Anyone know details of trail from Phongsali to Samphan?

[Krixos]

It definitely exists. Goes from Phongsali via the attached waypoint on the Nam Ou River, so North Easterly direction from Phongsali initially. I assume it does a big loop as it’s about 170kms between Phongsali and Samphan. I am trying to map manually using satellite imagery but can’t seem to complete route, I guess there must be some new roads not shown that complete the route. Off to Laos again with friends in Jan ‘26 and looking to add this leg in. Might do in opposite direction, Muang Khua, Samphan, Phongsali. Cheers Phil

 

[criss]

Hi Phil, just saw your post and was wondering if you had any further information on your planned route, a mate and I are planning a similar trip in January.
cheers Chris

 

[Krixos]

Hi Chris,

Sure, happy to share. I've attached a summary I made for the group of the whole trip, there are a few changes on this already so not completely formalized yet as I am still working the finer details. Note we have quite a bit of time set aside for our trip. The details on the current deviations from the attached plan are below and the Phongsali/Samphan component, the subject of my thread request is part of the possible changes once I get a handle on the details

1. Day trip loop Nong Khiaw to Muang Ngoy back to Nong Khiaw
2. Muang Khua to Samphan to Phongsali - this could be long trip without fuel available at Samphan (I am told) so extra fuel may be needed. This is on the way up North to Phongsali then down to the Western of the loop from Phongsali.

Once I have the trip more thoroughly planned I am happy to share the GPX files for each leg, I break it up into daily GPX files or near abouts. I use Guru maps app on the Iphone as per our last Lao trip with CalTopo as backup as I can add imagery for offline use which is handy sometimes.

Cheers Phil

 

[criss]

Hi Phil, thanks for the update…let me know when you have the route finalized... -not much recent information online that I can find.
We are looking at 7-10 days ex Luang Prabang.
Cheers
Chris

 

[Krixos]

Hi Chris,

With that timeframe you might want to do the route we did in March/April this year. It's known as the Northern Loop and we took 6 days travelling every day- so having a few days to loiter makes it more relaxed. If you're interested I can give you GPX files broken up for each day with the exception where there are two days that have two files as it was the only way I could get my mapping program to auto-route the path I wanted. There were only two instances where the turn-offs had changed and I can give you the details for those. This loop also takes you to Long Tieng, the famous "Most secret Place in the World". Its a good intro to Laos.
The route was via, and with overnight stops at:


Start: Luang Prabang
Nong Khiaw
Mung Hiam
Phonosavan
Long Tieng
Vang Vieng
Lurang Prabang

 

[criss]

Hi Chris,

With that timeframe you might want to do the route we did in March/April this year. It's known as the Northern Loop and we took 6 days travelling every day- so having a few days to loiter makes it more relaxed. If you're interested I can give you GPX files broken up for each day with the exception where there are two days that have two files as it was the only way I could get my mapping program to auto-route the path I wanted. There were only two instances where the turn-offs had changed and I can give you the details for those. This loop also takes you to Long Tieng, the famous "Most secret Place in the World". Its a good intro to Laos.
The route was via, and with overnight stops at:


Start: Luang Prabang
Nong Khiaw
Mung Hiam
Phonosavan
Long Tieng
Vang Vieng
Lurang Prabang

View attachment 94861

 

[criss]

Hi Phil,
Thanks for the info.This is our 4th time to Laos and we have already done that loop twice, (including Sam Nuea), that’s why we were looking further north.
Unfortunately, it’s difficult to get much information for that area, especially with all the Chinese construction/dam building going on… it’s changed alot, and the reports I’ve seen are not recent.…you have any luck?
cheers
Chris