Full day / Half Day Kayaking and Pak Ou Caves with optional sunset cruise
Description
・Spectacular kayaking on the Mekong and the Nam Ou rivers. You will find the diverse nature and landscapes of Luang Prabang ・Pak Ou Caves are well known as Tham Ting or Ting Cave, located on the riverbank, about 25km from Luang Prabang. The cave is very beautiful and filled with thousands of Buddha images and has long served as a pilgrimage site for all kinds of people, including members of the former royal family. ・Optional Sunset Cruise. Enjoy the slow relaxing pace of the Mekong with a lovely sunset backdrop. ・Reschedulable until 7 pm day before. Please contact us by email or message or visit Manifa Travel office (opposite of Villa Santi Hotel) ・Upgrade to private tour on request (Your own guide, Private transportation) ・This tour is operated by Manifa Travel. More than 25 years of experience in the travel & tourism industries in Luang Prabang. We are committed to maintaining sustainable relationships and creating positive impacts on the animals, land & communities of Laos
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Your accommodation in Luang Prabang city or Manifa Travel office at around 8:30 am (±15 min). Please let us know your hotel / guest house in advance. Please fill in the name of your accommodation in "Special Requirements" field on booking or notice us by the day before tour.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(27)
Our tour was great. Kayaking on the Mekong was a great and memorable experience. Excellent way to get to Pak Ou which was also a great experience.
My girlfriend and I had an amazing time cycling, kayaking, and taking the river cruise. We really enjoyed visiting the village and exploring Pak Ou caves, and lunch was great. Our group was a nice small size for the cycling and only us and our guide for the kayaking. But our amazing guide, Vone, made the experience really special. He was very knowledgeable about the area and Loas’ history, and his English was perfect. He gave us a lot of time to explore on the kayaks and answered all of our questions. We would 100% recommend the tour, and if you can ask for Vone as your guide!
"Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience! 😊 We're thrilled Vone made your day special. He's one of our best guides, and we're glad you enjoyed the cycling, kayaking, and river cruise. Your kind words about Vone's knowledge and English are much appreciated. Thanks for choosing us, hope to welcome you back to Laos!"
Brilliant to do, what an experience to kayak. Professional crowd and the food was so so good. Very well organised. Loved it, do it.
You're making me wanna book a kayak trip 😊! Sounds like you had an epic experience with the Pak Ou Caves and sunset cruise. The kayaking sounds like a highlight, and "so so good" food is a win! 🍴 Would you recommend any tips for others doing this tour?- Get ready for a great workout (kayaking can be tough but worth it) - Bring sunscreen and a hat (you'll be outdoors) - Enjoy the sunset cruise (optional but sounds like a nice touch) Would you do it again or try another adventure in Laos? 😊
A great experience. The kayaking wasn’t easy but it wasn’t far and it was amazing scenery! We also were really luck and we were the only two on the trip which made it very special. An extra treat was the chance to meet elephants at the end of the trip over lunch and feed them
We did the half day tour in a small group of six. The whole experience was excellent. We really enjoyed the kayaking and the caves. You definitely need to take a change of clothing - there are lockers at the activity centre where you can leave them. We had a bonus hug with an elephant back at the base, which is also an elephant sanctuary. We also enjoyed a wonderful buffet lunch by the river.
We had a great day with Mr. Dang our guide. First a small mountain bike tour and in the afternoon by kayak to the cave. Everything was wonderful and the warmth and good mood of the guide is infectious:-). Thank you very much!!!
We’re so grateful for your positive feedback, It means the world to us that you appreciated to our team. takes pride in going above and beyond to ensure our customers always have an unforgettable experience.”
Mister Thin was a real guide who accompanied us from the morning to the evening. He was considerate, attentive and always at our disposal. He has never been stingy with information about his country, his culture.... In short, a wonderful day to recommend ++++
Half days tour on the Kayaks to the caves.. An awesome outdoor adventure on the Meekong River... A few extras to consider.. You will be in a kayak on the river for 30 plus minutes...so it helps to think about the positions your taking.. The front seat - has more support for your back/core area.. The back seat - not so much and this position steers the kayak more.. The caves were nice and they ask for a small donation on entry to them at the top and bottom. Lunch was lovely but after getting drenched....take a change of clothes.. Shower facilities were available and would have been nicer to wear. Wear thongs or scuffs.. Locker facilities to lock up valuables and a water tight bag given to each kayak for phones etc.
