This full day tour is perfectly designed for the ones who enjoy kayaking with exciting whitewater sections. Joining this tour, you will experience kayaking on the Nam Ou River which is said to offer the most exciting kayaking. In addition, you will visit a famous “whisky making” village, Ban Xiang Hai village.
This tour will serve different activities based on 2 different seasons: high water season and low water season.
Hereunder is the detail programme for each season.
High water season, August to January
At the departure time, you will be greeted and picked up at your hotel’s lobby by an English speaking guide and a driver. You will be transferred to the north of Luang Prabang along the Mekong River to the Nam Ou River.
Your first destination is the Lao village of Ban HouayLeuang inhabited by Khmu people.
After spending time exploring this village, you will prepare for your kayaking adventure. You will be delivered a short safety review about necessary kayaking skills. Then, you start your kayaking journey through impressive mountain covered with jungle. Along the way, you also paddle through traditional riverside villages inhabited by Hmong, Khmu and Lao Loum ethnic people.
Because the water condition may vary seasonally with different water lever, generally, you can expect about 2-3 hours kayaking with some several sections of rapids which are suitable for experienced swimmers and kayaking riders. The total distance of this journey is about 15 km (9 mi).
You will stop on the riverbanks to enjoy lunch within the beautiful landscape of jungle.
The ending point of the kayaking adventure is Ban Pha Teung. Then, you will take a drive back to Luang Prabang. On the way back, you will pay a visit to the “Whisky Village”, a Mekong Riverside village famous for making rice whisky. The tour ends when you arrive at Luang Prabang.
Low water season, February to July:
In the dry season, the general itinerary is the same, but the kayaking journey will be extended to the Nam Ou Bridge for 21 km (13 mi) with medium kayaking. It normally takes about 4-5 hours. It may get a bit more exciting and technical as there are more exposed rocks.
