Blue Lagoon & Tham Phu Kham cave

A scenic ride across an unpaved road through the Vang Vieng countryside, through small villages and along rice paddies leads to the blue lagoon and the Tham Phu Kham cave.

The stunning landscape with the karst rock formations between Vang Vieng and the blue lagoon alone makes the trip worthwhile. The lagoon and cave are well visited by tourists and local people alike, who enjoy a picnic next to the pool. A small restaurant serves Laos food and drinks.

Tham Phu Kham cave

A hiking trail on the forested hill leads to the Phu Kham cave’s entrance, about halfway up the limestone cliff. The 200 meter climb is quite steep at places; the trail is equipped with handrails at the steepest sections.

The cave is a labyrinth of chambers, galleries and crevices filled with stalagmites and stalactites; the air is cold and moist.

2 Day Vang Vieng Tour from Vientiane

• Pick up from Vientiane hotel
• Explore Tham Chang Cave
• Visit several traditional villages
• Boat trip on the Nam Xong river
• English speaking guide
• Private tour with one night 3-star accommodation & lunch
• Hotel pick up / drop off Vientiane
• Duration approximately 2 days

Buy from Viator

First chamber with reclining Buddha image

Past the entrance is the first large chamber which is well lit. A hole in the ceiling allows the rays of the sun to come in. The chamber contains a large bronze reclining Buddha, lit up by the sunlight. Local Buddhists come to light incense sticks and pay homage to the three meter long gold color Buddha image.

Galleries and chambers deeper into the mountain

Red direction arrows have been painted on the rocks to mark a trail. After a while the arrows disappear and there is no clear path to follow. From the main cave several galleries branch off deeper into the mountain. Past the first chamber there is absolute darkness and a torch or flashlight is essential to see where you are going.

While some of the chambers are quite large and relatively easy to navigate, venturing into other parts of the cave means climbing over ledges, crawling through low crevices and in some places wading through the water.

Take great care wandering deeper into the cave. There is no clear marked path to follow, the floor is slippery and uneven and there are many drops and falls. It does not take much to loose your footing and slide down the slippery rocks, especially in the dark. Make sure to wear good shoes and have a flashlight if you go past the first well lit chamber.

Blue lagoon

At the bottom of the track to the cave is the blue lagoon, a beautiful pool with crystal clear waters. The cold turquoise waters provide a chance to cool down and wash of the cave’s dust. Next to the pool is a tree with ropes hanging down from its branches to swing off from and jump in the water.

Location

The Blue Lagoon and Tham Phu Kham cave are located near the village of Ban Na Thong, at the end of Tham Poukham road around 7 kilometers West of Vang Vieng town.

How to get there

You can get there by tuk tuk or songthaew from Vang Vieng. Alternatively, rent a bicycle (10,000 Kip) or mountain bike (20,000 - 30,000 Kip) for the day. Make sure you have directions right, since there is incorrect signage along the way.

Opening hours

Opening hours are daily from 8 am until 6 pm.

Entrance fee

Admission to the lagoon and cave is 10,000 Kip per person.
A torch can be rented at the cave at 10,000 Kip if you want to go past the first chamber.
Signs at the cave advertise guides at a rate of 50,000 Kip, which is probably negotiable.

• Vang Vieng