Dear Travel Partners,

 After my last inspection trip of the north of Laos, I would like to share with you, what is for me one of most idyllic journeys; Nong Khiaw and the Nam Ou River.  

 This trip can be arranged after a day transfer from Luang Prabang (Tour LART025) or arriving from Luang Namtha but also as combination with North Vietnam and Dien Bien Phu (Tour VNLART002).  Starting by local boat from the village of Muang Khoua, we cruised slowly down along the Nam Ou River. We took a lunch break on a sandbank and enjoyed a local Lao dish - fresh BBQ fish from the river.

Back on the boat, we then stopped at some local villages which are only accessible by boat, that offer a unique look into traditional daily village life.  At the village of Ban Sopcham, we experienced the process of silk making from the initial stages to the final product; from the worms to the scarf.  Our day ended with impressive limestone cliffs, before entering in the relaxing village of Nong Khiaw where we spent the night at Mandala Ou Resort, our recommendation.

The next day, we enjoyed the surrounding beauty of Nong Khiaw, starting with a hike to reach the most scenic view point overlooking the whole valley, the Nam Ou River and the town.  The view invites you to rest and hang out, enjoying the fresh mountain top air.  We stayed for a while to relax and watch the clouds and scenery changing...

During the afternoon some went to visit Patok Cave, where people and local authorities were hiding during the Indochina War.  We stayed in this area for a while to refresh ourselves in the nearby swimming pool overlooking the Nam Ou River.

 For our last day, we took a drive to Ban Na Yang village which is famous for their traditional cotton weaving.  Almost every household has its own weaving loom where the families create beautiful scarves, table cloths and ornate wall hangings. The art of cotton weaving in Ban Na Nyang has been passed from generation to generation for almost 300 years.  The local population of Ban Na Nyang belongs to the Tai Lue (Lü) Ethnic Group who migrated to this area from the Yunnan Province during the 18th century.

Back on the road we then reached our final destination, the UNESCO World Heritage Town of Luang Prabang.  On this day I can recommend a boat tour from Pak Ou Village to visit the famous Tam Ting Cave (cave of thousand Buddha image) then reach Luang Prabang via a cruise along the Mekong River.

Looking forward to personally welcome you in Laos - still a treasure of beauty in Southeast-Asia

Pierre

Pierre Boismard, is Laos Country Manager of Focus Asia and based in Luang Prabang.