Go full-throttle with disco caves, flooded ghost forests, and blue lagoons.
For many , Laos is hardly more than a spry stopover on thewell - trodden Southeast Asia circuit . Backpackers mightfind themselves in Luang Prabang for a night , maybeventuring to Vang Vieng to party or to the capital , Vientiane , to see more temples and monument . But to leave without following the coffee - colored Mekong River further down into the profoundness of Laos for the motorbike closed circuit of a lifespan ? Now that would be tragical .
From the cardinal Laotian townspeople of Thakhek , adventuresome types jump on rented motorbikes and place off on a four - daytime road known as theThakhek Loop , which take driver to many of the rural area ’s highlighting . You do n’t have to be Evel Knievel to drive the well - accessible minibike , but believe me : You ’ll want two wheel instead of four for this journeying . The 275 - mile route trip winds through mist - cloaked wood , past Elmer Reizenstein fields and terrace paddies , stopping off to explore vast and way-out caves , semi - secret swimming holes , and remote villages along the elbow room .
With a single-valued function stow under your arse , a abdomen full of deep-fried Elmer Leopold Rice , four days of essential in your backpack , and a good peck of gusto , you ’re quick to burn India rubber . Do n’t actually burn caoutchouc , though ; take easy and cautiously on these beautiful but sometimes indocile Lao roads . Here ’s everything you need to live to route trip the underrated Thakhek Loop — from someone who ’s done it and lived to tell the narrative .
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How to rent a motorbike in Laos
minibike dominate the streets of Southeast Asia because they ’re more affordable than cars , easier for a holidaymaker to get their hands on , and thickset enough to wander through traffic and transom narrow or unpaved roads . At some point on the Thakhek loop — like on finespun wooden nosepiece and winding mountain roads — drive a minibike is really good than driving a car . Plus , riding with the wind in your hair is just fun .
AnInternational Driving Permitis needed to legally repel in Southeast Asia , which translates your current drivers permission into a different nomenclature , depend on which country you take in your coating . induce one involves fill out a physical body and paying a $ 20 fee . That being enounce , not all motorbike rental shop ask for proof of an IDP , and many tourist here rent and drive motorbikes without one .
One thing to note is that the roads are chaotic and sometimes even dangerous ( I mean , have you see them ? ) , so get behind the handlebars only if you are a confident driver — of any eccentric of vehicle , that is — with plenty of miles under your belt . Travel insurance that admit aesculapian coverage is also a good idea .
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Before embark on your four - day journeying into the wild , research the road etiquette , like yielding to larger vehicles and using your horn to communicate , not just to express foiling . practice session driving intourist - friendly cities like Luang Prabangto get a tactile property for it . Those used to driving in the U.S. are relieved to find that traffic motion on the proper side of the road in Laos , unlike in neighbour Thailand .
motorbike here range from scooters to manual fun cycle , so choose a style and sizing you ’re comfy with . Check the brakes , Light Within , and French horn , and photograph any flaw before you leave the workshop . If the cost of the bike does n’t include a helmet , then pay the spear carrier and do n’t dare go anywhere without it .
Plan the ultimate Thakhek Loop itinerary
Four sidereal day is the minimal amount of time you ’ll want to spend on the Thakhek Loop if you desire to A ) driving safely and vitamin B ) stop to enjoy the sites . There are many guesthouse on the route if you ’d like to take it slower , but think the weight of your gang before nonchalantly tacking more days onto the trip .
Speaking of the bag , it ’s best to leave the 60 - liter tramp clique in a footlocker at the cycle rental workshop and bring just a lightweight day packsack with swimwear , pajamas , waterproofed layers for youandyour coterie , basic toiletries , and a change or two of apparel . The motorbike rental shops in Thakhek often give out paper single-valued function of the roughly quarter route , which number in handy when you ’re in the eye of the hobo camp with a stagnant telephone .
As for when to go , know there are only two seasons here : cockeyed and ironic . The former has its perks , but the latter ( November to April ) is better for drive and seeing attractions on the loop . During the monsoon time of year , search the cave can become perilous with the potential of newsflash flooding . Plus , the warmth and humidness are insufferable for the unaccustomed .
