One of the most interesting and even overwhelming activities in Laos is exploring caves. With huge underground chambers decorated with stalactites, stalagmites, this country offers various cave exploring adventures as well as the most beautiful unique limestone cave system in Asia. Herein under we introduce to you some of the most famous names for cave exploring in Laos. It might be suitable for you - especially for those who love adventurous experience as well as the elder because there are many choices can be combined with cruising or trekking
Kong Lor Cave is the most magnificent cave in the country. It is a spectacular 7.5 km limestone tunnel through the cliff. It measures about 70-80 m wide in some places. Some caverns reaches up to 100 m high. You can see the Nam HinBounriver flowing 7 km through the darkness of Tham Kong Lor Cave. An hour boat trip through the caves will provide gorgeous moments when you pass by vast stalactites hanging from the roof and other spectacular limestone formation. You will need a strong torchlight because the enormous cave is very dark inside.
ThamChom Ong Cave system is also among the best in Laos. The 13.4 km long cave system is located in the Northern of Laos, 45 km from Oudomxay town near the Khmu Lu Village. It stretches along 4 km long mountain ridge and has a parallel running and interconnecting fossil passage above the cave river for 1600 m and a river passage. The chamber is 20 m to 35 m wide and contains many gorgeous limestone formations.
Xe Bang Fai River Cave, known as ThamKhounXe, is an underground segment of Xe Bang Fai River situated in the remote corner of Khammouane. A French and North American team re-explored the cave in 2008. ThamKhounXe Cave is considered to be one of the largest sustained river passages in the world with enormous rooms decorated with highly impressive structures. The cave has 7 km active river passage and 2.7 km fossil passage.
Pak Ou Caves, a famous site in LuangPrabang, located 25 km from the ancient town. Don't expect too much, but is interesting to see the different Buddhas lined up inside the cave.The cave has two levels- the first entrance is clearly visible from the river while the upper cave can be reached after climbing some stairs. It takes about 2 hour cruise upstream to get to the cave.
ViengXai is located in Houphan Province of the limestone region of North-Easter Laos, famous for its size as well as its history. There are hundreds of caves inViengXai area and some of them served as shelter for the Phathet Lao (communist revolutionaries during the Secret War). The underground complex was built using soft limestone to dig almost 200 m into the rock. It is now still an amazing site with lot of chambers with different function: protecting people against chemical weapons; entertaining, cooking, curing … You will see hospital, bedroom, theatre and bakery also. These caves were used as the Pathet Lao’s headquarters and some of the caves are known as the Defense Minister Cave, the Soldier’s Cave and the Royal Pad.
Seven of these caves are opened for tourist to visit.
