Discovering Laos
Discovering Laos
5
Eco ToursHiking & Camping ToursNature & Wildlife ToursKayaking & Canoeing
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
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About
An eco-conscious and ethical tour operator in Luang Namtha, specialising in multi-day tours into heart of the stunning Nam Ha NPA. Tours can be tailor-made with your choice of trekking, kayaking, rafting, cycling, home-stays and jungle bushcraft. Discovering Laos work hard to build strong relationships with minority villages to ensure them a sustainable income, conserve their rich heritage and protect the beautiful environment that they have lived in for centuries. Every tour provides customers with highly experienced, English-speaking guides and employs assistants from local villages. Discovering Laos has been around since 2010 serving as a leader in sustainable tourism.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
312 reviews
Excellent
273
Very good
30
Average
4
Poor
3
Terrible
2
Eduardo M
4 contributions
Feb 2020 • Solo
First of all let me say that there are few companies in Luang Namtha that offer these treckings and I believe all offer the same service. Also all are eco treckings and respect the eco system.
I decided to book with Discovering Laos because of its great reviews and also cos Vanxai, the owner or manager, was very nice with me and provided with great customer service experience. Also He was very truthful about the number of treckers that had booked with him.
As per the trecking itself it was a beautiful experience. We did a 3 days trecking to be able to experience not just sleeping at the tribe village but also in the jungle.
The guide Varth, a young super funny and knowledgeable guide and his supporting guide were exceptional and they went out of their way to make our experience better.
They cooked for us amazing delicious food with All types of bamboo made devices. They went fishing and catching frogs so we could have an amazing meal. I enjoyed it so so much.
At the village we slept with a family,and had the opportunity to get to know more about these tribes and their lifes over a fire in the evening/late night and some happy water (local wiskey). An amazing experience once again.
One note that I would like to highlight to showcase how eco trecking this was is that our guide had a plastic bag for 3 days and as we were going through the jungle he was also collecting rubish and plastic bottles left by probably other trekers in order to keep the eco system clean which is to be admired.
The trecking is at times very dense so you don't get to see great views of the sorroundings but we knew that.
I highly recommend to book with Discovering Laos and his guide Varth , if possible. Also if possible I believe is advisable to book a small group ( we were just 2) even though that means paying a little extra as I thought this way I could really connect more and better with the guides and their lifes in Laos.
I decided to book with Discovering Laos because of its great reviews and also cos Vanxai, the owner or manager, was very nice with me and provided with great customer service experience. Also He was very truthful about the number of treckers that had booked with him.
As per the trecking itself it was a beautiful experience. We did a 3 days trecking to be able to experience not just sleeping at the tribe village but also in the jungle.
The guide Varth, a young super funny and knowledgeable guide and his supporting guide were exceptional and they went out of their way to make our experience better.
They cooked for us amazing delicious food with All types of bamboo made devices. They went fishing and catching frogs so we could have an amazing meal. I enjoyed it so so much.
At the village we slept with a family,and had the opportunity to get to know more about these tribes and their lifes over a fire in the evening/late night and some happy water (local wiskey). An amazing experience once again.
One note that I would like to highlight to showcase how eco trecking this was is that our guide had a plastic bag for 3 days and as we were going through the jungle he was also collecting rubish and plastic bottles left by probably other trekers in order to keep the eco system clean which is to be admired.
The trecking is at times very dense so you don't get to see great views of the sorroundings but we knew that.
I highly recommend to book with Discovering Laos and his guide Varth , if possible. Also if possible I believe is advisable to book a small group ( we were just 2) even though that means paying a little extra as I thought this way I could really connect more and better with the guides and their lifes in Laos.
Written 23 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Eduardom
Thank you very much for your reviews !
We're so grad to hearing, that you had a great experience with 3days trek. And explained what you got an experience from us .
Wishes you have a good time and good luck !
