Luang Namtha is the best place in Laos for trekking among the hill tribes – a rare place where you can still trek for long periods in old-growth jungle, rather than endless rubber plantations or clear-cut wasteland.

Consult this section of the website for what to pack for trekking.

Luang Namtha town is located 2-3 hours’ bus ride from Huay Xai on the Thai border, and 6-8 hours’ bus ride from Nong Khiaw (also well worth visiting). Luang Namtha Airport also has direct flights from Vientiane.

Getting to Luang Namtha from Luang Prabang:

Express shuttles now travel between Huay Xay and the train station at Nateuy in only 4 hours, stopping en route at Luang Namtha airport. For info see here. Coming from Luang Prabang, the fastest option is to take the high-speed train to Na Toey (sometimes spelled “Nateuy”) and then it’s a short bus ride. From Vientiane, you can either do train + bus as from Luang Prabang, or you can fly non-stop from Vientiane to Luang Namtha. There is also a daily direct bus between Luang Namtha and Nong Khiaw, departing in both directions around 8 AM, cost 220,000 kip as of December 2024.

There’s almost nothing to see in Luang Namtha town. A silk workshop that once operated in a nearby village has not re-opened since Covid. You can see an ancient stupa that was destroyed in American bombing, and the new stupa that was built next to it. The night market is tiny and uninteresting. You’re here to arrange your multi-day trek in Nam Ha National Protected Area.

Several good guesthouses, restaurants and travel agencies are located very close to each other in the city centre near the Night Market. We organised a great tour with Ethnic Travel Laos. And Hiker tour agency is also popular. I recommend talking to all the agencies to see what they have available.

If you are a solo traveller, find yourself a group to trek with – this makes it much cheaper per person, and more fun. Often the tour agencies will have signs up saying “we have a few people booked for a hike tomorrow, we’re looking for more.” Definitely speak to that tour operator and see if that is something you want to join.

I think a 3-day, 2-night trek is about right. With only 2 days and one night, you spend half your time driving to and from the trailheads. With more than two nights, the absence of comfort in the jungle starts to get a little old.

The most popular option is a 3-day trek spending one night in a tribal village and one night camping. The camping is REALLY rough – you sleep on the ground with only banana leaves for a roof, so don’t do it if there is any chance of rain (days here are hot, but nights get COLD). And while camping, the only food you’ll eat is whatever frogs, fish etc. your guide can catch. I think two nights in villages is a better option. The villages are ethnically diverse and at different levels of development, so the two nights in two villages will usually be two very different experiences.