Laos forum

hi,
i will be visiting northern laos in nov/dec time frame this 2011.i am interested in trekking and village stay .i looked at most of tours offered by tiger trails and green discovery but found them very costly atleast to me.Please find the plan below and reply if interested and we will take it from there.

Plan:
1)arrive luang phrabang -chill for the day
2)city tour -also start hunt for trek partners
3)city tour -hunt for trek partners
3)city tour-hunt for trek parnters
4)Leave for phongsali anyway by direct bus 12 -14 hr journey.
5)rest in phongsali
6-9)arrange village stay on own .Tourism Office in Boun Tai -get a guide/Tourism Office in Phongsaly town:
10)cruise in nam ou slow boat-to nang kiaw
11)reach non kiaw
12)reach Muang Ngoi Neua
13)trek
14)trek
15)luang phrabang
16)luang phrabang/buffer
17)luang phrabang-hanoi/wherever

Cost:
visa fee - =$40
hotel at lp (guesthouse-riverside.com/whateve -25$ * 6d =$150
food -$20 * 6d = $120
phonsali trek

self arranged trek (Tourism Office in Boun Tai -get a guide/Tourism Office in Phongsaly town) -5d*20=$100

phongsali lodge- -$15*2d=$30
phongsali food- -$10*2d =$20
slow boat/fastboat/sangthaew to non kiaw- $50
non kiaw
non kiaw stay delilah,sunrise -$10*1d $10
non kiaw food -$10*1d $10
Muang Ngoi Neua stay -$10*1d $10
muang ngoi food -$10*1d $10
muang ngoi trek -$15*2d $30

==============================================
$580~$600
===========================================

Let me know if i have calculated the cost wrong.should i include vietiane/tha khaek.i guess luang nam tha would be pretty similar to phongsali so i skipped it.

highlights which i feel:
1)easy paced trip
2)bit easy on pocket too without comprimising on food/drink.
3)village stay in phongsali with akha tribe
4)cruise in nam ou
5)trek to hmong tribe in Muang Ngoi Neua
6)no VANG VIENG:)

to be missed:
southern loas,kong lor caves,plain of jar,vientiane