The Golden Heart of Laos – A Must-Visit Landmark in Vientiane Pha That Luang, also known as the Great Stupa, is the most iconic and sacred monument in Laos. Located a few kilometers from the city center, this golden stupa stands proudly as a symbol of Lao identity, Buddhism, and national pride. Visiting here feels like stepping into the spiritual heart of the country. The main stupa is completely covered in gold paint and shines beautifully under the sunlight. It’s surrounded by smaller stupas, temples, and statues that add to the site’s grandeur. The architecture is both impressive and symbolic — every level of the structure represents a different stage of Buddhist enlightenment. The golden color glows even more brightly in the early morning or late afternoon, making it perfect for photos. Inside the compound, there are several shrines and Buddha images, along with a small museum that explains the history of Pha That Luang and its restorations. The grounds are spacious, clean, and peaceful, with plenty of areas to walk around or sit quietly. You can truly feel the spiritual atmosphere here, especially when local monks and worshippers come to pray. The entrance fee is 30,000 Kip for foreigners and 5,000 Kip for locals, which is very reasonable. Whether you’re interested in architecture, religion, or Lao culture, Pha That Luang is an absolute must-see when visiting Vientiane — a golden symbol of faith and unity that truly represents the soul of Laos. 🌕🙏

Wonderful day celebrating the holiday with my family. We went in the afternoon to avoid the crowds, but all the vendors were still available selling local, delicious food and drinks. We had a wonderful time. If you don't know, long pants and full shirts are required to enter the temple itself. If you don't wear that, the proper attire can be rented for a very small fee and deposit just outside the actual temple. See photos attached. Beautiful Buddhist Temple. Must see if you're in Vientiane

The stupa was built by King Setthathirat in 1566, after Vientiane became the capital of Laos. With a height of 44 meters, Pha That Luang has a pinnacle covered in real gold, with a set of painted turrets surrounding its central stupa. Incidentally Pha That Luang means 'great golden stupa'. Impressive glittery structure

A gorgeous gold pagoda or stupa. The surrounding temple area has many artefacts to check out. This a place worth visiting, there is also a statue of a Lao king outside the main complex. A good way to escape the heat of the Laotian weather is to walk under the cool clay tiled corridors - a bit of ancient engineering to battle the afternoon heat.

Beautiful monument, the gold paint shimmers in sun light. Very calm and positive energies. You can sit, meditate and relax.

This is an iconic Lao monument, so worth seeing just for that. With ticket you don't get to enter it or anything like that, you just see an inner courtyard and can get a little bit closer, and a few steps up to some shrines. So for buget travelers a good opportunity to save $1.50 and see almost the same from outside. Also, abandon all hope of wrong cultural dancing, not allowed.

Awesome historical temple, it was a dream to make it there. However, to be the most symbolic temple in Laos I think they could do a better job with the maintenance of the place.

A must visit if you’re coming to Vientiane. A deep insight into the countries history and a good cause to help the victims of this tragedy. No entrance fee but there is opportunity for donations

An absolute must visit if you are in Vientiane. It is free but a donation is appreciated. They also have a gift shop with interesting and educational products. I bought a book all about a boy with an artificial limb. The museum gives you lots of information about the history of the bombings throughout Laos and how it effected the population. Every exhibit was fascinating. The most harrowing was of a video of woman, a mother, describing the events that led to her son's death. He was affected by a pair of cluster bombs that other children were playing with. His life also could have been saved had the hospitals in the area had blood or oxygen. It was heartbreaking. I think the scale of the bombings across Laos is not widely known - and COPE help to shed light on this and how it still affects local people everyday.

In the Vietnam war, the US dropped more bombs on Laos than were dropped by both sides combined in WW2 - even though the US weren't at war with Laos - making them the most bombed country per capita in history. The legacy of this continues to this day with millions of unexploded ordnance still littering the Laotian countryside, posing a risk to children playing and farmers working.  COPE not only works to clear those remaining bombs but also helps with the rehabilitation of those seriously wounded by them. As you can guess, this isn't the most cheery place but is a reminder that the effects of war long outlast the wars themselves. With USAID recently withdrawing the crucial funding that helped charities like COPE mitigate America’s aftermath the centre relies on visitor contributions more than ever. Visit the centre to learn more about America’s “secret war” and help save a life with a donation.

A harrowing experience in an unassuming place, this is an important place which details Laos as the unfortunate victims of a war they weren't a part of. The front looks like a small school compound, but walking in you see small buildings housing the exhibition of the Laos bombings. Small, but significant enough to sicken your stomach. There is a small exhibit, also a small movie room. Immerse yourself in this place. I think 40 minutes is more than good enough. Entrance is free, I suggest spending some time if you're in Vientianne, to know more about the history of the place.

I learned a lot about the bombing situation in Laos and the people who suffered because of it. It was truly eye-opening to see how much pain and struggle they went through, and how it still affects many lives today. I also discovered more about the country’s history and how the people of Laos have managed to rebuild their lives with strength and hope. Its free to check as well

Sombre and sad experience. Excellent educational experience. Highly recommend watching documentaries in the cinema room. Entry free, donations encouraged. Small gift shop also.

A must visit! Very informative and lead to a rabbit hole of studying online. A donation is a must in order to support such a great organization. It's not a huge museum but it's eye opening and worth the time to check out. Makes you realize how much everyone in the world needs to come together in order to do better.

A must-visit place in Vientiane because it is beautiful and elegant with rich history and stories. It also serves as a small galley to tell the story and history behind it once you purchase the ticket and walk inside and all the way to the top. The view on the top is incredible. Don’t miss out on it.

This is one of the most popular tourist attractions that you must visit if you are in Laos. A nice place to take a photos. The architecture is beautiful. Highly recommended!

Beautiful building with some interesting history which you can read about inside when you climb up. The view from the top is great, you can see all of Vientiane. Also if you come at the right time, the music will start playing and the fountains start to dance along to the music - I think it may be around 4pm or 4:30pm.

A great place to visit, take photos, etc. It has a pool where a very pleasant water show starts at 4 p.m. Nearby, there are shops selling water, coffee, and other items. To go up there they charge 30 kip. For a more panoramic view

The Victory Monument in downtown Vientiane, Laos, was built between 1957 and 1968. Known as Patuxai, Victory Gate or Gate of Triumph, is a war monument dedicated to those who fought in the struggle for independence from France. A piece of interesting history : the monument was built using American funds and cement actually intended to build a new airport. Knowing the history made the visit more interesting

Of course, a must see place in Vientiane, so why then are there SO few visitor who are prepared to pay the small fee to enter？It's half the cost of a coffee in Vientiane... 🤔 It's worth the price, not only for the spectacular views, but also because of the history panels on tbe upper floors which shows its evolution and also provides other supplementary cultural and historical information. Interestingly, some of these are mounted on exposed walls so you can actually see the structure; a great touch. Only downsides were noisy locals and their unruly offspring who running around and touching the panels, the fact the place smelt like a Grab taxi, and the utter ignorance of ”Alex and Serein“ who, thinking their ancestors colonial acts were not bad enough chose to deface a national monument... well done you, your parents must be so proud of how they raised you.

well worth a visit on a clear day. I belive night has light shows on the fountains but then can't go up. very hot up there so take sunglasses etc.

Huge Temple. In the middle is a 18th century temple with old Buddha and the wall is painted in 18th century art. Beautiful temple and Aesthetic design. 30k kip entrance fee for Foreigners for the middle temple. The whole temple is free and no entrance fee needed.

Sisaket Museum is one of the most remarkable and serene cultural landmarks in Vientiane. Built in 1818 by King Anouvong, it is known as the oldest surviving temple in the city, and it beautifully represents a blend of Lao and Siamese architectural styles. The moment you enter the temple grounds, you can feel a deep sense of peace and history — the calm atmosphere, traditional wooden structures, and shady trees make it a truly spiritual experience. The highlight of Wat Sisaket is the cloister surrounding the main ordination hall, where more than 6,000 Buddha images are displayed. These statues, made of bronze, wood, silver, and stone, range in size from tiny to life-sized and are arranged neatly in small wall niches. It’s an amazing sight that shows the deep Buddhist devotion of the Lao people. Inside the ordination hall (sim), the murals are breathtaking — centuries-old paintings that depict Buddhist stories and daily life in ancient Laos. Photography isn’t allowed inside, which helps preserve the calm and sacred atmosphere. The museum also exhibits ancient palm-leaf manuscripts, relics, and religious artifacts that reflect Laos’s rich spiritual heritage. Everything is well cared for and clearly presented. The entrance fee is 30,000 Kip for foreigners and 5,000 Kip for locals, which is very reasonable. It’s located just across from Ho Phra Keo, making it easy to visit both together. A must-visit site for anyone who appreciates culture, history, and peace. 🌿🙏

If you have the time, I recommend stopping by. The outside area is nice, but what’s really worth it is the “museum” — it’s the highlight and does require an entrance fee. The multiple Buddha statues surrounding the structure are quite eye-catching. Inside the main temple, taking photos isn’t allowed, but there are signs that explain the history of the place. There are restrooms available, and you can see everything in about 40 minutes.

