1 Day Luang Prabang Mekong Cruise Tour to Pak Ou Caves

Taking a boat trip is probably one of the most rewarding ways to discover the local life along the rivers. The heritage city Luang Prabang is built on the confluence of the Mekong and the Nam Khan rivers. The Mekong River has been the main highways for people and goods for centuries and is still seamlessly integrated into the lifestyle of the people of Luang Prabang. Fishers fish in the morning and evening, and women dip their feet in the water to catch river shrimp. Children splash in the river on summer afternoons. In the dry season, fertile land along the riverside (the Mekong’s water level can rise and fall nearly 10 meters) is used for farming and for grazing buffalo.

Upstream, there is famous mysterious caves lined with countless Buddha statues. The caves are some 25km from Luang Prabang where Nam Ou River flows into the Mekong. The journey on a slow longboat from Luang Prabang will take two and half hours and is decidedly picturesque. A trip to visit the caves while viewing the unique landscape along the river from the boat is a popular itinerary for visitors to Luang Prabang.