Tours and Transport

Nann Myint means “high tower” and this is definitely what Nann Myint Tower is — an ideal viewpoint for tourists to take in and see Bagan’s over 2,000 marvelous ancient architectural temples and monuments from the 11th to 13th century. The tower stands tall at 60 metres and is composed of 13 levels, which includes a small gallery with souvenir shop, meeting, and office rooms, restaurants, and the viewing levels. The tower is made of concrete and reinforced steel that also features Myanmar’s 10 traditional arts, making the tower itself a must-see.

Location

The Nann Myint Tower can be found close to the Aureum Palace Hotel in Bagan.

Opening Days and Hours

The tower is open daily, while the restaurant is open from 06:00 to 22:30.

Entry Fee and Bookings

Entrance to the tower costs USD 5 per person.

How to Get There

You can fly into Myanmar via the Yangon International Airport (also called Yangon Mingaladon Airport), then take a bus from Yangon going to Nyaung U, Bagan. You can also fly into the Nyaung U Airport.
Take a local taxi or horse cart from Nyaung U to the tower.

Suggested For

Backpackers/solo travelers
Couples
Group of friends
Families

Time to Spend

You can explore the tower and see the sights in 1 to 2 hours.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

You can visit the tower any time of the day.

Activities

See the sights in the view decks
Visit the gallery and souvenir shop
Try out the restaurant

Food

Aside from the restaurant located in the tower’s 9th floor, another dining option located nearby is the Aureum Palace Bagan Hotel.

Nearby Attractions

Dhammayazika Pagoda
Gubyauk Gyi (Myinkaba) Pagoda
Shwezigon Paya

Stay

You can find a number of accommodation options near the tower, including the Aureum Palace Bagan Hotel, Amazing Bagan Resort, Zfreeti, and Bagan Thande. Prices range from USD 38 to USD 140 per night.

Yutong La Pass is not just like any other pass. This pass is also considered as one of Bhutan’s must-see attractions thanks to its beautiful and serene environment — further boosted by the beautiful chorten or stupa located in the middle of the road and the colourful prayer flags. The foggy and chilly weather in the pass is also a bit unusual, thanks perhaps to its high elevation.

Location

The Yutong La Pass is located in Trongsa.

Opening Days and Hours

The pass is open every day.

Entry Fee and Bookings

Entrance to the pass is free.

How to Get There

You can fly in to Bhutan via the country’s sole international airport in Paro.
From Paro, you can either rent a car or ride a bus to Trongsa. You can then travel to the Yutong La Pass via a rented car or motorbike.

Suggested For

Backpackers/solo travelers
Couples
Group of friends
Families

Time to Spend

You can explore the pass and take photos in 1 to 2 hours.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

You can visit the pass any time of the day.

Food

The only restaurant located near the pass is the one in Chendebji Resort.

Nearby Attractions

Chendebji Chorten
Pele La

Stay

Chendebji has one hotel — the Chendebji Resort which costs around USD 19 to USD 37 per night. Other hotels in Trongsa are the Puenzhi Guest House, Yangkhil Resort, Norling Hotel, and Tashi Ninjay Guest House. Prices range from USD 27 to USD 67 per night.

Whitewater rafting in Bhutan might no be as exciting as it is in other locations, but what it might lack in thrilling rapids, it more than makes up for with beautiful sceneries, diverse and thriving wildlife, and even small yet thrilling rapids of its own. Druk Rafting offers rafting services for the Pho Chu — a 16-kilometre course that consists of 15 class 2 to 4 rapids, and the Mo Chu — a 10-kilometre course that consists of 10 class 2 to 2+ rapids. These two are the most popular and suitable rivers in the country for whitewater rafting, and the routes allow guests to see the Punakha Dzong, the white-bellied heron which is one of the world’s rarest bird, and kingfishers.

Location

The Druk Rafting Service is located in Changyul, Punakha.

Opening Days and Hours

The Druk Rafting Service is open every day, from 08:00 to 17:00.

Entry Fee and Bookings

Rafting services cost around BTN 2,000 (USD 30) to BTN 2,500 (USD 37) per person during the peak season and BTN 1,000 (USD 15) to BTN 1,500 (USD 22) per person during the offseason. Cost is per river and can be added on to your tour package. The cost includes life jackets, splash jackets, helmets, experienced guides, and raft rentals.

How to Get There

You can fly into Bhutan via the country’s sole international airport in Paro.
From the Paro city centre, you can rent a car and travel for four hours going to Punakha.
From the Punakha city centre, you can visit the Druk Rafting Service office or contact your tour provider to sign up for a tour.

