Nam Et-Phou Louey

Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area in Northern Laos covering an area of 5,959 km2.

The park consists mainly of mountains and hills, with altitudes ranging between 336 and 2257 metres above sea level. The area is the source of many rivers. It is named after the Nam Et River and Phou Louey Mountain (“Forever Mountain”). The area has a high level of biodiversity, and a number of endangered species including tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, Asian golden cat, marbled cat, civet, gaur, Sambar deer, white-cheeked gibbon, sun bear, black bear, Asian elephant, dhole, hornbill and three species of otter.

Villagers living in the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park include Tai Dam, Tai Daeng, Tai Kao, Tai Puan, Tai Lue, Tai Yuan, Khmu, Hmong Kao, Hmong Lai, and Yao.

Viengthong, a small town in Houaphan Province, is the location of the Nam Et-Phou Louey NPA headquarters and visitor centre, where tours into the park can be organised. The town has basic accommodation and a handful of restaurants serving Lao food. There are many biking and walking trails, as well as hot springs.

Wildlife

There are five key species at the protected area, each representing the overall health of the ecosystem: the tiger, gaur, white-cheeked crested gibbon, Sambar deer, and otters.

Nam Et-Phou Louey displays an outstanding diversity of carnivores, that includes six cat species (tigers, leopard, clouded leopard, Asian golden cat, marbled cat and leopard cat), dhole (Asiatic wild dog); (status: vulnerable), two species of bear (Asian black bear and sun bear, (status: vulnerable), and 11 small carnivores including civets, mustelids, and mongoose. A small elephant population persists along the Nam Et River. In 1998, over 40 species of bats were recorded at NEPL, of which three were new to Laos.

Conservation

There are five departments dedicated to conserving the area’s wildlife and forests: enforcement, conservation outreach, monitoring and research, land-use management, and ecotourism. The Nam Nern Night Safari is part of this ecotourism program: a village-development fund is funded by sightings of wildlife by visitors.

Get in

Nam Et-Phou Louey headquarters & Visitor Centre are located in Muang Hiam (Viengthong)

The roads are narrow and winding but are in surprisingly good condition for such a remote area. The views are always scenic. Good quality public busses leave Luang Prabang, Sam Neua and Phonsavan regularly, with drop-offs regularly along the entire route.

From Luang Prabang Public Bus: Take the bus heading to Sam Neua, which leaves daily between 7-8 am from the Luang Prabang northern bus station. The bus trip to Viengthong is about 10 hours. An addition 1.5 hours to Ban Son Koua (the Night Safari start). Car/Motorcycle: From Luang Prabang go north on Road #13 about 100 km and turn right onto Road #1C at the Pak Mong junction (follow the sign towards Nong Kiau). Travel 200 km on Road #1C northeast to Viengthong about 7-8 hours. An addition 1.5 hours to Ban Son Koua where the Night Safari starts.

From Sam Neua Public Bus: Buses and public mini vans leave from the Sam Neua bus station towards Viengthong daily between 7-8 am. The trip is about 4 hours, with an addition 1 hour to Viengthong (HQ). Car/Motorcycle: Follow Road #6 southwest towards Muang Kham/Phonesavanh. Turn right at the Ko Hing junction and follow Road #1C for another 7km; an addition 1 hour drive to Viengthong.

From Phonesavanh Public Bus: There is a daily bus leaving Phonsavan at 8:30 am from the Bus station of Xiengkhouang province to Muang Hiem (Viengthong). The bus drive to Ban Son Koua is about 5.5 hours and an additional 1.5 hour to Viengthong.

Car/Motorcycle: Follow Road #6 northeast towards Sam Neua passing Muang Kham. Turn left at the Ko Hing junction and follow Road #1C for 7km until Ban Son Koua. The trip is about 4 hours.

Do

The only access for visitors to visit the protected area is by doing a tour organized by the protected area ecotourism unit.

Nam Nern Night Safari boat tour-(24 hour overnight tour) This innovative and adventurous journey by traditional long-tail boat offers some great nature activities that include bird watching, wildlife tracking, night time wildlife spotting, medicinal plant exploration and moderate hiking. We are proud that this tour has won the prestigious ‘World Responsible Tourism Award’ at the World Travel Mart in London, England, both in year 2013 and 2014!

Standard tour is a 2-day/1-night option for a maximum of 10 people. We meet in the morning at a small ethnic Khmu village where, after a guided tour, we set off upstream in the boats. We’ll reach our ecolodge for lunch and then, after an afternoon rest in the forest, we’ll head upstream again to view a salt lick, to have a fireside dinner, and then to drift back downstream under the light of the moon and stars, with the guides searching for animals by spotlight. After over-nighting in the forest lodge, we’ll enjoy a morning walk with a guided explanation of the local medicinal plants and the remains of a village, before heading back downstream to the start, 24 hours after having left.

Village cooks have been trained in hygienic cooking methods by the Houphanh Vocational Training School. All food is cooked and all drinking water is either boiled or bottled. All food uses locally available ingredients in order to support local farmers and create an authentic culinary experience.

Eco Lodge: The Nam Nern Ecolodge consists of traditional Lao style huts in the forest located near the park substation. Mosquito nets, mattresses, sheets and blankets are provided. Both Western and Lao bathrooms are shared, and a simple shower is available, although bathing in the river is also possible in the warm season. The ecolodge was constructed by the villagers using local materials and recycled wood.

Trekking tours The Nests - Option 2 days & 3 days) is a family friendly hike with overnight in cozy spherical baskets hanging from the trees. The trip is perfect to enjoy wildlife viewing from the wildlife observation tower (currently under construction) at the nearby Poung Nyied salt lick, which attracts animals such as the rare Sambar deer from far and wide.

Cloud Forest Climb - (Option 4 days or 5 days including ‘The Nests’) is a hiking trail up to the summit of Phou Louey (Forever Mountain) to one of the few cloud forests in the region, and is an option for the more adventurous ones. The hike goes through the evergreen forest and offers a rare opportunity to track wild species such as white-cheeked gibbon, leopards, bears and wild dog using camera traps, which will be set up along the trail and maintained by tourists.

Cost

Visitors are required to pay an all-inclusive price that includes the park entrance fee, the village development fund and wildlife sighting bonus fee, boats, food and water, guides, and accommodation. Prices do not include transportation costs to the village where the tour starts. (You may take the local bus or hire your own transport. We recommend traveling independently by motor cycle or car, or joining a tour of the Northern Heritage Route.) Although, prices include basic wages for village staff, it is encouraged to tip if you are happy with the service. Tips are split equally among village staff. This is a not-for-profit venture. Prices must be paid with cash only in Lao Kip

Departure

Our guides depart daily from Viengthong at 8am. You can meet them there and travel with them by public bus to the start. If you will be traveling from either Sam Neua or Phonesavanh (Plain of Jars), they will meet you at Son Koua village, where the tour starts.

For more information contact the protected area headquarters:

Email info@namet.org
Phone +856 20 2860 0038

Source http://wikitravel.org/en/Nam_Et-Phou_Louey_National_Protected_Area

http://www.namet.org/wp/namnern/