Bungva Lake

Bungva lake is a proof of the creativity of the people of Savannakhet — apart from being a source of water to nearby farms, several restaurants have been built near the lake which eventually made the lake a favorite tourist destination and a popular place for local festivals. Stay in one of the restaurants and enjoy the delectable Lao food or you can lie down in a make-shift hut where you can savour the serene atmosphere ever present in the place. Just a bike ride away from the centre of Savannakhet, Bungva Lake is also perfect for activities such as relaxing boat rides, and sunset watching.

Location

Bungva Lake is located in the outskirts of Savannakhet, Laos.

Opening Days and Hours

The lake can be accessed anytime. Restaurants are open daily from 9:00 to 21:00.

Entry Fee and Bookings

No entrance fee is required.

How to Get There

Fly from Vientiane to Savannakhet via Lao Airlines.
From the airport, board a tuk-tuk to the town centre.
Rent a bicycle, ask the tourism office for direction, and bike all the way to Bungva Lake.

Suggested For

Backpackers/solo travelers
Couples
Group of friends
Families

Time to Spend

Suggested duration in Bungva Lake is 2-3 hours.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

The best time to visit Bungva Lake is during the morning, between 9:00 to 12:00, and during the late afternoon 15:00 to 18:00.

Activities

Biking
Boat Ride

Food

After touring the lake, grab some cold drink and hefty meals from the restaurants near the lake.

Nearby Attractions

That Ing Stupa
Night Market
Dinosaur Museum

Stay

Savannakhet has plenty of hotels and guesthouses that cater to every budget. Nearby accommodations such as Rattanasawan Hotel, Hoongthip Hotel, and Sala Savan Guesthouse, Leena’s Guesthouse, Savan Phattana Guesthouse, and Joli Guesthouse have rates that range from USD 10 to USD 200.

The protected forest area near Nam Kat river is Oudomxay’s most prized destination — in here, the trees stand tall in their verdant green shades, the cool breeze of the mountain is soothing, and the untouched mountains stand as a reminder of Laos’ beautiful natural sights. The well-established, sustainable tourism efforts are brought about by the Forestry Area Conservation Ecological Tourism (FACET) to not only give visitors a unique jungle experience but also provide jobs to those residing near the area. Through FACET, visitors of Nam Kat Yola Pa can embark on fun activities such as biking along the forest roads, abseiling in the jungle, zip lining, hiking, visiting hidden waterfalls, swimming, and even elephant trekking.

Location

FACET is located at Road Number 5, Dorn Keo Village, Oudomxay, Laos.

Opening Days and Hours

The resort is open 24 hours but FACET’s tours and adventures end before the sunset.

Entry Fee and Bookings

For USD 35, you can enjoy most of the tours and adventures offered.

How to Get There

Fly from Vientiane to Oudomxay via Lao Airlines.
From the airport, hire a tuk-tuk to take you to the town centre.
From the town centre, hire a motorbike or a motorcycle to Nam Kat Yola Pa.

Suggested For

Backpackers/solo travelers
Couples
Group of friends
Families

Time to Spend

Tours and activities at FACET can take 3 to 5 hours to finish.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

The best time to make a trip to FACET is during the months of October, November, and December, when the weather around Oudomxay is significantly cooler.

Activities

ATV rides
Hiking and trekking
Zip line
Bicycle Ride
Tree House Hiking

Food

Guests can relish on stunning sights while enjoying their food at Nam Kat Yorla Pa’s lavish restaurant. Please do note that prices in the restaurant can be significantly higher than that of products in the town center.

Nearby Attractions

Oudomxay Museum
Phu That Stupa
Nam Kad Waterfalls
Mekong Elephant Park

Stay

Nam Kat Yola Pa Resort offers rooms to tourists at starting at USD 120 a night. To those who prefer to stay in the town center, they can choose from nearby hotels such as Villa Keo Seum Sack, Lithavixiay Guesthouse, Phanmixay Guesthouse, Dokboadeng Guesthouse, and Vilavong G. H. which costs USD 5 to USD 15 a night.

Most of the elephants in the Elephant Village Sanctuary has a sad story to tell — these lovable animals finding refuge in the sanctuary were used in illegal logging activities that left some of them physically disabled. The Elephant Village Sanctuary isn’t only a place where elephants can take their time to heal, it also has activities that help tourists know and feel more for these gentle giants — some unique interactions with the elephants involve feeding them, giving them a bath, and sending them off to their home in the forest. Aside from interacting with the elephants, guests can also join in various adventures around the area such as biking and kayaking.

Location

Elephant Village Sanctuary is located at Sisavangvong Road, Luang Prabang, Laos.

Opening Days and Hours

The sanctuary is open from 8:00 AM to 21:00.

Entry Fee and Bookings

A visit to the sanctuary is available through Tiger Trail tours which start at USD 98. Regular entrance fee is USD 10, USD 30 if you want to ride the elephants, and USD 35 if you want to give elephants a river bath.

How to Get There

Fly from Vientiane to Luang Prabang.via Lao Skyway and Lao Airlines.
From the airport, you can take a taxi or hire a tuk-tuk to Sisavangvong Road where the sanctuary is located.

Suggested For

Backpackers/solo travelers
Couples
Group of friends
Families with kids

Time to Spend

You can spend a minimum of three hours in the sanctuary. For those who want to stay more, you can also allow two days to enjoy all the activities.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

It’s best to start your trip to the Elephant Village Sanctuary before 9:00 AM so you can finish before lunchtime and avoid the scorching heat of the noontime sun.

Activities

Mahout Experience
Biking
Boat ride

Food

Food is provided to those who availed of tours. Another option is to try nearby restaurants such as Kimsatcat Restaurant, 3 Nagas Restaurant, Villa Santi, Tamnak Lao, and Tamarind.

Nearby Attractions

Royal Palace
Wat Chom Si
Mount Phousi

Stay

At Luang Prabang, a number of hotels such as Lotus Villa Boutique Hotel, Villa Ban Lakkham, The Apsara, Villa Santi Hotel, and The Belle Rive Boutique Hotel offer accommodations starting from USD 50 to USD 250.