A Complete Guide to Nong Khiaw, Laos

Nong Khiaw, Laos was a beautiful surprise during my travels through Southeast Asia.  It has the perfect mix of charm while feeling completely remote… but still having plenty of things to see and do.  It seems that Nong Khiaw isn’t on many people’s radars – yet, but seeing as it’s easy to get there from Luang Prabang, that might soon change.  If you’re traveling around Laos, I urge you to head north to Nong Khiaw to witness the beauty of this town for yourself.  Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Nong Khiaw, Laos.

 

IF YOU’RE PLANNING A TRIP TO LAOS, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND PURCHASING TRAVEL INSURANCE!

 

Are you planning a trip to Laos?  Don’t miss:

• The Best Packing List for Laos
• Everything You Need to Know About Traveling to Laos
• The Best 1 Week Laos Itinerary

 

Location of Nong Khiaw

Nong Khiaw is located in Northern Laos about 80+ miles north of Luang Prabang, in the Luang Prabang Province.  The Nam Ou River runs through the town and it’s surrounded by beautiful limestone peaks making Nong Khiaw popular amongst adventure seekers, outdoor enthusiasts, and those looking for a more remote getaway.

(By the way, you do need a visa to visit Laos!  Get one here).

 

How to Get to Nong Khiaw

Perhaps the most popular way to travel to Nong Khiaw is way of Luang Prabang.  While you can reach Nong Khiaw by crossing over from Vietnam or China (or coming from further north or west of Laos) the easiest and most practical way is through Luang Prabang.

 

Traveling from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw

As I mentioned earlier, Nong Khiaw is about 80+ miles north of Luang Prabang.  The quickest way to travel between the two places is by bus which will take around 3.5 hours.  When booking bus travel through Laos, my recommendation is to use 12Go.  On 12Go you can compare different bus options and prices allowing you the flexibility to choose the best choice for yourself.

One thing to note about bus travel in Laos – it could still use a lot of work.  The roads are bumpy and the ride is uncomfortable.  Plus at times they put tourists (instead of locals) in the middle seats where the seat doesn’t have a back and is very small.  After traveling all around Southeast Asia, in my opinion, Laos ranks as one of the worst countries to travel by bus (only second to Myanmar).

 

If you’re traveling to Nong Khiaw from Luang Prabang, don’t miss:

• The Best Luang Prabang Itinerary (1-3 Days)

 

BOOK A BUS TICKET TO NONG KHIAW HERE!

 

The Best Time to Visit Nong Khiaw

The best time to visit Nong Khiaw is during dry season from November-April.  Monsoon season comes to Laos from May-October so it’s best to avoid traveling the country at this time.

The coldest months in Laos are December and January with temperatures around 60+ F (depending where you are in the country).  The hottest months in Laos are March-June when temperatures hover around 90+ F.  Because Laos is a “long” country (from north to south) temperatures can vary between the north and the south.  Take this into account when planning your travels.

I visited Nong Khiaw in October and while I experienced scattered rain showers, it was nothing that deterred my travel plans.

 

Where to Stay in Nong Khiaw

For such a small village, Nong Khiaw has a ton of options for accommodations ranging from hostels to nicer hotels.  When I visited Nong Khiaw, I stayed at the Ou River House.  The location was incredible but the rooms themselves were very rustic.  There was no air conditioning, the doors wouldn’t shut all the way (or lock), and the shower was over the toilet.  But when I woke up to the river view and limestone cliffs in front of me, it made the uncomfortable room worth it.  Plus, at Ou River House you have bikes and kayaks to use for free.

 

OTHER ACCOMMODATION RECOMMENDATIONS IN NONG KHIAW

• Nongkhiaw The Float House
• Mandala Ou Resort
• Nong Kiau Riverside
• Nam Ou View Villa

 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN NONG KHIAW HERE!

 

Top Things to do in Nong Khiaw

Nong Khiaw is mostly known for its outdoor activities and it’s also the gateway for treks through the jungle.  If you’re coming to Nong Khiaw with the intention to trek, simply head to the center of town to find a company to help plan.  (These companies are all over, you really can’t miss them).

 

Hiking in Nong Khiaw

There are tons of hikes that you can do in and around Nong Khiaw ranging from easy to difficult.  The most popular ones include the 100 Waterfalls trek (will need a tour guide which you can find in town), Nong Khiaw viewpoint (also known as Pha Daeng Peak), and Sleeping Lady Peak.  For both the Nong Khiaw viewpoint and the Sleeping Lady Peak I’d recommend going at sunrise or sunset!

