Luang Prabang A Venerable Cruise to the Pak Ou Caves with Lunch
Luang Prabang, Laos
- 9 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Cruise along the Mekong River and explore the sacred caves of Pak Ou on this full-day tour from Luang Prabang. Get a taste of local life along the Mekong as you pass by rural villages, peek into handicrafts workshops, and sample traditional rice wine. After a lunch of typical Lao cuisine (included), continue to the beautiful Pak Ou Caves and marvel at the thousands of Buddha statues on display.
- Full-day cruise to Pak Ou Caves from Luang Prabang
- Cruise down the Mekong River and explore the waterfront villages
- Learn about unique Lao traditions including colorful handicrafts and rice wine
- Tuck into a Lao-style lunch in Ban Xang Hay village
- Marvel at the Pak Ou Caves, filled with sacred Buddha icons
- Great-value tour includes lunch and round-trip hotel transport
What's Included
- A full day private tour with a professional English-speaking guide.
- Return boat transfers to the Pak Ou Caves
- Lunch included at local restaurant (food only)
- All entrance and donation fees for visits as mentioned in the description.
- All applicable taxes and service charges
- Personal expenses
- Hotel accommodation in the destination of commencement.
- Compulsory Christmas, country-specific festival and/or New Year dinner at included hotels
- Gratuities
- Any airline tickets, visa fees, additional transportation cost from and to the general meeting point
- Transfers from any airport or resorts located outside the general pick-up and drop-off locations
- Travel insurance coverage for customers (highly recommendable)
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Hotel pickup is available from most centrally located Luang Prabang hotels. Transfer outside these areas, supplements apply.
Start time.8:00 am
Itinerary
Meet your guide at your Luang Prabang hotel and transfer to the pier, where your boat will be waiting for you. Soak up the scenery as you set out along the Mekong River and glide past a patchwork of rice paddies, orchards and fishing villages. After around 1.5 hours, arrive at Ban Xang Hay, a village renowned for its traditional weaving and production of ‘Lao Lao’ rice wine. Immerse yourself in local life as you stroll through the village, then tuck into a lunch of delicious Lao cuisine.
After lunch, jump back aboard your boat and continue to the Pak Ou Caves, carved into a cliffside at the meeting point of the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers. Follow your guide into the lower cave of Tham Ting, then climb the steps to the upper cave of Tham Phun. Marvel at the mind-boggling number of Buddha icons on display in Tham Phun – some 3,000 statues, ranging from a few inches tall to human-height. As you explore the cave, learn more about the Buddhas from your guide and hear how the cave has become an important place of pilgrimage for local Buddhists.
Back on the boat, set off toward Luang Prabang and stop along the way to explore the village of Ban Xieng Mene and peek into Vat Long Khoune, a temple known for its striking murals. Finally, arrive back in Luang Prabang and end your tour with drop-off at your hotel.
After lunch, jump back aboard your boat and continue to the Pak Ou Caves, carved into a cliffside at the meeting point of the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers. Follow your guide into the lower cave of Tham Ting, then climb the steps to the upper cave of Tham Phun. Marvel at the mind-boggling number of Buddha icons on display in Tham Phun – some 3,000 statues, ranging from a few inches tall to human-height. As you explore the cave, learn more about the Buddhas from your guide and hear how the cave has become an important place of pilgrimage for local Buddhists.
Back on the boat, set off toward Luang Prabang and stop along the way to explore the village of Ban Xieng Mene and peek into Vat Long Khoune, a temple known for its striking murals. Finally, arrive back in Luang Prabang and end your tour with drop-off at your hotel.
1
Mekong River
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
2
Pak Ou Caves
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Mekong River (Pass By)
3
Wat Long Khoun
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- Not wheelchair accessible
- This tour is operated on full private basis with English-speaking guide. Other languages are on request / subject to availability and supplementary charges may apply
- Return transfers for this excursion apply only / are inclusive for customers staying in and inside Luang Prabang. Transfers outside these areas, including any accommodation outside this area such as Kuang Si, along the Ou and Nam Khan River, Nong Kiau and Luang Prabang International Airport are excluded. Supplements apply for customers who want to join this excursion outside one of these regions.
- 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.
- Infants must sit on laps
- We regret to inform you that this excursion is not suitable for wheelchair users. Guests are advised that some walking is required during this excursion; we always ensure that we take the most comfortable ways from the entrance of the sight to the sight itself.
- We always will make efforts 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.
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Please note pickup 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.
- 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 sunrays still have an immense power.
- 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.
- Customers are reminded to submit their passport number and expiration date with their reservation. These are essential requirements as outlined by local immigration regulations.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Reviews
4.0
based on 2 reviews
Kari_M, Jan 2025
Great tour, perfect guide!
Interesting cultural program. Weaving and whisky distellery Physical exercise included.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Hello Kari!
Thank you for this feedback! Glad our guide impressed you! This Pak Ou cruise with weaving and distillery makes a nice mix of culture and discovery. Plus some physical exercise thrown in!
Thanks for choosing Asian Trails!
From $144.29
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Luang Prabang A Venerable Cruise to the Pak Ou Caves with Lunch
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