You’re not allowed to take photos inside the temple, which I think makes sense because it helps maintain the peaceful and sacred atmosphere. The entrance fee is 30,000 kip for foreigners, while locals only need to pay 5,000 kip. It’s quite a difference, but I understand that it helps support the preservation of the temple and the maintenance of the surrounding area. The temple itself is stunning and filled with beautiful artwork that really captures your attention. The architecture is traditional yet detailed, and the murals and carvings tell many stories about Buddhism and Lao culture. The craftsmanship is truly impressive. you can see the amount of patience, skill, and dedication that went into every piece. Even though it’s not the largest or most famous temple, it still carries a deep sense of history and spirituality. If you come from a country that’s already rich in Buddhist culture, you might find it somewhat familiar and less surprising. However, it’s still fascinating to observe how Laos expresses its faith through unique local designs and artistic touches. There’s something special about the calm and respectful environment here — it encourages you to slow down, reflect, and appreciate the details. Overall, I’d say I was somewhat satisfied with my visit. It may not be the most breathtaking temple I’ve ever seen, but it definitely has its own charm and character. If you’re someone who enjoys learning about cultural heritage, traditional art, and the spiritual side of Laos, this temple is definitely worth a stop.

This Buddhist temple in Vientaine was built in 1818 on the order of King Anouvong. It may be the oldest temple still standing in Vientiane. There is a cloister wall with more than 2,000 ceramic and silver Buddha images within the temple. The temple is unusual as it has an eclectic mix of Buddhist building styles and also houses a museum.

Nice place. A lot to see and there is a museum to see. But always remeber to follow the rule, a lot of sign rule here inside the museum. There is a toilet as well, a souvenir (painting) The ticket for the museum is 30.000 kip for foreigner and 5.000 kip for local.

Possibly the oldest temple still standing in Vientiane, Wat Si Saket was once used as a headquarters by the invading Siam. Today, it houses more than 2000 Buddha statues of clay and silver. It also houses a small museum, despite still being an active temple. After visiting the Ho Phrakeo Museum, we came across this small temple and decided to take a look inside. Inside we found several Buddha statues lining the walls outside. Several of them were life-sized, but most were miniatures carefully placed in small alcoves behind the larger statues. Seeing so many Buddha statues in one place makes this temple worth a visit. Each one is unique in terms of detail and state of preservation, so you could spend a long time if you wanted to take it all in. This temple acts, in part, as a temple. What descriptions of artefacts there are focus on the preserved supports and roof decorations there are, many of them hanging from the modern day roof of the temple. Of course, the Sim still acts as a place of worship, and you need to remove your shoes to go inside. No pictures are allowed in this part of the temple so, as with Ho Phrakeo, you'll need to journey to Vientiane to see it for yourself.

Sadly the night I went to visit the rains had caused serious flooding so a lot of the activities were either cancelled or should have been. Quite small, but I would think it is a big hit when a nice evening arrives and with family. Sadly when I was there a lot of standing water was everywhere within the park.

For an amusement park, it is quite small scale. Relatively good entertainment options, though some of the rides probably need a bit of maintenance. Most importantly, the kids should have fun when they come here! Some food options are available, though they are mostly limited to street food where you select and they grill for you. Very decent selection to choose from, though there were quite some flies flying around.

Small festival on the riverfront, good happy hardcore music. Nice place for kids, and adults can enjoy the sunset.

here are my night long exposure photos of this area. more photos , search in facebook , my page >> Vlogsbyorlendo

Mini amusement park on the mekong riverside. Kids will definitely love here...bring your little ones. But always be careful..

Probably the nicest atmosphere in the city if you like crowds.

Bumper cars. My kids love the place. They have a pottery painting thing and you can buy a beer for 20.000 kip. The new bouncy house is pretty cool too- it's huge

This is a Buddhist temple 🛕 about 1 hour west of Nong Khai. It is high in the mountain, and views over the Mekong River are spectacular, looking up and down the the Mekong across into Loas. This is different it has a glass bridge to walk out over.

Nice view in evening. There is glass bridge as a landmark to get a nice pictures. Recommend to visit if have time. Not very crowded. There are plenty of parking area. Due to it manage by temple. You can donate some amount for renovate this place if you prefer.

Wat Pha Tak Suea, is a nice quiet place with a beautiful way, and the new attraction "the sky walk" a way are made with glass at floor, so you can see the ground around 100 m under the walk! and you have a nice round view at Mekong River and Lao. there can stay 30 people's it's funny to see some people's with panics. and there are at construction a new bigger Wat at this areal.

80 km west of Nong Khai city is the new Sky Walk with a great view over the mighty Mekong river. With a glass floor it might be for some a little frightening experience. A very nice Tempel here as well.

The temple is not very big, but it is very pretty and above all, it is located in a beautiful place. It's a must-see place to take the time to visit.

“An Odd Combination” Hi-light: Breathtaking scenic skywalk in a serene Buddhist temple. A glass-floor sky walk is short, but the view of Mekong rIver is definitely the check-point. Those who seek serenity in the temple may need to come quite early before tourist time or even have to stay overnight. Location: *** On the cliff over Mekong river, not easily access by public transport. Most people come here by tourist vans and private cars. Universal design: ** Here is not for the unhealthy elderly or wheel-chair people. You need to walk up or down many steps to the attraction sites such as the main temple on the hill. The sky walk is not high, but there are some steps to go, no ramps for wheelchairs. Cleanness: **** Most of the area included toilets are well kept clean, but it will depend on how many tourists during your visit. Safety: *** The skywalk is quite safe, there is a local guard operates and facilitates in place.The site is on the cliff, so be careful with the children or those with acrophobia. The stairway down to Thum Pra or Buddha Cave is well-constructed but be careful during 2-way traffic. Staffs: *** Friendly and informative, but I don't like the loud announcement all the time in the temple like this.

A quaint temple that is located within the sky-walk zone in Nong Khai province. And, well worth the walk up the steep stairs, to experience the beautiful architecture, sculptures and decor on show (see my YouTube), in this active place of worship.

This was our second time visiting this temple, and it remains just as impressive and meaningful. 🛕 Located on a mountain, the temple is very beautifully maintained – clean, peaceful, and really grand in design. 🌿 Every visit brings a sense of calm and positive energy. 🙏 A truly spiritual place that’s both powerful and serene.

Beautiful temple with an amazing view from the mountain top. Such a beautiful and peaceful place. One of the most beautiful reclining Buddha I have ever seen. Absolutely recommend going to see this place. Very inspiring 🙏🏼

Wow a really good looking temple quite high up. It is reached by taxi you pay for at the bottom. Very clean and well kept and definitely worth a visit for the amazing views. When you get back on the taxi it will take you to another much higher temple you reach by many steps I cannot tell about this as I didn't want to climb up but it did look like it would have been worth it.

This temple is located at a beautiful mountainous forest reserve area in Udo Thani province. The buildings and the surroundings are well maintained. The 20-meter-long white marble reclining Buddha statue is impressive and most notable features of the temple. This statue was built with 3 white marble blocks imported from Italy and then sculpted in Thailand. The surrounding scenery from the temple is beautiful and unique.

Nice temple . Cannot drive up to temple . Got to park our car at visitor center. To buy tuk tuk ticket for 30 baht each pax . Many parking space

Located down a small country road in the middle of no where is an amazing temple. Well worth the effort to find it. Amazing structure, colours, detail and the size is just so impressive. A must do if you are in the upper Thailand area.

Amazing temple on top of a hill. Inside a 20 meters long reclining Buddha in marble. The Temple was built around the statue because of its size. One donateur has contributed to pay to the whole structure. The view from the Temple is not special but the Temple itself is a beauty with the dominant blue color for the roof.

