hike

Hiking to Pha Tok Cave in Nong Khiaw

If you're in Nong Khiaw, visiting Pha Tok Cave is another affordable activity. The historic caves were originally used as a hideout during the Indochina war in the 1960s. 

How to get there

About 3 kilometres from the bridge, the cave is located past the Viewpoint. After about a 45 minute walk, you'll reach a sign for Pha Tok Caves on your right. 

There is an entrance fee of 10,000 kip. Take the path to the right, which will lead you to a makeshift bridge. When I say makeshift, I mean it's a tree with bamboo railings. 

From here, if you head right, you'll make it to a smaller cave you can climb around. If you head left, you'll need to climb the small ladder over the fence to get to the main cave. From here, head up the concrete stairs to the large cave that people used to hide from the bombs. Make sure to bring a flashlight or headlamp because it gets pretty dark. 

From the large cave, if you keep taking the trail left, you'll reach a smaller cave that you can climb around in. Although, we noticed that the trail isn't maintained as well. It's also much smaller than the first two. So, I wouldn't say that it's necessary to visit. 

Finally, try not to let anyone guide you, as they'll expect a 50,000-80,000 kip tip. 

Happy Exploring!

Hiking to Nong Khiaw Viewpoint

If you're looking for a budget-friendly adventurous activity, hike up to the viewpoint. It offers a beautiful view of Nong Khiaw and the surrounding limestone mountains. 

How to get there

Getting to the beginning of the trail is pretty simple. Head past the bridge (on the guesthouse and restaurant side), and you'll find arrows pointing towards the viewpoint.

The entrance fee is 20,000 kip and includes a bamboo walking stick and a bottle of water. Part of the entrance fee goes back to the local community for maintaining it. The trail is opened from 6 a.m. - 4 p.m. Please note that you shouldn't veer away from the trail as there are unexploded bombs in the area from the war. 

From here, the hike takes roughly 1 - 1.5 hours to get to the viewpoint or three hours round-trip. It's a tough hike that takes you uphill to the top of the mountain. Be careful of the rocks and roots. There is rope at certain tricky sections to help keep you balanced. 

The best time to go is in the morning when it's cooler and cloudy. The clouds should clear up by mid-morning, so you'll have a gorgeous view at the top. 

Happy Adventuring!