Nong Khiaw: The Adventure-Lovers Paradise
We were absolutely stunned by Nong Khiaw; it quickly became our favorite place in Laos. This is truly every adventure-lovers paradise, and the best thing about it is that it’s not very touristy at all, which gave it a very authentic feel. Nong Khiaw has everything from intense hiking and caving to relaxing with a traditional Lao massage and herbal sauna. The people here are extremely friendly; even if they don’t speak English, they will still try their best to help you! Without further ado, let’s get into the most amazing things to do in Nong Khiaw!
Tip: There are only two ATMs in Nong Khiaw, so make sure to take out money in advance, just in case these run out of money.
PS: Avoid ATM fees with the Charles Schwab Debit Card!
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10 Amazing Things to Do in Nong Khiaw
1. Hike Pha Deang Peak
This is the most popular hike and viewpoint in Nong Khiaw, although we had the whole top viewpoint to ourselves! The hike takes around 1.5 hours round trip and costs 40,000 Kip (about $2) per person. The hike isn’t too difficult, and the trail itself is very nice. There are a couple stops along the way with great views, and one has some swings!
The views from the top are stunning – you can even camp overnight at the top and watch the sunrise with nongkhiawadventure.com. It was super interesting to see warnings about the presence of unexploded bombs (as this area was heavily bombed by the US during the Vietnam War), but this trail is frequented so this area is safe. The entrance is called “Nong Khiaw Viewpoint Trail Entrance and Ticket Point” on Google Maps.
2. Phatok Caves
Make sure to visit these three super interesting caves and bomb hole! The cost is only 20,000 Kip (about $1). The big cave used to be a military base where they’d strategize and hide from the enemy. The second cave is the “Bank” cave which goes back 150 meters which you can walk through if you have a headlight or flashlight. The “Trade” cave is also cool and its opening is the best part. If you keep walking you’ll cross a bamboo bridge, then see the Ban Mada Museum.
3. Rent Kayaks on Nam Ou River
This is a perfect way to start your day and admire the beautiful scenery in Nong Khiaw. It shouldn’t cost more than $5 for 2 hours to rent kayaks.
4. Intense Caving in Pha Kuang Cave
Unless you’re used to exploring caves on your hands and knees, this will be a new experience for you! This cave goes back 200 meters and involves going through an extremely small hole and a few other areas where you’ll be crawling. If you don’t want to do this you can just admire the opening! You can rent headlight and buy tickets across the street for 20,000 kip (about $1).
5. Explore Tad Mook Waterfall
This is a fairly popular waterfall in the region, and you’ll take a scenic boat ride and 1 hour walk to get here. We skipped this because we were going to Kuang Si Falls in Luang Prabang.
6. Hike the Sleeping Lady Viewpoints
There are two viewpoints on this hike, one that takes 15 minutes to get to and the top one that takes about 50 minutes to get to. Both yield beautiful views, but if you go in the morning, the fog may obstruct your view until about 10 am (though it’s really cool to be on top of the clouds for sunrise!). The cost is 20,000 (about $1) for this.
7. Take a Dip in the Nam Ou River
What better way to cool down after all the hiking, kayaking and other outdoor activities than take a refreshing dip in the river?
8. Cycle/Motorbike Around Local Towns
Riding around these mountains is an activity in itself. Stopping in the surrounding towns and getting some authentic Lao food as well as observing some traditional artisanal crafts makes it that much better!
9. Take a Boat Tour!
Many tour operators in Nong Khiaw offer either dinner or party cruises. Take in the views while riding in a motorized hut, enjoying some music, food, and drinks!
10. Take a Wellness Day
Relax with a traditional Lao massage and Herbal Steam Bath! These are popular in Laos and my theory for why the Laotians are so easy going!
Coming Soon: The Ban Mada Museum
This was still being built in October of 2023 and will be a great resource for educating visitors on the bombings that Laos has been victim to.
Did You Know: Laos is the most heavily bombed country in the world. During the Vietnam War, the United States dropped a planeload of bombs every 8 minutes, 24 hours a day, for 9 years. About 80 million bombies from cluster bombs did not explode, which cause casualties to this day.
Best Time to Visit Nong Khiaw
The best time to visit Nong Khiaw is during the dry and cool (for Laos) season, which runs from November to February. This guarantees the perfect weather for outdoor activities like kayaking, hiking, and exploring caves.
The dry season does extend until May, but we advise against visiting from March to May. The weather during this time can be pretty hot and uncomfortable, and this is also during “smoky/burning season,” when farmer’s burn their fields. This will cause the air to be filled with smoke, which is obviously not great for exploring!
Where to Eat in Nong Khiaw
- Mama Laos has delicious curry, fried spring rolls, and traditional Lao food
- Mama Tia has a good spin on western food, especially the amazing shakshuka
- Hive Bar has amazing vibes, great curry and the owner let us play our own music
Where to Stay in Nong Khiaw
There aren’t too many places to stay in Nong Khiaw because it’s such a small village. We stayed at and highly recommend Nam Ou View Villa, which has these amazing views:
We recommend staying in Nong Khiaw for at least 3 nights, if not more. There’s so much to do, and you’ll want to build in some time to relax as well! This also makes the longer travel time worth it.
How to Get to Nong Khiaw
The easiest way to get to Nong Khiaw is with a four hour bus from Luang Prabang. On our way back, we chose to do a combination of boat and bus that we booked through a tourist company in Nong Khiaw, but be sure to book this with a reputable company because we ended up getting stranded at the wrong boat dropoff spot for 2 hours!
Keep Exploring Laos…
- The Ultimate Guide To The Thakhek Loop: All You Need To Know Before You Go
- Kong Lor Cave Guide: Everything You Need To Know Before Going
- Ultimate Guide to the Rock Viewpoint: The Thakhek Loop’s Most Adventurous Stop
- Vientiane: The Best Things to Do in Laos’ Capital
- The Best Things to Do in Luang Prabang
- Ultimate Guide to the Kuang Si Waterfalls: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
- The Best Things to Do in Vang Vieng
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Our Favorite Travel Resources
Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.
Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.
Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.
Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.
International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.
eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.
Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!