This is an amazing place! To relax, explore, have fun, picnic with family or friends! 20k per person - you have a boat, 1 huge cave to explore(2 sides), 1 water cave, a blue lagoon (more like a water park with zipping, jumping stages, etc) and a picnic area with tables and some stores to buy food, clothes, etc. Bring your shorts/bikini or you will regret it.

U have to hop into a small boat which is not a boat by anyway 🤣. It was so breathtaking this cave. Wonderful to explore this cave. Very easy to get to. 😍 A very beautiful view is awaiting from the top. Need to climbs few hundred steps (roughly 300+) if I not mistaken.

The prettiest of all lagoons, well developed with some jumping thingies, zip line, amaaaaazing water cave & a normal cave that has lights and a walking path. Chill spot no matter your age There's changing rooms & toilets Unfortunately defecating and urinating in the cave prohibited, unless u can afford it The bridge to the lagoon was crushed by the river couple of years ago, there's a cool boat taking you to the other side for 20k

A nice cave near the city center. 30k KIP to enter. You cross the river by a float to reach the other side. Bring good shoes because it might be slippery in the cave. Bring swimming suit because there is a nice blue lake? And many people enjoy swimming inside

A spacious cave along the Nam Song River, notable for its historic significance as it was discovered during the civil war when nearby villagers were seeking refuge deep in the forest. Because its high location offered a perfect view of Vang Vieng, the entire village moved there to sit out the war. Need to climb a few hundred steps of stone stairway to reach the entrance of the cave. A walk round the cave should take less than an hour

I came here on October 7, 2025. I think it's more worthwhile than Blue Lagoon 1 and 3. It's very close to the city, the water is very blue, and there are three diving platforms, 3 meters, 6.5 meters, and 8 meters respectively. I chose 3 meters and 6.5 meters, because I really didn't dare to jump at 8 meters. There is also a zipline diving. There are also two barbecues inside. The strange thing is that the grilled cabbage and grilled chicken gizzards are the same price, both 5000 kip a string, and the grilled chicken legs are 40,000 kip each. There are not many people. What I still don't understand is that I bought a 20,000 kip ticket and took a boat here. I saw a tire adventure at the entrance of the cave, so I took a tire. It happened to be a dark-skinned middle-aged uncle who said it would charge 20,000 kip per person. I gave it to him. Can anyone who knows tell me whether the tire is paid?

Incredible caves and several other options to explore here. Caves are beautiful but you need to walk up lots of steps to enter.

Yes it's a nice place. Water is cold, but in low season there are places to sit. It's also safe enough or I was lucky to find my belongings still there after going for a dip. There are lockers for a price and also life jackets if you don't swim. The current is moderate and the jump from the tree is a bit scary but super fun.

We paid a small entry fee to access this place and we thought it www great value for money. The lagoon was beautiful and the jumps were also fun, they had plenty of places to sit down and also some places selling food which was great. We went in the week and didn’t find it busy. The caves are also a good addition to this place but are quite difficult to get to; the steps aren’t normal ones they are quite dangerous but if relatively fit you should be fine.

Lovely little lagoon, everyone we spoke to said it was so busy when they went but when we went it seemed like we were the only ones in the water. Cool platform to jump off of. Water level was too high to use the ropes. Nice and shaded though!

This lagoon is worth visiting, yes it can get busy at times but the lagoon is big, there are lots of seats/benches. There is also a place to order food and drink at this lagoon which is nice. There is a cave if you keep walking down, best to bring a headlamp for this cave as it is very dark. You can rent some headlamps from the restaurant if needed.

Visited the cave and the experience was amazing! You had to climb 120m which was not so steep, but some areas were. There was a bamboo pole you can hold to but be careful, some rocks were slippery. You need a torch to be able to see inside the cave. My kids enjoyed it. It was their first time cave exploring. The lagoon was nice too but we didn't try swimming on it. Maybe next time. 😊

A place where you literally have "blue water" A beautiful place for natural swimming, with fish swimming everywhere between you. Inside the premises there are several possibilities for lunch or coffee. One negative factor is that most of the tourists don't follow the water, they just stand everywhere and take pictures, sometimes they get in the way, there were a lot of them. You can also go to a beautiful cave, you will be offered a torch for 20,000 kip and they will tell you that you need it or you will not see anything. That's stupid, you don't need it. Overall, a nice place

This is a smaller lagoon but still worth a visit. It is quite built up around it there are many shops and restaurants. Entry costs 20K per person. There isn’t a lot to do other than swim at this lagoon apart from a raised platform to jump from. There are lots of fish in the water too which is cool to watch. There is also a cave on the site but we did not visit.

Before reaching here you will cross the small bridge. And you have to pay 10,000k just to cross. On Google maps the bridge doesn't show. Elephant Cave is a quaint little attraction. With a modest entrance fee of just 5,000 kip, it’s an affordable stop for travelers . The cave itself is small with different Buddha statues. Given its low entrance fee, Elephant Cave is a convenient stop for those on a budget. It doesn’t take much time to explore, making it easy to fit into your itinerary alongside other attractions in the area. Elephant Cave is a charming little spot that’s worth a visit if you find yourself in Vang Vieng. While it may not be a grand attraction, its simplicity and tranquility offer a refreshing change of pace. It's a perfect place for a quick exploration and some peaceful moments amidst the natural beauty of Laos.

Honestly, there’s really not much to discover here. If you’ve seen the pictures and videos, you’ve basically seen it all already — especially since you can’t go any deeper into the cave than what’s shown. As a “sight,” it’s only worth visiting if: 1. You’re already planning to cross the bridge with the toll collectors, because you want visit the water cave or blue lagoon 4 (and please, don’t make this a matter of principle — just pay the 10,000 kip and move on. You’ll pass the same spot on the way back, and it’s definitely not worth risking your safety over such a small amount, especially if you’re riding two-up on a scooter), or 2. You’ve booked a tour that stops here anyway.

In my five photos, that all. In front of the cave, you can see everything. Over Buddha statues, you cannot in.

I like it it verry beuatiful place fresh nature green

Small shallow cave with the fame of a small (1,5m?) stalagmite that resembles an elephant. A few golden Buddahs seem second priority and other unusual figures are cast on the rocks: a large snake (Naga) head, a breastfeeding lady, an owl catching a rat..? Worth a short stop only if you in the area for the other attractions. The walk over the suspension bridge is also fun!

Fantastic. The cave is small and easy to explore, making it a perfect stop before visiting nearby Tham Nam (Water Cave). Meaning of the Name: “Tham Xang” literally means “Elephant Cave” in Lao. It is named after a natural rock formation at the cave entrance that resembles an elephant’s head.

There is a entrance fee to the elephant cave. There is nothing much to see except for the stone elephant look alike and a sleeping buddha. You should be able to complete the tour is less than 15 mins. If you happen to be there suggest you can take a walk to the water cave, biplane, soup cave, blue lagoon between 300 m to 1000 m depending where you want to go. Overall the elephant cave is disappointing.

Ave was not accessible noemde to the rains of recent. Seems like a fun place though. Drove out on scooters, where you had to wade through water and drive over some loose rocks but it’s well doable. There was no entrance fee but that might be because it wasn’t in operation.

Great visit to this cave, you basically pull yourself through with a rope and explore the river that runs through the place. You get given a head torch when you pay for a ticket and this is sufficient to see within the cave. They also have zip lining there too which was really fun; we had about 7/8 different zip lines… men beware that the last one will absolutely hurt your nuts!

About a 35 minute scooter ride from the main town, very bumpy roads, so keep your concentration whilst driving. 30,000kip entry each, which includes the water cave tubing (zipline is extra, we did not do that). Very cold water (end of Jan). You get into a rubber tube and pull yourself through the cave on a rope, the first 80m is all that people seemed to do, but if you read the signs before you go inside, there's actually 300m more. Once you do the first 80m you hit the ground, here you need to get out and carry your tube and walk a further 20m and then get back in and carry on for 300m. There was noone else doing this, so it was incredibly eerie for us, just a dark cave in water, pulling along a rope with just a head torch. At about 100m the rope stops and is broken, however you can get out, walk a bit further down and the rope carries on, it's just broken for a section, up to you if you want to carry on and it's extremely eerie 🤣

🚨‼️WARNING‼️🚨 Just before you enter the property there is a little old steel bridge to cross. A guy will jump up and will tell you to pay 10,000 kip to cross the bridge. DO NOT PAY! and just drive over. This is not official. They can be aggressive but just drive away! The cave was a very cool experience! Its 30,000 kip per person and you will get a tube and an good working head torch included for that price. The water is quite fresh (March 9) half way in the cave the water gets warmer. I would definitely recommend doing this.