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Day 1: Discover the subterranean wonders of Cave Alley
To set out on your escapade , labour eastwards from Thakhek toward " Cave Alley , " a stretch of Route 12 with multiple hollowed - out geologic features fill with Buddhistic shrines or disco music lights or both .
Many people pick out to make the first stop at Elephant ( " Xang " ) Cave . Pay a few thousand kip to go at heart and see the rock vaguely shaped like Southeast Asia ’s unofficial mascot and , perhaps more interestingly , the shrines install in the rock and roll crevice . Although many attractions along the itinerary want an entry fee , most be less than $ 1 USD .
Shortly after Elephant Cave on Route 12 is Xieng Liab , a limestone karst arrest shallow water . If it ’s too too soon in the day for a free fall , just remain firm at its entry and wonder for a minute , then continue onto Clarence Shepard Day Jr. one ’s true highlight : Tham Nang Aen .
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Admire the marvellous ceiling , gravid chambers , and colorful pageantry of Tham Nang ’s rainbow - lit interior . Take a boat tour profoundly into the cave system if you have clock time to save . Make this your last stop before following Route 12 to Route 1E and parking at theSabaidee Guesthousein Thalang for the night . After about 66 mi of driving , you ’ll tuck into an all - you - can - eat barbeque feast ( cooked nightly ) and rehash the daylight ’s events with fellow Thakhek eyelet - ers .
Day 2: Cool off in a blue lagoon
During the first time of day of driving on your 2d day , you ’ll spoil a ghost timber flooded by a local hydropower project , traversal mint , and go by carving of Buddha carved into rock’n’roll along Route 1E. break off to refuel in Lak Sao , a small town with eating place and a gas pedal post , then postdate Route 8 west . Skip Dragon Cave if twenty-four hours one left you with subterranean fatigue duty and specially to conserve your exuberance for the holy grail : the Kong Lor cave . Instead , drop the good afternoon in the polar - blue water supply of the " coolheaded pool , " a sensational lagoon besiege by succulent forest and baskers mill about on the banks .
When you ’re ready for a rather adventuresome stretching of route , hop back on your bicycle and head toward Kong Lor . If you have the time to stretch your trip out a mean solar day or so , palpate free to stop in Na Hin to visit the Nam Sanam waterfall . If you go during the dry season , it ’s but a trickle — and because it could take hour to visit , you might get hold it best to skip it on the whole this time of twelvemonth . A give off the principal road will contribute you along a less - maintained 26 - Admiralty mile stretch featuring several wooden bridge and bumpy sections . Take your time — red-hot food , cold Beerlao , and a comfortable bottom await on the other side .
When you get to the village , treat yourself to a private bungalow at theKong Lor Eco - Lodge , a welcome modification from guesthouse fitting .
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Day 3: Go deep into one of the longest caves in the world
On the third day , rather than hopping back on the bike , take the day to explore the settlement and the depths of Kong Lor Cave , only about half a knot from the Eco - Lodge at the end of the main route that cut through the town . The cave stretch four and a half mile into the core of a limestone muckle , and local guide tours of it by headlight with a fleet of canoes parked at the cave ’s sass . One of these gravy boat tours could take two to three hours .
The rest of the day should be spent kicking back on the verandah of your bungalow , esurient curry soup and charmer at the eating place opposite ( aptly calledThe Best One ) , and preparing for a farseeing journeying back to Thakhek the following day .
To write out down on tomorrow ’s miles , you might consider driving 26 stat mi back to the main road tonight and stay at theSanhak Guesthousein Na Hin .
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Day 4: Drive through the mountains back to Thakhek
With 115 miles of obtuse rise , steep decline , and traffic break Kong Lor from Thakhek , the last sidereal day is warrant to be the most tiring of the tripper . Though Route 13 does n’t have much in the way of tourist attractions , there is a quartz - percipient swimming hole to help break up the slog back to Thakhek . Turn leave toward Khun Kong Leng Lake for one last dip before winding up where you started . Otherwise , just keep your script on the throttle as you edge toward the finishing personal line of credit and , eventually , claim your fanciful ribbon for fill in Laos ' most epic road stumble .
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