An eco-responsible welcoming land north of Luang Prabang: Kamu Lodge

Kamu Lodge offers a unique living experience in Laos centered around local culture and traditions, as well as responsible eco-tourism. Founded in 2004, this establishment relies on support from the region's health authorities to allow travelers wishing to immerse themselves in local customs to visit the surrounding villages on tours, in the midst of a relaxing, ecological, and deeply enriching atmosphere! Located in the village of Ban Yoi Hai, about thirty kilometers north of Luang Prabang, this complex can serve as a good stopover of one or two nights during an organized trip to allow time for discovery.

Located away from the hustle and bustle of Luang Prabang, and even in another province—Oudomxai—Kamu Lodge sits amid well-preserved nature, maintained not without effort. The Mekong flows down the southern parts of the site, which is surrounded by gleaming rice paddies, traditional villages, and a few hillside forests. In this serene setting, the establishment, founded in 2004, aims to combat local poverty by involving many surrounding villages in its eco-responsible tourism vision, a sector attracting increasingly more travelers. Tours and treks are organized in partnership with local communities, and activities celebrate and respect the zone's authentic character. These Mekong banks are in no way compromised. WiFi, television, or computers are not offered at Kamu Lodge, to enable the most complete immersion possible. But rest assured—you can move at your own pace in this regard; immersion does not mean intrusion here!

Sustainable pavilions

You will have two accommodation options upon arrival at the establishment. Large tents with sturdy roofs, or thatched ones. In either case, insulation against rain, wind, and sun is verified and certified. Always with an ecological mindset, solar panels are fixed on the roofs, powering the fans and lighting in the stilt-raised rooms. Most components used in construction come from local labor.

Your journey to Kamu Lodge can be made via a cruise on the lodge's branded boat. You'll enjoy 3 to 4 hours of discovery on the waters of the Mekong, passing by the Pak Ou caves and other points of interest in the area.

The restaurant serves vegetables grown in the kitchen gardens of the surrounding area, rice harvested from the rice paddies that stretch endlessly around the complex, pork and beef from local farms, and fish caught just meters away in the depths of the Mekong. Various beverages are imported, but also distilled in the nearby villages.

Immersive activities

You can indeed get involved in the diversity that the restaurant menu offers. Rice grain planting precedes milling, which will be explained to you step by step. You'll follow locals along the Mekong's banks to learn or refine your cast-net fishing skills. A great way to bring back directly what you'll eat that same evening!

You can also set out for 2 hours of trekking through the local forests to reach waterfalls and picnic on-site! Meet residents of surrounding villages such as Ban Yoi Hai and learn more about their lifestyles and daily work. You might, for example, weave bamboo objects. You'll also head down to gold-bearing rivers to appreciate locals' panning work as they search for fragments of this precious metal deep in the riverbed.

Finally, upon your return to the village, a crossbow shooting activity awaits you—draw these devices, once used by hunters and decorated in traditional artisanal fashion, then aim for the target! You can also end your day by relaxing in the massage room, completely open and breezy, offering a sublime view of the surrounding vegetation that dominates the Mekong's banks.