Bolikhamxay

Spend the night in a natural setting or with a riverside balcony. Find a guesthouse room in town or a highway hotel. Stay at Thaphabath near Phou Khao Khouay National Protected Area and sacred Buddhist sites, or base your Bolikhamxay expedition at Pakxan, the provincial capital. You’ll also find accommodation at Lak Xao near the … Read more

  Local, VIP, and express busses, as well as sawng taews depart from Vientiane Capital’s Southern Bus Terminal, for Pakxan, the provincial capital, every 30 minutes, starting in the early morning through late afternoon. The 150-km ride takes about two hours and cost LAK30,000 to 50,000, depending on the category. There are three daily busses … Read more

  Tham Pha Muang & Tham Pha Singh: Travel north of Pakxan along the Nam Xan River to tree-covered Pha Muang, and inspect the boulder-filled base of the wide, round outcrop. Here, you’ll uncover the opening to small Tham Pha Muang with a sandy, watery floor. After scoping out the cavern, continue down the path … Read more

  Bolikhamxay faced many invasions from the Siamese throughout its history. The foundation of the provincial capital Pakxan dates from the late 19th century during a time of Siamese control. After 1865, the Chinese Haw pillaged Xieng Khouang and Bolikhamxay. After the Haw retreated in 1874, Siam’s King Rama V ordered the establishment of Muang Bolikhan, which was populated with … Read more

  The Lao Tai live in the Mekong River valley, having migrated from China, and they tend to farm rice and fish. They also grow coco palms and various fruits, and raise cattle, buffaloes, poultry, pigs, and goats. The Lao Tai excel at weaving, basket making, wood carving, and working with silver and gold. Their … Read more

  Sawng taews (Pickup trucks with benches) travel between Bolikhamxay’s district centres throughout the day. They depart when full, and early morning is the best time for catching a quick ride. Some sawng taew drivers can be hired by the day for tourists who want to visit specific attractions in the area. Prices are negotiable. … Read more

  Bolikhamxay presents a natural paradise mixed with sacred Buddhist temples and sites. The province’s landscape of porous limestone karsts hides plenty of caves for discovering a world in the dark. Outside, rivers tumble over cliffs into clear pools fit for a swim. Bolikhamxay is also home to some of the country’s most mystical religious … Read more

  Fancy a walk through nature to a spectacular view? In Phou Khao Kwai (PKK) National Protected Area (NPA), a short trek delivers you to the Elephant Tower that rises above a forest pachyderm trail. While there, hike along the Nam Hi River to Tad Lung Waterfall, or more distant 40-metre-high Tad Fa. Embark on … Read more

  Vat Phabath houses a huge footprint of Lord Buddha. Across the road sits Vat Phonsane, believed to be a sacred site where Buddha once took his meals. About 5 km from Pakxan Town, Vat Don Soung presents a series of colourful religious buildings. Vat Dan Soung’s compound is spread over a massive rock floor. … Read more