From abroad, Chiang Rai is the fastest and easiest way to reach the start of the tour in Houayxai.
Regular buses leave Chiang Rai central bus station for Chiang Khong (opposite Houayxai) every hour or so for a 2-hour drive.
The border crossing is open every day from 8 to 20:00.
Make sure to cross the border the day before you start your tour.
From the border crossing, on the Lao side, you will have to take a tuk-tuk to come to our office located right in the center of Houayxai.
If you want to head to Chiang Rai on the same day your tour finishes, taking a taxi is the only option. You can arrange this by securing a ticket through a travel agent on our street. They can arrange transportation departing at 15:30 from the office (transit to the border and a shared van to Chiang Rai) for about LAK350,000. You should reach Chiang Rai before 19:00.
You can otherwise spend the night in Houayxai and take the regular bus or morning shared van the next day. Buses depart Chiang Khong bus station (opposite Houayxai) for Chiang Rai every hour (last at 15:00) for a 2-hour drive.
The border crossing is open every day from 8 to 20:00.
Useful contacts:
- Wandee Thai taxi driver +66 62 046 9823 (WhatsApp) Private car both ways border-CR THB1,600 (3 people max)
- Oudomphone guesthouse + 856 20 28296945 (WhatsApp) Minivan seats CR-border THB600/person (fixed time, 5:30 and 13:00 pick up)
- Nok Little Hostel and travel +856 20 56 844 069 (WhatsApp) Minivan seats both ways (fixed time) or private car both ways THB3,000
There’s no direct flight to Houaysai anymore, but you can fly to Tongpheung (Bokeo airport)
Flights to Tongpheung can’t be booked online and need to be arranged through travel agencies in Laos or directly at the airline desk (Lao Airline, Lao Skyway, Lanexang). Ticket prices vary depending on the company.
Flights take about 50 minutes, and the drive to Houayxai is approximately 1 hour. You’ll need to book a taxi ahead of time.
The closest train station is in Nateuy, Luang Namtha province
The fast train leaves Vientiane at 13:30 and reaches Nateuy at 17:03, while the regular train operates from 8:42 to 13:28. From Nateuy station, you can take a minibus to Houayxai (4 hours). Tickets for the minibus are only purchasable on-site.
Check “How do I join from Luang Namtha” for more information.
Alternatively, daily buses leave at 17:00 from Vientiane Northern bus station; it takes about 22 hours.
You can book a train ticket from Houayxai near our office. The minibus to Nateuy train station takes 4 hours.
The regular train leaves at 15:03 and arrives in Vientiane at 20:04, the fast train leaves at 18:03 and arrives at 21:08.
From Luang Prabang (LP), you may either join Houaysai by plane, train, bus or boat.
Daily Flight by Lanexang Airways:
- Departure: 16:50 from Luang Prabang
- Arrival: 17:25 in Tongpheung (Bokeo)
Tongpheung airport is 1 hour drive from our office, we recommend booking a taxi ahead of time.
Regular Train:
- Departure: 11:32 from Luang Prabang
- Arrival: 13:28 in Nateuy
Fast Train:
- Departure: 15:36 from Luang Prabang
- Arrival: 17:03 in Nateuy
From Nateuy, you can take a minivan available outside the station to Houaysai (4 hours). Tickets for the minivan (LAK210,000) can only be purchased on site at the counter.
The night bus leaves LP bus station early evening. Travel time to Houaysai is about 12 hours. Beware: we do not recommend this form of transport, especially during the rainy season, as the bus often breaks down en route or arrives too late.
You can cruise up the Mekong River with a slow boat (about 400 000 kips), travel time is two days with an overnight stay in Pak Beng.
Flights to LP depart from Tongpheung at 15:30, arriving at 16:05. Same-day connections after your tour are not possible.
From Houaysai, the slow boat leaves at 9:00. Tickets are purchasable in hostels and hotels around our office.
The sleeping bus to Luang Prabang leaves Houaysai bus station at 17:30 and costs 430,000 LAK.