The water cave was a fun thing to do, but the zipline was awesome and worth the visit. Followed by the elephant cave (underwhelming!), and the Blue Lagoon 4, we had another awesome day in Laos!

Visiting Tham Nam, the Water Cave, is such a refreshing experience. The cave itself is beautiful, with clear, cool water perfect for a dip after exploring. The surrounding area is peaceful, and there are spots to rest and enjoy a snack, making it a lovely escape from the heat.

Part of a half day tour we booked. I'd recommend you book both water cave tubing + zipline here, because if you're only tubing, you still need to wait here for the people that are ziplining (approx 40 min). Ziplining here sounds fun, they take you to do 8 or 9 different lines.

What can I tell you about Luang Prabang?

Peaceful old town, unique architecture, reasonable cost, friendly and gentle people.

Luang Prabang old quarter/ heritage area is a fantastic area to walk or bike ride around and explore. Lots of great bakeries, cafes, restaurants, and handicraft shops. Beautiful at any time of the day

Great place if you like tradition, culture and oldies.

Beautiful temples everywhere in the city

Not impressive as expected

Location is wrong. The old town is surrounded by Wat Phramahathat Rajbovoravihane.

A beautiful Wat. No other way to describe it. Last visited in 2018 and just as beautiful as then, perhaps with a little more tourists. Personally found the late afternoon light was best choice for photos. Peaceful, charming and a little slice of Buddhist Laos.

Entry fee for tourist 30,000 LAK. If you want peaceful or try to avoid large crowds of Chinese tourists visit the earliest between 6am to 7am (during alm offering) or around 11am to 1pm where most tour groups left to the waterfall. If you want to see the reflection of the Tree of Life, prepare yourself hours before sunset. You will have to deal with loud Chinese tourist group try to take your perfect spot. Please respect the place, follow their dress code (no tank top, no short, no short skirt)

This temple is incredible! It is among the most beautiful ones that I have seen in SE Asia. Full of gold and decorations in- and around the main temple and its neighbouring temple. Best to visit at end of the day, since it is quiet then. During the day, it can be busy with busses full of (mainly Chinese) tourists that visit this temple with a tour in big groups.

It was a lovely experience to go to this temple. This temple is very famous temple of flowers. It is situated in Long Prabha province and is very very good. Every person who visit Love should definitely go to this temple and take the photos how I have taken. It is very beautiful place.

Wat Xieng Thong is a stunning temple, famous for its elegant, low-sweeping roofs and intricate mosaics. Located where the two rivers meet, it’s a peaceful, must-see spot for anyone interested in classic Laotian architecture and culture.

There are so many temples all over Luang Prabang it is hard to say one is better than another, and generally this one is pretty good. They don’t seem to do much to repair damage to worn areas.

Wat Xieng Thong located at the northern tip of the peninsula of Luang Prabang is a temple built by King Setthatirath around 1560. It occupies fairly large grounds and the main temple is lavishly furnished and beautiful. It served as a royal temple and a significant site for religious ceremonies, embodying the spiritual and artistic heritage of Laos.

Oh dear this was not for me. Here’s why: Up at 5.15am to witness crowds of tourists sit in plastic chairs and hand over pre-purchased “gifts”. And pity the monks who are forced to participate every day collecting these “alms” - the look of bewilderment on some of the younger monks as the cameras click and tourists giggle. Who knew there were so many Buddhist from Europe and the USA.

Tourists honestly ruin everything. Rather than be respectful. People were loudly chattering the entire time (whilst waiting and also whilst giving alms). I could still hear them taking a 5 min walk away as I left. Wildly inappropriately dressed tourists taking part in the ceremony. People running up and down the street and in front of everyone, including monks, trying to get photos and videos. 🤦🏻‍♀️ It's sad, because this could be a really beautiful thing to watch in Luang Prabang with stunning temples in the backdrop.

I think it's just a really touristy thing to do nowadays. You wake up to see and you sit down on these little chairs and they push you to buy the food to donate and they come with baskets in front of you and you buy it. Then you put the food in the monk's baskets and it's over after a few minutes.

Awful. We ended up leaving. The one star is for the tourists. Ducking under the barrier rope and sticking their camera in the novices faces. Talking and laughing loudly, clearing throats and spitting when it's supposed to be silent. The amount of tourists mean the monks get way too much rice and it seems to mostly get tipped in the bin at the end of each block. Plus all the local sellers selling individually packaged chocolates and cakes, most of these seemed to get put in the bin. Why would monks want all that junk food? We came to Laos 20 years ago and watched the ceremony from our guesthouse window and it was nothing like this. It's a circus now.

I thought the alms giving would be taking gift packages to the temple for the monks as in Thailand, but this is a tourist led attraction, embarrassing for monks and many of the participants. You sit in the street and roll rice balls to give to the monks and apprentices in their buckets. I can't believe they use the offerings as the hygiene is suspect. Tourists snap pictures and videos whilst the young novices look embarrassed. If I had known what was involved I wouldn't have gone with the rest of our tour group. I was told the ceremony was organised by UNESCO and before was gifts to the temple. Not recommended at all.

Today the world is all about photos, videos, social media, and in this world the reality, truth is somewhere lost. Based on most of the reviews here I am sure what I am about to say will not be understood by many. But my hope is to reach out to those few conscious people who just don’t understand what the hell is going on in this world. About the ceremony. It was probably an authentic ceremony at some point but today it’s just a tourist attraction. What I observed; - Mostly big group of tourists with tour guides( mostly Chinese) were participating. Barely any locals. - vendors were selling rice and cookies - Some were using plastic gloves but mostly everyone else were just using their barehands to dig in the rice and offer it to the monks - There were trash cans set up everywhere, Monks were dumping all that was offered in it -Towards the end, children were collecting those offerings from the monk. Some were grabbing rice from the street. My understanding is: 1) Nobody eats those offering, it goes to waste 2) Its collected back and resold. I wonder what Buddha would feel about this ceremony. This was just sad. And all the comments here referring it to as “an experience” or “Its tradition” making it sound as it’s authentic, these people live so far away from reality. Some people take everything at it’s face value. But for those who are observant, who can see thru it and see the reality, please don’t participate. You may wanna go observe (and know the reality) but don’t participate. Its the tourism thats ruining this culture. Its because of the tourist there is so much waste.

famous local event. must go and see, in a different meaning.. too commercialized, so many tourists especially groups from china, making the daily event look like a show at the zoo. however it's interesting to observe for a while. some monks' baskets are soon filled with cookies and biscuits given by tourists (some shops sell them for tourists), i wondered where the huge amount of snacks go to everyday. once we go off the main street, we see real local lao people giving foods to monks in a serious expression. that's much worth wo watch.

A must visit spot when at Luang Prabang. Phousi hill can be seen from almost all parts of the city but the beauty of it lies when you climb up the steps and reach the spot that overlooks the UNESCO world heritage town of Luang Prabang. Was told that it gets extreme crowded and busy during evenings mainly because the sunset view from top is amazing so decided to climb up early morning post the Alms giving ceremony. Grab a ticket which was similarly priced like most sites at Laos. Took us about 10-15 mins to climb up to the top. It was hot and humid so preferably carry a portable fan. (We visited post morning showers) The view from top was amazing and it was not crowded during mornings hours just 5 people at max. The energy, peace and atmosphere on top of the hill was unmatched and a must do activity when at Luang Prabang.

I have been listening to Rent waaay to much. Seasons of Steps Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred steps, Five hundred twenty-five thousand climbs to regret. Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred moments, Of asking “why did I do this again?” In climbs, in sunsets, in selfies, in mid-air, In tourists, in incense, in monks’ orange glare. In sweat-stained T-shirts, in wheeze-filled pauses, In overpriced water bottles, the scam never pauses. How do you measure a hill in Luang Prabang? How do you measure the pain in your thighs? How do you measure the view at the top, When temples glow golden and the Mekong sighs? It’s love, measure in love, Phousi Hill’s love, Phousi Hill’s love. Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred steps, Five hundred twenty-five thousand sunsets to catch. The views are worth it, the skyline sings, Even if your legs will hate you for days. So remember Phousi Hill not in sweat, Not in pain, not in scams, not in regret. Remember it in views, temples, and skies, That’s where the city burns into your eyes.

