The most beautiful natural sites to discover Laos

The Li Phi Falls are close to Ban Khone, continuing westward, signs indicate the route. Once at the picnic area, you can walk along the edge of the rocks overlooking the waterfalls: nice viewpoint. It is advisable to go there one hour before sunset at the latest to have a nice light. Caution dangerous swimming at the small beach: risk of drowning due to strong currents.

These two caves are located in the south-east of the city, they were used as shelters during the bombings of the Vietnam War. Tham Kang is a vast cave open to the sky. Be careful: the stream can be deep during the rainy season. Not far from there, a little higher on the left is Tham Pha Kaew. The entrance is narrower, and you need a flashlight to explore it. From there it is easy to reach Ban Na, a typical small village (30 min walk).

Located about 18 km from Vang Vieng, it is the most remote lagoon. Two different roads lead to the lagoon, allowing you to cross different small villages. Many signs indicate the access to different caves, waterfalls, or hiking trails. The Blue Lagoon 3 is located at the foot of a large karst mountain with a zip line for diving, big buoys and a basic but nice bar-restaurant. Ideal to relax for a morning or an afternoon. Nearby are two small caves without real interest.

One of the most beautiful viewpoints of Vang Vieng. Take the road towards the Blue Lagoon, after a few kilometers, on the right, a sign will tell you to turn. You will arrive at a hut where young Laotians will make you pay the entrance fee. The ascent is rough and in some places is like climbing. Not to be done if you are afraid of heights or if you are accompanied by children. Once at the top, the reward is great: the view on the rice fields and the surrounding rocky peaks is simply magnificent.

The triangle of Tham Sang, about 13 km north of Vang Vieng, consists of 4 easily accessible caves: Tham Sang, Tham Hoi, Tham Loup, and Tham Nam. You will be able to discover this group of caves close to each other during a half-day excursion.

To get there, follow the road for about 15 minutes and watch for the sign on the left. Follow a dirt track for a little less than a kilometre to the bridge and cross over to the other bank. Leave your bike or scooter in the parking lot before crossing. In the rainy season, the crossing is done by pirogue.

Tham Sang is on the right, inside the temple of a centenary village. It is high, but shallow (40 m) and above all sacred. Inside, one can distinguish a stalactite in the shape of an elephant's head, which gives the cave its name, and another in the shape of its body, a "footprint" of the Buddha, a dragon's head, and so on. Statues of Buddha are scattered there.

From Tham Sang, you can walk to two caves located in the red sandstone cliffs; which can be seen behind the rice fields (about 15 minutes walk). The first one, located at ground level, is Tham Hoi. The holiest of the caves welcomes you with a Buddha's head at the entrance. It is dark and very deep (several kilometers), so you will need a flashlight, provided on site, to visit it. As the lamps are not always very powerful, it is recommended to bring your own, or to use the light of your mobile phone. Allow a good hour's walk. Quite impressive. Just above, is at the top of a very difficult path (you have to climb in some places) in the heart of tropical vegetation, the Tham Loup. This second open-air cave is famous for its stalactites.

Tham Nam. South of Tham Hoi, to find your way, follow the music! Indeed, the place is very busy, especially by groups on organized tours who take their lunch break there. It is also the arrival point of a large zip line circuit. It is usually visited after visiting Tham Sang, Tham Loup and Tham Noi. This concludes the excursion. It is 500 m long and can be explored on foot during the dry season; during the rainy season, you will explore it on board an inner tube (remember to bring a headlamp, although you will normally be provided with one at the entrance). You will visit the cave holding a rope...

Local people used to go to this area to collect food and firewood for their daily consumption. During the Indochina war the cave was used as a shelter from bombing. People who took shelter in the cave prayed for protection that would deflect the bombs. Even today, when visiting the cave, you can ask for protection or any other wish.

Located 25 km west of Vang Vieng, on the other side of the Nam Song River, Pha Puak Cave is surrounded by the Pha Daeng Mountains, large karst formations. Its access is somewhat difficult because the cave is high up. This small cave, 20 meters long, is supposed to have sheltered a hermit talking with the spirits. It is possible to go there by scooter or bicycle for the brave ones. If Tham Pha Puak is nothing special, the walk to reach it is pleasant, it is a good place to picnic and to swim.

The Nam Xay Top View is the most famous viewpoint of Vang Vieng, and therefore the most frequented. The ascent, which takes about half an hour, is relatively easy, except for the last few meters which require some climbing. At the top, platforms have been installed to enjoy the spectacular view. What makes the place so popular is the installation of a big motorcycle on each side allowing to make absolutely amazing souvenir pictures! If you have time to visit only one viewpoint, this is it!

Not far from the Blue Lagoon 1, the Blue Lagoon number 2 is a large pool in the middle of vast green spaces, with tables and benches, suitable for picnics. A diving board located at a height of about 5-6 meters allows visitors to have a little thrill. There are some basic food stands at the entrance to the park. Blue Lagoon 4, 5 and 6 are more remote than the others, have fewer structures, and are open seasonally. You will have to cross dirt roads to get there.

On the road to Paksane, turn right at the line of km 25. This hps salty lake une clarity. All around, tanks heated by fires from the ground, are sheltered under thatched roofs. Water evaporates slowly, leaving only salt in tanks. The process is archaic and this spectacle of another age gives instead a kind of magic. The salt is stored in small barns. Each family of workers has its own and compensation is determined according to the weight of its harvest.

28 km from Oudom Xai, near the village of Muang La on the Phongsaly road. To access the hot springs, it is a two-minute walk south along a trail along the river. The water reaches temperatures around 45°C. The villagers bathe there mainly in winter, so as not to have to heat water and thus save money.

