Kong Lor Cave, Laos: ULTIMATE Guide (2025)

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🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Laos: 12Go Asia

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Is It Worth Visiting Konglor Cave

Considered one of Southeast Asia’s geological wonders Kong Lor Cave certainly has quite a reputation to live up to. It is approximately 7 kilometers in length, running straight through the massive karst mountains which line the countryside.

The height of the cave itself is nearly 100 meters in parts, covered in impressive stalagmites and stalactites.

Running through the cave is the Nam Hin Bun River which is known to flood during the wet season. Our guide told us that it wasn’t until about the last twenty years that the locals in Kong Lor actually knew what was on the other side of the cave.

Occasionally bits of bamboo, flowers, and leaves would flow out of the cave, but they had no idea where it was coming from. It wasn’t until a couple of brave men volunteered to row their boat upstream to discover the village of Ban Natane on the other side.

No doubt Southeast Asia is home to some amazing and impressive caves. For myself and many other travelers, it is 100% worth the adventure to Kong Lor Village, and well worth adding to your Laos itinerary.

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Map Of Tham Kong Lor

The following is a map that points out the main town of Tham Kong Lor, Kong Lor Cave, and the village at the other end of Ban Natane.

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A post shared by Tasha Amy | NZ Travel Blogger (@backpackerswanderlust)

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How To Get To Kong Lor Cave

The unfortunate part of visiting Kong Lor is that is quite off the beaten track in Laos.

It will take a day of public transport to get there. However, that is also the great part because it never gets overly busy.

If this was located near one of Laos’s main tourist towns, visitors would quickly overrun it.

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Vientiane To Kong Lor

The best way of getting to Kong Lor is if you are traveling Central Laos. This means you can get there from the nearest city of Vientiane.

You can take the daily bus from Vientiane to Kong Lor. Nearly all tour agencies and guesthouses around Vientiane will have these tickets for sale. This is the only direct option.

It will be a local bus and as this is not a common route there will not be many other travelers on the journey, but you will be able to find others once you get to Kong Lor.

This daily bus should cost around $5.00 / 100,000 kip per person including a minivan transfer to the bus station. Expect the journey to take about 6 hours.

If this is not an option for you, there is one other option. You can take a bus to Thakhek, but ask the bus driver to let you off in a town called Vieng Kham.

This is about halfway to Thakhek and is where there is a turnoff to Kong Lor. Obviously, you will need to keep an eye on your location with GPS on your phone.

Depending on the time you can stay there the night or get a songthaew to take you the remainder of the way to Kong Lor.

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Thakhek Loop To Konglor

A popular choice for those who are comfortable riding a motorbike is the Thakhek Loop. For this, you will need to travel from Vientiane to Thakhek. This journey is a popular one and numerous buses leave per day from the capital.

Once in Thakhek, you can hire a motorbike from one of the many rental agencies. Three main rental agencies specialize in hiring to foreigners specifically the Thakhek Loop.

• Mad Monkey Motorbike Rental
• Mr. Ku
• Wang Wang Rentals

Expect to pay around $3.00 / 60,000 KIP per day for the rental plus petrol which is relatively inexpensive. They should also provide you with a Thakhek loop guidebook or map with places to stop.

The loop itself is around 500 kilometers long and generally takes travelers between 3 to 5 days to complete.

Kong Lor Cave may be a highlight of the journey but is certainly not the only thing to do. You will stop at other attractions including other caves, natural springs, and waterfalls.

Side note: During our visit, we saw people doing the Thakhek Loop taking their motorbikes on board the small boats through Kong Lor Cave so they could continue the loop on the other side. They no doubt paid extra for this, but it took numerous locals to get the bikes down the staircase, across sinking sand, and over little hills before they were on the boat. Once the tourists were out of sight the locals all said they would never do it again and how horrible it was to carry the motorbikes in the midday sun. Therefore please simply do the return boat trip and avoid bringing your motorbike with you!

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When Is The Best Time To Visit Tham Kong Lor

The best time to visit Kong Lor is during the dry season from November to March. The earlier in the dry season you visit the higher the water levels will be within the cave.