Thank so much again,
Vanxai
Written 29 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Julie R
3 contributions
Jun 2020 • Friends
We spent a very nice day kayaking on the Nam Tha river. Our guide was really nice, spoke well english so we could talk all allong the trip, and he explained us a lot of things about the forest around. This one is beautiful, even if a part has burn last month, we were charmed by this green area and the various villages we crossed. Moreover we had fun kayaking even if the water is not too deep, because there are still moments of speeds and navigation between rest times and contemplation.
Even if the office is closed you can contact the agency by WhatsApp and they answer very fast, they are open to negociate the price after Corona time. That is how we had a reduced price for this amazing day. I recommend.
Even if the office is closed you can contact the agency by WhatsApp and they answer very fast, they are open to negociate the price after Corona time. That is how we had a reduced price for this amazing day. I recommend.
Written 10 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Petr M
1 contribution
Jan 2020 • Couples
We went with Discovering Laos for 2 day trek to the jungle and everything was super. Evening before the start the manager (who is probably also the owner) in Discovering Laos office helped us to choose the right tour which fits our requirements the best.
For the trek we had two great and friendly guides (for every day one guide) who told us a lot about jungle nature and tribal culture. The guides also made for us delicious food from ingredients which they collected in the jungle or which they bought with us on local market. The homestay in village was very nice as well as were our hosts there.
We enjoyed the 2 day trek very much and definitely can recommend Discovering Laos.
For the trek we had two great and friendly guides (for every day one guide) who told us a lot about jungle nature and tribal culture. The guides also made for us delicious food from ingredients which they collected in the jungle or which they bought with us on local market. The homestay in village was very nice as well as were our hosts there.
We enjoyed the 2 day trek very much and definitely can recommend Discovering Laos.
Written 12 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Petrm
Thank you very much for your reviews !
We so grad to hearing, you were a great two days trek and thanks again for sharing an experiences what you got with Discovering Laos .
Wishes you have a good trip and good time !
Best Wishes,
Vanxai
Written 13 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jo V
14 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
We booked a private two day trek with home stay for 4 of us from Luang Namtha. Everything ran very smoothly, from the hotel pickup to the driver ready and waiting for us at the end of our trek. Our guide Tua (not sure of the spelling!) was excellent, always making sure we were ok with the pace of the walk and had enough rest stops etc. He and his assistant produced the most amazing lunch for us on the first day - hot broth with mushrooms and dill, bamboo shoots, river weed and sticky rice. The home stay experience was very similar to those we’ve had in Vietnam - very basic accommodation on mattresses with mosquito nets and sharing rooms. No shower, but a clean toilet and the river to swim in. Village life at close quarters. The jungle is beautiful, the trekking is reasonably challenging in the heat but as long as you’ve got good footwear it’s manageable. Well worth it!
Discovering Laos also arranged a private minivan transfer from Luang Namtha to Nong Khiouw, our driver was excellent.
Discovering Laos also arranged a private minivan transfer from Luang Namtha to Nong Khiouw, our driver was excellent.
Written 29 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Joannehval,
Thank you very much for your reviews !
We grad to hearing , you were an excellent for 2days trek with home stay and for sharing an experience what you got from us .
Wishes you have a safe travel and good luck !
Thanks again,
Vanxai
Written 1 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Robin S
11 contributions
Jul 2022 • Friends
I had a beautiful trip with discovering Laos!
The cooperator of the company spoke very good English. We talked about all the possibilities to go trekking in the national park. I decided to book the two days trek in combination of hiking and kayaking with one night stay in a village in the rainforest. It was amazing.
On the first day they picked me by Car at my homestay up and also the other people. After that we drove to the market and bought food and hiking equipment. Then we drove to the starting point for the hike and start our trip. Our Group had is own Tourguide. He spoke good English and was very funny :) Also during the hike he showed us a lot of useful plants from the jungle. To lunchtime they provide us a delicious meal. When it’s good weather they cook for you with fresh ingredients in the jungle. After we arrived in the village they showed us around, we spend time with the natives, relaxed and swam in the river. For dinner we eaten together. The night we slept in a bamboo hut from the natives.
