Discovering Laos
Discovering Laos
5
Eco Tours • Hiking & Camping Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours • Kayaking & Canoeing
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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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(26 reviews)
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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5.0
296 reviews
Excellent
257
Very good
30
Average
4
Poor
3
Terrible
2
Majid
Noordwijk, The Netherlands51 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 January 6, 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.
Alex H
Port St. Mary, UK1,153 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 March 22, 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.
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 February 19, 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.
Robin S
1 contribution
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 July 22, 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.
Stijn
14 contributions
Sep 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 October 1, 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.
Jaynedear5
United Kingdom106 contributions
Oct 2022 • Solo
I recently did a three day hiking and kayaking combo with Discovering Laos! Our group of five thought the experience was fantastic! Our hike began with a hike through a rubber plantation and then up through lush jungle.
On our first night we camped beside the Nam Ha River in the heart of the jungle, beneath a shelter made of bamboo and banana leaves straight from the jungle and built by our superb guides, one of whom spoke very good English.
Our food was cooked in bamboo pots and washed down with Laos whisky! Plates, spoons and cups were all made from banana leaves and bamboo. One of our guides decorated our cups with artistic decoration and weaved us souvenirs from bamboo. They even decorated our banana leaf table with candles in bamboo candle sticks.
It was all wonderfully sustainable and eco friendly!
Two days spent kayaking on the Nam Ha and Nam Tha Rivers with frequent rapids was thrilling, and the jungle and mountainous scenery spectacular!
The opportunity to visit remote Khmu villages was an absolute privilege. We were made to feel very welcome and spent the night in one of the villages.
The service was excellent and it was great value for money. I can’t recommend this experience with Discovering Laos highly enough!
On our first night we camped beside the Nam Ha River in the heart of the jungle, beneath a shelter made of bamboo and banana leaves straight from the jungle and built by our superb guides, one of whom spoke very good English.
Our food was cooked in bamboo pots and washed down with Laos whisky! Plates, spoons and cups were all made from banana leaves and bamboo. One of our guides decorated our cups with artistic decoration and weaved us souvenirs from bamboo. They even decorated our banana leaf table with candles in bamboo candle sticks.
It was all wonderfully sustainable and eco friendly!
Two days spent kayaking on the Nam Ha and Nam Tha Rivers with frequent rapids was thrilling, and the jungle and mountainous scenery spectacular!
The opportunity to visit remote Khmu villages was an absolute privilege. We were made to feel very welcome and spent the night in one of the villages.
The service was excellent and it was great value for money. I can’t recommend this experience with Discovering Laos highly enough!
Written November 26, 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.
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 February 23, 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 February 29, 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 June 10, 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.
catherine d
6 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
One of the best tour experiences I’ve had! The manager is so hands on and met us the night before the tour began! He was able to explain the route and gave us a list of items we should bring which we found extremely helpful!
The tour leader Ton was absolutely fab! We was able to provide us with his extensive knowledge of basically every question we could think to ask. He was very friendly and very helpful throughout both the trek and the kayak trip.
Staying in the local village was an experience I will no doubt have trouble ever topping. We got an authentic view of daily life in a remote village, and the locals were extremely friendly. The food provided by the local village was delicious, as well as the food provided on both travel days.
Would deffo recommend this to anyone looking to gain a different perspective on Laos.
The tour leader Ton was absolutely fab! We was able to provide us with his extensive knowledge of basically every question we could think to ask. He was very friendly and very helpful throughout both the trek and the kayak trip.
Staying in the local village was an experience I will no doubt have trouble ever topping. We got an authentic view of daily life in a remote village, and the locals were extremely friendly. The food provided by the local village was delicious, as well as the food provided on both travel days.
Would deffo recommend this to anyone looking to gain a different perspective on Laos.
Written October 31, 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.
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 January 12, 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 January 13, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Travelloverdelmundo
Hartford, CT575 contributions
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
jane123452017
Selby, UK3 contributions
Hi, can anyone give me an email address to contact Discovering Laos as their website doesn't seem to be working? Thanks very much
Jacqueline B
Valencia, Spain22 contributions
Hello
I have a WhatsApp number
0085 6202 299 0344.
Enjoy!!
The organiser's name is Vanxai.
Jacqueline Barnfather
Ana C
36 contributions
HI! For some reason your website seems not to be working.
what is your email please?
Best!
Ana
Joni A
5 contributions
Can I book when I am in Namtha ?
Vanxai Inyasone
Luang Namtha, Laos2 contributions
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
Joni A
5 contributions
Do these Eco tours leave and end
right from Luang Namtha?? Or do we need to travel elsewhere?
Vanxai Inyasone
Luang Namtha, Laos2 contributions
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