Gracie’s Guide to Beautiful Nong Khiaw, Laos (2023)
Nong Khiaw, Laos. A tiny village north of Luang Prabang, Nong Khiaw is a must-see nature spot on your travels in Northern Laos. The natural beauty is unlike anywhere I’ve ever been! I didn’t know anything about Nong Khiaw until I researched it for my travels, and even then I couldn’t find much useful information online.
Most travelers skip Nong Khiaw in their Laos itinerary because it’s relatively unknown! I think it’s only just started to heat up as a travel spot in northern Laos, especially for serious trekkers. We saw some other tourists there, but it wasn’t overly crowded (unlike Vang Vieng which was a zoo!)
Nong Khiaw is a tiny village ~3 hours north of Luang Prabang by van. The only reason I know of this place is because my friend went here a few weeks before me and highly recommended it. This town is incredibly rural, so be prepared! I went with one friend & we were floored by the natural beauty of this village!
The main reason we went here is for the INCREDIBLE hiking. The summit to Nong Khiaw Viewpoint is legit one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve ever done! I stayed 2 nights and 3 days, which I think is a perfect amount of time.
I can confidently say Nong Khiaw is a must-see spot on your travels throughout Laos. Keep reading for accommodation recommendations, hike logistics, and stunning photos of my time in Nong Khiaw!
Nong Khiaw Logistics
Once in Luang Prabang, ask your hotel/hostel front desk about a van to and from Nong Khiaw. It cost ~$10 and took 3 hours. They picked us up from our hotel in Luang Prabang and made us wait 1 hour at the bus station for the van to arrive. Much like all of Southeast Asia, you just gotta roll with the punches & be patient!
The drive was beautiful & a little windy. I took a motion sickness pill but I don’t think I needed it until the end. If you’re sensitive about motion sickness it’s better to be on the safe side.
Once we arrived, a truck brought us to our hotel. Since the village is so tiny, the truck driver knows all the accommodations lol. There are ATMs there, but you should still bring cash with you just in case. Also bring bug spray & sunscreen!
When I say this village is tiny … believe me. It takes around 15 minutes by foot to walk through the whole village. Yep, it’s wild! The Nong Khiaw bridge is a picturesque spot to gaze at the river dividing the mighty mountains in front of you. They feel close enough to touch, it’s spectacular.
There are restaurant options but I’m gonna be honest … the food isn’t very good. But we didn’t come here for the food, we came here for the epic views! Stick to the basics for a few days and you’ll be good. If you want a good vibe, we liked the rooftop at Q Bar & Restaurant.
We stayed at the gorgeous Nong Khiaw Riverside which is arguably the nicest place to stay in the village. The room was large with comfortable beds and a big balcony. The property is encircled by lush flowers and greenery. The path to our room felt like a garden oasis! We paid ~$35 a night during the off-season (without breakfast).
It was beyond peaceful to sit outside on the porch, facing the river and mountains, and stare at the beauty of the light changing as the sun rose and set. I had great journaling sessions on the balcony, letting the words flow as I felt immersed in nature.
Nong Khiaw Viewpoint Hike
We went in May when it’s super hot, and the sun rose at 5am! So, for those two reasons we started on the entrance to the viewpoint hike at 5:30am! It cost 50 kip to enter, and then we were off!
It was a strenuous hike that felt like forever (but really took around 1.5 hours straight uphill). We took frequent breaks, & saw many come down, defeated because they weren’t able to make it to the top. I kept pushing through the pain and I’m so glad I did.
Once we got to the top … wow! I was at a loss for words. The expansive view exhibited two massive jagged mountainous cliffs RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU and a clear view of the river carving through the mountains and town. That’s what was so special about this town … the mountains felt like you could touch them! They were sooooo close, and it felt unfathomable to the human eye.
My friend and I were lowkey freaking out once we summited, squealing like schoolgirls because the view was so spectacular. It was a surreal moment gazing at a view like this. I felt so happy to be alive on this earth when I saw this view. Have I hyped it up enough?
This is the main hike in the Nong Khiaw village, but there are also 3-7 day trekks deep in the mountain range if that’s your jam. I think 3 days was enough for me personally!
Other than this hike, there isn’t much to do in Nong Khiaw but chill in nature. So that’s what we did! It was a great brain-break from the realities of everyday life in civilization. You feel like you’re on another planet here!
Nong Khiaw Overall
I think Nong Khiaw may have been the most remote place I’ve ever been in my life! It’s sparse with human-made developments but rich in nature. If you need a reality break, come here and see how other people live. The quiet, simple life is what the villagers know, and it’s fascinating to see how they live in such a remote place.
It’s extremely chilled (with that, don’t expect for any of your buses to be on time lol). It’s most definitely a slow pace to life. I felt safe the entire time I was in Nong Khiaw, and one day I would love to return, and do the hike again in cooler weather.
If you’re wondering whether you should visit Nong Khiaw, I say do it. I hope my guide inspires you to visit this place, it’s truly beautiful!
xx Gracie
If you enjoyed this article, check out my others:
Great article and photos. Thanks!
Thank you 🙂 I’m so glad you enjoyed the article & it was helpful for you!