Suggested For

Backpackers/solo travelers
Couples
Group of friends
Families

Time to Spend

Rafting tours take an average 1 to 2 hours.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

You can enjoy white water rafting in the country throughout the year, but the best months to do it would be from March to May, and September to November, during prime weather conditions and water temperatures.

Food

Food is not included in the rafting package and there are no restaurants located nearby. You can opt to bring ample snacks with you if needed.

Nearby Attractions

Punakha Dzong
Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery
Chimi L’hakhang Temple

Stay

The nearest hotel is the Dhensa Boutique Resort, which costs around USD 286 per night.

Good to Know

Some items you have to bring with you include extra t-shirts/clothes, socks, hats, sunblock lotion, river or aqua shoes, and water resistant bags for valuables.

Daily, you’ll find long lines of tourists waiting to board the Vinpearl Cable Car — some, yearning to see the breathtaking sights of the ocean and the surrounding islands while others go there for the adrenaline rush that comes when the cable cars start to travel 115-metres above the sea. Boarding Vinpearl Cable Car is a great way to take in Nha Trang’s grandeur — the pristine ocean and its humble landscapes which are pretty in the morning and look magnificent when the city lights are turned on at night. Vinpearl Cable Car offers the complete tourist experience — after the ride, tourists can spend time in an exciting amusement park located near the drop off point.

Location

Vinpearl Cable Car can be found in Tran Phu, Vinh Nguyen, tp., Nha Trang, Vietnam.

Opening Days and Hours

Vinpearl Cable Car operates daily from 8:00 to 21:00.

Entry Fee and Bookings

Vinpearl Park Admission Fee — which includes the price for cable cars — range from VND 650,000 to VND 880,000 (USD 28.61 to USD 39).

How to Get There

Fly to Nha Trang via Jetstar Pacific and Vietnam Airlines.
From the airport, board a taxi or a shuttle bus to the city centre.
From the city centre, charter a cyclo, taxi, or xoem to the Vinpearl Cable Car station.

Suggested For

Solo travelers/backpackers
Friends
Couples
Families with kids

Time to Spend

Total cable car ride lasts for 15 minutes.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

If you want to avoid long lines, don’t visit during the early hours. The best time to visit is from 14:00 to 17:00.

Food

Food can be availed in the nearby Vinpearl Amusement Park. Apart from food stalls selling various food, you can also choose from restaurants like Orchid Restaurant and Lotus Restaurant.

Nearby Attractions

Vinpearl Amusement Park
Po Nagar Towers

Stay

For accommodations, you can find one in the town centre. Choose from Edele Hotel, Sun City Hotel, Barcelona Hotel, Starlet Hotel, Nha Trang Hotel Rosaka, and Novotel Nha Trang. Rates range from USD 35 to USD 135.

A cyclo, one of Hanoi’s famous mode of transportation, is a human-powered vehicle that has one seat for a passenger and another seat for the driver at the back. By availing of the Hanoi Cyclo City Tour, tourists need not worry anymore about crossing the streets with hundreds of scooters and cars since expert cyclo drivers seem to navigate the dizzying streets smoothly. The cyclo tour — which makes a stop at the Old Quarter, Hanoi’s museums, and nearby temples — takes a total of two hours and offers a relaxing ride and unobstructed views to eager Hanoi tourists.

Location

The Hanoi Cyclo City Tour can be availed around Hanoi city centre.

Opening Days and Hours

Cyclo tours start at 15:00 and end at 21:00.

Entry Fee and Bookings

Each ride starts at USD 10.

How to Get There

Fly to Hanoi via AirAsia, Korean Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Thai Airways, and Vietnam Airlines.
While in Hanoi, book a cyclo online. Cyclo websites always have cyclos to offer.

Suggested For

Solo travelers
Couples
Families with kids
Groups of friends

Time to Spend

Total time to spend on the Hanoi Cyclo City tour is 2 hours.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

The best time to start the tour is between 15:00 and 17:00.

Activities

City tour
Museum hopping

Food

The tour includes a stop in several Old Quarter restaurants. Bring water while on the cyclo tour.

Nearby Attractions

Hoan Kiem Lake
Temple of Literature
Ho Chi Minh Museum
Vietnam Women’s Museum

Stay

Among the sea of hotels in Hanoi town centers, some hotels to try include Thaison Palace Hotel, Hotel Lake Side, Angel Palace Hotel, Sunline Hotel, and Cocoon Inn Hanoi. Affordable accommodations can be availed from Hanoi Brother and Travel Inn and Hanoi Rocks Hostel. Rates range from USD 15 to USD 120.

