Pak Ou Caves, Luang Prabang: Travel Guide

Delve into the hole-in-the-wall of the Pak Ou Caves to discover a slice of the rich history of Luang Prabang. The Pak Ou Caves is home to over 4000 Buddha statues and is quite a unique cave experience.

Situated in a hidden location, you can enjoy immeasurably beautiful views over the Mekong River, limestone formations, and the small village of Pak Ou. And, there are two caves to explore when visiting this location.

Not to mention, the locals know this cave as ‘Tham Ting Caves’, which translates to a ‘cave of a thousand Buddhas’. I think this is a special name and a pretty spot-on description of what you’re bound to discover.

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History of the Pak Ou Caves

The Pak Ou caves are an important religious site for Buddhism. And, it’s been a special place of worship for many of the locals over hundreds of years. And, it’s a gorgeous place to worship such a beautiful religion.

The history of this location dates back hundreds of years ago and many locals believe that the caves are inhabited by spirits of the river. They believe that their ancestors have taken refuge in this fascinating place.

Not to mention, the Pak Ou Caves become a local hotspot during the Laotian new year. Moreover, this runs during April and you will see heaps of locals visiting the caves, praying, and washing in the water.

Finally, most of the Buddha statues are made of wood or resin and are then painted in gold. However, numerous statues take place with no finishings on them. Nonetheless, it’s pretty fascinating to see the large collection of effigies.

Where Are the Pak Ou Caves?

The Pak Ou Caves are a 45-minute drive north of Luang Prabang. Moreover, it’s about a 29km journey to reach the caves from the town centre of Luang Prabang.

However, the time it takes to reach the caves is entirely worth the effort! The caves are part of the tiny Pak Ou village and the cave sits on the edge of the Mekong River and Nam Ou River.

It’s an incredibly scenic location and the caves are easy to reach by scooter. Or, feel free to hire a driver if you aren’t confident with riding.

Nonetheless, you will need to make use of Route 13 and then turn left onto an unnamed road to head toward the cave. I recommend making use of Google Maps for the easiest directions to get there.

Finally, you will want to park near the boat pier as this will give you the closest location to the caves. I parked just behind Manivanh Restaurant and then returned later for some food.

Address: Pak Ou Caves, 26X6+CGG, Pak Ou, Laos

How Do I Get to the Pak Ou Caves?

There are a few ways in which you can reach this location. Moreover, you can visit by scooter, tuk-tuk/taxi, or boat. So, you have a number of options to choose from.

Scooter

In my opinion, the best way to reach the caves is via a scooter. Moreover, this gives you full control over when you get there, how much time you spend, and when you wish to leave. Scooter hire is about 70,000 Kip per day and is the most cost-effective way to reach the caves.

Tuk Tuk or Taxi

If you would prefer to have a driver take you to the caves, this option will be a little bit more expensive. You will be looking at around 200,000 Kip for a driver. Nonetheless, this is a great option for families or small groups.

Boat

One of the most popular and enjoyable ways to reach the caves is via boat. Moreover, this is a public boat that also stops at the Lao Lao whisky village.

However, there is only one boat per day, and the fee is 65,000 Kip. The boat leaves right at 8:30 AM, but I advise arriving at the dock early to save yourself a space. Please use this address to purchase a ticket for the boat.

Pak Ou Caves Tours

One of the easiest ways to reach the caves is via a tour. Moreover, everything will be organised for you and you can sit back and enjoy the relaxing journey to the fascinating historical site.

Not to mention, these tours have multiple activities involved offering you the perfect day of adventure of activities near Luang Prabang. Don’t miss out, get your tour booked today!

What Are the Entrance Fees?

Depending on your form of transport to reach the location, this can vary drastically. Personally, I took the cheapest route and still had a fantastic experience. Besides, if you take part in a tour, you will pay a higher price for the guide for the day.

Nonetheless, the guided tours are a great way to receive plenty of information and chat with a local. These people are informative and will happily tell you everything you wish to know!

In terms of entrance fees, the bare minimum you will need to pay is a total of 40,000 LAK ($4 AUD). Moreover, this includes a 20,000 Kip fee to the caves and a 20,000 Kip return boat ride across the Mekong River.

However, if you complete this adventure yourself, you will also need to hire a scooter. Moreover, this will set you back around 70,000 Kip for a day’s hire. But, you can use the scooter to check out a couple of other locations during the day.

