Why You Must Visit Nong Khiaw

Not much is known about Nong Khiaw, in fact, most tourists don’t know it exists. This small town located 3 hours north of Luang Prabang is one of Laos’ hidden gems. Nong Khiaw is a quiet and scenic town jam-packed with adventure.

Nong Khiaw is what you imagine backpacking in Southeast Asia to have been like in the past. Although the tourism industry is a bit overly commercialized with signs for tours pasted around the town, it still maintains its “Off the beaten track” essence as a sleepy backpacker town.

How to Get There?

Take a van from Luang Prabang, tickets cost 80,000 kip and the trip takes 4 hours, 3 if the driver takes no break. I recommend arranging for the ticket at your hotel the day before or earlier since seats are limited. Most, if not all hotels, can arrange this for you. The first van leaves at 8:30 AM. You can also go by bus from the Southern station at 9 AM and the Northern station at 11 AM and 2 PM. These cost about half the price, but seeing how the ticket was already cheap, I opted for the comfort of the van.

What to Do in Nong Khiaw?

Most people visiting Nong Khiaw come here to visit villages, go hiking, kayaking, see caves, or do homestays. Here are my favorite things to do in Nong Khiaw:

1) Climb Phadeng Peak:

For just a 20,000 fee, you can get an incredible overview of the valley that is beyond stunning. This peak blows Mount Phousi in Luang Prabang out the water! Most recommend going at either sunrise or sunset. I opted for sunset. It will take most people anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour to reach the peak. Make sure you have a flashlight of some sort heading back down, the trail is pitch black!

2) Climb Pha Nang None:

This peak is less popular than Phadeng and 5000 kip cheaper. While the view isn’t as spectacular, there are certainly less tourists here. I went in the morning and was the only person there. This trail is just a quick 5-minute bike ride away from the Phadeng entrance and takes about 40 minutes to reach the peak. Be careful here, the trail is a lot more slippery, I slipped about 4 times going down, and that’s with me taking precaution!

3) Visit a Village:

Rent a bike out and just ride, you’ll run into villages along the way. If you take a boat up the river for about an hour, you can reach Muang Ngoi, a very small sleepy town in the middle of nowhere with a number of surrounding villages.

4) Go Kayaking:

This was my absolute favorite activity in Nong Khiaw. I took a boat an hour up-stream and went kayaking back, which took 2 hours. Spending two hours to myself riding along the Nam Ou River was perfect. This was actually my first time kayaking, what better way to do it than alone in the middle of a rural town in Northern Laos?

5) Relax:

If you ever wanted to spend the day doing nothing, Nong Khiaw is the place to be. Grab a fruit shake, sit by the river and just enjoy the weather.

Where to Stay in Nong Khiaw?

There are plenty of places to stay in this town, with a large number of ultra budget hotels for those gap year backpackers looking to spend under $10. If you have a bit more to spend ($40), then I highly recommend Nong Kiau Riverside.

These bungalows along the Nam Ou River are the best bang for your buck in town. The rooms are beautiful, spacious, and very clean. Truthfully speaking, this was the most beautiful under $50 hotel I have ever stayed in my life.

How Many Days in Nong Khiaw?

A minimum of 2, but 3 is probably better. 4 if you’re doing an overnight trek to villages.

How Do I Get Out of Nong Khiaw?

The bus station is just a short 5-minute ride from the center of the town. Buses leave for Luang Prabang, Nam Thouam, Pak Mong, and other cities.

I loved Nong Khiaw and would definitely visit again, there is a lot more to discover than I originally thought. Take your time here and enjoy every second. As the locals jokingly say “Please Don’t Rush.”