Pak Ou Caves: My Incredible Experience
Located along the Mekong River, sixty metres above the river, Pak Ou Caves stand as one of Luang Prabang’s most intriguing attractions.
After exploring these ancient caves during our 10-day stint in Luang Prabang, I’m excited to share why this excursion became a highlight of our trip.
We discovered the mysterious cave temples and visited the famous whiskey village along the way, creating an unforgettable day trip that combined spirituality, culture, and local craftsmanship.
Let me break down everything you need to know about visiting the Pak Ou Caves, share my personal experience, and help you decide if this popular attraction deserves a spot on your Luang Prabang itinerary. (Spoiler alert: it absolutely does!)
Discover the best things to do in Luang Prabang before we proceed.
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Pak Ou Caves Tour
If you want to see Pak Ou Caves without having to plan anything, booking a group tour might be perfect for you. Below is a highly rated tour.
Some other options to consider include:
Luang Prabang: Cruise to Pak Ou Caves & Kuang Si Waterfalls
Full-Day Private Guided Pak Ou Caves & Ethnic Village Tour
Private Explore Pak Ou Cave & Kuang Si Waterfall with Lunch
How Do I Get To Pak Ou Caves?
Apart from a group tour, you can take a tuk-tuk from Luang Prabang to the small village of Pak Ou, just across the Mekong River, about 345 meters away.
We paid 420,000 KIP for two people to take us to the long boat across to Pak Ou Caves. Our driver waited there for us, and on the way back, we stopped off in Whiskey Village to see how they make their local whiskey.
Do note, they have snakes inside the bottles of whiskey. Whether it’s for flavour or aesthetics, it was pretty cool to see firsthand how they made it.
Once on the boat, it only took a few minutes to cross. Getting off the ferry at Pak Ou Caves was a little challenging as the boats were lining up beside the other long boats, and the current was strong, so be careful as you exit the boat onto the pier.
Once you make it here, though, you are free to explore the caves.
Another way to get to Pak Ou Caves is by taking the Slow Boat, which takes about an hour and a half.
Read about our experience taking the slow boat from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai – an amazing way to travel in Laos.
Cost To Enter Pak Ou Caves
As we got off the boat, we had to pay the entrance fee at the pier at the very bottom of the caves.
One man was standing inside the small ticket booth taking payment. It cost us 20,000 Kip per person, and you could not enter without the ticket.
Pak Ou Caves History
The history behind Pak Ou Caves is very curious indeed.
If we go back far enough, it would have been called Tham Thing. Religious ceremonies were held here because local people along the river and region worshipped Phi – the spirits of nature.
Additionally, it is believed that locals entered the valley region sometime around the 8th century. Buddhism followed some time later, arriving from the west.
In the 16th century, the royal family were stern proponents of Buddhism, and the caves received patronage from them until 1975.
For more Laos travel inspiration, find out what the best temples in Luang Prabang are.
Every year, locals and the king made the journey to the caves as a pilgrimage. Due to this, the royal family commissioned all the sculptures to be made, and since the 18th century, you can see the same ones that we saw on the day we visited.
Incredible.
How Many Caves Does Pak Ou Caves Have?
There are two caves in Pak Ou Caves, and I got to explore both of them on my trip.
We could see the caves from the Mekong River as we passed by on the boat to Pak Beng.
The lower cave, the one you enter first from the ferry pier, is called Tham Ting. Here you will find around 2,500 wooden, bronze and stone Buddha statues all around the cave in various sizes and shapes.
When we walked through the caves, we made a game of finding the most interesting statue in the most challenging location to place it, for example, high up on a steep edge.
Don’t miss the impressive altar found inside. Also, there are lion sculptures which guard the entrance.
What impressed me most was a natural spring inside the cave, which brings holy water to the ceremony each new year.
The upper cave is called Tham Theung.
We had to walk up some steps around the cave entrance. While the climb was steep and tough on my legs, most people should be able to manage it depending on their fitness level. It didn’t take too long, maybe 10 minutes.
The cave extends for 54 meters, and there’s no light at the end of the path.
For me, the lower cave was more impressive. The gaps in the edge of the cliff gave you opportunities to look out across the river. The upper cave felt much more basic, like a large space cut out of the side of the cliff.
Though it has an impressive height, there are some seats inside where people can sit, as well as a place to worship. It additionally has some information panels.
The statues found at Pak Ou Caves date from the 18th-20th century.
My Experience At Pak Ou Caves
We left the ferry pier from Pak Ou village at 11.06 AM, and by 11.11 AM, we were getting off the boat.
This was a quick journey.
By 12:30 PM, we had finished and were on the boat back to Pak Ou Village.
For me, the best part was all the Buddhas inside the cave. There must be hundreds of these wooden statues covering the floor and walls of the cave, and it’s a sight to behold.
When we visited, there were only a small group of tourists there and another couple. We couldn’t believe how lucky we were to have so few travellers inside with us.
We had to consider the time of year; the wet season had just begun, so that could be the reason. It was mid-June.
There are several signposts throughout the cave complex that tell you more about the history of the caves, the Buddha sculptures, and both cave chambers.
Don’t miss reading these signs, as they provide valuable context about the caves’ origins and significance.
The only negative experience we had was with a woman working at the temple. She was quite pushy about selling us some chains and became rather rude when we declined. While this didn’t significantly impact our visit, it did make the experience slightly less enjoyable.
My advice is to be firm but polite with vendors at the cave and stand your ground if you don’t want to purchase any items.
Discover the best restaurants in Luang Prabang with my in-depth guide.
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Final Thoughts/Conclusion
Visiting Pak Ou Caves was a real highlight from our 10-day trip in Luang Prabang.
After arriving at Luang Prabang Railway Station, we didn’t realise how much fun this UNESCO town would turn out to be.
The caves are easy and fun to get to, combining both a tuk-tuk and boat ride, or you can join a group tour to maximise your time and minimise the effort of planning the trip.
Luang Prabang is absolutely worth visiting, and a trip to Pak Ou Caves is the cherry on top.
Another place you will love is the 4000 Islands in the south of Laos. If you need some more inspiration, check out this post.
Any questions? Just drop me a message.
Thanks for reading,
James
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