the local people.  After dinner, you will receive an Akha ethnic massage from the women of the tribe. The giving of massage to visitors of the village is an Akha tradition.
[Meals: Lunch, Dinner].

Day 2: Ban Tah Leng-Ban Tah Long. Approx. 4-5 hours
After waking and enjoying the traditional Akha breakfast around 9 am, we start walking to the Khmu Village pass old forest; you will encounter the Maamaint cave (Khmu ethnic name), several massive old trees, many types of bamboo and good thick forest. If you are stealthy you may see some wild animals such as monkeys, wild goats, wild pigs, etc. Later, you will have a traditional lunch with the guides and then continue to Tah Long village (Khmu Youane tribe) where you will overnight.

Lunch will be prepared in the traditional way in the forest along the path. The guides know how to boil water and make soup within vessels made of bamboo. They will encourage you to take part in the preparation of the meal, showing you how to construct simple spoons and chopsticks from leaves and cups from bamboo. They will also brew a medicinal tea from wild plants collected along the way.
[Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner].

Day 3: Ban Tah Long-Vieng Phoukha. Approx. 4-5 hours
Before breakfast, if the weather is good and you are a bit of a morning person, feel free to take a walk around the village to see the Khmu people preparing to work in the fields. In the morning there is sometimes a sea of fog hanging over the landscape, amongst which the villagers will be feeding their animals.

Around 9 am, you will have a good two-hour hike down the mountain before lunch, and then you will continue the trek until you arrive at the Vieng Phoukha valley. Here the trek concludes and a driver will be waiting to transport you back to town. There should be enough time in the day to travel onwards to the Thai border at Huay Xai if you choose.
[Meals: Breakfast, Lunch]
– End of tour -.

Details & Pricing:

• Tour ID: VPK-TK-05.
• Start-Finish: Vieng Phoukha town or Luang Namtha town.
• Duration: 3 days / 2 nights.
• Departure: 9:00 AM daily from Vieng Phoukha; 8:00 from Luang Namtha town.
• Difficulty: Moderate, short hill climbs and descents walks up and down of hills

Pricing:
The price ranges from US$85/Person for 8 + Pax to US$231/Person for 1 Pax.

The price varies according to the number of participants. The price decreases as more tourists book the same trek!

Please contact us to check the availability of a tour & the number of people who have already signed up for the tour for an accurate pricing.

Price Includes:

• English speaking / Local guide tour guide.
• Transportation as mentioned (only start from Vieng Phoukha town).
• Accommodation in local villages.
• Food and water as mentioned.
• Nam Ha National Protected Area entry fee.
• Community distribution.
• Government Taxes and charges.

Remark: the price above non-include transportation if you start the trek from Luang Namtha. If you start the tour from Luang Namtha you will pay more 80-100 US$ depend on transportations.

Optional:

• Pocket money.
• Snacks, fruit, your own bottle of water.
• Your own medicine if you need it.
• Sandals or flip flops.

Other:

• Please let us know in advance if you are vegetarian or other allergic.
• Please be at our office at 8:30 AM if you start trek in Vieng Phoukha and 7:30 if you start in Luang Namtha town.
• You are welcome to contact us beforehand if you have any questions.

What to bring:

• A good pair of shoes for walking.
• A hat or cap.
• Sunglasses.
• Mosquito repellent/Insect repellent.
• Sunscreen.
• Raincoat (in rainy season, June-Sep).
• Pocket money etc.
• Please wear appropriate suits during the trek.

Important Do’s & Don’ts:

• Do not give individual gifts or money to children.
• Ask before taking photos of people or spiritual items.
• Help keep the trails clean by not littering.
• Please purchase handicrafts but do not purchase antiques.
• Do not remove any archeological remains from the site of the ancient temples.
• Always stay with the guides.
• Do not use drugs.

Contact Us via Phone/WhatsApp +856-20-2299 6166; +856-20-2881 9198 for Booking the tour, Asking the Price, or Contact us for tour information and further inquiries.

You’ll receive a quick response from our staff, the manager of Phou Iu Travel & Eco-tourism. There is also a contact request form down below if you prefer to send us an email.