Kayaking the Mighty Mekong: An Unforgettable Half-Day Cave Adventure! Embark on an exhilarating half-day kayaking tour along the legendary Mekong River, culminating in a fascinating exploration of its hidden caves. This outdoor adventure promises stunning scenery, refreshing activity, and a taste of local culture. What to Expect on Your Kayak Journey: You'll be paddling on the Mekong for over 30 minutes, so here are a few tips to maximize your comfort and enjoyment: Seating Strategy: Front Seat: Offers excellent support for your back and core, ideal for those who prefer a more stable and relaxed paddle. Back Seat: This position provides more control for steering the kayak, perfect for those who enjoy navigating and guiding the boat. Exploring the Sacred Caves: The caves you'll visit are truly remarkable. Please note that a small donation is requested at both the top and bottom entrances to help maintain these beautiful sites. Your contribution helps preserve them for future visitors. Post-Paddle Comfort & Essentials: Lunch: A delicious lunch is provided, but trust us – you'll likely be drenched after your river adventure! We highly recommend bringing a complete change of clothes to fully enjoy your meal in comfort. Shower Facilities: Convenient shower facilities are available on-site, offering a refreshing way to clean up after your paddle. Footwear: For your comfort and safety, we recommend wearing thongs (flip-flops) or scuffs that can get wet. Valuables & Electronics: Don't worry about your belongings! Secure locker facilities are provided for your valuables. Additionally, each kayak will be equipped with a water-tight bag – perfect for keeping your phone and other essentials dry.
This is the second time we took the trip. The first time was last year, with just my wife and I. This time I brought my parents. It was wonderful! A slow boat up to whisky village, then the amazing Bak Oo, and finally lunch with the elephants. An absolutely fantastic half day, with the friendly Mr.Thin this time. Highly recommended!
We appreciate your valuable feedback regarding your recent tours with Manifa Travel. We're thrilled to hear that you had an excellent experience on of our one-day tours, The trip was great from start to finish. We're glad you found our guide Mr Thin is our asset . We're equally pleased that you enjoyed the in the local village, learning about their unique lifestyle and culture. We're glad that our guide Mr Thin was informative and considerate . We will share your feedback with him. We're delighted that you found lunch is highlight with Mekhong views and . We aim to provide our guests with unique experiences, and we're thrilled that you enjoyed the day tours. We appreciate your patronage and look forward to creating more memorable experiences for you in the future. with best regard Latte
They arrived late for pickup at our hotel , although that didn't matter much to me since the kayaking trip was a lot of fun, my surprise was when they took us to the property where they stop to eat and watch as they did elephant rides for tourists and also had an elephant outside the restaurant that was basically there to be fed and touched by all tourists , unfortunately, if I had known I don't check with them, don't support a company that uses elephants to ride.
I would like to echo your concerns about elephant camps. Elephant riding is not animal abuse if it done properly. Walking 3-10 km a day is important for the health of captive elephants. Peer-reviewed academic studies have reported that elephant riding is a positive experience for this reason. It is possible to replace this with non-riding trekking, where the elephant and human walk together. However, research has shown that elephants can carry up to 15% of their body weight without significant changes in gait pattern or physical pain, so there is no moral superiority in not riding. In addition, in the secondary terrain of the undulating flat forest in our elephant camp, ordinary tourists cannot keep up with the elephants, so walking with the elephants without riding them to satisfy the aesthetic values of some tourists is just a hindrance to the elephants. Another study has shown that elephants were bored and showed the highest obesity and stress levels at sites that banned elephant riding for marketing to Western tourists. In tourist elephant camps, even if there is a fair amount of forest, the elephants freedom often tend to result that they get bored of doing nothing. Of course, this boredom can be compensated for by a proper enrichment program like those in zoos, but it is questionable whether this can provide a much better activity for the elephants than the elephant rides offered for tourists. When elephant riding is done poorly, it can raise animal welfare concerns, but when it is done well, it can be a positive experience for both the elephants and the humans. Our elephant camp website has more detailed explanations and references to academic studies, and we are sure that after reading it you will understand that supporting proper elephant tourism is part of responsible tourism.