One of the main features of the Bolaven Plateau loop is its waterfalls — falls that range from small to towering, all surrounded by pristine rainforests and jungles. Brave the bumpy Bolaven Plateau roads and prepare your camera as you visit several falls such as the multi-tiered Tad Yuang where you can take a quick, refreshing swim, and the majestic Tan Fane falls with its huge 120-metre drop that often leaves tourists in awe. Drive a little more to get to Tad Pa Suam, a great place where you can relax and take a break while admiring the collection of small, multi-tiered falls that look straight out of a movie scene.

Location

The waterfalls are located along the Bolaven Plateau loop, Champasak Province, Laos.

Opening Days and Hours

The waterfalls can be accessed any time of the year.

Entry Fee and Bookings

Entrance fees to the falls range from LAK 5,000 to 20,000 (USD 0.60 to USD 2.4).

How to Get There

If you are coming from Vientiane and Savannakhet, you can fly to Pakse via Lao Airlines.
You can also take the bus from Vientiane.
Hire a motorbike to Bolaven Plateau.

Suggested For

Backpackers/solo travelers
Couples
Group of friends
Families

Time to Spend

If you’re planning to visit all the waterfalls, you can do it in a day.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

The falls always look best during the rainy season. Visit Bolaven Plateau between May and November.

Activities

Trekking
Hiking
Swimming

Food

Resorts near the waterfalls have restaurants which offer simple but delicious Lao and Western food. Price for food can range from LAK 20,000 to 40,000 (USD 2.4 to USD 4.8). Tourists on a budget can also bring their own food and drinks or buy from the fruit stalls in the area.

Nearby Attractions

Tatsoung
Toumlan
Dong Hua Sao NPA

Stay

Resorts near the falls also offer accommodations — usually bungalows — to those who want to stay the night. Rates range from LAK 20,000 to 50,000 (USD 2.4 to USD 6).

Green Discovery has organised different tours and experiences suitable for those who travel to Pakse out of the love for adventure, or out of pure curiosity — these activities are not limited to Pakse alone but extends to neighbouring provinces as well. One of the most popular trips offered by Green Discovery is the Tree Top Explorer adventure that can be found in Dong Hua Sao NPA. The tours last for two to three days which includes canopy lining, jungle trekking, zip lining, and visiting natural sites and significant landmarks such as Wat Phou.

Location

Green Discovery is located at Unit 47, Road 17, Ban Phabath, Pakse, Laos.

Opening Days and Hours

Green Discovery’s office is open from 8:00 to 20:00.

Entry Fee and Bookings

Avail of Green Discovery’s 2-day Tree Top Adventure for USD 308 per person for a 2-person group, and USD 240 per person for a 4-person group.

How to Get There

If you are coming from Vientiane and Savannakhet, you can fly to Pakse via Lao Airlines.
You can also take the bus from Vientiane.
Hire a motorbike or a tuk-tuk to Green Discovery.

Suggested For

Backpackers/solo travelers
Couples
Group of friends
Families

Time to Spend

Tours offered by Green Discovery usually last up to two days.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

The best time to visit Green Discovery is between March and August when rain showers are considerably less.

Activities

Trekking
Zip lining
Hiking

Food

Meals and drinks are included in the packages offered by Green Discovery.

Nearby Attractions

Phou Asa Mountain
Wat Luang
Golden Buddha

Stay

Accommodations are also included in the Tree Top adventure package.

Although first-time travelers can access some caves along Route 12 independently, some would require tourists to join treks — this makes the journey more guided, and it allows tourists to slow down and enjoy the scenery more. Those who want to witness Tha Kaek’s beauty by foot can join a 2-day guided trek called “Discover Phou Hin Poun” — a trek that involves walking through limestone forests and rice paddies, exploring a cave, and swimming in pause-for-a-while pools while enjoying a sumptuous serving of Lao barbecue prepared by your guide. If you want to see the most idyllic sights, you have to get through some challenging roads and unsteady log bridges, but Phou Hin Poun’s panoramic beauty is worth all of that.

Location

Tha Kaek Trekking is a tour around Phou Hin Poun, Tha Kaek, Laos.

Opening Days and Hours

To join the treks, you can register at the Khammouane Tourism Centre which opens from 8:00 to 16:00 on weekdays. Centre is open daily during peak season.

Entry Fee and Bookings

Khammouane Tourism Centre offers tours at rates starting from LAK 1,700,000 (USD 204). This can be greatly reduced if you come in groups.

