The Outdoor Disconnection Loop

You are picked up at your hotel (time to be confirmed) and depart by local transport to Thakhek, which you reach after approximately one hour of travel. Upon arrival, you meet your local guide and begin your trek towards Ban Na. Your guide accompanies you to the banks of the Nam Don river, the first stage of this day's walk.

You start today your 2-day and 1-night trek through Phou Hin Boun National Park, in the heart of karst landscapes dotted with caves and rocky peaks. Your itinerary immerses you in the protected areas of Phou Hin Boun, Nakai-Nam Theum and Hin Namno Park. The Phou Hin Boun national reserve is home to several rare or recently discovered species. This biodiversity conservation area is also known for its numerous caves, including the Kong Lor Cave, as well as for its flora distributed throughout the limestone landscapes. Throughout this first day of hiking, your local guide shares his knowledge of the park's natural wealth and explains the links that unite this environment with local populations. Along the way, you can take a refreshing break in one of the water courses and discover several caves. You will notably visit the Tham Pachan Cave, crossed by a small river. It also houses a small monastery and a sandalwood statue that gave it its name.

After a lunch break, you continue your hike through the park's landscapes to the village of Ban Phontong.

Upon arrival, the villagers welcome you with a traditional Baci ceremony, organized to bring you luck and ward off evil spirits. You then share dinner before spending the night with a local family.

After breakfast in the village, you resume your hike through a bamboo forest to the Ban Nakue village, where you take a break for lunch. You then continue to Khoun Kong Leng Lake, recognizable by its particularly clear emerald waters. To preserve this natural site, swimming is prohibited. However, you can take advantage of the water points located nearby to cool off.

If time permits, you continue your route to the Khon Keo Rapids.

In late afternoon, you return to Thakhek by local transport and check in at your hotel. You then spend the end of the day discovering the peaceful atmosphere of Thakhek, marked by its colonial buildings. A stroll along the banks of the Mekong also allows you to explore the numerous stalls and restaurants set up along the river, where you can discover some local specialties.

Dinner on your own and night in Thakhek.

Around 8am, you set out for an itinerary of nearly 450 km, known as "The Loop". The route crosses landscapes dominated by karst peaks in the Stone Forest, which extends to the Phong Nha Kebang natural reserve, in Vietnam. For this day punctuated by caves and waterways, it is advisable to bring a swimsuit, a towel, water-friendly shoes, a flashlight and light clothing that dries easily.

Your first stop takes you to Tham Xang, the "Elephant Cave", which owes its name to a rock formation resembling the animal's silhouette. The cave is also home to a pilgrimage site frequently visited by locals.

Depending on the condition of the path, you can then reach the Buddha caves, discovered by chance in 2004 by a farmer and housing several small Buddha statues. You continue to the Paseuam caves, from which you enjoy a view of Nong Thao lake. Depending on the season, it is possible to observe migratory birds there.

After lunch in a local restaurant, you reach Tha Falang, a resurgence of the Nam Dong once frequented as a cooling-off spot by expatriates during the colonial era. You then head towards the Nam Theun dam information center and its reservoir created in 2007. (Open weekdays only, to be confirmed.)

The itinerary continues to Tad Song Sou waterfall, bordered by forest. You take a break to rest and swim in the clear waters of the cascade. You then resume your journey to Nakai.

This morning, you take the road at 9:30 a.m. aboard a songthaew, a local vehicle used to connect villages and countryside areas.

For approximately three hours, you follow a paved road through a landscape of limestone mountains. This journey immerses you in a rural environment, on a route still little traveled by visitors.

You join the Pakphanung landing, where you have lunch before continuing your itinerary. After the meal, you board a local boat for approximately two hours of navigation on the Xe Bangfai river. As you travel along the water, you discover the landscapes of eroded limestone rocks that border the river. Around 5 pm, you arrive at the Ban Tham Namlort village. After settling in at the lodge, you set out for a walk through the village.

After an early wake-up and breakfast, you depart at 8am for a short kayaking session. You paddle approximately 500 meters before joining a tractor that takes you to the starting point of your hike, after approximately one hour of travel. You then set off on foot for a hike through the forest to a waterfall in Hin Nam No park. You take advantage of this natural setting to take a break and share a picnic before resuming your walk. You then rejoin your vehicle and continue your itinerary towards Nakai.

Note: approximately 15 minutes of kayaking, 1 hour by tractor, 4 hours of hiking and 3 hours of transfer.

Around 8am, you leave for approximately three hours of navigation on the lake. As you go with the flow, you move between the submerged trees that dot the landscape. You then resume your journey by vehicle and cross several Hmong villages. Before arriving at Lak Sao, you have the opportunity to observe large Buddhas sculpted into the rock. You stop at Lak Sao, an important center for economic and cultural exchanges with Vietnam, located about thirty kilometers to the east.

Free lunch during the journey. Leaving Lak Sao, you catch sight of the imposing cliffs of the "Wailing Ghost", then continue on to Ban Thabak. You then cross the bridge over the Nam Theun River, from where you can observe boats sailing below.

Optional, to be discussed with your guide: a boat excursion lasting from one hour to a full day.

Near Ban Nahin, you can stop to enjoy a panoramic viewpoint over the Nam Theun river.

You then continue your journey to the village of Ban Konglor, where you settle for the night.

Today, you begin the final stage of "The Loop" and gradually head back towards Thakhek. After approximately one hour of driving through Ban Nahin, you set off on a forest hike to the Tad Nam Sanam waterfalls. You are then transferred to Phou Phaman, about 20 minutes' drive away, to reach the Rock Viewpoint. From this vantage point, you contemplate the stone forest, which is home to notably langurs, a species of monkey threatened by hunting.

You continue with a zip-lining course comprising five cables and two suspension bridges with netting over the void. An activity that allows you to move through the heart of the rocky landscapes while enjoying some thrilling sensations.

You head back on the road towards Thakhek, with lunch planned along the way. At the entrance of the city, you stop at Giant Wall, an impressive geological formation, before reaching Thakhek.