Pak Ou Cave, Kuang Si Waterfall, Bear Rescue Center | 1 Day | Minivan Day Trip to Luang Prabang’s Most Famous Sites

The Pak Ou Cave and Kuang Si Waterfall lie to the north and south of Luang Prabang city, respectively. This tour will take you to both, with a scenic drive up and down the length of the Mekong River between.

Meet your guide early morning for a forty-minute drive to the Pak Ou Village, where you are free to explore the many crafts that the locals make before crossing the mighty Mekong River by small boat to the base of a limestone cliff, the site of the Pak Ou Cave. The lower cave is impressive and filled with Buddhist statues and relics. Take your time to explore the reverent scene scented with burning incense and overlooking the impressive Mekong landscape. Up a winding series of stairs, grab a flashlight and you’ll find another fascinating and easily navigated cave to explore with it’s ancient Buddhist relics before we have lunch.

Afterward, we’ll cross the Mekong again by boat and continue with a drive downriver for 1.5 hours to the famous Kuang Si Waterfall. On the way, we’ll stop to see the popular Whiskey Village and sample the locally made Lao Lao. The jungle around the waterfall remains lush and beautiful year-round. The waterfall cycles between placid, turquoise waters during the dry season to impressive, roaring falls during the rainy season. Either way, you’re in for a refreshing and beautiful nature experience. Integrated into the landscape is an Asiatic Bear Sanctuary where you can see these beautiful creatures up close and support efforts to care for the animals in the area.

We’ll end this full day with a return drive to Luang Prabang late afternoon and in time for your evening activities.

Note that the stairs are short but steep into the lower Pak Ou Cave, containing thousands of Buddhist statues. Access to the upper cave is via a fairly long series of stairs and can be taken at your own pace.