Things to do in Ban Xang Hai

Enjoy a private or shared group boat tour to the Pak Ou Caves and Kuang Si Waterfalls departing from Luang Prabang. You will be picked up at your accommodation and travel straight to the pier. Hop onboard a long tail boat for a relaxing journey aong the Mekong River. Enjoy the views from the water as you pass by local villages and fishing communities. After the first hour and a bit, the boat makes its first short stop at the popular Ban Xang Hai, also known as ‘the whiskey village’. Explore the village, see the process of making Lao Lao, the country’s beloved rice whiskey, and taste the finished product. Continue by boat traveling slowly along the Mekong in the direction of the glorious Pak Ou Caves. Arrive at a small boat landing dock where stairs lead you straight up to the cave. These limestone Buddhist caves have been a place of worship for thousands of years, over this time a collection of Buddha statues and idols have filled these spiritual natural caves Enter the Ou River to visit the limestone cliffs. Then, after a 30-minute boat ride down the Mekong River, arrive at Manifa Elephant Camp for lunch. Enjoy a full buffet-style lunch at the restaurant overlooking the Mekong river and free-roaming elephants. After lunch break, travel by car to the Kuang Si Waterfalls. Enjoy 2 hours of free time to explore the three-layered Kuang Si Waterfalls. Walk the trails of the nature reserve and swim in the refreshing turquoise water pools and visit the bear rescue center. Depart for Luang Prabang, with a short stop at Ban Na Uan Hmong village on the way. Return to the city with drop-off at your hotel.

Explore Laos’ one of the most respected holy sites Pak Ou Caves on this half-day river cruise. We depart Luang Prabang boat pier in the morning. Float down the Mekong river and see many scenery of countryside. We will enjoy a 3-hour morning boat trip. Stopping by a local village "Ban Xang Hai" for tasting their unique homemade local rice whisky and rice wine. A local tour guide will accompany throughout the tour. Tour guide will explain the history and culture of Pak Ou Caves. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Afterward, we enjoy buffet lunch at the restaurant overlooking the Mekong surrounded by tropical forests. Return to Luang Prabang city by minivan at 2:00 pm The afternoon tour will start by car taking you to San Hai Village for lunch. Then visit the cave by boat and continue cruising to Luang Prabang. It is the same except that the order and time of the itinerary changes. The tour date is reschedulable until 7 pm day before. Please contact us by email or message or visit Manifa Travel office (opposite of Villa Santi Hotel)

Start with a convenient pickup from your accommodation in Luang Prabang, relax in a comfortable van as you travel through scenic countryside to Ban Xang Hai, where you begin your 14-kilometer bike journey along the Nam Ou and Mekong Rivers to the Nam Ou Bridge. Ride through lush, scenic countryside on a well-maintained Trek Merlin 7 mountain bike. A truck will accompany you along the way, so you can cycle with peace of mind. Two-thirds of the route is unpaved and flat except for a 100-meter climb up and down. Admire rice fields, charming villages, and colorful temples along the way. Stop at villages, rice paddies, a primary school (weekdays only), and a market for a glimpse into local life. After your bike ride, you can shower, change, and refuel with a delicious buffet lunch at Manifa Elephant Camp before heading back to Luang Prabang. After lunch, you can choose to extend your tour and add on an afternoon activity. This includes kayaking on the Nam Ou and Mekong rivers (visiting the Buddha caves of Pak Ou) and a 1.5-hour sunset cruise back to Luang Prabang.

Rather than driving the 140km directly from Nong Khiaw to Luang Prabang, we take a day trip to Luang Prabang, doing some old-fashioned travel in Laos, taking boat cruises and detours to enjoy the beautiful scenery and local culture as much as possible. Meet at Manifa Travel Nong Khiaw office, just off the bridge in Nong Khiaw, at 8:45 AM. Board a boat on the Nam Ou River for a misty 2-hour morning cruise to the Second Dam. A minivan awaits you at the dam's boat pier and leaves for Manifa Elephant Camp, where you will have lunch. After lunch, board your boat for a Mekong River cruise. Along the way, stop at Pak Ou, where the Nam Ou River joins the Mekong, to explore the Buddha caves on the opposite bank. Then, head down the river to Luang Prabang. After a stop at a whiskey village that produces sticky rice spirits, the sun begins to set. You will watch a beautiful sunset over the Mekong River from the boat. You will arrive in Luang Prabang just before 6 PM. We will transfer you to your hotel of choice in Luang Prabang.

Morning: Pak Ou Caves 8:00 AM - Depart from Luang Prabang Take a boat ride along the Mekong River to Pak Ou Caves. The journey takes about 1-1.5 hours. 9:30 AM - Arrive at Pak Ou Caves Explore the two main caves (Tham Ting and Tham Phu). These caves are filled with thousands of Buddha statues of various sizes. 10:30 AM - Enjoy the Scenic Views Take some time to enjoy the views of the Mekong River and the surrounding landscapes. Lunch 12:00 PM - Lunch at a Local Restaurant Enjoy traditional Laotian cuisine at a nearby restaurant. Some popular dishes include: Larb (spicy meat salad) Papaya salad Sticky rice Afternoon: Kuang Si Waterfall 1:30 PM - Depart for Kuang Si Waterfall Travel by minivan or tuk-tuk to Kuang Si Waterfall (about 30-45 minutes). 2:15 PM - Arrive at Kuang Si Waterfall Explore the stunning multi-tiered waterfall. You can swim in the turquoise pools or take a hike on the trails. Visit the nearby bear rescue center if interested. Late Afternoon 4:30 PM - Return to Luang Prabang Head back to Luang Prabang, arriving by around 5:30 PM.

Explore the beauty of Luang Prabang with our immersive day tour! Starting with convenient hotel pickup, visit Vat Visoun Temple, the city’s oldest shrine. Learn about local culture at the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre and the UXO Centre. Discover Ban Xangkhong, known for Saa paper making, and Ban Xanghai for Lao Lao whisky tasting. Marvel at the Buddha Cave’s serenity before ending your journey with a relaxing sunset boat ride on the Mekong River. Experience culture, history, and nature in one trip!