Day 01: Ban Houayleuang - Ban Vanglae
Kayaking starts in the Khmu village of Ban Houayleuang, 1 1/2 hour drive north of Luang Prabang. After an introduction to paddling and the basics fo kayaking, you will encouter up to 5 easy rapids in the first hour. Along the way, the village of Ban Sibounhom is visited. This Khmu village on the eastern riverbank is one of the few remaining without electricity and direct road access (route 13). A picnic lunch is prepared on a white sandbank set in beautiful scenery. After a relaxing break and a swim, the afternoon is spent paddling in a calmer section of the Nam Ou. There's plenty of time to watch the villagers fish and harvest river weed in and along the Nam Ou.

Day 02: Ban Vanglae - Luang Prabang
After an over - night stay at the village of Ban Vanglae, the scenery of the Nam Ou gets more and more dramatic, with limestone cliffs bordering the river. At the confluence of the Nam Ou and the Mekong lie the highly venerated Pak Ou Caves: two temple caves by the river, filled with hundreds of Buddha statues. 1 hour paddling further down the Mekong takes you to the village of Ban Xanghai. From Ban Xanghai, either a songtheo will pick up the group or, if fit and ambitious, you can paddle all the way back to Luang Prabang.