The closest train station is Nateuy, which is a 4-hour drive from Houaysai.
Regular Train:
- Departure: 15:03 from Nateuy
- Arrival: 17:03 in Luang Prabang
Fast Train:
- Departure: 18:03 from Nateuy
- Arrival: 19:22 in Luang Prabang
From Vang Vieng, we recommend taking the train to Nateuy and then a minivan to Houaysai.
The regular train leaves at 10:32 and reaches Nateuy at 14:23 while the fast train departs at 13:57 and arrives at 16:23.
From Nateuy, minivans are available outside the station to Houaysai (4 hours). Tickets for the minivan (LAK210,000) can only be purchased on site at the counter.
Alternatively, you can reach Luang Prabang by train and take a flight to Tongpheung (see “How to travel from/to Luang Prabang”)
From Houaysai, you can take a minivan to Nateuy train station.
The regular train leaves Nateuy at 15:55 and arrives at 19:15 in Vang Vieng, while the fast train leaves at 18:33 and arrives at 20:42.
[March 2024 update]
From Luang Namtha town:
- Direct bus / minivan to Houaysai. Regular buses from Louang Namtha leave 3 times a day (9, 12 and 15:00) and takes 3 to 4 hours.
- Minivans (around LAK200,000) from Luang Namtha airport will take you to Houayxai in 4 hours. We recommend booking the ticket with your flight ticket or at the airline counter.
From Nateuy (Luang Namtha province):
- Outside Nateuy train station a minivan (LAK210,000) will take you to Houaysai in about 4 hours.
From Houaysai, you can take a minivan to the train station or to the airport. Tickets are purchasable from a travel agent near our office.
If you wish to reach Luang Namtha immediately after your tour, there is at the moment only one option, the Luang Prabang night bus, which leaves at 17:00 and costs around 320,000 LAK.
It is possible to take a private van to Chiang Khong border for about THB4,000 (about 5h30 drive).
Bus ride from Chiang Mai (bus Terminal 3) to Chiang Khong (opposite Houayxai) are only served by the Greenbus company. Booking is possible through: fairfair.co.th or 12go.asia, fees may apply.
Chiang Mai to Chiang Khong Greenbus schedule:
- 8:30 AM – 2:10 PM (THB 476, fastest, less than 6 hours)
- 9:30 AM – 4:25 PM (THB 311, 7 hours)
From Chiang Khong bus station, you may take a tuk-tuk to the border with Laos (15 min).
Important: Please ensure you cross the border at least one day before your tour begins. It is not possible to cross the border on the same day as your tour departure. It’s a good idea to reserve your bus seats a few days in advance to ensure availability and a smooth transit.
Border crossing for pedestrians is open from 8 to 20:00.
Once on the Lao side, our office, in the center of Houayxai, is 15 min away by a tuk-tuk.
To reach Chiang Mai after the tour
Chiang Khong to Chiang Mai Schedule:
- 9:30 – 16:35 (THB 311, 7h)
- 10:30 – 16:10 PM (THB 476, 5h40)
Yes, we take pride in building so high, 30 – 40 metres (100+ ft), that you can observe the forest canopy from your bed. Only Irian Jaya Papoo natives build that high up in the trees. However, our construction techniques are quite different.
The price for each trek is around €110 per day, with seasonal variations. You will know the exact fare for the period on the tour page.
Yes, we offer about 50% discount for children under 12.
Classic: two nights, more relaxed overall schedule, with chances of gibbons and wildlife sightings.
Giant: one night only, steeper initial walk, more zip lines, the biggest tree in Laos, and no gibbon sighting.
No. Environment is jungle and service is local. You will get exceptional canopy setups, friendly escort and natural outdoor conditions. No five-star hotel… but sometimes a thousand stars at night!
You will be sleeping in canopy level tree house only accessible by ziplines and share your tree house with other guests from your group. Each mosquito net provides semi-private room for 2 people. When a tree house is at full capacity, solo travelers may end up sharing a mosquito net.
Yes, tap water comes from a nearby spring and is filtered for drinking.
