The Nam Ha Ecotourism Project (NHEP) is
a Community Based Tourism (CBT) development
project facilitated by the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Laos’
northwestern province of Luang Namtha. Currently,
the ecotourism project encompasses trekking and
paddling routes easily accessible from the city of Luang
Namtha, offering one, two, and three-day hiking
itineraries and three or four day kayak and rafting
trips. All tours are organized and led by the Nam Ha
Eco-guides Association and the Provincial Tourism
Authority. Each of the itineraries offers adventurous
tourists the opportunity to visit remote villages within
the Nam Ha National Biodiversity Conservation Area
(NBCA), providing up-close and personal cultural
experiences with the Akha, Lantan, Khmu and Hmong
hill tribe cultures.