Summit view
River among peaks.
Ekrem Canli — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ekrem Canli — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gerd Eichmann — CC BY-SA 4.0
A quiet village on the Nam Ou river in northern Laos, ringed by towering forested limestone peaks that drop to the water, its two banks joined by a bridge with the finest view of the river and mountains. It draws walkers and nature lovers away from the crowds. It is best known for trails to hilltop viewpoints, including one climbing about an hour and a half through forest, from whose top the village and the river winding between the mountains open out. Mist often fills the valley in the morning, with peaks rising above it like islands. Around the village are caves where people sheltered during the war years, and small Hmong and Khmu villages reached by bike or on foot through rice fields. The boat trip from Luang Prabang used to be the classic way in, but dams since 2017 have cut parts of the river, so the road is now easier. The hill trails are steep and slippery in the rain, so bring water and proper shoes; small fees are paid at the trailheads. Rural Laos still holds unexploded ordnance from the 1960s-70s war, so keep to marked paths and never touch metal objects, per UK travel advice.
River among peaks.
The finest view.
On foot or bike.
On the Nam Ou river, Luang Prabang province, about 140 km by road north of the city
By minibus from Luang Prabang in about three to four hours, as dams have cut the old river route.