On the next morning we start the day with breakfast and after that we kayaked. The feeling to be surrounded by the nature on the river is fantastic! We stoped on the shore next to the river to prepare our lunch. It was so beautiful!!!!
All in all you hike and kayaking between 4- 6 h :)
Thank you so much for this unforgettable time !!! I was so happy to booked with you my trip.
May we see us again.
The cooperator of the company spoke very good English. We talked about all the possibilities to go trekking in the national park. I decided to book the two days trek in combination of hiking and kayaking with one night stay in a village in the rainforest. It was amazing.
On the first day they picked me by Car at my homestay up and also the other people. After that we drove to the market and bought food and hiking equipment. Then we drove to the starting point for the hike and start our trip. Our Group had is own Tourguide. He spoke good English and was very funny :) Also during the hike he showed us a lot of useful plants from the jungle. To lunchtime they provide us a delicious meal. When it’s good weather they cook for you with fresh ingredients in the jungle. After we arrived in the village they showed us around, we spend time with the natives, relaxed and swam in the river. For dinner we eaten together. The night we slept in a bamboo hut from the natives.
On the next morning we start the day with breakfast and after that we kayaked. The feeling to be surrounded by the nature on the river is fantastic! We stoped on the shore next to the river to prepare our lunch. It was so beautiful!!!!
All in all you hike and kayaking between 4- 6 h :)
Thank you so much for this unforgettable time !!! I was so happy to booked with you my trip.
May we see us again.
Written 22 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Majid
Noordwijk, The Netherlands185 contributions
Dec 2022 • Solo
I have to admit, my experience was positively influenced by the great group of people who joined the 3 day trekking tour with DL. However apart from that DL did an excellent job at organizing and facilitating this tour. 1st example: they were the only ones who replied my emails. They put in effort getting more people on the tour and payment only took place once it was clear how many people joined. Diang was a very experienced, funny and enthusiastic guide and he was accompanied by two other guides for which the same can be said. Helping them setting up camp or cooking and drinking Lao Lao was pleasant and interesting. The “forest” made meals in bamboo pots and at the village were delicious, but don’t expect something other than sticky rice as a side dish. The trekking was great and challenging at times. We kayaked on the last day and even though the river was low we had fun and some amazing views looking up. Finally the visit to the village were a nice addition with some traditions being demonstrated by the villagers. Absolutely recommendable.
Written 6 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rochecsg
Boston, MA3 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
My wife and I (early 30s) did a three day trekking and homestay experience through Discovering Laos. It was lovely, and we applaud the manager for successfully rearranging our trip in the face of historic flooding in the area. Specially, what would have been a 1-day trek and 2-day kayak turned into a 3-day trek due to impassable river conditions. These conditions also affected the city in which Discovering Laos is based, and we appreciated that the manager arranged an alternative itinerary while he was managing storm response for family and friends.
We trekked into the Khmu village located on Nam Ha National Protected Area, and the hike was challenging and beautiful - up and over steep mountainsides, through rice fields and forest. Our homestay accommodation was rustic but solid, clean and comfortable with running water available in a very clean communal bathroom for our family. , Our family served delicious meals. We were glad to learn so much from our guide, Xai, who shared his extensive knowledge of edible plants during our trek, as well as Khmu culture and farming practices. We also had an unforgettable lunch in the jungle, cooked by our guides using many wild harvested ingredients.
I’d say that this is a great trip for those looking 1) to learn lots about Lao culture, particularly the Khmu and Lanten ethnic groups, as well as agriculture and food and 2) to have a challenging athletic trek with incredible scenery. Although the villages are located in the Nam Ha NPA, the extensive agriculture means there is not a ton of wildlife habitat, so this is probably not the trip of you are seeking birds and other wildlife.
We trekked into the Khmu village located on Nam Ha National Protected Area, and the hike was challenging and beautiful - up and over steep mountainsides, through rice fields and forest. Our homestay accommodation was rustic but solid, clean and comfortable with running water available in a very clean communal bathroom for our family. , Our family served delicious meals. We were glad to learn so much from our guide, Xai, who shared his extensive knowledge of edible plants during our trek, as well as Khmu culture and farming practices. We also had an unforgettable lunch in the jungle, cooked by our guides using many wild harvested ingredients.