This is a 100m hill located centrally in Luang Prabang. You will have to climb 355 steps to reach the summit for a terrific panoramic view of the surrounding environment. Along the way are a number of Buddhist shrines, temples and Buddha statues. It is very popular with tourists who would normally climb the hill in the late afternoon and stay to enjoy the sunset.

Phousi Hill is one of the must-visit spots in Luang Prabang, offering incredible panoramic views of the city and surrounding countryside. The walk up is relatively short and not too difficult, but it does require some care—parts of the path are uneven, and a few of the bricks on the stairs are missing, so it’s best to wear sturdy shoes and take your time. The entrance fee is 30,000 kip, and the site closes at 6:30 p.m., so it’s a good idea to start your climb a bit before sunset to catch the amazing golden-hour views from the top. Once you reach the summit, you’re rewarded with breathtaking scenery in every direction. You can see the Mekong River winding through the landscape, temples scattered across the town, and layers of mountains fading into the horizon. It’s a peaceful spot to relax, take photos, and enjoy a quiet moment above the bustle below. Sunset is especially beautiful here, though it can get crowded during that time, so arriving a little early helps secure a good spot. Overall, Phousi Hill is well worth the small entrance fee and the short climb—an unforgettable highlight of Luang Prabang.

A tourist attraction in Luang Prabang. Walk up lots of brick stairs to a viewpoint for sunset. It’s crowded and a stern hill. If the weather is perfect, you will be treated to a beautiful sunset. Even if no good weather, the surrounding countryside is beautiful and worth the effort to get there.

Phousi Hill is a steep climb but it is worth the effort as it gives you some great views of the surrounding area. There is a small entry fee of 30k Kip at the bottom of the stairs. Tip: the stairs on the street market side are slightly easier than the stairs on the opposite side. Just make sure you come down the same way you went up because if you follow the 'Exit' signs you will end up on the other side. Bring water.

With the different tiers the 400 steps makes for an easy climb. For those who might need water or other refreshments you will find vendors half way up as well as on the top tier. We went there throughout the morning and we had the mountain all for ourselves. Beautiful views from the top.

The market is nice and clean. Nobody was forcing me to buy stuff from them. So even if i am just looking they are ok with that. Which is the best thing trust me. Mostly there are crafts and local things you can buy from here. A good place to spend your evenings. Lots of cafes and bars to enjoy dinner

Nice night market. Will take you around 10-15 minutes to get through it. There is a wide range of products in the market, at the end there's a food court with different types of food 🙂 Locals do not pressure you as much as other places to buy their products.

Certainly! The Luang Prabang Night Market is one of the highlights of any visit to this charming UNESCO town. Every evening, the main street transforms into a lively and colorful walking street filled with hundreds of stalls selling handcrafted goods, delicious local food, and unique souvenirs. What makes this market special is its laid-back atmosphere and strong focus on local culture. Many of the vendors are artisans from nearby villages, offering beautiful handwoven textiles, traditional wood carvings, and silver jewelry. It’s a great place to find authentic Lao crafts while supporting local communities. The food section is a real treat — tucked away in a side alley, you’ll find an array of affordable and tasty Lao dishes like grilled meats, noodle soups, fresh spring rolls, and tropical fruit smoothies. Everything is cooked fresh, and the variety is impressive. The market is well-organized, clean, and easy to walk through. It’s not overwhelming like some markets in Southeast Asia, which makes the experience more enjoyable. Prices are reasonable, and friendly bargaining is welcomed. Overall, the Luang Prabang Night Market is more than just a place to shop — it’s a vibrant cultural experience. Whether you’re looking for a unique gift, trying street food, or simply enjoying the atmosphere, this market captures the soul of Luang Prabang beautifully. Highly recommended for: ✔️ Cultural lovers ✔️ Foodies ✔️ Anyone who enjoys browsing local markets in a relaxed, friendly setting

Plenty of food options and lots of cute stalls to explore. Some items in the crafts market may feel a bit overpriced, but considering the craftsmanship and effort from local artisans, it feels fair and well worth supporting.

I liked the night market visually, nicely lit and quite long. I would have appreciated the food the most, because the products did not impress me much. T-shirts with elephant outfits and small wallets for documents. But overall a nice atmosphere. Anyone who visits this city should take a walk here

Very lively and there are plenty of stuff to see, buy and eat. The beautiful lighting of a temple. Friendly vendors and they were not pushy!

Great place to wander around. Lots of handicrafts, clothing, souvenirs made from bomb metal, and food options on side streets. Most sellers speak English and Chinese

A visit to the Royal Palace and National Museum was more than worth it. It costs 60,000 kip for foreigners. If you want to visit the palace and you wear shorts, for example, you have to rent long trousers for 10,000 kip. Entry is closed approximately 20 minutes before closing time. Both the temple and the palace showcase part of Lao history. You can also learn more about it with a free audio guide that you can open on your phone. Handy!

the english is really limited but this is not a problem, the place is so good to visit, ticket is 60.000 KIP for foreigner, I can spend around 45-60 minutes here. They have to gates: entrance and exit, around 4PM, they will close the entrance gate, you can not bring camera, bags but you can keep it in small lockers in the house which is near to the theater. You also are not allowed to wear hat, short pant that do not cover knees, can not take photo inside.

The National Museum is also known as “Haw Kham” or "Golden Hall") was once Laos’ Royal Palace. Built in 1904, it has a mix of Lao traditional and French style. It was built for King Sisavang Vong and his family during the French colonial era. The front wing hosts the King's reception hall with paintings of the Lao monarchy, prized Buddha statues and gifts from various heads of state. The premises also include the Throne Hall and royals residential area and a building that houses the King's car collection. Photos are not allowed inside the museum. Worth a visit

This is the closest thing to a real museum I saw in the city. Lots of memorabilia from last kings. Worth a look though. The temple on the grounds is ok. It is also the site of the ballet.

If you see big queues outside.... Do not go in. Not sure how good it is when it's quiet but it's awful when busy. The tour group leaders shove you out the way trying to get into the palace. I think the reason they don't allow pictures is because all you would see is people. Staff don't monitor or regulate people going in or out. Big disappointment for 60K entry.

The palace and the 60,000 kip ticket price for foreigners are reasonable. What is unacceptable is selling a ticket without informing visitors that they won’t be allowed inside the buildings if their knees are exposed. Scarves are available for rent here for 10,000 kip with a deposit of 100,000 kip. Later, on the palace, some visitors walk around with the scarves pulled up — but no one seems to care about bare knees anymore

60000 kip ticket. Too high for the content. They will not allow photos inside palace and at the Temple/Wat at the right side of entrance. Very recent construction. Nothing to boast of. Very ordinary rooms/halls and furniture Instead walk and Temples on Heritage road near Heritage office.

Just spent two nights and three days and had the most beautiful time. The elephants look so happy and well looked after and great to see them playing and wandering around. All the money goes to the conservation center so your helping these beautiful animals hopefully get back into the wilds

Our stay at the Elephant Conservation Center was truly unforgettable! You can immediately feel the passion and dedication of the team, who work tirelessly to protect elephants in Laos and provide them with a safe home. The encounters with the elephants were impressive and always conducted with the highest respect for the animals. The insights into the projects and conservation efforts were deeply moving and showed us how important this work is. The food was excellent and varied, and the bungalows were beautiful, comfortable, and perfectly located to enjoy the peace and nature all around. The entire team was incredibly warm, helpful, and professional. We felt welcome from the very first moment. We wholeheartedly recommend a visit to the Elephant Conservation Center – not only do you contribute directly to the protection of elephants, but you also take home memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you for this wonderful experience!

Visiting ECC during our trip to Laos was an amazing experience. It was extremely moving to watch and walk with elephants that are obviously happy. We learned so much about elephants and their challenges in Laos. And we had a gorgeous and very comfortable stay at their facilitiea/property. If you travel Laos, ECC is a must do activity!