I visited during March when the water levels were fairly low, and it was still safe to visit the cave. On about 3 occasions we had to jump out of the boat so the driver could push the boat over the bottom.

At most, we only had to walk for about 30 seconds before we could jump back on board. This might seem annoying, though, over a 7-kilometer journey, it was not a big deal.

Also on the way back, as we were following the current of the water we only had to get out once.

Because of this, you might think it would be better to visit during the wet season, though this is certainly not the case. During this period the cave has been known to flood which can lead to dangerous situations.

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Kong Lor Cave Entrance Fee

There are three different entrance fees you will need to pay to get your Kong Lor Cave tickets.

The first is the main fee to enter Phu Hin Bun National Park which is $0.10 / 2,000 KIP.

The second is the fee to enter the cave itself which is $0.60 / 10,000 KIP. This fee is usually included in the price of the boat trip.

The last is the price of the boat tour. A boat fits 3 people (excluding the driver) and the charge of $6.30 / 130,000 KIP can be split between the three people hiring the boat. My partner and I just hired it ourselves and paid $3.15 / 65,000 KIP each.

So, there is $6.30 / 130,000 KIP for the boat, $0.60 / 10,000 KIP to enter the cave (usually included in the boat ticket), and $0.10 / 2,000 KIP to enter the national park.

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Kong Lor Cave Opening Hours

Kong Lor Cave is open from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm daily.

However, this is rural Laos and things are slower here. Don’t rock up first thing bang on 8.00 am and get disappointed if you have to wait around!

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🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Laos: 12Go Asia

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My Experience On A Kong Lor Cave Tour

We arrived at Kong Lor the day before and had a relaxing evening watching the sunset over the countryside. The following morning we had a relatively early start heading down to Kong Lor Cave at around 8.30 am.

At the entrance, we pay the national park fee before walking down through the trees to an opening on the Nam Hin Bun River.

Though, before heading down we stop at a small shack where we pay for our boat and get paired up with one of the drivers waiting nearby. We are given a life jacket as well as a head torch to help us see in the pitch-black cave.

Down the stairs, we cross a small bridge and follow a path alongside the sand to the entrance of the cave. Once there we are ushered into a small wooden longtail boat and get comfortable for the journey ahead not knowing what to expect.

We quickly lose the light coming from the front of the cave and into the darkness. The head torches make out the ceiling and cave walls, though the pitch-black water below is a scary sight.

About 15 minutes in we pull into a small riverbank and notice a group from another boat going up a makeshift sand staircase.

At the top stalagmites and stalactites are lit up. We follow the pathway through these insane creations of nature before descending another staircase and into our waiting boat.

Following the cave further upstream it is crazy to think of being in darkness for 7 kilometers. A couple of times we need to get out due to low river levels, though it provides a good opportunity to stretch the legs.

The driver obviously knows the route well as he darts from the sides of the river.

After about forty minutes the cave walls begin to lighten and we soon see the exit.

It is another 10-minute ride through the isolated jungle before we reach the small village. We are given twenty minutes to walk around, though in all honesty there isn’t too much happening.

The small restaurants offer food and drink whilst there are a couple of informational boards we kill time reading.

Back down on the boat, we head back inside Kong Lor Cave. It is equally as impressive in the other direction and my mouth is open in awe.

This way we do not need to get out as many times as the fast current pushes the boat over the low-lying river floor. It also makes for a much quicker journey and soon enough we are back at the entry point and into the turquoise waters surrounding Kong Lor.

Outside the cave we swim in the river, cooling off as the midday heat beats down. A large rock is a perfect spot to practice our jumping off before heading back into the village to continue our journey.

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Is Konglor Cave In Laos Dangerous

Fair enough question, it’s a dark super long cave. You are on a crazy backpacking journey through Laos and there is no way you want the next headline to read Kong Lor Cave Death or Kong Lor Cave Drowning!

And I get it, some attractions, especially those off the beaten track in Southeast Asia can be a bit dodgy.

Luckily Kong Lor Cave in Laos is nothing like this. You will be provided with safety gear such as life jackets and head torches while exploring the cave.

The paths within the cave are well-marked and also lit up. There have been no reported deaths or drownings at Tham Kong Lor so you will know you are in good hands.