I’d say that this is a great trip for those looking 1) to learn lots about Lao culture, particularly the Khmu and Lanten ethnic groups, as well as agriculture and food and 2) to have a challenging athletic trek with incredible scenery. Although the villages are located in the Nam Ha NPA, the extensive agriculture means there is not a ton of wildlife habitat, so this is probably not the trip of you are seeking birds and other wildlife.
Written 29 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alex H
Port St. Mary, UK2,592 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
We chose to do the 2 day 1 night kayaking / trekking experience with an overnight stay at the village. It was honestly amazing and our guides Xai and Siyong worked so hard and truly made our experience special. It was one of our most memorable trips in Laos, the jungle and nature was amazing. We got given plenty of food, the beds were comfortable and had mosquito nets in the evening, and we were provided with all the necessary gear for safety etc. There are a lot of tour companies in Luang Namtha but this one for us was fantastic - highly recommend!
Written 22 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stijn
12 contributions
Sept 2022 • Couples
We had a very good experience with discovering Laos.
Since they don't have a physical office yet, the manager came to our hotel to discuss all the options. We immediately felt very comfortable and had a lot of options to arrange a trip to our wishes.
We chose a two day trekking followed by one day of kayak. The first night we slept in a homestay and the second night in a campsite where we slept under banana leafs.
Our guide, Toua, was very fluent in English and had a lot of knowledge about the local villages and life in the jungle in general.
We had a great experience and would DEFINITELY recommend this company to anyone who wants a similar experience in the jungle.
Since they don't have a physical office yet, the manager came to our hotel to discuss all the options. We immediately felt very comfortable and had a lot of options to arrange a trip to our wishes.
We chose a two day trekking followed by one day of kayak. The first night we slept in a homestay and the second night in a campsite where we slept under banana leafs.
Our guide, Toua, was very fluent in English and had a lot of knowledge about the local villages and life in the jungle in general.
We had a great experience and would DEFINITELY recommend this company to anyone who wants a similar experience in the jungle.
Written 1 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Antoine C
1 contribution
Feb 2023 • Couples
Vanxai helped us to organize our stay in Luang Namtha considering our desires, our budget, and the possible options in dry season. We visited the morning market, very nice and colorful. Then we spent a very good day kayaking on the Namtha River, which runs along the ZNP. The jungle on the right bank is impressive. In dry season it is an easy course, the water is calm, we paddled 18km. Our guides were very friendly, the meal in front of the fire at the edge of the river was delicious. We were able to visit or see the local villages, and met some fishermen or locals who were spending time at the water's edge. I highly recommend Laos Discovery for kayaking in Luang Namtha.
Written 19 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
do you offer anything off well beaten tourist track ? seems all vendors offer same things and am looking for something most people do not see. i have been through 80 countries so no offense but tours do nothing for me.
went by office 2x today but closed
Written 28 February 2020
Hi, can anyone give me an email address to contact Discovering Laos as their website doesn't seem to be working? Thanks very much
Written 8 June 2019
Hello
I have a WhatsApp number
0085 6202 299 0344.
Enjoy!!
The organiser's name is Vanxai.
Jacqueline Barnfather
Written 9 June 2019
HI! For some reason your website seems not to be working.
what is your email please?
Best!
Ana
Written 5 November 2016
Hi !
Thank you very much for contact me I'm so sorry to reply you late, you can book when are you in Luang Namtha or you can booked by email.
Thanks a lot and and any more ask please contact me by email.
Best Regards
Vanxai
Written 8 December 2015
Do these Eco tours leave and end
right from Luang Namtha?? Or do we need to travel elsewhere?
Written 4 December 2015
Thank you very much for contact me I'm so sorry to reply you late, after the tour you can travel to Luang Prabang, Houyxay ( Thailand ) or to China depend on you.
Any more ask please contact us all the time.
Best regards
Vanxai
Written 8 December 2015
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