We had the incredible opportunity to spend two nights at the Elephant Conservation Center, one of the few centers making a genuine attempt at conservation and rewilding in the country. The elephant conservation center began as a health clinic for elephants, but slowly expanded into a full conservation center that aims to rescue, rehabilitate, reherd, research, reproduce, and ultimately rewild elephants. This is an immensely challenging project. Elephants that arrive at the sanctuary are often physically and emotionally traumatised - years spent working for humans leaves them psychologically scarred, while the lack of socialisation and independence means that they don't know how to interact with other elephants, and how to 'just be' in the wild. At the center, each elephant has a dedicated Mahout who is responsible for interacting with the elephant - this process alone can take time to get the elephant to trust its new Mahout, while the Mahouts are trained to avoid traditional punishment practices, striving for positive reinforcement instead. The elephants get regular health checks by dedicated vets and endocrine tests to determine fertility, and are observed by behavioral biologists with the aim of figuring out which other elephants they may get along with, and when good breeding opportunities may arise. Set between many hectares of hilly forest, the elephants at the center have ample room to roam around, eating natural food, that is also supplemented with banana and sugarcane plantations in the center. Over our two days, we watched the elephants bathe, eat, socialise, and roam around, and we fell in love with these majestic, gentle giants. Our guide Mr. Sou was amazing - a friendly and welcoming man who exuded kindness, knowledge, and wisdom, and very clearly has a passion for his work. We feel honoured and lucky to have had the opportunity to spend time and learn from him, and we'll never forget him. The accommodation at the center was rustic, charming, simple, and beautiful. We loved our bungalow and the sounds of the forest at night. Beautiful sunsets and stars too, and opportunities to relax in the cozy common spaces. Given high temperatures during the day, we were initially worried about lack of aircon but it was no problem - it was very cool at night in our bungalow. The food was plentiful and good, and there was coffee available at all times. This is a magical place and the work done here is impressive and important. Don't think about it - visit here instead of touristy elephant places that allow harmful practices and consider your stay as a donation to elephant care. It's totally worth the money and time commuting on a bumby road from Luang Prabang (the drive is arranged by the centre). Thank you to everyone in the centre and especially Mr Sou.

The ECC is such an amazing experience. What a great program to rehabilitate and care for captive elephants, working towards increasing populations and rewilding. We stayed there for two days one night and had such a great opportunity to learn about the Asian elephant and see them up close in a natural setting. It was so rewarding to see them behaving as social animals and going through their daily routine with minimal guidance from their mahouts. Our guide Mr Lar was amazing and we're so grateful to him and all the ECC team for this experience.

This was a great experience. I only stayed one night, but if my schedule had allowed, I would have stayed two. The education on how elephants live was amazing! Seeing them in a semi-natural habitat is amazing. And they explain why these elephants can’t just be released on their own, but you will have to visit to find out. The bungalow was comfortable and clean.

Super expérience at the ECC. The location is magical and the programme is truly fascinating. The staff is super engaged and knowledgable, they work hard towards an essential goal and it’s very inspiring. I strongly recommend going

Really beautiful park ❤️ lots of flowers, and incredible butterflies you can see up close. The tour guides are helpful, and provide great information booklets. They also have a cafe which sells apple pie and is in a lovely spot in the garden. A must do!

A nice little 🦋 oasis to escape the crowds of the main waterfalls! Pricey compared to the main attraction (100k kip vs. 25k kip), but it seems to go to a great cause. The butterflies are most active on sunny days. The staff even provides a guide book to learn about the flora and fauna present as you casually stroll through the park!

We had a very nice and interesting experience. The park is beautiful, the man at the reception was very kind and gave us very interesting explanations about the park and butterflies. It is a very relaxing place and the school project they developed is quite impressive !

Such a beautiful experience!! This gorgeously landscaped park with the river babbling through it is like a dream come true. The staff are so lovely too explaining the life and times of the butterflies in their park.The food and coffee was great too! I highly recommend a visit to this jungle paradise.

This small detour from the main tourist route is totally worth it. It was built by a Dutch couple that have been in Laos for the last 7 years. There is a peaceful beautiful walk in the forest before going into the large butterfly enclosure. Afterward there is a lovely coy pond where you can get coffee and a dessert.

Absolutely loved this place. Its not very big however its stunning. The setting is perfect. The staff are very friendly and informative. The butterflies are numerous and stunning. Definitely worth a visit. The cafe overlooks a huge fish pond where you can feed them.

This is a fantastic stop. The variety of species are beautiful and the chrysalis stages on display for educational purposes are gorgeous! Loved the fish spa break in the enclosure! Really gave me a chance to read the very informative booklet they provide you with for your tour, since while I was walking the butterflies got all my attention!

Kuang Si Waterfall is one of the most beautiful natural attractions around Luang Prabang and definitely worth the visit. The turquoise pools and cascading falls are absolutely stunning, and the surrounding forest makes for a peaceful, scenic escape. Getting there is easy—taking the shuttle to the entrance is highly recommended, as it’s the most convenient and stress-free option. Once inside, the main paths are well-marked and easy to follow, with plenty of photo spots and small pools where you can dip your feet or even take a swim. We decided to take the trekking trail on the right-hand side to reach the top of the falls. The trail was a bit challenging—steep in places and quite muddy in parts—but manageable if you’re prepared with good shoes and some patience. The view from the top was amazing, offering sweeping views of the lush landscape, although you can’t actually see the waterfall itself from up there. There’s a small lookout point that’s perfect for relaxing and enjoying the scenery before heading back down. We took the stairs on the way down, which was much easier and quicker. Overall, Kuang Si Waterfall makes for a perfect half-day trip filled with beauty, adventure, and serenity.

BEAUTIFUL an absolute must see, because did you really go to Luang Prabang if you didn’t see Kuang Si Waterfall. Yeah it’s busy but not overwhelming so and it’s breathtaking waterfall so of course there are gonna be people. I swam and although it was cold, if you’re there you just gotta take it all in.

We came here around 2pm on a weekday but the place was still overran with tour groups. The water falls and the stream were quite impressive, reminding me of the Plivitz lake in Croatia, albeit a smaller version. Our experience would've been so much better if we didn't have to deal with the hords of tourists trying to get that picture perfect shot. The pushing and shoving wa on unreal and became unbearable that we gave up taking the water fall shot from the bridge. I'm summary, for best experience, come early like before 10am to enjoy scenery without crowd.

we got here just after 9 and was very busy already. waterfalls were gorgeous, we swam in the top one up the stairs. bear sanctuary included, they were cute but seemed bored. toilets and places to eat in the area.

Absolutely loved the waterfall and the bear sanctuary attached to the waterfall! The water was cool and nice to refresh. The only problem was that lots of creepy men were filming women in swimsuits at the swimming points. At one point when we were swimming it felt like we were animals in a zoo with 20 men filming us in the water. This was disappointing. I would reccomend swimming in more than a swim suit.

Fantastic waterfalls. Try not to miss it if you are in Luang Prabang. In addition to the amazing view at the bottom falls, one can walk up the 542 steps to view the beginning of the the fall or pay another 30,000kip to climb up the tree houses and canopy walk. Very good setup although the views are limited by trees. Watchout for insects and small animals on the way up if you interested in forest life. Best thing to do at the top is to take a dip in the stream just before the falls. Cool & REFRESHING, although the water is not pristine at this time of the year (October). One can also take a dip below the stream. Recommended route: walk up on the trail on the left and walk back down along the laterite road.

Beautiful place to see and enjoy a little swim for refreshing. Just make sure to come before 12pm and the minivan convoy. Easiest and cheapest way is to take the green bus from Thatluang Park (roundtrip 90.000 pp by Nov. 2025), it took 1 hour per trip. Busses leave from LP leave at 8am, 9.30 ... and from KS at 9.30, 10, ... and so on (see attached pictures of timetable). The entrance fee for the waterfall you pay on site. (60.000 pp).

Best sunrise spot in Pua, if you are in town please check this out. Main temple gate opens at 6 AM, there is a side gate you can use to enter before that and walk all the way to the back for the view.

Interesting name” wat phuket” but its in Nan! Not in phuket. Free parking at the school. Very nice view from the temple balcony. There is group of elderly playing traditional thai music instruments. You can donate money to preserve the local musical organization. There is a group of children with teacher from local tribe, dressed in traditional northern costume. Children performed the traditional dance and some of them can speak English, Chinese too! Very impressive! You can donate money for their education fund too. The teacher told me that the temple even offers the accommodation for tourists! And if you walk down the stairs on the left of temple, you will find the small alley with the OTOP shop ( local shops specialize in the traditional handmade fabric/ clothing ) There was no customer when we visited . And thats made me sad. I wonder if they will survive in the long run. The products are in good quality and inexpensive. So please please consider support the local business when you visit.

