Thakhek Loop

Starting point of central Laos's classic motorbike loop, with karst peaks, the 7 km underground river of Kong Lor Cave, Buddha caves and a French-era town on the Mekong.

The Thakhek Loop is in Khammouane Province in central Laos. It starts and ends in the provincial capital of Thakhek on the Mekong and circles via Route 12, Route 8 and the Nakai Plateau road — a total of about 450 km, usually done by motorbike in 3–4 days. The route passes through the karst forests of Phou Hin Poun National Protected Area and is riddled with caves: within 20 km of Thakhek alone are the Buddha Cave, Elephant Cave, Xieng Liab Cave, Nam En Cave and the Tha Falang river bend, all doable as a half-day trip. The middle section passes the drowned forest of the Nam Theun 2 reservoir and the village of Tha Lang; the northern section takes in the Route 8 viewpoint and Nam Sanam waterfall near Na Hin before reaching the 7.5 km underground river of Kong Lor Cave, then loops back to Thakhek. The best season is the November–March dry season, with good roads and clear water; April–May is hot, and during the June–October rainy season some dirt roads turn muddy and Kong Lor boat trips may be suspended. Thakhek has several rental shops offering semi-automatic or manual motorbikes, maps and luggage storage, and some sections can be covered by bus or hired car instead. Buses from Vientiane take about 6 hours, and from Nakhon Phanom in Thailand you can enter via the Third Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge. Note: wear a helmet and check your bike's condition before riding; some stretches have no phone signal, so carry enough cash in kip. Dress modestly when entering temples and Buddha caves — women should bring a sinh (wrap skirt).

Top sights

• Kong Lor Cave – The Nam Hinboun River flows through a 7.5 km underground cave, and you can cross the entire limestone mountain by longtail boat in total da…
• Route 8 Phou Hin Poun Viewpoint – A viewing platform beside the Route 8 mountain pass overlooking the endless karst pinnacles and green valleys of the Phou Hin Poun protecte…
• Tham Pha Fa (Buddha Cave) – A cave discovered in 2004 by villagers climbing the cliffs to catch bats, housing more than two hundred bronze Buddha statues several centu…
• Tham Xieng Liap – A cave passing straight through a towering limestone cliff, with a wide entrance; in the dry season you can wade through to the river valle…
• Tham Sa Pha In – A small limestone cave housing Buddha images and a clear pool of holy water, regarded by locals as sacred.
• Tha Falang – An emerald river bend formed where the Nam Don is embraced by cliffs, a retreat from the French colonial era, ideal for swimming and picnic…
• Tham Nang Aen – The most developed large cave near Thakhek, with wooden walkways and colored lights illuminating a huge chamber of stalactites and an under…
• Tham Xang (Elephant Cave) – A stalactite inside this cave resembles an elephant's head and is revered locally as sacred; it is the first small cave beyond Thakhek.
• Khoun Kong Leng (Blue Lagoon) – An emerald lake fed by underground springs at the foot of limestone mountains, regarded as sacred, with swimming allowed downstream.
• Thakhek Old Town & Mekong Riverside – French colonial houses around the Fountain Square and the Mekong riverfront promenade, a base for renting vehicles and stocking up before s…
• That Sikhottabong – A golden stupa on the Mekong riverbank, one of central Laos's most important Buddhist sites, said to date back to the ancient Sikhottabong…
• Thalang & Nakai Reservoir – A reservoir formed when the Nam Theun 2 hydropower dam flooded a forest, with dead trees standing in the water; in morning mist it looks li…
• Nam Sanam Waterfall – A forest waterfall north of Nakai town, reached by a one-hour hike along a valley, with multi-tiered cascades falling into a deep pool ring…
• Green Climbers Home – A climbing camp in a karst valley east of Thakhek, with hundreds of sport routes, plus lessons, gear rental and accommodation.

Where to eat

• Sern Sap Restaurant – A lakeside restaurant in Oudomsouk, the first stop on the Thakhek Loop, rated the best place to eat on the Loop by seve…
• Six Friends Restaurant – An open-air restaurant in central Thakhek strung with fairy lights, with an extensive menu and cheap beer; a gathering…
• SpringRiver Resort Restaurant (Remotara Konglor Lodge) – A riverside restaurant at a resort near Konglor Cave, with vegetables from its own garden; its laab and green papaya sa…

Itineraries

• Thakhek Loop & Kong Lor Cave Motorbike Tour – Ride a motorbike counter-clockwise along the loop, passing caves, a reservoir with dead trees, and karst peaks to reach…
• Laos North-to-South Mekong Traverse – Travel all the way south from Luang Prabang, passing through Vang Vieng, the Thakhek Loop, and Pakse, before ending in…