Luang Nam Tha

As last destination in Laos we went to Luang Nam Tha, in the north west of the country, and situated on the road to Thailand. This small town is a good place to visit the Nam Ha National Protected Area where many animals and also different ethnic groups live.
Originally we wanted to go trekking for about 2 days, but all trips they offered were so expensive that we gave it up quickly. However we rented a motorbike for one day and drove 120 km (return) through the protected area to Muang Sing (more to the north and very close to China). On the way we could see and visit village of local people, enjoy the nice landscape and walk to a waterfall.
During this season, people here in Laos burn down a lot of forest and fields to get more space. It's a pity, many mountains are black and without plants. Even in this protected area are many damages visible and this area is home to a lot of animals, also tigers and leopards. Where people haven't touched the forest, it is possible to see how beautiful the jungle is.

Nong Khiaw and Muang Ngoi

A bit in the north east of Luang Prabang on the Nam Ou river lies Nong Khiaw. The landscape is beautiful with the river flowing through limestone karsts and the village on both sides of the river bank. There isn't a lot to do, some caves to visit, but this place is also the set off to get to Muang Ngoi.

Muang Ngoi:

On the same river and in a very similar landscape like Nong Khiaw is Muang Ngoi. This small village is even more quite than Nong Khiaw, the only way to get here is by boat (no road leads here). During day time there's no electricity, only from about 7 to 10 PM you can switch on things or charge batteries.

On the 1 hour boat trip from Nong Khiaw to Muang Ngoi you pass between untouched forests and mountains.

Around Muang Ngoi live different ethnic groups and on a trekking tour you can get to various villages. The houses are mainly made of bamboo and on the way you pass fields with buffalos and cross some rivers.

Muang Ngoi is small, all houses are lined up along a main road where also are restaurants and bungalows.

Alms giving ceremony

Part of the New Year's festival in Luang Prabang is also the alms giving ceremony. At about 6 o'clock in the morning monks arrive and people line up in a queue in front of the royal palace.

First, all pray and afterwards the monks pass along the queue of people who give them food (rice, snacks, sweets, etc.) and money.

Soon the bags which the monks wear get full with food and then they distribute the food again with the people (the things they don't like they give away).

Alms giving ceremony

On a half day excursion we went to the Kuang Si waterfall which is very nice and also during the dry season flows enough water (the photos doesn't really show the beauty of the waterfall, in real it is much better).

On the way back to Luang Prabang came a heavy thunderstorm (luckily we were in a car otherwise we would have been more wet than during the water battle). When we arrived in Luang Prabang the city was without electricity and in the hotel we also didn't have water. Because of that we didn't have the posibility to publish it earlier.

Luang Prabang - Pii Mai

First of all, (with a bit delay) we wish you a happy New Year!!

It's already the 3rd time this year, that we could celebrate it (The Chinese one mid February and now the Thai/Lao).

Normally Luang Prabang, the old Lao capital on the Mekong, is famous for the temples and the monks who live inside. But it has also a great New Years party and everything/body gets wet, very wet!! Officially the festival lasts 1 week, but it can also be more, the whole country goes on holiday.

Everybody gets wet, no chance to escape, on the first day it was just water, but afterwards they use also flour (only or togehter with water it gives a nice mix) and grease. The water they also mix with colours, so that the clothes and body has a different look afterwards. Tourists and local people are working together to splash everyone, it's like a water battle with pistols, buckets, bottles and everything you can put water inside.
The whole party is very funny and we stayed there 4 days. Fredi was afraid of the rude attitude, he didn't want to leave the hotel, it was too wet for him.

Some temples in Luang Prabang, there would be many more, even 4 days weren't enough to see them all. At least in the temple areas was a quiet place to keep dry.

The festival is not only a water battle, there are different activities during the week. Here the "Miss Lao New Year ceremony". The people standing along the street splashed the monks and all participants of the procession.

And here Miss Lao New Year on a horse and 2 girls in a traditional dress.

On the first day, people from Luang Prabang take a boat to the other side of the Mekong river and build a sand Stupa (which they cover afterwards with flour and other things). That's the harmless part, aside the water battle continues and there are a lot of places to drink, eat and having fun. Also the Mekong is close for a bath.

The water battle is mainly on the streets of Luang Prabang. Cars, Pick-ups and other vehicles are driving through the city and splash people, all the poeple on the street shoot water on the cars. No chance for anybody to escape (especially for tourists)!!

Vang Vieng

Caving, kayaking, tubing, jumping, etc. This small town a bit in the north of Vientiane offers many opportunities to have great fun!!



Kayaking on the small river which runs through Vang Vieng and on the way down stopping at some bars to have a drink and jump in the cool water of the river. Also Fredi enjoyed this trip!



Tubing in a cave, also very nice. It was very dark inside, till the end it was about 1 kilometer, so Fredi was a bit afraid, but at the end he liked as much as we did it.


Around Vang Vieng are a lot of caves to visit. The caves are very different, some are very big inside, other so narrow that you nearly can't pass... Anyway it's always cool inside and very relaxing while it's very hot outside.

We have a nice small room in a hotel here and enjoy it, but yesterday evening we had an unwanted guest in the bathroom...