Wat Phuket as among the more famous temples in Pua. It is beautifully ornate and set in a nice looking neighborhood of Pua.

I can’t keep my lips together, they are open and keep saying WOW. The view point is jaw dropping. Stunning landscape of rice paddy fields and local houses are so cute. The temple itself looks cool, especially the painting inside. I must say an artist is so creative, there are several cartoons hiding in those paint you have to look carefully. The feeding fish technology is genius 👍 I tried a few desert on the market outside the temple, they are quite good.

Very nice temple or in Thailand 'Wat' . Its a to visit place when you visit Pua. Love the temple set up and how the local enjoyed the temple. We were lucky to meet up with a bunch of young and small school kids doing their services for the temple. Cute... enjoyed our visit to the temple.

We reached the temple in the late evening, there are still some visitors inside the temple, the weather is nice in December, especially when you are up hill. Seems like every temple has their own animals to feed. This one they have lots of chickens.

A very beautiful spot a short drive out of town. The temple itself is nothing too spectacular, but the views are very nice. A few restaurants and a small strip of market like stalls are forming around the base of the hill. Very quaint. Worth a visit.

If you love elephants, visit MEPS! If you love preserving the environment, in this case the forest, visit MEPS! If you want to have an authentic experience observing the elephants in their natural environment, visit MEPS! If you want to learn about the Mahout, visit MEPS! If you want an awesome, local, delicious lunch, visit MEPS! Just visit MEPS!!! You will not be disappointed!

What a wonderful experience ! If you love animals, you must definitively go there. The project of Wendy is completely focused on the well being of the elephants as well as their employees. She created a fantastic place which deserves to be known all over the world. Congrats to her. It’s amazing.

We were taking the 2 day slow boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang and came across this sanctuary when stopping for the night at Pak Beng. We decided to do the 1 day tour package & had a wonderful, unforgettable day learning and witnessing the elephants in their natural habitat - we are very glad we decided to stay the extra night and delay the boat to the next day. Wendy and her team were amazing & it was inspiring to hear how she had built this sanctuary to both help protect the Laos Asian elephant population and to rebuild the jungle’s ecosystem. It is clear that sustainability and the elephant’s welfare is at the core of what they do - the team’s passion and commitment to the cause really shone through throughout the day! The lunch provided was also delicious in a beautiful setting in the bamboo hut!

After trying to find an ethical elephant sancturary, we came across this one online. It took us 4 hours on bus from Luang Prabang and we stayed in the town of Pak Beng. The whole experience was great. As we came in the wet season we were the only two visiting, so we had a one on one experience with Kita our guide. They take great care of the elephants, and the baby is in charge at the moment. Everything was done at a respectful distance and the elephants lead the visit. Kita and the mahouts had so much information on the elephants in the sanctuary and populations across Asia. Would definitely recommend a visit!

Incredible experience! Me and my girlfriend spent the full day here and we both agreed it was the highlight of our trip. After extensively researching for ethical elephant sanctuaries in Thailand / Laos I came across the Mekong Elephant Park and it 100% lives up to the 5 star reviews. The work that Wendy, the Mahouts and the team are doing is commendable, not only for the elephants but for the local people and surrounding environment. The park had a no touching policy and we simply observed the elephants going about their day - which for me is absolutely the best way to see them. Boua, the 15 month old baby, was the star of the show! The best part of seeing Boua was that she was always accompanied by her mother and two Aunts, which Wendy and her team have rescued and helped to reunite - which made seeing them together very special. There is plenty more I could write here but overall it was just an amazing day. If you are taking the slow boat to Luang Prabang / Thailand please stay in Pakbeng for 2 nights and visit this place!

This is a beautiful project we feel very grateful and lucky that we were able to visit elephants that are well care and live free in their habitat! We learn lots and got never tired of spending time close to those amazing beings The bungalows are beautiful and comfortable and respectful with the environment Wendy, the mohouts and all the staff were very knowledgeable, professional friendly and very committed to their work and the alephants as a mean of conservation of the forest of Laos Defenitely a place to visit and support ! Thank you Mekong elephant park! Niki, Ayra and Mathias

Fantastic! I visited the park few years ago while on a trip to Pakbeng and just came back in January 2023 and I can't say enough how impressed I was with the incredible work Wendy has done. The place is unrecognizable. In the best way. I had such an intimate experience, very small group, the elephants with their mahouts and our guide, Wendy - who couldn't be more passionate and dedicated. The park and the whole team really involved themselves the past few years to conduct a reel conservation project, they took part into the breeding program of the Elephant Conservat ion Center in Xayaburi, over 2 years of efforts which resulted in the birth of the adorable Boua, 80kg of hope for the elephants in Laos. Watching Boua discovering the world around her and interacting with her mom and the very protective Mae Nat was such a privilege, a very special moment. It is very comforting to know she will grow up in this environment, with her mum, surrounded by love and care - and completely ignorant of the bad treatment man can sometimes inflict to elephant. she's truly where she belongs and hopefully represents the beginning of a new generation of elephants in Laos. Not to spoil anything, the land is stunning, well preserved Lao forest on the banks of the Mekong. The park is employing many locals to make this dream a reality which is a great initiative in a place like PakBeng where access to employment is still poor. Overwall, an excellent visit, a great team, happy and healthy elephants, committed employees, and marvelous involvement in elephant conservation work. Do not miss it!

Beautiful teak temple with many strange collections of old objects, fossils, and currency. Unclear what exactly it is, but definitely worth a stop if you're in the area.

A very nice local Thai temple with the extra bonus of a section of it being a museum. Well worth a visit to reflect and explore.

the most beauty temple in Chiang Kham. Really impressive and with amazing architecture. Inside you can walk and adnire many statues of Buddas.

Visit 30/3/2019 - Without question one of the best examples of historic Temples and how they should be preserved.

This is the best one for the visitors from other regions or other countries to visit the old Thai-Yai style with friendly people.

Very beautiful temple direct in the city but very quiet and peaceful !

A beautiful wood temple with historic museum inside.

Enjoyed a leisurely cruise along the Luang Prabang portion of the Mekong River in conjunction with the visit to the Pak Ouv Caves. The view of the mountains and riverside was scenic and beautiful. The Mekong River was brown during the cruise, likely due to the frequent rain during the time of the cruise. Not sure if the colour of the river would be different during the non-rainy season

Before I made my visit to Vietnam, I had a wish list of things that I should see and enjoy. One in the top of the list was Mekong River & Basa Fish. Traveling through 6 countries and providing everything to the people Mekong has influenced the life of the people. Though it’s considered as one of the most polluted rivers in the world, it’s worth seeing the river. I was in Vietnam and I could see the last part of the Mekong River. The delta is fertile and rich in crops. The floating houses of Mekong are very famous. The delta is rich in fruits and the restaurants in the delta provide excellent food.

Sunsets are a good time to take photos of Mekong River. There is sometimes plenty of varied and many kinds of vegetation and swamps in front of the river itself.

Great experience. Must visit place in Lao. Going on the boat was a thrilling experience

I've never been to this place, but the food was delicious. 🧟‍♂️🤡

(Translated by Google) Amazing.... Exciting experience, cycling from Vientiane, Laos - Luang Prabang - Muang Xay - Pak BEng - Chiang Kong - Chiang Mai - Bangkok (Original) Amazing.... Pengalaman seru, bersepeda dari Vientiane, Laos - Luang Prabang - Muang Xay - Pak BEng - Chiang Kong - Chiang Mai - Bangkok

(Translated by Google) So beautiful. (Original) สวยหนา้ชม

Stunning view! But would 100% recommend going there quite early for sunrise! I left my accommodation at 5.20 had a 15 minute drive and I was a bit tight to catch the sunrise. From the parking lot it’s still a good 20-30 minutes hike up in a steep road so plan accordingly. It’s worth waking up (coming from someone who normally can’t wake up before 11)

Drove from Mae Sai early in the morning to catch the sun rise. Clocked 2 hours of sleep but witnessed one of the most beautiful views, making it totally worth it! Weather up there in December was super cold for a tropical place like Thailand, maybe about 3 degrees (wind chill)? Short hike up to the peak from the carpark. You can take a pickup up the steeper parts but ultimately still have to climb a bit. In the end, it’s all worth it — just stand there and take in god’s creation!

