| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Transport | Sangtaew bus |
| Cost | $3 per person, $1 per bike one way |
| Blog | 15th Jan - An internet cafe - finally! |
| Gallery | Vientiane to Lak Xao |
The journey
The tourist information centre at Nahin was still under construction but surprisingly they were able to give us very helpful advice in English. There are four songtaew buses per day towards Kong Lor at 8am, 10am, 12am and 2pm. It cost $3 per person and $1 for the bike (tied to the roof) to go to Sala Kong Lor. The bus was a 2hr bumpy ride on 27km of very dusty roads along a complicated route which we wouldn't have found ourselves. Some of the route crossed paddy fields which would be inaccessible in the wet. Alternatively, you can get a bus to Nampur then take a 3hr boat. Sala Hinboun has new $5 rooms and camping is available there. There were surveyors on the road so it may be upgraded in future. The bus back to Ban Nahin left at 6.30am, 500m from the compound on the main track where the lodge is signed from.The boat to the cave plus lunch cost $15 per person for a 5hr trip, arranged through Sala Kong Lor. At 9am we were taken by boat to a village 2km away, where we swapped to another boat with two guides then spent 2hrs exploring the cave. It's a good idea to bring a powerful head lamp. We had lunch at a small village where there were a couple of stalls selling snacks, before making the return journey to Sala Kong Lor. It is possible to hire a boat directly from the village nearest the cave.
The room
Sala Kong Lor/ Kong Lor Lodge$5 for a bungalow with twin beds, shared bathroom block with cold water, mosquito nets.
$8 for rooms in the stilted building above the bathroom.
Fairly new, rustic but not uncomfortable, idyllic setting. It was chilly at night when the wind picked up. Restaurant with river views in the compound. There were only two other tourists each night we were there.