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Laos is known for its vast and diverse cave systems, many of which have gained recognition for their natural beauty or their historical and cultural significance. Let’s embark on an adventure as we uncover the top 5 caves in Laos which will give you a thrilling and unforgettable exploration.
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Cave explorations in Laos provide memorable moments (Source: SerialHikers)
Xe Bang Fai River Cave is located in Ban Nyabaet-Nong Ping Village, in the Boualapha District of Khammouane Province, central Laos. This cave is considered to be one of the largest sustained river passages in the world with enormous caverns featuring highly impressive structures.
The Xe Bang Fai River Cave is a remarkable underground jewel (Source: Mapio.net)
The cave is not only an impressive geological feature but also a unique ecosystem that supports a variety of animals depending on the cave environment. It is home to several species that are endemic to the Hin Nam No National Protected Area and its surroundings, such as cave spiders, cave scorpions, and blind fishes.
The cave’s walls are adorned with many magnificent features (Source: 24H)
How to get there?
Using a boat to the Xe Bang Fai River Cave is the most scenic and also the most common way to get there. The boat trip usually starts from Ban Pakphanam and travels along the Xe Bang Fai River, which is the natural border for the Hin Nam No National Protected Area.
The best time to visit
Visiting the cave from December to February for the most comfortable weather and easy access. It is not recommended to enter the cave during the rainy season (between June and October) due to dangerously high flows.
Read more: World Heritage Sites in Laos
Pak Ou Caves, located about 25 km North of Luang Prabang, are set in a dramatic limestone cliff at the point where the Mekong joins the Nam Ou River. The cave is one of the many attractions on the outskirts of Luang Prabang, with thousands of Buddha statues of various sizes.
Inside the caves, there are more than 4000 Buddha statues located on cliffs facing the flow of the Mekong River. Each Buddha statue is carved in a different shape as if in a very peaceful, gentle, and meditative state of mind.
The statues are believed to have been left in the caves by locals for hundreds of years (Source: Du Lich De Men)
The Pak Ou Caves is divided into 2 main sections: a Lower Cave called Tham Ting and an Upper Cave called Tham Theung. Both of these cave sections serve as shrines to the River Spirit and Lord Buddha.
Tham Ting (Lower Cave) has thousands of Buddha statues. The cave filters in some light and is the most popular place for locals to burn incense and offer prayers.
Tham Ting section (Source: Laos Travel)
Tham Theung (Upper Cave) is home to the majority of the Buddha statues, you will need a flashlight or a torch to enter the pitch-black place and find your way in the darkness to the thousands of hidden icons.
The teak wood-carved door of Tham Theung (Source: Adobe Stock)
How to get there?
The Pak Ou Caves require a boat to access. You can charter a tuk-tuk or ride a motorbike to Ban Pak Ou (it’s about an hour’s drive) then pay the small fee for a motorized canoe or a small boat to the cave entrance across the river.
The best time to visit
The caves are open daily from 8 am to 5 pm. You should come by in the late afternoon and see the sunset on the river on your way back.
The Vieng Xai Caves, located in Houaphanh Province in Laos, is an extensive network of about 500 limestone caves amidst scenic Karst mountains. The place served as a base for the Pathet Lao and was also the refuge of revolutionary soldiers during US air strikes during the Indochina War.
Vieng Xai Caves - secrets war caves of Northern Laos (Source: Go World Travel Magazine)
With a capacity of up to about 23,000 people, the caves were established for everything, from hospitals to offices, theaters, and schools. Kitchens were outside caves and used at night. The inhabitants only ventured outside at night to farm and find food or water.
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The Vieng Xai Caves are being evaluated as a gold mine of Laos tourism (Source: Viet-Lao)
A number of important relics remain and the caves all have been well maintained. With plans to open more of them to visitors gradually, it's currently possible to visit the caves and small rooms where the likes of Prince Souvannaphoum and Kaysone lived during these years.
How to get there?
The cave is located in Vieng Xai District so you could easily get there by taking a scooter ride or a tuk-tuk to Vieng Xai. There are flat paved roads leading to the Cave Information Visitors Centre.
The best time to visit
The best time to visit the Vieng Xai Caves is during the dry season, which typically runs from November to April. The Vieng Xai Caves ticket office is open from 9 am to 1 pm.
Situated 15 km to the North of Vang Vieng center, Tham Nam (also known as Water Cave) with its river system running inside which is accessible by road is one of the most beautiful natural highlights of the town.
Tham Nam Water Cave (Source: Tripadvisor)
To explore this amazing water cave, you need to rent a tube, and a headlamp, and use ropes attached to the top to go through the system and contemplate interesting stalactites.
There is also a tour guide inside the cave who will give you brief information before starting, provide safety instructions while moving in the place to avoid hurts at some shallow points as well as a warning about the deep areas.
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What makes the cave unique and attractive to visitors is the cave exploration method (Source: Klook)
How to get there?
Tham Nam is a convenient distance from the center of Vang Vieng, making it an easily accessible destination for both tourists and locals. Therefore, you can either rent a bicycle, scooter, or a tuk-tuk to travel to the cave.
The best time to visit
The best time to venture into the cave is at the end of the dry season (around April) when the water level is neither too high nor too low, making it very convenient for you to explore.
Tham Kong Lo, also known as Kong Lor Cave, is a large limestone cave lying deep in Phu Hin Bun National Park in Khammouane Province, around 130 km from Thakhek and 310 kilometers from Vientiane.
The cave is surrounded by a dense tropical forest (Source: Trip Savvy)
Being the biggest cave in Southeast Asia and among the list of the largest caves in the world with a beautiful area of limestone covering the surrounding area, Tham Kong Lo Cave is renowned as a geological wonder of Southeast Asia.
This place possesses a captivating scene with the perfect beauty of limestone mountains, lush green forests, and cool pristine water.
Tham Kong Lo has been considered one of the geological wonders of Southeast Asia (Source: Lu Hanh Viet Nam)
How to get there?
The usual route to the cave is to get a direct bus from Vientiane to Ban Kong Lor. From there, you need to hire a motorized boat from the village. The boat will stop at an in-cave shore where you can disembark and explore on foot.
The best time to visit
The best time to visit Tham Kong Lo is between November and March when water levels are most favorable for boat navigation.
Prepare thoroughly for a safe and enjoyable exploration (Source: The Fall Tours)
In Laos, cave exploration is the chance for you to discover one of the hidden natural treasures of Southeast Asia. In addition, it also gives you a look into this country's magnanimous history and its spiritual and cultural heritage. So don’t hesitate and join us to embark on this undiscovered adventure at these splendid sites.
Read more: The best attractions for 7-day tour in Northern Laos