Surreal and majestic. I would recommend staying for a night close to the park and doing the hike the next morning to see the sunrise. Amazing views of Laos from the cliff.

Took 2 hours to get to from Chiang Rai. Car park was a little lower down than where it’s shown on the maps so you’d have to walk 30 mins up to get to the view point. Even in the dark, the path was fairly straightforward—you do need a flashlight. Went around the end of March and it was foggy and overcast and cold, still a lovely experience and view. If you’re here for the pictures, you can’t see much on camera this time of year.

Great view for sunrise here. It’s a short steep drive up to the carpark and from there, it’s a 760m walk to the viewpoint. The walk up is no too difficult, but the road could be slippery on a wet day. I took about 12 mins to reach the viewpoint. It was a bit hazy on the morning we were there, but the view is still beautiful as the sun appear on the horizon. Worth the trip here

We arrived about 6am. It was still dark. The sunrise was about 6.50am. It was an amazing experience to watch the sun rise above the clouds. Well worth doing once. It was really cold. Wear many layers of warm clothes.

Such a nice place! Very peaceful, we were alone when we visited! So nice to escape the crowd for a little while. We came here as a day trip from Chiang Rai, the ride is pretty smooth, just be careful during the slopes. There is public toilet before you reach the parking lot. From the parking it’s 750m to the top, but it’s kinda steep. The view is very nice, and it’s funny to know that the highest point is actually in Laos!

This place isn't just a farm stay—it's like being part of a big, welcoming family. Apple and her crew go all out to make sure you feel right at home. I stayed in this cool tent that felt more like glamorous camping. It was super clean and comfy, and the mountain views were amazing. Being surrounded by nature was so relaxing; it's the perfect break from city life. There is an option to stay in a completely private house, with rooftop area and sunrise view. Whenever you need to get some work done outside of your staying place, the restaurant's terrace is a chill spot with Wi-Fi, bird songs and of course delicious food! There is a lot to do here, like biking, swimming in the lake, and joining fun workshops on stuff like Tie Dye, Wild Honey, Thai massage and many more (look at the photos). The best part? They're all about being eco-friendly and natural. They'll even chat with you about healthy living and sustainability if you're keen. Basically, Rai Ruen Rom is more than just a place to crash; it's like a little paradise where you can unwind and soak up the good vibes.

A huge place full of many experiences. From nice comfortable resort to goat barn to rice field to mountain to farms. Restaurant is also very chilled and offering good food. Most of the menu is organic, grown by themselves. Price is not cheap but everything comes with quality.

This is a great full experience. The cafe on premise is full of delicious and unique food and drinks, the little houses area extremely cozy and comfortable, and the farm has a handful of activities to choose from. The views of the farm from the house is one of the most beautiful views. The private dinner on the roof of the house was a experience as well. I would give more stars if I could, we’re definitely going to come back here regularly.

Apple the owner spoke perfect english and she made us feel very welcom on her farm. We didn't expect such high quality and class truely an exceptional stay. One night and it included many activities. The roofttop house was utterly beautiful and they prepared a traditional thai bbq on the roof for us. All food and drink has been organically produced here on the farm. Apple the guide explained to us all the production and harvesting, and we sampled everything....lots of flower, leaf and fruit eating. The kids and especially us adults loved the salt egg preservation and natural tye-dye. Delicious food and drinks, and a conscious sustainable community project. Definately worth a visit for a few days or even to stay for volunteer work. Thank you so much for this unexpected and stimulating visit. Anna and family from the Basque country. Spain

We had the best time here! Is the staff and owners are very friendly and you feel like part of the family and community. Accommodation is great, food is delicious and portions large, activities are fun and it is eye opening to learn more about the Thai plants and how it can be used in different products. We can’t wait to come again!

It was very wow ! We fell in love with this place from the first minute. Some of our guys said "I would like to stay here" during first day. We were amazed how workers took care of us, solved any problem we had, smiled to us any time. They were listening to any our request, to change something or find something. Farm is amazing place for any event, it is remote, you can concentrate and work together. Moreover, nature around really helps to relax. In the end of our event we had a feeling that we didnt want to go home :) Everything is ecological, even shampoo :) Food is very tasty, also they had some activities, lectures you can join, to learn about the place, eco-farming, eco-lifestyle and so on. Also there is a great opportunity for volunteering on the eco-farm, we also helped them. It is the place to be :) Thanks a lot to Apple and all her family ! You do a great job.

Amazing farm stay experience. The founder was very welcoming and gave us a tour around her property to share all the sustainable farming practices and diverse crops. The food was very fresh and tasty as well. We stayed in the tents which were very clean. The bathrooms were also clean and had very hot water! For those staying, they also have activities such as DIY honey, cookie making, and tie die.

Looks like a nice spot but we couldn't make it there in a car we really tried but the last couple km of dirt road was way too bumpy we would bottom out and risk not getting our deposit back haha so I'm not sure how people make it there, I suppose a rough but doable moto ride or a pickup truck.

Nice water fall. The road for the last couple of ks is still a challenge. Recommend you visit at the end of the raining season. The water is clear and take some mosquito repellant.

My home town. It's good place to relax and walk. Exploring nature

I took the long and hardest way there

Nice walk to a beautiful waterfall. Good nature.

(Translated by Google) Tad Khwan Waterfall, good atmosphere, very natural. Cars should be a little careful of oncoming traffic on the mountainous road. Motorcycles are more suitable. (Original) น้ำตกตาดควัน บรรยากาศดี ธรรมชาติสุดๆ รถยนต์ระวังรถสวนเส้นทางขุขะนิดนึง มอเตอร์ไซค์ เหมาะกว่า

(Translated by Google) Tak Kwon Forest Park is a tourist attraction in the Tat Kwon community. There is an area to set up a tent and there are bathrooms as well. There are officials who take care of tourists and recommend tourist attractions. I used to go camping with friends and school to do school activities. It was a lot of fun. Anyone who likes nature will definitely like it. Recommend coming during the winter. The weather is very cool. You can come to travel. (Original) วนอุทยานน้ำตาควันเป็นแหล่งท่องเที่ยวในชุมชนตาดควันมีพื้นที่ให้กางเต้นต์และมีห้องน้ำด้วยครับ มีเจ้าหน้าที่ค่อยดูแลนักท่องและแนะนำสถานที่ท่องเที่ยวนะครับ ผมเคยไปตั้งแคมป์กับเพื่อนๆและโรงเรียนทำกิจกรรมของโรงเรียนครับ สนุกมาก ใครที่ชอบธรรใชาติถูกใจแน่นอนครับ แนะนำมาช่วงหน้าหนาวนะครับ อากาศเย็นสบายมากครับ สามารถมาท่องเที่ยวได้นะครับ

A must, one off the most beautiful temple ever.

Very good temples. I think that you have to go through here to catch the bus up to the Mekong Skywalk. I couldn't even see any signs for the Skywalk along the highway.

30B roundtrip ride up the hill. 40B for the skywalk. Nice view. Man, I just beat the tour!

Nice and clean temple. It is the entry point for the Mekong Skywalk. The temple has free large parking. After parking your car, please head out to the temple area on the right side to ride taxi to Mekong Skywalk.

Nestled in Thailand's serene landscape, Wat Phra That Pha Ngao, a sacred embrace. Its origins trace back through time's veiled mist, A haven of spirituality, where history persists. Upon the cliffs, overlooking the Mekong's flow, Vihan Luang Pho Pha Ngao stands in tranquil glow. Bearing witness to centuries, a silent sage, Echoing tales of reverence in each sacred page. Founded with devotion, by hands now unseen, This temple venerates a legacy serene. A tapestry of faith, woven through the years, Whispers of pilgrims' prayers, calming ancient fears.

Attractive by the glass sky walk that you can see the view of Maekhong river and Republic of Lao on the opposite side of the river. However this place manage as too commercialize not so care the visitors. I found some old and weak people have to get off from the service car on the defined point. The have to claim the steep hill for a log distance to get in the sky walk with another charge from the temple. The place was not so clean and so many shops in the area.

Wat Phra That Pha Ngao is a very peaceful place with impressive architectural beauty. I walked around the temple, paid respect to the Buddha statues, and sat to enjoy the view of the Mekong River. The atmosphere here is quiet and perfect for relaxation and self-reflection. I felt very relaxed and inspired by my visit. I highly recommend this temple to everyone, especially those who enjoy peace, appreciate local culture, and want to spend time alone to think and reflect.