– Headlight (safety, and wildlife spotting)
– Mosquito repellent (20% DEET recommended)
– Refillable water bottle (1l for the Classic, 2l for the Express)
– Good shoes (quick-dry trekking shoes with good grip)
– Small backpack
– Some warm clothes during winter (for evenings and mornings from November to mid-March)
– EpiPen for people allergic to bees or in case of any severe form of allergy.
(Bed sheets, towels, organic soap, and meals are provided)
– Power bank
– Money 200.000 kip
– Light pants and long sleeves to prevent insect bites
– A camera: remember to charge the batteries ahead of time, as there is no electric plug in the tree house
– Binoculars for bird watchers
– Toilet paper, if you need in the forest
– Games (cards or small board games)
– Earplugs for the light sleepers (because of unusual jungle noises)
– Swimming suit (Giant loop)
We have a dedicated safe storage room for your extra luggage in our office. Our office is under video surveillance.
Gibbons are wild and free in the National Park; we are visitors in their environment. It is not guaranteed that you will see gibbons. Gibbons are relatively easy to spot in the morning at any season because they “sing”. Heavy rain, severe cold or mood, will discourage them from calling even though they remain in the same area.
For chances of gibbon sightings, you should choose the Classic option (including Honeymoon) as the pace is calm and you have more time to be on the lookout for wildlife in general.
You will not see any gibbons during the Giant loop as they very rarely come to that area.
Sambar deer, barking deer, leopard/golden/clouded cats, wild pigs, over 100 species of birds, civets, giant squirrels, Asian Black bears, langurs, macaques, loris, snakes, lizards, etc. Our inventory keeps expanding…
However, it is difficult to observe them due to low density and shyness of the species, as a result of human hunting throughout South-East Asia. Still, the Classic Gibbon Experience program is one of the best options to spot wildlife in Laos.
You will be given a pdf eBook of the biodiversity of Nam Kan National Park when you complete your booking.
Depending on the option you choose, in the dry season, you should be able to hike uphill at least one to two hours a day (200 – 300m elevation gain), the Giant loop requiring the most effort.
We welcome guests aged 8 to 65 for the Classic Option and 10 to 60 for the Giant Loop. If you have any allergies or health conditions, please bring your medication and consult with our office for further advice.
During the rainy season, trails can become slippery and require better physical fitness. Hikes on the Classic tour can be exceptionally longer, extending up to 4 additional hours during the peak of the rainy season, typically from July to September.
When we started operation, we used to discourage people with strong vertigo to join our treks. However, and surprisingly, most of our guests suffering vertigo who actually joined confessed their vertigo had lessened while living in the treetops.
Usually each year, one of our guests has to sleep at ground level and occasionally some people completely overcome their fear of heights.
Yes
Classic (3 days 2 nights): 8 years old.
Express (2 days 1 night): 10 years old.
Your guides are typically locals from the nearby village, many of whom have contributed to building the Gibbon Experience project. While some guides have a good command of English, others may have limited proficiency and should rather be referred as escorts. We are committed to improving their language skills and greatly appreciate your feedback on this aspect.
Gibbon Experience staff all have proper working contract, a work insurance, regular holidays, flexibility to choose to work 10 to 30 days a month depending on farm work, gets a mix of monthly salary, daily allowances, efficiency bonus and annual bonus. This adds up to 250 – 400 USD on a monthly basis and is much higher than average Lao or even Thai rural salaries. A Reasonable tip is always welcome, but please don’t reward someone pretending he’s exploited!
Shortest : 50 m – Average : 235 m – Longest : 570 m
We are operating 3 treehouses in the Classic at the moment and 2 in the Giant loop.
More treehouses are under maintenance and will be opened soon.
There are plenty of guesthouses (hotels and hostels) with prices ranging from 100 000 – 300 000 (Little Hostel, Oudomphone, Sabaidee, Thaveesinh…) to 200 000 kips (Boat landing, Houayxai Riverside) per night.
You rarely need to book, especially during this post-covid time.
Google Map location: here
