Nature
Pak Ou Caves
ຖ້ຳປາກອູ (ຖ້ຳຕິ່ງ)
Closed now 08:00–17:00 20,000 LAK + boat fare (indicative)
Two riverside caves filled with thousands of Buddha images, near the mouth of the Nam Ou.
5 h 55 min
Walk
2 h 3 min
Cycle
56 min
Tuk-tuk / van
Etiquette
Active place of worship: cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes before entering buildings, speak softly, and never point your feet at Buddha images or monks.
Etiquette →Story
The Pak Ou Caves are set in a limestone cliff facing the Mekong, opposite the mouth of the Nam Ou, about 25 km upstream from town. The lower cave, Tham Ting, and the upper cave, Tham Phum, hold thousands of Buddha images placed there by worshippers over generations. The caves are a traditional place of pilgrimage, especially around Lao New Year. Most visitors travel by boat up the Mekong, often stopping at Ban Xang Hai; bring a torch for the darker upper cave.
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