Muong Ngoi Travel Guide

Muong Ngoi Travel Guide

Muong Ngoi (Ban Ngoi Kao) is a picturesque village on the bank of Nam Ou River, approximately half way between Luang Prabang and Muong Khoua. This isolated village nowadays is a relaxing getaway spot, where visitors can enjoy the rural life and scenery as well as exploring the natural beauty.

What to do?

Highlights of visits at Muong Ngoi are treks through jungles to villages, natural beauty of rice fields, caves and waterfalls. Home stay can all be enjoyed against a backdrop of jungle and mountain.

When to go?

The best time to visit overall is the cool season, between November and February. Don't forget to bring warm clothes as it does get a wee chilly. The rainy season begins in May and ends in October. It is a beautiful time of the year to visit with every thing so lush and green. However, it does make travel a bit uncomfortable with muddy roads and land leeches.

Travel Tips

Prepare suitable shoes for easy trekking as you will cross many streams, go through mud and take your shoes off and on when visiting the local houses. Also, in rainy seasons, nylon stockings are recommended as a barrier that leeches cannot penetrate.
The accommodation is very basic bamboo huts on stilts with no hot water. There is only electricity from 18:00 to 21:00 by generator.

Getting There

From Luang Prabang:
-Take 3-hour bus drive to Nong Khiaw, then 01-hour boat trip on Nam Ou river to Ban Ngoi Kao.
-Or by boat (6-7 hours) on Nam Ou River upstream to Ban Ngoi Kao (via Nong Khiaw).
From Muang Kua:
-Take 4-5 hour boat trip on Nam Ou River downstream to Ban Ngoi Kao.
From Oudomxai:
- 5 hours on bus to Nong Khiaw, then continue 1 hour by boat on Nam Ou River to Ban Ngoi Kao