Luang Namtha is located in the north-eastern part of Laos and shares its border
with China and Myanmar. This mountainous province is home to 39 minorities, consists
of Khamu, Akha, H’mong, Yao (Mien) and the lowland Lao, Tai Lue, Thai Nee and Thai
Dam, etc…This remote area is potential for adventure travel, sustainable cultural
and ecotourism in and around a protected area.
What to do? This province has a picturesque beauty with mountains, and many old temples. Although
many temples had been destroyed during the war, there are still some attractions
and the old temple noticeably different from other classical temples.
Usually tour
itinerary includes trekking and hiking trips to the hill tribes (via Muang Sing),
an outing to Boten through Laotian hill country and rice fields, the Lao Chinese
border checkpoint. South west of Luang Namtha, the still pristine forests of Nam
Ha protected area with varieties of wildlife and vegetation can be found.
You can
also take a tuk-tuk or bicycle and just go independently to some of the villages
which are next to the roads and not in the jungle. They provide you with a not-to-scale
map over villages and a nice waterfall. The surroundings are really pretty to cycle
about in.
When to go? Luang Namtha's weather is determined by the surrounding Himalayan foothills. In
other words it is mountainous weather. For most of the year, excepting the hot season
from March - May, the mornings are overcast and sometimes foggy. This usually burns
off as the day wears on.
However, this means that one almost never sees a sunrise
in Luang Namtha. The sunsets more than make up for that loss. The best time to visit
overall is the cool season, between November and February. Don't forget to bring
warm clothes as it does get a wee chilly.
The rainy season begins in May and ends
in October. It is a beautiful time of the year to visit with every thing so lush
and green. However, it does make
travel a bit uncomfortable with muddy roads and
land leeches.
Travel Tips: Dress decently when traveling in Laos. If you are trekking in the cold season, be
sure to dress in layers. Towards mid-day you will want shed your layers and then
reapply them once the sun goes down.
To prepare for trekking, wear suitable teva-type
sandals or amphibious shoes as you will cross many streams, go through mud and take
your shoes off and on when visiting the local houses. Also, in rainy seasons, nylon
stockings are recommended as a barrier that leeches cannot penetrate.
