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Caving it Kong Lo Style, Laos
Published by Melissa Rodway, Writer
Country: Lao People's Democratic Republic 
The Experience
Kong Lo Cave in central Laos is set in the remote wilderness of Phu Hin Bun, creating a naturally dramatic background for this eerily spectacular place. The Nam Hin Bun river flows through the 7.5 km cave where only small boats can travel for tourism in addition to transporting locals and small goods. In some places, the Laos Kong Lo Cave is up to 100 meters high, and the most confusing part of this caving experience is wondering how to get started, and where to pay your fare. When you arrive, there will be several boys and men sitting around chatting. They are your guides, and few, if any, speak English. Money is an international language, so once you have paid whomever may be sitting behind a makeshift desk, you will be well looked after.
The next stage is for the young guides to hand out lifejackets and lead you into the massive mouth of the Tham Kong Lo Cave where you will be put in a motorized, weathered, and extremely narrow wooden boat. And off you go. Once inside, it’s completely dark with the only light coming from headlamps and the guides' flashlights. There were a few small rapids inside the limestone cave, while in other areas the water level was too low. The guides constantly holler and signal to quickly jump in and out when the boat was beached in sudden shallow water. This is where you’ll need to find your footing on the rocky cave bottom while sometimes wading into thigh-high water. Our guides were quick to hold our hands when they could, as the terrain inside the Kong Lo Cave was unpredictable and further complicated by the completely dark, cavernous space in which the light from headlamps is hardly sufficient.
The Tham Kong Lo Cave in Laos is beautiful, spooky and peaceful all at once. There are stalactites. There are twists and turns. You may even have to duck in certain places. At one point, you will likely be able to get out of the boat to explore the cave on foot, which is spectacular. This was a true experience of expecting the unexpected. There were elements of danger and the unknown, so some physical grit and the spirit of adventure is required. It was an excellent practice in trust. Compared to caving in Belize, Kong Lo Cave in Laos is child’s play, but way more thrilling. It’s incredibly unique, and eerie.
The next stage is for the young guides to hand out lifejackets and lead you into the massive mouth of the Tham Kong Lo Cave where you will be put in a motorized, weathered, and extremely narrow wooden boat. And off you go. Once inside, it’s completely dark with the only light coming from headlamps and the guides' flashlights. There were a few small rapids inside the limestone cave, while in other areas the water level was too low. The guides constantly holler and signal to quickly jump in and out when the boat was beached in sudden shallow water. This is where you’ll need to find your footing on the rocky cave bottom while sometimes wading into thigh-high water. Our guides were quick to hold our hands when they could, as the terrain inside the Kong Lo Cave was unpredictable and further complicated by the completely dark, cavernous space in which the light from headlamps is hardly sufficient.
The Tham Kong Lo Cave in Laos is beautiful, spooky and peaceful all at once. There are stalactites. There are twists and turns. You may even have to duck in certain places. At one point, you will likely be able to get out of the boat to explore the cave on foot, which is spectacular. This was a true experience of expecting the unexpected. There were elements of danger and the unknown, so some physical grit and the spirit of adventure is required. It was an excellent practice in trust. Compared to caving in Belize, Kong Lo Cave in Laos is child’s play, but way more thrilling. It’s incredibly unique, and eerie.
When to Go to Kong Lo Cave
The best time to visit Kong Lo Cave is between November and April, but it is an option all year long. There are several ways in which to get to Tham Kong Lo. If you are a confident motorcyclist, “the loop” from Tha Khaek is a popular day trip with the promise of spectacular scenery on serpentine roads. Otherwise, you can be looking at several “songthaew” (bus rides) from Tha Kaek to Ban Na Hin, which takes about four hours, and then another hour from Ban Ha Hin to Ban Kong Lo. If you are not riding a motorcycle, it is recommended that you stay in Ban Na Hin for a night or two. There are a few comfortable guesthouses as well as a couple of restaurants offering authentic Italian and Western food, should you be looking for some creature comforts. Homestays are also possible 1 km from the cave.
Odds n' Ends
Make sure you bring your headlamp. You will be thankful for it when jumping in and out of the boat in the pitch dark of the cave. The guides have more powerful lights but they will usually be busy with the boat so you'll have to secure your footing when negotiating rapids and low water levels. It also helps you to see the cave, although you'll quickly realize how pathetic your headlamp is. Wear water shoes or sandals. Flip flops may easily abandon you in this activity, and you will encounter sharp rocks, so sturdy water footwear is best. Do not wear hiking boots or running shoes unless they are in need of a soaking. You will most definitely get wet so make sure anything of value is Ziplocked! The cost of the trip is approximately US $6.
More Experiences Nearby
- The Plain of Jars and the Secret War
- If you’re seeking a little Laos mystery and history, make the trek to the Soviet style town of Phonsaven where clusters of ancient stone jars are peacefully scattered across northern plateaus. A visit to UXO villages resulting from a less than peaceful past also awaits. There are three different sites that you can choose from to visit the Plain of Jars. With only a few tourist offices in Phonsaven, each one, including your hotel, will try to convince you to spend an entire day driving around to visit all three. However, although visiting the Plain of Jars is eerily spectacular, ...60 miles away.
Travel Insurance. Simple & Flexible.
Language Guides
Lao 
,
Mandarin
,
Vietnamese
are some of the languages spoken in Lao People's Democratic Republic. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!
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