Trekking central (Louang Namtha)

Member Name: Pablo_Sevilla

Product:	Louang Namtha
Date:	31/05/09 (13 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Treks, treks and trekking!

Disadvantages: Luang Nam Tha town itself is dull, but not unpleasant

Luang Nam Tha itself is just a provincial capital that lacks any sights and is fairly charcterless. There is a airfield out of town but it's not in use.

However, this is the place to arrange treks in the surrounding area to hill tribes.

Also it's the place to get a tuk tuk or minubus to Muang Sing (2 hours) further north. Muang sing is on the border with Burma and China and you can go on treks that go right upto the Burmese border.

The treks around Luang Nam Tha province have a very good reputation for being eco-friendly and sustainable. They respect the hill tribes the trekking groups visit by asking for permission on a regular basis.

The treks usually involve a few days through forest/jungle and through hills and green mountains. Most aren't especailly taxing and only involve a few hours waking a day. You will stay with the villagers in there homes which is an awesome experience. Kids will follow you everywhere and you will inevitably be expected to "party" in the evenings and sing songs with the community whilst they feed you lao lao, a very strong rice whisky.
This is not only tremendous amounts of fun, but also you get to see how these people live as subsistence farmers and learn about there animist beliefs (spirit/ancestor worship). It's a truly fascinating cultural exchange and is a million miles away from the treks in neighbouring Chiang Mai where these indigenous cultures have been all but destroyed by irresponsible trekking companies.

For the time being it looks as though Lao has learnt from it's neighbours mistakes and so Luang Nam Tha definitely should be on your itinerary if you are planning to spend any substantial time in Lao.

Summary: Definitely the place to come to trek in Lao