Mountains and Caves of Nong Khiaw by Foot

Mountains and Caves
of Nong Khiaw by Foot

Venture into the wild mountains surrounding Nong Khiaw. Uncover the history of
the ‘secret war’ in the Pha Tok Caves and hike to a viewpoint for
expansive views of the river, mountains and valley.

WHY THIS TOUR?

Adventure seekers will relish exploring the incredible limestone mountains around Nong Khiaw. A hike to the second highest peak, Pha Daeng, will reward you with views over rugged mountains and the meandering Nam Ou River. The mountains are riddled with caves, many that were used as shelters during the ‘secret war’ – a civil war that waged between the communist Pathet Lao and the Royal Lao Government from 1964 to 1973.

Pha Tok Cave served as a shelter for the villagers and soldiers for nine years during the war. Divided into various sections for the hospital, military, police and even a school, it offers a fascinating insight into a dark period of Laotian history and the resilience of the Lao people.

TRAIL ITINERARY

Mountains and Caves of Nong Khiaw by Foot

08:00 - 13:30

From your hotel, climb into a local tuk-tuk for a short ride to the foot of a concrete flight of stairs that brings you to the Pha Tok Caves – once home to more than 800 people during the war. Enter the first and largest cavern via a steep wooden stairway, and then make your way along an eerie, dark passageway into a smaller second cave.

Back in the daylight, take a short walk through the rice fields passing by farmers at work with their buffalos. From the main road, another tuk-tuk will bring you to the start of a three-hour challenging hike up to the top of Pha Daeng. The path of stone steps and tree trunks, steep in places, winds through fields and jungle-like forests. Upon reaching the summit you will be greeted with panoramic views over endless layers of craggy mountains. Get a bird’s-eye view of the sparkling Nam Ou River as it snakes its way around the town of red-roofed buildings. Stop here for a while to enjoy the views and replenish your energy with a small snack before the walk down.

Back in town, relax over a late but well-deserved lunch, before returning to your hotel.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

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INCLUSIONS

  • A half-day tour with a professional English-speaking guide.
  • Transportation by tuk-tuk with professional driver.
  • All entrance fees for visits as mentioned in the description.
  • All applicable taxes and service charges
  • Lunch at a local house is included (food only)

EXCLUSIONS

  • Tours, inclusions of any kind and other services that are not outlined in the tour description
  • Personal expenses such as meals, drinks, tips and gratuities, shopping, portage fees and optional tours, unless otherwise stated
  • Hotel accommodation in the destination of commencement.
  • Compulsory Christmas, country-specific festival and/or New Year dinner at included hotels
  • Single supplement charges for single travelers, where applicable
  • Any airline tickets, visa fees, additional transportation cost from and to the general meeting point
  • Supplements for transfers for customers arriving or departing from any airport or resorts located outside the general pick-up and drop-off locations
  • Hotel expenses of a personal nature, should an overnight be included: this includes mini-bar consumption, laundry, room service, any telephone or other communication cost not mentioned in the program
  • Travel insurance coverage for customers (highly recommendable)

GOOD TO KNOW

  • This tour is operated on full private basis with English-speaking guide only.
  • Return transfers for this excursion apply only / are inclusive for customers staying in and inside Nong Khiaw and accommodation within the vicinity of Nong Khiaw along the Mekong. Transfers outside these areas, including any accommodation outside this area such as the Ou River, Luang Prabang, and Muang Ngoi are excluded. Supplements apply for customers who want to join this excursion outside one of these regions.
  • Customers are reminded to submit their passport number and expiration date with their reservation. These are essential requirements as outlined by local immigration regulations
  • We will do all possible to comply with any dietary requirements during this excursion; it may not always be possible to confirm your wishes in advance based on the choice of local restaurant.
  • We regret to inform you that this excursion is not suitable for wheelchair users.
  • Part of this excursion includes walking over unpaved roads and paths. This may not suit guests with walking issues. Bear in mind that such paths may turn slippery / muddy after a rain shower.
  • We suggest wearing good walking shoes, preferred closed shoes.
  • We will always make the effort to confirm the exact pick-up time upon reservation. For any operational issues in which are not able to confirm the exact pick-up time in advance, we reserve the right to inform you the day before the departure of the tour.
  • Please note pick-up and drop-off services may not be confirmed for customers staying at private residences, apartment complexes, or other non-registered tourism accommodations. Customers may be asked to meet at a nearby hotel for pick-up and drop off.
  • Due to the absence of ATM machines and credit cards payment portals, particularly on islands and inside nature reserves, we highly recommend to bring sufficient cash with you. Natural elements of any kind have a destructive effect on electronic equipment.
  • It is the customer’s own responsibility to ensure that any camera, mobile telephone or other device is properly wrapped and protected against these elements. We cannot be held responsible in any way for negligence and/or not following suggestions for any damage related to this.
  • Please ensure that you bring sunglasses, a hat /cap and sunblock with a high SPF factor when traveling with us on this tour – even when it is cloudy, the sun’s rays are still very powerful.
  • We reserve the right to make necessary changes to the excursion in case of unfavourable weather conditions or situations where we are forced to make alterations to guarantee the safety of our guests.
  • The protection of the country’s flora and fauna is of immense importance for us. We will not pursue any activities for guests that are not in line with our animal, wildlife and environment protection principles.
  • It is the responsibility of the customer to provide us with the correct hotel information, should pick-up and drop-off services be included in the package. Any changes in accommodation outside 24 hours will be handled accordingly: changes within 24 hours may be on request.
  • In the event of no-show or change of accommodation without prior consent and confirmation from us within 24 hours may result in the applicable cancellation charges as outlined in the terms and conditions.

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