This site will be able to be the object of a one day walk in the surroundings of Oudomxay. Several small waterfalls are scattered along the route, with rivers to cross with the help of various suspension bridges to finally reach the platform in front of Tad Nam Kat. The visit of the waterfalls is organized in partnership with the Nam Kat Yorla Pa Resort (inquire on the spot or on the website). Many other activities are proposed in this beautiful forest: zip line, treks, camping and many other sports activities.

The road leading to it crosses beautiful landscapes of rice fields and karst structures. This cave seems slightly larger than others in the area and there are fewer facilities. It is high-ceilinged and very long; it houses a gilded bronze Buddha in a reclining position. The locals gather here for the Lao New Year. A swim in the cool Blue Lagoon 1 is recommended before a snack under the shade of the trees.

This cave can be reached by going through a Hmong village. About 2 km deep, this dark cave looks like a long tunnel strewn with stalactites and stalagmites, a flashlight is necessary. A basin formed by an underground river is about 800 meters from the entrance. It is best to visit it at the end of the rainy season when the level is ideal for swimming. Keep in mind that you will often have water up to your waist as you walk through the cave. It is advisable to be accompanied by a guide, as it is easy to get lost.

These 2 caves are located 4 km from the city, on the road to Tham Phou Kham. Tham Ang Ngeun is a narrow cave where you sometimes have to crawl. Bring a lamp. At 20 minutes from the entrance of the cave, there is a small lake full of catfish. To reach nearby Tham Jinally, you have to climb about 20 m to reach this cave, which is quite high but shallow. The rocks are shaped like animals: pythons, elephant heads... Bats have taken up residence there.

If you make a stopover in Luang Namtha for several days, it is probably to make a trek in the Nam Ha National Park, declared a national protected area in 1993 by the government, covering an area of 2,210 km2. It is one of the largest reserves in the country. Mainly covered by the jungle, three rivers cross it: Nam Tha, Nam Fa and Nam Long. There are more than 288 species of birds and 33 species of mammals. However, it has been many years since tigers and elephants have been seen here, as these species are primarily a threat to crops and the safety of local people. The Nam Ha protected area is home to many villages of more than 40 different ethnicities. Numerous ecotourism projects involving local people are set up to preserve this exceptional fauna and flora, allowing them to earn an income while becoming aware of the need to protect the environment.

Chang, a wildlife drama, a silent black and white documentary film made in 1927 by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack (directors who collaborated on King Kong's film). It follows the life of Kru, a peasant farmer living in the middle of the jungle of Nam Ha and having to fight every day, between tigers and elephants, for the survival of his family. The film was made without faking, in a natural environment, and the close-ups of the animals are exceptional. To be seen.

Set up in Laos since 1996, Gilles Maurer and Sébastien Duffillot decided to set up a non-profit association in 2001 to safeguard the last elephants in Laos: Kindness. In 2002, they organised a 1300-km-long caravan with elephants across Laos to raise public awareness about the threat of extinction hanging over the pachyderms. Desiring to share this unique experience with elephants, the founders of kindness create, in partnership with Lao Travel Agency Green Discovery Laos, "Elephant Adventures": circuits for lovers of nature and adventure who want to discover the "mount of kings" in the heart of the most secret Asian. Elephant Adventures has been specialising in elephant solidaires since 2007 and offers 2 to 5 day tours in northern Laos. These treks lead you through the region of Hongsa (between Luang Prabang and the Thai border), the original land of the elephants and their end in the province of Sayaboury. These hikes ensure an authentic encounter with the elephant through the learning of "cornaquage": preparation, conduct, pansage and bath of the elephant. The natural surroundings crossed are varied, preserved and exclusively operated by Elephant Adventures. No chance of crossing other travellers on routes! Elephant Adventures releases its turnover to the veterinary programme conducted by kindness (www.elefantasia.org) and tries, through a responsible approach, to promote the development of local tourism by perpetuating the tradition of "cornaquage" in its original area.

The Tad Fane Waterfall, is located within the Dong Hua Sao National Protected Area (NBCA). It is probably the highest in Laos; it is made up of two arms plunging more than 120m. Please be aware that swimming is not permitted on the site. A sporty trek on a very steep and slippery dirt road - to be avoided during the rainy season! - will take you to the top of this waterfall: splendid view! It is possible to cross the site in the air using a zip line (about 40 US$). People prone to vertigo should refrain!

The impressive Kong Lor cave is located in the protected forest of Hin Boun, 170 km north of Thakhek. It stretches over 7 km in this central region of Laos and is one of the geological wonders of Southeast Asia. Stalactites, limestone formations, and high ceilings (from 10 to 90 m high) make this flooded cave a site not to be missed. The best time to go there is during the dry season between November and April.

Indeed, the Nam Hin Boun river flows through the cave, making it accessible only by boat (pirogue). Inside it is dark (and cool), most of the trip will be in near darkness and only the boatman's lamp will light up the immensity of the cave. A few minutes after departure, you will be taken off the boat. You will walk for a short while in a well-lit part of the cave where you can admire the abstract forms of stalactites and stalagmites. Outside the cave, you will sail through a landscape of mountains, forests, clear sand beaches and rocks.

Bring a headlamp; clothing that is not afraid of water (and possibly a k-way or sweatshirt as it is cool in the cave); waterproof footwear. Namely, the surrounding scenery is beautiful, but don't forget that the Khammouane area was bombed; there are still UXOs buried in the ground today.

Located a few kilometers west of Mahaxai, Xieng Liap Cave takes its name from the novice Xieng and the tragic romance of the legendary Nang Samounta. The cave, which is about 200m long, has impressive limestone formations on the ceiling and is said to contain many historical drawings. During the dry season, you can walk for 10 minutes to the river that exits the cave and cross it with a village guide. During the rainy season, you can take a boat trip through the cave.