Mekong Morning Cruise, Pak Ou Caves, Kuang Si Waterfalls (F17-1)

Cruise from Luang Prabang to the Pak Ou Caves with a stop to taste rice whiskey and explore a cave. After lunch in an elephant camp, travel by car to the Kuang Si Falls and visit a Hmong village. Our best seller guided door-to-door package!

We will pick you up at your accommodation between 8:00 and 8:30 am. Go straight to the pier for the departure of the longtail boat trip and embark on the mighty Mekong. Enjoy the many views from the water, witness rural Laos, pass by local villages, fishermen, and children and soak up the scenes of daily life by the river.

In the first little over an hour, the boat makes its first short stop at the Ban Xang Hai, also known as the Whisky Village. Here you see the process of making Lao Lao, the country’s beloved rice whiskey, and taste the fresh local delights. Why not pick up a couple of bottles for later?

The boat will take you slowly along the Mekong River to Pak Ou Caves. We arrive at a small boat landing dock where stairs lead you straight to the cave. These limestone caves have been places of worship for thousands of years, and Buddhist statues and idols have filled these natural caves. Hear legends and stories about the caves from your guide and explore the caves.

After visiting the caves, the boat will enter the Ou River to see the spectacular limestone cliffs. Then a 30-minute boat ride down the Mekong River will take us to Manifa elephant camp for lunch. Enjoy a buffet lunch at the restaurant with a view of the Mekong River and free-roaming elephants.

This adventure destination package takes you to Kuang Si Waterfall. We will have 2 hours to explore the three-tiered waterfall, walk along a nature preserve trail, swim in refreshing turquoise puddles, and visit a bear conservation center.

On our way back into Luang Prabang, we will stop at Ban Na Uang (Hmong resettlement village). Here you can meet the Hmong people who originally lived in the highlands. After returning to Luang Prabang, drop-off points are the post office on the main street, near the night market, or at your accommodation (by prior arrangement or on request).

There are different versions of this tour. The other version includes a Mekong River cruise in the afternoon (sunset cruise) and a visit to the waterfalls in the morning. The mornings in Luang Prabang are often cloudy and rainy in the rainy season, and winters are cold, so this version may be better for swimming at the waterfalls. However, the morning boat trip is likely to be cloudy and the view of the Mekong River in the afternoon is better.