This is certainly a “tourist cave” by standards in Asia, however, because it’s so off the beaten track it doesn’t seem touristy.

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Other Things Do In Tham Kong Lor

The main thing to do in Kong Lor is the cave. However, there are still a couple of other things to do that can keep you busy.

As mentioned above we enjoyed going for swims in the Nam Hin Bun River. There are no swimming signs around where the fish seem to congregate, though the other areas are fine.

Some of the local guesthouses also provide bicycle hire to explore around the village. This should cost you around $1.00 / 20,000 KIP per day.

One of the popular spots to bike to around here is Tham Nam None. This is another one of the great caves in the area which spans a distance of 15 kilometers.

However, be cautious and do not venture in far alone. Some of the nearby guesthouses will set up special trips for you with a guide and equipment.

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Where To Stay In Kong Lor

Unfortunately, accommodation choices in Kong Lor Village are on the limited side. This is because it’s a small place, which not many people venture to so there isn’t a crazy amount of demand. Luckily enough there are a couple of excellent options to choose from.

I stayed in Kong Lor Cave Resort and it was an excellent option right next to the entrance of the park where the cave is. There is a small restaurant onsite with super tasty food. It’s also one of the few hotels in the area with air conditioning, which was a lifesaver and only cost $13.00 per night.

Another good option is SpringRiver Resort which is set overlooking the beautiful river that connects to Kong Lor Cave. Rooms start from $20.00 per night which is the most expensive option in the area, however, it’s worth it.

You will get to stay right in nature where you can enjoy the river by kayak, also they can book you on plenty of other tours of the surrounding area. The owners can even organize a taxi boat that can take you right to the entrance of the cave!

Konglor Cave Resort A great affordable option for travelers on a budget. Private rooms start from $8.00 per night. BOOK NOW

SpringRiver Resort An incredible resort surrounded by nature. Rooms here start from $20.00 per night. BOOK NOW

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🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Laos: 12Go Asia

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What To Pack For Kong Lor

You will likely be visiting Kong Lor Caves during the dry season. Therefore you will definitely want lightweight, breathable clothing.

The sun here is intense so do not forget sunscreen as well. I also highly recommend packing some swimwear as the river provides the perfect spot to cool off.

For your adventures inside of Kong Lor Cave shorts and a tee shirt will be fine. The temperature drops within the cave, though it is not enough for you to become cold.

Definitely, do not wear jandals/sandals as they can easily float away into the darkness if you jump out of the boat in the shallows or during the hike up to the stalactites. Water shoes or sneakers will be the best choice.

In terms of technology I personally only brought my GoPro, though I highly regret not taking my DSLR camera. I thought that it might have not been safe to bring it and the river could’ve had rapids in some sections, but it was fine.

If you have a waterproof bag then that would certainly come in handy in keeping your belongings safe.

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Where To Go After Kong Lor?

You are best to continue traveling south after discovering the incredible sights of Kong Lor Cave.

The nearest city is called Thakhek and once there you will have plenty of transport options for where you would like to head next. The 180 kilometer drive to Thakhek from Kong Lor takes around 5 hours.

If you are keen to know how to travel to Thakhek here are the details:

• 6.30 am a local bus departs Kong Lor to Thakhek
• It arrives around midday and costs $3.60 / 75,000 KIP

Once in Thakhek you you easily travel to Pakse or Vientiane by buses that depart in the afternoon. This means you could make the whole trip in one day if you would like.

Alternatively, If you miss the direct songthaew to Thakhek, there is another that leaves at 7.30 am heading to Nahin Lak. Once there you need to get another Songthaew to Thakhek. Even though you will need to transfer to Nahin Lak, it is the same price as the direct option.

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FAQs About Tham Kong Lo

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Wrap-Up: Why Visit Kong Lor Cave

Kong Lor Cave is a truly remarkable wonder that is no doubt one of the best things to do in Laos. Its size, stunning rock formations, and underground river create a magical experience you won’t forget.

I hope with the help of this guide you will feel confident and know everything you need to get to Tham Kong Lo and explore this epic cave.

For sure this was one of my highlights from all my trips in Laos and will be for you as well!

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