 

THE BEST VIEWPOINT IN NONG KHIAW – NONG KHIAW VIEWPOINT

If you’re short on time and only want to hike to one viewpoint in Nong Khiaw, I highly recommend doing the Nong Khiaw viewpoint also known as Ph Daeng Peak.  Not only do you get incredible views over Nong Khiaw, especially at sunset; but there are two different viewpoints depending on whether you want do a short hike or a longer, more intense hike.  The shorter hike will take you about 20-minutes to reach the viewpoint and the longer hike will take about 1.5 hours.  This hike is relatively challenging but there are tons of resting points on the way up if you get tired.

The cost to access the viewpoint is 30,000 LAK which you’ll pay at the start of the hike.

 

WHAT TO PACK TO HIKE IN NONG KHIAW

• Comfortable hiking shoes (can also be tennis shoes if you’re not planning a hard hike)
• Reusable water bottle to keep your water cold (and cut down on plastic waste)
• Bug spray
• Sunscreen (face and body)
• Fanny pack to keep your belongings

 

Water Activities in Nong Khiaw

Another way to spend time in Nong Khiaw is on the water!  Especially on days that are hot, it can be nice to cool down on the river (although I wouldn’t necessarily recommend going for a swim in the river as its very polluted).

 

KAYAKING, PADDLEBOARDING, & BOATING

In my opinion, one of the reasons that Nong Khiaw hasn’t attracted tons of visitors is because it isn’t *quite* set up for tourism – yet.  Case in point – kayaking, paddleboarding, and boating down the Nam Ou River is a great way to spend time in Nong Khiaw, but there really isn’t a company that I can point you to and tell you “rent from here”.  Instead, Nong Khiaw really operates on word of mouth.  When you get to town simply ask the locals or someone at your hotel where to rent a kayak or a boat.  It’s as easy (and yet as complicated) as that!

The Ou River House has free kayak rentals (with stay) and the option to rent a boat for 1 hour for 200,000 LAK.

 

Activities in Town – Walking the Nong Khiaw Bridge

The Nong Khiaw Bridge spans the Nam Ou River connecting the two areas of Nong Khiaw.  This bridge was a gift from the Chinese and built in 1964.  The reason I recommend walking across this bridge is because it’s absolutely beautiful.  You get mountain views in front of and behind you, and you can watch the boats below you.

 

If you enjoy outdoor adventures, don’t miss these outdoor adventures in Laos:

• From Luang Prabang:  What You Need to Know About Visiting Kuang Si Waterfall
• Everything You Need to Know About Blue Lagoon 1 & 2 in Vang Vieng

 

Bars & Restaurants in Nong Khiaw

Something that surprised me about Nong Khiaw was the amount of bars and restaurants this small village has to offer.  I will say – nothing that I ate blew me out of the water, but there are decent restaurants with good food.

• Couleur Cafe – Good for working with wifi; French-Laotian fusion (food is decent)
• Oxin Restaurant – Family run restaurant with good, affordable Laotian food
• Q Bar & Restaurant – Good for happy hour (from 6 pm-8 pm) and located just a few steps from the Nong Khiaw Viewpoint

 

FAQ

Below are the most popular questions (and answers) about visiting Nong Khiaw.  If I didn’t answer your question here, let me know in the comments!

 

Q:  “Is Nong Khiaw worth visiting?

• A:  I loved Nong Khiaw for its laidback and quiet nature.  If you’re wanting somewhere that feels more off the beaten path and you have some time to simply slow down – I would absolutely say that Nong Khiaw is worth visiting.  But if you’re short on time or you like to stay busy and you don’t plan to do any of the hikes around Nong Khiaw, it probably wouldn’t be worth it for you.

Q:  “What is Nong Khiaw known for?”

• A:  Nong Khiaw is primarily known for its outdoor activities.  You can rock climb, hike, ride bicycles, kayak, visit villages and waterfalls; the opportunity for outdoor adventure is endless!

Q:  “How many people live in Nong Khiaw?”

• A:  Nong Khiaw is a small village with a population of 3,500.

Q:  “How long should you stay in Nong Khiaw?”

• A:  You really only need 1-2 nights to see Nong Khiaw and do a hike or two.  If you’re planning a more intense trek through the jungle then you can play on staying in the area for longer.  Also, if you do want to do a trek, once you arrive to Nong Khiaw you can visit the center or town where there will be many tour operators who can help you plan your trek.

 

Laos Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Laos

 

I hope this guide to Nong Khiaw, Laos helps you decide whether or not you should visit and also helps you best plan your trip!  If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments below.

 

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For more information on things to see and do in Nong Khiaw, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppinlaos” or under my highlights for “Laos”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Laos” highlight

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