Luang Prabang: Pak Ou Caves, Hike, Kayak & Sunset Cruise

Discover Pak Ou on a full-day tour from Luang Prabang. Hike through rice paddies, kayak to the Pak Ou Caves, and enjoy a sunset cruise on the Mekong River.
Begin your day with a hotel pickup in Luang Prabang and travel north along Route 13 towards Pak Ou District. Leave the vehicle at Banfuai, a Hmong village where the morning hike begins.

Set out on foot through the rice paddies. Along the trail, see how local families grow rice in irrigated fields. Depending on the season, you may meet farmers at work or pass water buffalo grazing beside the paddies.

Continue to a village on the banks of the Nam Ou. Walk past vegetable gardens planted along the river and visit the village Buddhist temple. The route also takes you by the local primary school, with a visit when the school’s schedule allows.

From the village, climb to a viewpoint above the Nam Ou. Pause for lunch with a view of the river and the farmland you’ve been exploring, then head down to the water to begin kayaking.

Paddle downstream for approximately 1 hour, passing wooded banks and the limestone cliffs of Pha Aen. At Pak Ou, the Nam Ou opens into the Mekong. Bring your kayak ashore to visit the sacred caves overlooking the confluence.

Spend about 30 minutes exploring Pak Ou Caves. In the lower cave, Tham Ting, daylight from the river illuminates rows of Buddha figures. Pilgrims have left thousands of images here and in the upper cave over generations, many finished in gold lacquer. If you wish, follow the steps uphill to Tham Theung, the upper cave.

Return to your kayak for a second stretch on the broader Mekong River. Paddle downstream for approximately 30 minutes to the Mekong riverside. Your kayaking ends here, with time to shower and change into dry clothes before boarding the cruise boat.

The boat journey to Luang Prabang covers approximately 25 km, with about 1.5 hours of cruising. Along the way, stop at Ban Xang Hai, also known as the Whisky Village, where villagers make traditional Lao spirits from sticky rice.

Back on board, settle in for the final stretch as the sun sets over the Mekong. On arrival at the pier in Luang Prabang, a vehicle will take you back to your hotel.

Para garantir a disponibilidade, reserve o mais cedo possível. A reserva antecipada vale a pena considerar especialmente se você estiver planejando a viagem durante a alta temporada, como feriados ou fins de semana.

Esta excursão você pode cancelar sem custo até 24 horas antes do início da viagem. Se você cancelar após 24 horas ou não comparecer à excursão, ainda será cobrado o preço total da atividade. Chegar atrasado na coleta ou partida será considerado como não comparecimento.