Nong Khiaw village guide

Things To Do In Nong Khiaw

A quiet village on the Nam Ou river between towering limestone cliffs, with sunrise viewpoints above a sea of mist, war caves and boats upriver to even quieter villages.

Where to stay What it costs

Hostels in the city

8.8

Average, from 631 reviews

Dawn

Mist in the valley

3 h

From Luang Prabang

Nam Ou

The river

Between the cliffs

Nong Khiaw is a small village on the Nam Ou, a tributary of the Mekong, where limestone cliffs rise straight up from the river. It is one of the most beautiful places in northern Laos, and very quiet.

The hikes up to the viewpoints above the village, at dawn when the valley fills with mist, are the reason to come.

Boats run upriver to Muang Ngoi Neua, an even smaller village. Two or three days is right.

Where to stay

Nong Khiaw is a small village on the Nam Ou river, split in two by a bridge. Guesthouses and bungalows on both banks face the cliffs; the east bank, by the bridge, has most of the restaurants.

By the bridge

First-timers

Guesthouses facing the cliffs, near the restaurants.

Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 7 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.

Things to do

Things to do in Nong Khiaw

Nong Khiaw sits on the Nam Ou river surrounded by towering limestone cliffs, one of the most beautiful places in northern Laos.

Hike up to the Pha Daeng viewpoint, about an hour to an hour and a half of steep climbing, for sunrise above the mist that fills the valley on cool mornings; bring a torch for the dark start. Other viewpoint trails climb the cliffs nearby.

Tham Pha Tok, a cave a short walk from the village, sheltered villagers and the Pathet Lao during the bombing of the 1960s and 1970s.

The 100 Waterfalls trek is a full day through jungle and up a series of waterfalls, with a guide. Kayaking and tubing trips go along the river.

Take a boat an hour upriver to Muang Ngoi Neua, an even quieter village with no road access, for walks to caves and villages.

Free things

Free things to do in Nong Khiaw

Sunrise and sunset views of the cliffs from the bridge and the riverbanks are free, and so is walking around the village.

The viewpoint trails and Tham Pha Tok charge small fees, mostly to fund the paths.

Food and drink

Eating and drinking in Nong Khiaw

Nong Khiaw's restaurants serve Lao dishes, such as laap and fish from the river with sticky rice, alongside traveller favourites. Many guesthouses cook.

A meal is €2 to €5.

Nightlife

Going out in Nong Khiaw

Nong Khiaw is very quiet at night. A few restaurants and guesthouses serve Beerlao, and evenings are for watching the light fade on the cliffs.

A beer is €1 to €2.

Getting around

Getting around Nong Khiaw

Minibuses and buses reach Luang Prabang in about three to four hours on a winding road.

Boats run upriver to Muang Ngoi Neua, about an hour; there is no road. The village itself is walkable.

Costs

What Nong Khiaw costs

Nong Khiaw is cheap. Dorms and simple bungalows start around €5 and a careful day is €15 to €25.

Viewpoint and cave fees are under €1 to €2, the 100 Waterfalls trek is around €20 to €30 with a guide, and the boat to Muang Ngoi a few euros.

The currency is the Lao kip (LAK), which loses value quickly; prices here are euro equivalents, and many places also quote in US dollars or Thai baht. Carry cash: cards work only in larger hotels and restaurants, and ATMs have low withdrawal limits and fees. There are few ATMs; bring enough cash from Luang Prabang.

Safety

Staying safe in Nong Khiaw

Nong Khiaw is very safe. The viewpoint trails are steep and can be slippery; bring a torch for dawn hikes and good shoes.

Unexploded bombs from the 1960s and 1970s remain in the countryside; stay on marked paths, and never touch anything metal you find.

Emergency: 1191 police, 1195 ambulance.

Day trips from Nong Khiaw

A quieter village upriver and a trek through waterfalls.

Luang Prabang

About 3 hours · Minibus

The royal town.

What's on

What is on while you are there

The dry season is the season.

November to February

Misty season

Nong Khiaw

The best dawns.

Mid-April

Pi Mai

Nong Khiaw

Lao New Year.

All events in Nong Khiaw

Hostels

Where to stay in Nong Khiaw

The top-rated places to stay in Nong Khiaw right now, live from Hostelworld.

Sustainable 10.0 1

When to go

November to February, for misty dawns and dry trails.

27°

Jan

Cool and dry

30°

Feb

Dry

33°

Mar

Hot, hazy

34°

Apr

Hottest, Pi Mai

33°

May

Rains begin

32°

Jun

Wet

31°

Jul

Wet

31°

Aug

Wet

31°

Sep

Wet

30°

Oct

Boat festivals

28°

Nov

Dry season

26°

Dec

Peak

Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets: quiet busy peak

Average highs. Mornings are cool.

What your trip will cost

Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.

Prices are in kip locally; these are euro equivalents. Carry cash.

Nights 3

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Beds—
Food and drink—
Getting around—
Doing things—

Nong Khiaw travel questions

The ones we get asked most.

How hard is the Pha Daeng viewpoint?

About an hour to an hour and a half of steep climbing. Go before dawn with a torch for sunrise above the mist.

How do I get there?

By minibus from Luang Prabang, three to four hours.

Are there ATMs?

Few; bring enough cash from Luang Prabang.

Is it safe to hike?

Yes, on marked trails. Unexploded bombs remain in the countryside, so never stray off them.

How many days do you need?

Two or three, more with Muang Ngoi.

When is the best time to visit?

November to February, for misty mornings and dry trails.

What is Muang Ngoi Neua?

A quieter village an hour upriver by boat, with no road access.

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