- Two Day Nam Ngum River Experience -

a nature hidden away just outside of Vientiane: the Lao Pako explorer

This soft adventure and hide away tour comes with a relaxing boat trip on the Nam Ngum river near Vientiane, soft jungle trekking a healthy herbal steam bath, visits to local villages and a temple... and quite a portion of nature for your body and soul!!

Enjoy a relaxing stay in riverside bungalow at Ban Pako eco-lodge and experience the quiet life along the Nam Ngum river! Just a short trip outside of Vientiane it is the perfect extension to your visits in the capital of Laos, Vientiane. You can enjoy the tranquility of the Lao countryside and get the opportunity to discover some of the rich nature, culture and history of Laos at Ban Pako.

1 Day: By 8.30 am we will pick you up with the minibus in Vientiane for this 2 day hide away. In the village Ban Somsamai we stop and take the traditional long-tail boat for a relaxing trip down-streams to the lodge. While descending the Nam Ngum, we appreciate the wildlife and rural life on the banks of this magnificent river. We stop to make a short jungle walk in the high forest conservation area, just opposite the lodge. We explore the forest with our experienced guide who possess an extensive knowledge of the monsoon forest eco-systems and the various wildlife that inhabits the area. Arrive and check in at Ban Pako eco-lodge and have lunch in the restaurant. In the afternoon enjoy the Jungle Bath, a short forest walk from the lodge. Relax in the herbal sauna and go for a refreshing dip in the small spring water pool. You also have the option to try traditional lao massage (Saturday-wednesday. not incl. in price). Enjoy the beautiful sunset over the Nam Ngum while having dinner. Taste the locally prepared alcohol lao lao (not incl. in price) by the bonfire or simply retire to your private bungalow under the starlit sky.

2 Day in Lao Pako Eco Lodge:
After breakfast we descend the river to the village Ban Thaxang where we visit the beautiful temple and learn about the local village life in this area of Laos. Ban Thaxang is famous for the weaving of sihn decorations and we get the chance to look at this beautiful handicraft. We enjoy a genuine Lao lunch in the village and return to the lodge. 16.00 pm - return from lodge by mini-bus to Vientiane.

This trip includes:
- Transfers in car
- boat ride
- herbal steam bath sauna
- one Massage
- Overnight stay in Bungalow
- soft jungle hiking and trekking tour
- 2 lunches, 1 dinner, 1 breakfast
- English speaking guide

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The lodge itself has the river as its central theme and is surrounded by a 128-hectare regenerative woodland. The view across the river from the lodge looks into a 40-hectare Lagerstroemia-dominated mature forest with magnificent trees and lush, thick, green under-storey. Planted Eucalyptus (River Red Gum) trees are used by the lodge for building and to minimize pressure on the native trees in the regenerative forest. Leaves from Eucalyptus are used for the steam bath


There are a number of different landscapes in and around the lodge, each with its own distinctive flora and fauna. The woodland supplies a number of products that help the lodge without damaging the jungle. The herbs for the steam bath are all collected locally. There are 32 different local herbs used in the steam bath, with different varieties being used according to the season. Local medicinal rice whiskies called Lao Khao are also made from trees and herbs that grow within the lodge. It is worth a  shot  and claims to help with everything from impotency to dizziness. The area surrounding Ban Pako supplies an large amount of bamboo which is used for  just about everything from building materials to food.  Certain dishes prepared by our kitchen use local herbs gathered from the forest and riverside and a delicious bamboo soup is available from May to November .


In the grounds surrounding the Ban Pako resort there are a lot of plants and animals which at first may not be so easy to see, as many of them only come out at night, but in the morning you can see footprints The lodge also has a high variety of birds living within its protection. Many of the birds visit in April or October, showing how popular Ban Pako is with migrant species. To the avid birdwatcher these are the best months to visit. Butterflies abound in the lodge all year but the best months to see the greatest variety are from April to July. Predictably, this is also a good time for flowering plants.

Accompanied or unaccompanied tours are available at the lodge. All our guides speak good English and have a solid knowledge of the natural history of the area. Both sides of the river have walking trails that are easy to follow and not too strenuous. Maps are provided along with an information pack for the walks and things of interest are clearly marked along the routes. Accompanied 1-3 day
tours to Phou Khao Khouai or tours to places of interest closer to Ban Pako, can be arranged at the reception desk.