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Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park
THE HEART OF NORTHEAST LAOS
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Immerge yourself in pristine nature!
TEXT BY JANINA BIKOVA PHOTOGRAPHS BY NEPL/WCS LAOS/NEPL FRIENDS & VISITORS
1. Stunning views of Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park 2. An owl spotted during the night safari 3. Rangers patrol the national park T he Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park (NEPL) covers three provinces, Houaphan, Xieng Khouang, and Luang Prabang, and is the largest and one of the most biodiverse protected areas in Lao PDR. The National Park is situated between the UNESCO heritage town of Luang Prabang, Houaphan – the birthplace of the Lao PDR, and Xieng Khouang – famous for the UNESCO Plain of Jars sites near Phonsavanh.
The winding mountain roads of the Northeast Heritage Route showcase stunning views and link remarkable cultural, historical, and natural areas including mysterious ancient sites, diverse ethnic villages, hot springs, waterfalls, caves, and healthy forests.
The national park, as a green heart, preserves the natural life of northeastern Laos and offers critically important environmental services (oxygen, water, and forest products) to all people in Laos. NEPL NP is also the source of many rivers including the famous Nam Khan River that crosses Meuang Hiam town and shapes the UNESCO peninsula in Luang Prabang before entering the Mekong River.
MORE INFO Learn more about Nam EtPhou Louey National Park on namet.org
Book on the National Park website or with local travel agents such as: Discover Laos Today or EXO Travel!
GETTING THERE Lao Airlines has regular fl ights from Vientiane to Xieng Khouang and Luang Prabang. Nam-Et Phou Louey National Park headquarters is in Muang Hiam, a 200km drive north from Xieng Khouang.
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In 2010, the National Park began operating several wildlife conservation tours to support conservation-linked livelihoods for the surrounding communities and to offer a unique opportunity for visitors to spot numerous wildlife species in their natural habitat.
Many of the National Park’s ecotourism service providers (guides, boatmen, and cooks) are from households that formerly relied on poaching and now work as wildlife spotters and protectors. To encourage conservation efforts, fi nancial incentives are paid to the local people based on encounters with wildlife by visitors (including direct sightings and indirect observation such as animal calls and footprints).
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THE NATIONAL PARK’S WILDLIFE TOURS
The Nam Nern Night Safari
The Nam Nern Night Safari is a 24-hour boatbased wildlife-spotting tour. The trip highlight is nighttime wildlife spotlighting, looking for wild and endangered animals such as Sambar Deer, muntjacs, civets, otters, Asian Golden Cat, Leopard Cat, and pythons, while the long-tail boats drift down the Nam Nern River. A daytime boat trip upstream offers the opportunity for birdwatching, including Blyth’s Kingfi shers, eared pitta, red-collared woodpecker, and many more.
Wildlife Conservation Trekking Tours Trekking tours range from two to fi ve days and offer a unique opportunity to feel like a fi eld biologist while tracking and identifying wildlife along trails. Together with the park guide and village wildlife spotter, analyze footprints, scratches, scat, and view camera trap images set along the trail. You might fi nd evidence of clouded leopard, the endangered wild dog Dhole, or bears!
Stay at the Nests and try your luck to spot wildlife from the observation tower. Wake up with the beautiful morning calls of the critically endangered Northern White-cheeked Gibbons.
Challenge yourself on the longer itineraries with a trek up to the summit of Phou Louey the “Forever” Mountain (Elev. 2257m) – the highest point of the National Park and the third highest summit in Laos!
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WEEKEND ESCAPE ITINERARY IDEAS
D1: 10:00–10:30 AM. Fly Vientiane to Phonsavan. Explore the Plain of Jars.
D2: Early morning transfer to Nam Nern River Safari village. 11:00 AM Start the River Safari.
D3: Finish the River Safari. Travel to Meuang Kham and relax at the hot springs. Overnight in Meuang Kham or in Phonsavanh.
D4: 11:00–11:30. Fly Phonsavanh to Vientiane.
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D1: 10:00–10:30 AM. Fly Vientiane to Phonsavan. Explore the Plain of Jars.
D2: Morning travel to Nam Nern River Safari village. 11:00 AM Start the River Safari.
D3: Finish the River Safari. Start traveling towards Nong Khiew. Stop at Muang Hiam for lunch and visit the National Park visitor center and hot springs. Overnight in Nong Khiew.
D4: Sunrise viewpoint hike. Breakfast and transfer to Luang Prabang. Relax and overnight in Luang Prabang.
D5: 14:05–4:45 Fly Luang Prabang to Vientiane
TRAVEL TIMES
Luang Prabang – Nong Khiew 3h
Nong Khiew – Muang Hiam 4h
Muang Hiam – Night Safari 1h
Night Safari – Sam Neua 3h
Night Safari – Muang Kham (hot springs) 2.30h
Phonsavanh – Night Safari 4h
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VIETNAM
LAOS
Nong Khiaw
Dirt Road
Luang Prabang Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park
MUANG HIAM (Headquarters)
Sam Neua (ViengXai Caves)
TREKKING VILLAGES
Off Road (Dry Season Only)
NIGHT SAFARI
Muang Kham (hot springs)
Phou Khoun Phonsavan (Plain of Jars)
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1. Travel by boat inside the National Park 2. Visitors enjoy birdwatching 3. A muntjac comes to the river to drink 4. Beautiful views along the northeast heritage road 5. Sambar Deer spotted on Nam Nern River Safari 6. Old Buddhist stupa is located next to the River Safari camp
STAY LONGER & EXPLORE THE NORTHEAST HERITAGE ROAD!
- National Park Trekking Tours and the 3–5 day Phou Louey summit Challenge!
- Mysterious cultural sites at UNESCO Plain of Jars and the Hintang Standing Stones
- Sam Neua town & Viengxay Caves
- Phou Pathi Mountain with amazing views over Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park
- Hot springs at Muang Hiam and Muang Kham
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