Pak Ou Caves Cruise and Kuang Si Waterfalls Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang and the Mekong River cruise

Luang Prabang, the former royal capital of Laos, sits on a peninsula where the Nam Khan river meets the Mekong, and its old town of golden temples, French colonial houses and saffron-robed monks has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. Your day begins with pickup from your hotel or guest house in town between 8:15 and 8:45, before the group heads to the river.

On the Mekong you board a traditional wooden river boat for about an hour of cruising. The river here is wide and brown, framed by green hills and limestone peaks, with fishing boats, riverside gardens and small villages along the banks. This boat journey is the classic way to reach the caves and one of the most peaceful experiences in Laos, so keep your camera ready.

The riverside village stop

On the way upstream the boat pulls in at a small riverside village, a chance to stretch your legs and see rural Lao life up close. Families here weave colourful textiles on wooden looms beneath their stilted houses and sell scarves, bags and handicrafts from simple stalls along the main path down to the river.

Your guide explains daily life in the villages of the Mekong valley, from rice farming and fishing to the morning alms-giving to monks that shapes the rhythm of the day. The stop is short and relaxed, usually around 20 to 30 minutes, and it is a good place to buy a handwoven souvenir directly from the people who made it before the boat continues to the caves.

The Pak Ou Caves

The Pak Ou Caves lie in a limestone cliff facing the Mekong at its confluence with the Nam Ou river, about 25 kilometres upstream of Luang Prabang; Pak Ou means 'mouth of the Ou'. For centuries local people and pilgrims have placed Buddha images here, and today thousands of statues of wood, gilded lacquer and bronze crowd every ledge. During Lao New Year in April, people from Luang Prabang still travel upriver to wash the images in a traditional ceremony.

There are two caves: the lower cave, Tham Ting, opens just above the river and is easy to see, while the upper cave, Tham Theung, is reached by a steep stairway and is dark inside, so a torch helps. Is the Pak Ou Caves tour worth it? Combined with the Mekong cruise, absolutely. The entrance ticket is paid in cash at the site and is not included.

Lunch at the elephant camp

After the caves the group stops for a buffet lunch at an elephant camp in the countryside near the river. Laos was once known as the 'land of a million elephants', and the elephant remains a national symbol, so lunch here is a chance to see these animals in a green, rural setting while you rest between the morning cruise and the afternoon at the waterfalls.

The buffet typically includes Lao and international dishes, with sticky rice, fresh vegetables and fruit, and drinking water is provided throughout the day. Please let us know about any dietary needs when you book so we can pass them on. After lunch you continue by air-conditioned vehicle through farmland and small villages towards the Kuang Si Waterfalls, a drive of around an hour.

The Kuang Si Waterfalls

The Kuang Si Waterfalls, about 30 kilometres south-west of Luang Prabang, tumble through the forest in a series of cascades, the main fall dropping some 50 metres over a limestone wall. The water is rich in calcium carbonate, which forms natural terraces and gives the pools their famous milky turquoise colour. Near the entrance a bear rescue centre cares for Asiatic black bears and sun bears saved from poaching.

You have time to follow the shaded paths up to the main fall, cross the wooden footbridges and swim in the designated pools, which are warmest in the afternoon. The best time to visit Kuang Si is the dry season from November to April, when the water is clearest; in the rainy months the falls are more powerful but browner. The Kuang Si entrance ticket is paid in cash at the gate, then you return to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon.