Huay Bo Village

The village may be the perfect definition of quaint — imagine houses made of wood, with no major infrastructure, store, and sometimes, no electricity — but the things you can do in Huay Bo is endless. Aside from enjoying the peace that is a constant in the village, tourists can help families in the rice fields, observe how to make wine, learn how to weave, and even go hunting with locals. Life around the village is pretty simple — you can take your time to just chill, talk with other villagers, or simply enjoy the serene surroundings.

Location

Huay Bo Village is located in the northern part of Laos, a few kilometres away from Muang Ngoi.

Opening Days and Hours

The village can be accessed anytime.

Entry Fee and Bookings

Entrance to the village is free.

How to Get There

Fly from Vientiane to Luang Prabang via Laos Airlines.
From Luang Prabang, take a bus to Muang Ngoi.
From Muang Ngoi, walk for 2 and a half hours to Hauy Bo Village.

Suggested For

Backpackers/solo travelers
Couples
Group of friends
Families

Time to Spend

You can spend one to three days in the village.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

Even though the Huay Bo is small, visitors still flock the quaint village. The best time to visit is before or after November or March.

Activities

Rice planting
Hunting
Weaving

Food

Villagers offer food to guests for LAK 10,000 (USD 1.2) per meal.

Nearby Attractions

Nam Ngoi River
Nam Ou Beach

Stay

A favorite place to stay in Huay Bo Village is the Konsovan Guest House which charges guests USD 1 per night.

Muang Khoun is a place that has a sad story to tell — once considered as the Royal Capital of the Phuan Kingdom, 18th Century invaders robbed the glory of Muang Khoun, and it was completely destroyed during the Second Indochina War. Despite it’s almost abandoned status, tourists can still find important, rustic landmarks such as the brick temple That Foun, That Chom Phet, and the home of the sitting robed Buddha, Wat Piawat. Another sight to see in Muang Khoun is the small village dedicated to weaving baskets.

Location

Muang Khoun is located in the Xiang Khouang Province, north part of Laos.

Opening Days and Hours

The village can be accessed anytime.

Entry Fee and Bookings

Entrance to the village is free but there is a minimal fee of LAK 10,000 (USD 1.2) in some attractions.

How to Get There

Fly to Xieng Khouang via Lao Airlines and Lao Skyway.
From Xieng Khouang, travel by van or private car to Muang Khoun.

Suggested For

Backpackers/solo travelers
Couples
Group of friends
Families

Time to Spend

One hour in the area is enough.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

Muang Khoun is not as popular as other attractions but since most of the sights to see are in uncovered places, it’s best to see the place after 15:00.

Food

When it comes to food choices, there isn’t a lot to find in Muang Khoun. Tourists are advised to bring their own food or find some in nearby villages.

Nearby Attractions

Wat Phiavat
Plain of Jars
Wat Tad Fun

Stay

The nearest hotels and inns can be found in Xieng Khouang. Hotels such as Xieng Khouang Hotel, Anoulack Khen Hotel, Kong Keo, Vansana, and Chittavanh Hotel offer accommodations starting from USD to USD 80.

For tourists worn out by travel, Nong Khiaw, with its stunning sights and attractions, is a perfect place to slow down and relax — this sleepy village offers breathtaking, panoramic vistas of limestone crags, luscious green mountains, and the Nam Ou river. While at Nong Khiaw, take a bike and explore, conquer Phadeng Peak, join the trek to 100 Waterfalls, or go for a boat ride to Muang Ngoi village. Staying at Nong Khiaw is also a great excuse to laze around and relax — if you prefer to stay on your bungalow’s porch taking in sights, sipping some drinks while observing the activities at Nam Ou river, that’s pretty acceptable, too!

Location

The village of Nong Khiaw is located on the banks of Nam Ou River near Luang Prabang, Laos.

Opening Days and Hours

The village can be accessed anytime.

Entry Fee and Bookings

Entrance to the village is free.

How to Get There

Fly from Vientiane to Luang Prabang via Lao Airlines or Lao Skyways.
From Luang Prabang, hire a taxi to proceed to the city centre.
From the city centre, proceed to either the south or north station and board a bus to Nong Khiaw.

Suggested For

Backpackers/solo travelers
Couples
Group of friends
Families

Time to Spend

Although you can spend a day at Nong Khiaw, you can see more of the place and enjoy more activities if you allow 2-3 days for your Nong Khiaw trip.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

The best time to visit Nong Khiaw is from November to March, the driest months in Laos.

Activities

Bicycle tour of neighbouring villages
Hike to Phadeng Peak
Herbal Steam Bath

Food

Nong Khiaw may be a small village but it has a number of restaurants that serve food for any budget. For authentic Lao food and some Western dishes, visit Deen Restaurant, Mackana, Sunset Restaurant, Sabai Sabai, and Sengdao Restaurant.

Nearby Attractions

Nam Ou River
Pha Tok Caves
Pha Huang Cave

Stay

Resorts, bungalows, and guest houses are available all over Nong Khiaw. At rates ranging from USD 7 to USD 12, travelers can choose from Bamboo Paradise, Lin Tong Guesthouse, Nam Houn Guesthouse, Sunset Guesthouse, and Mandala Resort.

It’s unlike any other village in Indonesia — located almost 1,100 above sea level, the village of Wae Rebo welcomes its guests with the cool mountain breeze, panoramic vistas of rich vegetations and different flora and faunas, and songs of birds chirping in the distance. But its beauty isn’t the only thing that made it famous — in 2012, the simple Wae Rebo became a recipient of UNESCO’s Top Excellent Award for heritage thanks to the tall, conical shaped Mbaru Niang houses that symbolize community cooperation within the village. Each house has a story to tell and visiting Wae Rebo won’t only let you know those stories, but it would also give you a chance to see and discover the rich and diverse cultures present in Indonesia.

Location

Wae Rebo Village is located at Manggarai district, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara.

Opening Days and Hours

The village can be accessed anytime but the safest way to go is to visit it during day time.

Entry Fee and Bookings

Tourists need to pay IDR 200,000 (USD 14) to enter the village. Additional IDR 50,000 (USD 3.5) for donation.

How to Get There

From Labuan Bajo, board a bus or a shuttle to Ruteng.
From Ruteng, drive in the highway west of Ruteng to reach Denge.
From Denge, hike all the way up to Wae Rebo (3-4 hours hike).

Suggested For

Backpackers/solo travelers
Couples
Group of friends

Time to Spend

It’s best to spend the night in Wae Rebo so you can fully experience their village life.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

The best time to visit Wae Rebo is between April and September. Since you are going to spend a considerable amount of time hiking, it’s safest to go during the summer.

Activities

Village ceremonies

Food

For tourists staying the night, three meals are included in their entrance fee.

Nearby Attractions

Todo Traditional Village

Stay

For IDR 325,000 (USD 22.75) tourists can spend the night in Wae Rebo Village.

Bena Traditional Village is one of the villages in Indonesia that has retained its traditional ways, and in Bena’s case, this includes traditional high thatch-roofed houses that are neatly lined up in two rows. Reaching the centre of the village, one can see more symbolic structures — the umbrella-like pole for male ancestors called ngadhu, a female ancestral shrine called bhaga, and megalithic formations villagers use to communicate with their dead ancestors. Apart from seeing the rich culture of Ngada, visitors can also support the villagers by purchasing locally-crafted dyed cloth, also known as Ikat, from the village women.

Location

Bena Traditional Village is located off the main road to Bajawa, Flores in Indonesia.

Opening Days and Hours

The village can be accessed anytime but it is highly recommended that you visit during daytime.

Entry Fee and Bookings

Upon arrival, tourists are to pay IDR 25000 (USD 1.75) to explore the village.

How to Get There

From Denpasar, fly to Ende via local airlines such as Garuda Air.
From Ende, embark on a 4-5 drive to Bajawa.

Suggested For

Backpackers/solo travelers
Couples
Group of friends
Families with kids

Time to Spend

You can spend at least one hour in the area.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

Bena Traditional Village is a pretty popular tourist attraction and it’s best to visit the place before 12:00 noon.

Food

The nearest restaurants are 10 kilometres away, so it is suggested that you bring your own food to the trip.

Nearby Attractions

Mount Inerie
Wae Rebo

Stay

You can find accommodations from nearby hotels such as Bintang Wisata, Korina Hotel, Hotel Nusantra 2, Bajawa Roo Hotel, and Villa Silverin. Rates range from USD 50 to USD 150.

There is more to the mushy brown waters of the lake: it is home to different crocodile farms, vast mangrove plantations, and a huge variety of fishes that are harvested to supply half of Cambodia’s fish industry. Tourists can witness firsthand the unique lifestyle of people — mostly ethnic Vietnamese –inhabiting the area: families from floating villages live in the most basic circumstances, stay inside floating houses, and even attend floating schools. The place may not be as picturesque compared to the other landmarks of Siem Reap but one attraction in Tonle Sap Lake, houses that are raised upon stilts that stand up to 10 meters high, has made the place a popular tourist destination.

Location

Tonle Sap Lake is located at the Lower Mekong Basin, 15 kilometers south of Siem Reap.

Opening Days and Hours

Five-hour tours to Tonle Sap Lake begins from 8:00-8:45.

Entry Fee and Bookings

Book Tonle Sap Lake tours starting from USD 39.

How to Get There

Fly to Siem Reap via AirAsia, Cathay Pacific, Asiana Airlines, or Thai Airlines.
From Siem Reap, take a tuktuk (USD 15 for rountrip) to the lake entrance.
Board the boat to the floating village (USD 25).

Suggested For

Solo Travelers/Backpackers
Couples
Families
Groups of friends

Time to Spend

A half-day tour around Tonle Sap Lake and its villages takes 4-5 hours.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

If you want to see more of Tonle Sap lake more than the houses, the best time to visit is between October and February. If you prefer to see more of the stilt homes, schedule your visit between July and December.

Food

Floating restaurants like Vietnamese Tonle Sap Floating Restaurant and Queen Tara’s offer tourists with an enjoyable food experience featuring authentic Cambodian juice.

Nearby Attractions

Ta Prohm Temple
Banteay Kdei
Angkor National Museum

Stay

Hotels like Villa Nissa, Bunwin Residence, Sojourn Boutique Villas, and Metta Residence and Spa that are widely available at Siem Reap offer accommodations at rates ranging from USD 20 to USD 150.

Situated in a mangrove rainforest right next to the mighty Kinabatangan River, Sukau Village is a launch point for animal watching cruises and jungle trekking. Constantly filled with the sounds of animals and fresh air, both day and night, this is the perfect spot for being in nature without giving up the convenience of basic technology.

Location

About 130 kilometres away from the town of Sandakan and Sandakan Airport, the best way to get to Sukau Village is by a 2 – 3 hour car ride, depending on traffic conditions.

Opening Days and Hours

The village is open to visitors all year round. However, it is not recommended to travel to or out of the village after the sun has set due to the lack of proper street lights and bad road conditions.

Entry Fee and Bookings

There is no entry fee to enter the village.

How to Get There

You can take a taxi either from Sandakan Airport or Sandakan town centre to Sukau Village. If you have a flexible schedule, you could take a bus from the town centre but the buses will only proceed on the trip once passengers are filled, which could take a long time. You could also rent a car from Sandakan and drive to Sukau village. You may also get to Sukau Village by boat if you have booked a tour package at the Sukau Rainforest Lodge.

Suggested For

Sukau Village is a must for nature enthusiasts. It is suitable for any travelers with an interest in nature except for families with very young kids as they might be susceptible to Malaria.

Time to Spend

You can spend half a day here to take one river cruise to spot for animals or spend a few days in the village doing multiple cruises and jungle trekking to increase your chances of spotting more wildlife.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

Sukau Village is somewhat off the beaten track and is usually not very crowded. The best times to visit are very early in the morning, late afternoons, or at night when the animals can be seen near the river.

Activities

You can go on river cruises, jungle treks, relax by the river, and walk around the village to observe the everyday life of local villagers.

Food

Food options are very basic within the village. If you are looking for a proper restaurant and a bar that serves alcohol, the only place to go to is the Sukau Rainforest Lodge. Food is usually included when you book a tour package.

Safety and Fraud

It is generally safe in Sukau Village but you should not swim in the Kinabatangan River as it has strong undercurrents and crocodiles.

Stay

There are many homestays, budget lodgings, and hostels available and very few mid-range lodges. There are no luxury accommodation options available.

Good to Know

You should bring a lot of insect repellent and consult your doctor for anti-Malaria pills before visiting any forests in Borneo. For overnight stays, it is recommended that you book a package which includes accommodation, meals, cruises and/or guided jungle treks.

Kota Belud is home to the Bajau and Kadazandusun people, a couple of the many ethnic groups in Borneo. It is a small town consisting of a few villages where agricultural is the main source of income. Most visitors who intend to climb Mt Kinabalu will make a pit stop here en route to the mountain base.

Location

Kota Belud is located about 1.5 hours’ drive from Kota Kinabalu, the capital city of Sabah.

Opening Days and Hours

Kota Belud is always open, but local businesses close for the day at around 18:00.

Entry Fee and Bookings

Kota Balud imposes no admission fees.

How to Get There

You can get to Kota Belud by either bus or 4WD. Getting there via normal cars and motorcycles could be quite uncomfortable due to the road conditions.

Suggested For

Kota Belud suits couples, groups of friends and families with kids perfectly

Time to Spend

Most people spend about 4 to 5 hours at the town.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

You can visit Kota Belud any time of the year.

Activities

There are many things you can do at the village, including shop at the arts and crafts market, get a taste of the local rice wine called “lihing”, spot wildlife near the river, go for an ATV tour for the more adventurous!

Food

There are quite a few restaurants serving mainly local food at affordable prices. If you would like a taste of Sabah’s tribal food, try delicacies like Ambuyat (a fried starchy dessert) and Hinava (the local version of fish carpaccio).

Nearby Attractions

You can go fishing at Usukan Cove or take a river cruise along the Kawa-kawa River to see the endangered Proboscis monkeys. You will need to drive for 25 minute to get to either locations.

Stay

There are only homestays and guesthouses available for tourists at Kota Belud. For something more comfortable, you will need to stay in Kota Kinabalu.

Kampong Khleang is one of the less touristy and remote villages reachable from Siem Reap. Kampong Khleang has the biggest community among the villages of Tonle Sap. The houses on stilts with villagers carrying out their daily activities of fishing, agriculture, and even kids going to school make for a picturesque and surreal experience.

Location

Kampong Khleang is located about 50 kilometres east of Siem Reap and is at the northern part of the lake.

Opening Days and Hours

You can visit the village any time of the day.

Entry Fee and Bookings

The entry fee to Kampong Khleang is free. Most tour fees will include a small contribution to the villages that cost around USD 50 per person.

How to Get There

You can take a boat from the Chong Khneas dock to get to Kampong Khleang. You can also take a tuk-tuk or motokep to Domdek on Route 6 and then meet a boatman to the village. The easiest way is to join a tour group as the ease of getting there is highly dependent on the weather during the time of your visit.

Suggested For

Kampong Khleang suits couples, groups of friends, and families with kids perfectly.

Time to Spend

You will need to spend about a full day to visit Kampong Khleang, including traveling time.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

Kampong Khleang is not very popular among visitors as it is located in a more remote area compared to the other villages.

Activities

You can enjoy boat trips on the Tonle Sap enjoying the sunrise or sunset with the stilted houses, see villagers go about their daily lives, swing on a hammock at the observation deck, and take in views of the lake.

Food

Most tour packages include a lunch at one of the villagers’ house. You can buy food from small food boats in the village but options are limited.

Safety and Fraud

Do not swim or put any part of your body in the water, as there are fresh water crocodiles in the lake.

Nearby Attractions

Since Kampong Khleang is quite a rural area, there are no nearby attractions other than the hidden temple and agricultural areas where boat rides will pass by. Depending on the weather, the boatman will cruise further to show you Vietnamese floating houses at the lake. Phnom Kulen Waterfall and Beng Mealea will take more than an hour’s drive from Kampong Khleang.

Stay

You have a wide choice of accommodation options that are right for your budget. You can opt for budget hostels, home stays or luxury hotels at downtown Siem Reap area. For a more unique experience, a home stay in one of the stilted houses is a fun thing to do.

Good to Know

You can volunteer to teach English to school children.

Chong Kneas is the most tourist-friendly floating village in Tonle Sap as it is the nearest and most accessible village from Siem Reap. You get to experience going around the community main points such as schools, hospitals, fish, and crocodile farms. You can visit the flooded forest during the wet season.

Location

Chong Kneas is located about 16 kilometres from downtown Siem Reap.

Opening Days and Hours

You can visit Chong Kneas any time of the day.

Entry Fee and Bookings

Entry fee to Chong Kneas is free, but most tour fees include small contributions to the village from around USD 20 per person.

How to Get There

You can take a tuk-tuk or motokep to the Chong Kneas dock, which is about a 20-minute drive from downtown Siem Reap.

Suggested For

Chong Kneas suits couples, groups of friends, and families with kids perfectly. Visiting Chong Kneas is ideal for visitors who want to see the floating village and cruise on Tonle Sap Lake but have limited time.

Time to Spend

About 2 to 3 hours is sufficient to see the floating village.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

Chong Kneas is very popular among visitors as it is the nearest floating village to Siem Reap. The best time to go is before sunset so you can see the amazing view of the setting sun.

Activities

At Chong Kneas, you can have boat trips on the Tonle Sap to enjoy sunrise or sunset views with stilted houses as the background, see villagers go about their their daily lives, swing on a hammock at the observation deck and take in the views of the Tonle Sap. You can also take a selfie holding a python around your neck, feed fishes, and see crocodiles in the farms there.

Food

Most tour packages include a lunch at one of the villagers’ house. You can buy food from small food boats in the village but options are limited.

Safety and Fraud

Fresh water crocodiles have been sighted in the lake, so refrain from dipping your hands or feet into the lake during boat rides.

Nearby Attractions

The Rolous group of temples that are Lolei, Preah Ko, and Bakong are about a 15-minute drive away from the Tonle Sap Lake. You can wander around this area before the boat trip during sunset. Alternatively you can choose a full day boat trip to the Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary or Ang Trapeng Thmor Sarus Crane Reserve.

Stay

You have a wide choice of accommodation options that are friendly to your budget. You can opt for budget hostels, home stays, or luxury hotels at the downtown Siem Reap area.

Good to Know

Chong Kneas is infamous for notorious scammers trying to rip off money from visitors by asking them to donate to villagers or buy food at a ridiculous price for school kids. Despite that, there are still ethical guides that can bring you around the village. Just be prepared that some might incessantly attempt to ask for more money.