I advise checking out my blog post below for some other activities you can enjoy while spending time in Luang Prabang.

Opening Hours: 8 AM – 5 PM Daily.
Read more: 20 Things to Do in Luang Prabang, Laos: Ultimate Travel Advice

The Cave Experience

After riding for 40 minutes and parking your scooter outside the Manivanh restaurant, it’s time to head towards the river to purchase a boat ticket. Wander down to the edge of the water, and a local will approach you and offer you a ride over to the caves.

This will cost you no more than 20,000 Kip and he will hand you a ticket to hold onto. Shortly, after a few more people have arrived, you will pile into the narrow two-speed boat and jet out across the Mekong.

The limestone cliffs will grow larger and soon, you will arrive at the small floating dock and unload off the boat. Head up to the small office box where a few locals are hanging out and purchase another ticket (20,000 Kip) to head up to the caves.

Now you have free roam to explore the lower and upper caves of Pak Ou. Typically, I would advise checking out the first lower cave where the main attraction is. You will hear bats squeaking from the depths of the cave and may even spot some fluttering around. And, you will be shocked with the sheer amount of Buddhas perched around the cave.

Take some time to soak in the amazement of this compact cave packed with wooden and resin Buddhas and wonder how they got to some of the awkwardly high positions. It’s pretty cool to see such a massive collection of these religious figures.

After some time enjoying the Buddhas and view over the Mekong River, it’s time to head up to the Upper caves. Head back down the steep steps and make your way up to the second set of caves.

This area is much larger and you can wander inside the caves. Not to mention, it’s also equally as beautiful and a lovely place to experience. And, the views over the river are absolutely stunning! I stopped multiple times to soak up this fantastic view.

Finally, head back down to the dock, and load back into the boat for a lift to the other side of the land. Now, I recommend you stop in at Manivanh restaurant to support them and try some of their delicious food! (Seriously, they know how to whip up a feast!)

Spend some time relaxing at the restaurant with beautiful views over the Mekong and caves; A beautiful end to your visit!

What to Bring

You won’t really need to bring much with you for your journey to the caves. However, these are a few items that I recommend taking along with you. Besides, less is best, but it’s nice to be organised!

Camera (Or use your mobile to take photos)
Cash (For entrance fees and other purchases)
Comfortable shoes (There are a number of stairs that are somewhat dusty and slippery)
Bottle of water
Clothes that cover shoulders and knees (This is a place of worship, so please cover up!)
Small backpack or bag for all your items

Tips For Visiting

Firstly, there is nowhere that you need to pay for parking. You can drive right up to the restaurant behind the small dock and park your scooter anywhere. If any individual along the road tries to stop you, continue safely making your way toward the restaurant.

Secondly, I recommend packing very minimally. You don’t need a lot of stuff and it makes it a lot easier when going across on the boat with fewer items.

Another tip for visiting is to go in the afternoon. This location tends to get quite busy in the morning, so I think it’s best to head here a little later in the day. When I visited, there was hardly anyone around, and we had the place to ourselves!

Finally, be sure to pay your respects by dressing appropriately and wandering the caves quietly. Keep in mind that your voice will echo a lot inside the caves, so please keep talking to a minimum.

Remember: This is a religious place of worship. So please act respectfully at all times.

Is the Pak Ou Caves Worth a Visit?

The Pak Ou Caves are an incredible tourist attraction and a beautiful place of worship. With that being said, yes, I do believe that these caves are worth a visit.

Besides, I’d been to numerous caves during my time in South East Asia, and this was one of the most unique cave experiences that I came across. I’d never seen anything like this, and was so glad I got to visit!

So, be sure to set aside some time to visit the Pak Ou Caves. It’s absolutely worth the effort and has landed itself a popular spot on many travel lists for things to do in Luang Prabang.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, the Pak Ou Caves were one of my favourite activities while visiting Luang Prabang. Moreover, I think it’s a fantastic half-day trip to enjoy with friends or on your own.

It was pretty cool to experience yet another place rich in history and to enjoy the magnificent setting along the Mekong River. Truly, I couldn’t believe just how stunning the location was! Besides, I think this makes up for the journey in itself!

Finally, if you would like to learn more about Laos, I recommend checking out this section of my blog; I am constantly updating it to ensure there is plenty of fresh content. Happy reading!