How to Get There

From Vientiane, board a bus to Tha Kaek.
From the bus station, hire a tuk-tuk to take you to the city centre.
Proceed to Khammoune Tourism Center to avail of the transportation service included in the tour fee.

Suggested For

Backpackers/solo travelers
Couples
Group of friends
Families

Time to Spend

Allot two days for this tour.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

If you’re joining the trek during peak season, please know that it could be difficult to find accommodations. Best time to visit is during the months of May and August.

Activities

Hiking
Swimming
Cave hopping

Food

Meals and drinks during the trek are already included in the tour package.

Nearby Attractions

Route 12 caves
Khun Kong Leng Lake

Stay

Tha Kaek Trekking includes an overnight stop in a nearby village where tourists get to stay inside modest homestays. Fees are already included in the trek’s package.

Everything that could help you fully enjoy your stay in Savannahket is here — you can rent bikes and motorbikes to help you tour the city, read books you can read to pass the time, and watch interesting movies ranging from foreign films to local productions. Sometimes, the main attraction here is Dave, an expat whom you can ask for tips, suggestions on which places to visit, and other technical stuff such as passport concerns! The Bored Room Movie Theatre is the perfect place to chill — beer and popcorn included — when you just want to have a quick break from touring the town.

Location

The Bored Room Movie Theatre is located at 16 Makaveha Road, Svannahket, Laos.

Opening Days and Hours

Opens daily from 9:00 to 23:00.

Entry Fee and Bookings

Entrance is free. Bike rentals range from USD 10 to USD 15. Book exchange and rentals cost USD 2.

How to Get There

Fly from Vientiane to Savannakhet via Lao Airlines.
From the airport, board a tuk-tuk to the Bored Room Movie Theatre.

Suggested For

Backpackers/solo travelers
Couples
Group of friends
Families

Time to Spend

Suggested duration at The Bored Room Movie Theater is 2-3 hours.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

Best time to visit The Bored Room Movie Theater is during the Friday, and the weekends. They start to play movies at around 20:00.

Food

Dave always hands out Lao beer and popcorn to visitors. Aside from that, you can also avail of food and drinks from nearby restaurants such as Cafe Chai Dee, Lao View Restaurant, Hoong Thip Restaurant, Hom Fah, and White House Restaurant.

Nearby Attractions

Thai Ing Hang Stupa
Wat Xayaphoum
Dinosaur Museum

Stay

Those in a budget can choose to stay in nearby guesthouses such as Phoulavane Guesthouse, Leena’s Guesthouse, Savan Phattana Guesthouse, and Joli Guesthouse which offer rooms starting at USD 12. Mid-range hotels include Rattanasawan Hotel, Hoongthip Hotel, and Sala Savan Guesthouse. Rates range from USD 20 to USD 200.

The cruise begins with a welcome by friendly Lao guides who will then escort you to the boat bearing French-colonial designs and simple yet elegant interiors. Day one of the cruise is a trip to Pakbang which includes a stop to a local village, a chance to interact with elephants at the Elephant Mekong Park and an overnight stay in Pakbeng. Day two continues with the boat heading to Luang Prabang, but along the way, the boat will make a stopover in local hill tribes, and in Luang Prabang’s Parking Buddha.

Location

Mekong Smile Cruise is located at Huay Xai, Laos. Tours begin at Chiang Khong, Northern Thailand.

Opening Days and Hours

On day 1, tour begins at 7:30 and ends at 18:00. Day 2 begins as early as 8:00.

Entry Fee and Bookings

The tour fee for adults is USD 130 and USD 65 for children.

How to Get There

Fly from Vientiane to Huay Xai via Lao Airlines.
From Huay Xai, rent a car to Chiang Khong, Thailand.

Suggested For

Backpackers/solo travelers
Couples
Group of friends
Families

Time to Spend

Total time to spend on the entire cruise is 2 days.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

Crowded months for the Mekong Smile Cruise begin between December and April. If you want to stay away from the crowd, the best time to visit would be between January and March.

Activities

Boating
Village Hopping
Visiting caves

Food

For the 2-day cruise, the only meals included in the fee are the two lunch meals. For breakfast and dinner, tourists can avail it from stores at Pakbeng.

Nearby Attractions

Elephant Mekong Park
Wat Sing Jong Jaeng

Stay

Mekong Smile Cruise makes a stopover at Pakbeng. Accommodation isn’t part of the tour package but tourists can book in several guest houses around Pakbeng for USD 20 to USD 150 a night. Some of the top choices are Monesavanh Guesthouse, Dockhoun Guesthouse, Luang Say Lodge, and Pakbeng Lodge.