• USD 30 - 46
    Nong Khiaw to Luang Prabang: Nam Ou River Cruise & Optional Mekong Adventure (NK-2)

    USD 30 - 46
    Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw: River Cruise, Hike & Waterfall (NK-1)

Mon-Sun 08.00 - 21.00 +856 71 254 179

Pak Ou Caves

Sacred Caves
River Landscapes
Your Kind of Adventure

Visit with Manifa Travel and make the caves part of a day that suits your interests. Enjoy a guided Mekong cruise with lunch, combine your visit with Kuang Si Waterfalls, spend time with elephants, or explore the river by kayak.
View Trips

Discover
Pak Ou Caves

Overlooking the Mekong near its meeting point with the Nam Ou River, Pak Ou Caves bring together limestone scenery and generations of Buddhist devotion. Thousands of Buddha images fill these riverside caves, making them a memorable place to discover the relationship between faith, landscape, and life along the river.

Known locally as Tham Ting, the Pak Ou cave complex has long been a place of worship. Buddha images of different sizes and materials have been placed here over generations, reflecting the continuing significance of the caves to the people who visit them.

Their setting is equally striking. Rising above the Mekong, the limestone cliffs overlook a landscape of rivers, wooded hills, and riverside settlements. Approaching by boat reveals how closely this sacred place is connected to the waterways around it.

Pak Ou Caves

Tham Ting — The Lower Cave

Open to daylight and overlooking the river, the lower cave is filled with Buddha images arranged across ledges and rocky recesses. Take time to notice their different forms and the views back across the Mekong.

Tham Theung — The Upper Cave

A staircase leads farther uphill to the upper cave, where a darker interior offers a different atmosphere. Visiting involves additional steps, so consider your mobility, energy, and the time available on your chosen tour.

Experience Pak Ou Caves with Manifa Travel

An experienced guide, a riverside lunch, and a choice of thoughtfully arranged itineraries help you make the most of your visit.

Discover More with an Experienced Guide

Our guides introduce the places you visit and help you understand what you see along the way. Ask questions, learn about the caves and their surroundings, and enjoy the reassurance of having someone coordinate the day’s activities.

Enjoy Lunch Beside the Mekong

A buffet lunch at Manifa Elephant Camp is part of our Pak Ou Caves boat cruises. Set beside the Mekong, the camp offers a welcoming place to pause, enjoy your meal, and take in the river scenery before continuing your journey.

Elephant activities are included only in tours that specifically feature an elephant experience.

Bring More of Luang Prabang into One Day

Your time in Luang Prabang may be limited, but there are several ways to make it rewarding. Our packages combine Pak Ou Caves with Kuang Si Waterfalls, an elephant experience, or kayaking, bringing transport and activities together in one booking.

For guests who prefer to focus on the river, our morning and sunset cruises offer an enjoyable journey through the Mekong landscape.

Choose a Shared or Private Tour

Join other travellers on a shared tour, or enjoy a private experience with your own group. Our joint tours combine guided activities with the value of shared transport, while our private tours provide a dedicated guide and a private boat or vehicle, depending on the itinerary.

Choose Your Pak Ou Caves Experience

Pak Ou Caves and Mekong River Half-Day Cruise​

Enjoy the journey, from riverside villages to sacred caves

Travel aboard a local riverboat and take in the changing views of hills, boats, and settlements along the Mekong. Our cruise itineraries combine the caves with a visit to Ban Xang Hai and a buffet lunch at Manifa Elephant Camp.

Choose a morning cruise to return to Luang Prabang earlier, or an afternoon itinerary with a sunset cruise back towards town. Private tours offer a dedicated boat and guide for your own group.

Best for: Travellers who want to make the Mekong journey the focus of their day.


Pak Ou Caves & Kuang Si Waterfalls

Two landmark destinations in one full day

Make time for both the Buddha-filled caves beside the Mekong and the turquoise pools of Kuang Si Waterfalls. This is one of our most popular combinations, especially for travellers spending only a few days in Luang Prabang.

The itinerary brings two distinct landscapes into one organised day, with guided touring and lunch included. There is a substantial road journey between the Pak Ou and Kuang Si areas, making this a good choice for guests who value seeing both destinations within a single day.

Best for: Short stays and travellers keen to experience both highlights.


Pak Ou Caves & Kayaking

Make the river part of the adventure

Add an active dimension to your visit with a guided kayaking tour. Experience the landscape from water level as you paddle through the river scenery, then visit Pak Ou Caves as part of your journey.

Check the individual itinerary for the paddling route, duration, and other activities included.

Best for: Active travellers who enjoy exploring outdoors.


Pak Ou Caves & an Elephant Experience

Combine cultural discovery with time at Manifa Elephant Camp

Pair your cave visit with an elephant experience at nearby Manifa Elephant Camp. Spend part of your day exploring the Mekong and its sacred caves, and part discovering the relationships between elephants and the people who care for them.

Activities vary by programme. See each itinerary for details of the elephant experience and how it fits into your day.

Best for: Travellers who want to combine river scenery, cultural discovery, and an elephant experience.


More Ways to Include Pak Ou Caves in Your Journey

Combine your cave visit with city discoveries or onward travel

Explore Luang Prabang’s cultural landmarks before joining an afternoon cruise to Pak Ou Caves, bringing the historic town and its riverside surroundings together in one day.

Travelling from Nong Khiaw? Turn your transfer to Luang Prabang into a day of discovery. Travel by boat and minivan to connect with our afternoon Pak Ou Caves cruise, then continue along the Mekong towards Luang Prabang.

These itineraries make a visit to the caves part of your wider journey, whether you are exploring the city or travelling between destinations.

Best for: Travellers looking to combine the caves with city sightseeing or make more of a transfer day.



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Pak Ou Caves