Night Safari & Swamp Cypress Trek at Gaeng Louang (2/3-Day)

Nakai Night Safari & Swamp Cypress Hike at Gaeng Louang (2-3-Days)

2-3 Days Optional Hike Boat Travel 1-10 passengers

Nakai Night Safari & Swamp Cypress Hike at Gaeng Louang (2/3-Day)

Boat upriver to Houay Makgna Substation through pristine riverine habitat. Float downriver at night spotlighting for wildlife including Sambar deer, muntjac, civets, and otters. Camp at beautiful rapids of Gaeng Louang. On the second day, hike to Nakai Nam Theun National Park's ancient Swamp Cypress forest and down Tad Nyim Waterfall. Option: Camp a second night on the sandy beaches of the Nam Xot River This tour is arranged by the Phosy Thalang Guesthouse.

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult

This trip is mostly boat travel but has an optional 4+ hour hike to the Swamp Cypress and Nyim Waterfall.

Local Guide & Boats Required

The guesthouse will arrange for local guides & boats from Nahao Village, which are required.

Wildlife Viewing Opportunities

Sambar deer, muntjac, civets, otters, gibbon calls (in the early morning), birds, macaques, reptiles.

Booking with Local Guesthouses

Book with Phosy Thalang or other local guesthouses in Nakai District.

Trip Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary. Contact the Phosy Thalang Guesthouse for more information.

D1 7:00 AM - Breakfast at your guesthouse

Pre-book your breakfast to get an earlier start.

D1 7:30 AM - Depart Thalang by boat

Take a traditional long-tail boat to Ban Nahao up across the Nam Theun 2 Reservoir and up the Nam Xot River.

D1 10:00 AM - Arrive at Nahao Village

Walk around this ethnic village. Learn about basket making with natural materials,.

D1 11:30 AM - Lunch in Nahao Village
Enjoy a local lunch made by the Nahao homestay group. Option: Lunch at Nam Xot beach camp.
D1 12:30 PM - Boat to Gaeng Louang
Boat upriver with local boat to the Gaeng Louang, where you will droop off your equipment and set up camp.
D1 2:00 PM - Boat to Houay Maknga Substation
Boat further north to Houay Maknga Substation. Look for otters and other wildlife along the way.
D1 6:00 PM - Dinner at the Substation
Have a group dinner at the Houay Maknga Substation with park rangers.
D1 8:00 PM - Night Safari
Float downriver spotlighting for wildlife, with possibilities of seeing Sambar deer, muntjac, civets and other species. Warning: Be sure to wear a life jacket for safety and keep your valuables in a plastic bag.
D1 10:00 PM - Camp at Gaeng Louang
End the night safari back down at the Gaeng Louang campsite.
D2 5:30 AM - Listen for gibbon calls
Listen for the beautiful calls of the endangered white-cheeked gibbon from the surrounding jungles.
D2 7:00 AM - Breakfast
Itinerary Content
D2 8:00 AM - Hike to Swamp Cyress & Tad Nyim
Hike to the Swamp Cypress forest (5.1km). For the adventurous and fit, climb down Tad Nyim Waterfall. Local guides will point out medicinal plants along the way. 4+ hours Option: If you are not interested in walking, take the boat back.
D2 12:00 PM - Picnic lunch on the beach & swim
After returning from your hike, enjoy a picnic lunch on the beach. Take one last swim before packing up the camp.
D2 2:00 - 4:30PM - Return to Thalang
Go back to Ban Nahao to drop off your local guide before heading back to Thalang. Look for birds and macaques in the late afternoon on the way back.
D3 Option: Camp 1 more night at the Nam Xot Campsite
If you are not in a hurry, enjoy one more night of camping at the Nam Xot Campsite at the mouth of Nyim River.
“We got really good looks at a Sambar deer and a common palm civet. We also saw otters in the afternoon and morning. Gaeng Louang campsite was beautiful, too. ”
Pou
Wildlife enthusiast

More Things to Do

Check out other things to do in Nakai Nam Theun National Park

Half

Day
Roundtrip boat trip

Fishing & Picnic at Lan Hai

Half day trip for fishing and picnic at Lan Hai along the Nam Theun 2 Reservoir. Start and end at Thalang.

Full

Day
Roundtrip Boat Trip

Tad Nyim Waterfall Hike & Beach Picnic (Nam Xot)

Hike to Tad Nyim Waterfall and enjoy a picnic on the beache of the Nam Xot River. Learn about ethnic basket making.

2-3

Days
2 nights: camp & homestay

Red-shanked Douc Trekking & Camp (Nam Chae)

Trek to the Nam Chae-Navang area, where you have the best chance to see the Red-shanked Doucs.

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