[2025 Thakhek Attraction] Travel Guide for Thakhek (Updated Jul)

Thakhek is the main town of Khammouane province, Laos and means “visitors’ landing”. Take a short walk out from Thakhek’s tiny town square and you’ll find crumbling French villas, overgrown gardens, and an almost haunted atmosphere pervading the too-wide streets. Furthermore, looking through the Mekong river view, you can see the view of Nakhon Phanom, Thailand on the opposite bank.

#summervacay Nestled in the central-southern part of Laos, gently embraced by the Mekong River, lies the captivating city of Thakhek. Compared to Laos' more popular destinations like Luang Prabang and Vientiane, Thakhek remains wonderfully low-key and off the beaten path. It possesses a unique charm, truly like a forgotten pearl just waiting for adventurous travelers to unveil its mysteries. Why Thakhek is a Must-Visit: Untouched Authenticity: Unlike bustling tourist hubs, Thakhek offers a more authentic glimpse into local Lao life. You'll find genuine warmth from its residents and experience a relaxed pace of life. Mekong Riverside Charm: The city's setting along the mighty Mekong provides stunning sunset views and a tranquil atmosphere. Stroll along the riverfront, enjoy a local meal, and simply soak in the serene beauty. Gateway to Adventure: Thakhek is most famous as the starting point for the incredible Thakhek Loop – a multi-day motorcycle adventure that takes you through breathtaking karst landscapes, stunning caves, and charming rural villages. Even if you don't do the full loop, parts of it are easily accessible for day trips. Historical Echoes: Explore remnants of its French colonial past, visible in some of the older buildings scattered throughout the town. Cave Exploration: The region around Thakhek is dotted with fascinating caves, including the famous Kong Lor Cave, which can be explored by boat. Thakhek offers a refreshing alternative for those seeking a deeper connection with Laos, away from the crowds. It promises an unforgettable journey into a truly enchanting and lesser-known part of Southeast Asia. #Thakhek #Laos #TravelLaos #HiddenGem #MekongRiver #ThakhekLoop #OffTheBeatenPath #SoutheastAsiaTravel

“Good people are not important by their appearance, but by their heart.” 🙏The most popular tourist attraction in Kham Muang right now is Tha Frang. They say it is very beautiful, but it is not suitable for monks like us because there are a lot of tourists. It is good that our Lao relatives brought us here in the morning, so there were not many people. It is a place to stay, a raft house, shops and restaurants all in one place. For those who want to visit Tha Frang, nowadays, traveling is easy. Just do the border crossing between Thailand Nakhon Phanom and Laos Tha Khaek, Kham Muang, cross the Mekong River and travel as you please. #Tha Frang #Tha Khaek #Tha Frang Wang Si Kham #Lao PDR🇱🇦 #Please follow #Dhamma Traveling Bhikkhu

#favouriteitinerary Embarking on the Thakhek Loop in Laos was an absolute blast! The scenery was just insane—massive limestone mountains, winding roads, and these wide-open valleys that made me feel so tiny. Every turn had a new view that made me want to stop and just take it all in. The caves along the way were epic. It was cool exploring them, stumbling over rocks, and feeling the chilly air inside. Definitely got my adrenaline pumping a few times! The ride itself was a mix of fun and challenging. The roads could get pretty rough, with potholes and sharp bends, but that just made the adventure more exciting. And the villages along the way were a nice break—the locals were so friendly, and I got to try some awesome street food. By the end of the loop, I was exhausted but seriously happy.

💞Reason for recommendation: I like that you can come and relax.

🌳🌳🌳 Hello, I had the opportunity to visit Thakhek, Khammouan Province, Lao PDR. The main purpose of the trip was to conquer the Thakhek Loop and relax, find a place to stay with a beautiful view and clear water, which is "Tha Frang Wang Si Kham". Let me tell you, the air here is the best. The real nature, the water is very clear, there are fish swimming in the water everywhere. There is also a food raft here to sit and eat. As for the accommodation, there are two zones: the raft zone and the zone on the shore. I chose to stay in the raft zone, priced at 520,000 kip or about 800 baht, plus there is an activity to go kayaking 🏊♀️. As for the food here, it tastes good 🍻 There are many menus to choose from. For anyone looking for a place to stay with a good atmosphere and nature, this is the place....Tha Frang Wang Si Kham 🫧🫧🫧 #Get a discount without relying on luck #Laos #Travel to Laos #Travel to Laos by yourself #Tha Khek, Khammouan Province #Tha Frang Wang Si Kham

Thafalang Wang Si Kram | Khammouane Province, Thakhek, Lao PDR 🇱🇦 🌲 Thafalang Wang Si Kram offers a natural atmosphere surrounded by mountains. It takes just over an hour to cross from Nakhon Phanom. You can either stay overnight or make a day trip. 🚌 When we visited, we opted for a day trip. We took a bus from Nakhon Phanom to Laos and then hired a van to Thakhek checkpoint. After that, we had lunch, swam, and took some relaxing photos. 🌲 The water is very clear and refreshingly cool, you can see the fish swimming. You can swim or kayak, and there are rafts for dining by the water. Nearby, you can visit Nang Aen Cave and enjoy ziplining. 🏖️ Environment/Facilities: Easy to walk around, just 1 hour from Nakhon Phanom. 🗓️ Travel Planning: 1. You can use either a passport or a border pass. 2. The border pass is valid for 3 days and 2 nights. There is a border pass issuance point right at the pier checkpoint. 3. Regular boat trips are available every half hour, starting around 8:30 AM and the last trip around 6:00 PM. 4. For bus travel, you can take a bus from the checkpoint to Thakhek checkpoint and hire a van there, or you can purchase a tour at the checkpoint.

#backpacking For adventurous backpackers, the Thakhek Loop in Laos offers a thrilling #backpacking experience. This 450-kilometer motorbike loop through the central part of the country showcases some of Laos’ most breathtaking landscapes. Travelers embark on a journey through remote villages, karst mountains, lush jungles, and hidden caves. The highlight of the loop is the massive Kong Lor Cave, which you can explore by boat. Along the way, you’ll find waterfalls, temples, and local guesthouses offering a chance to experience authentic Laotian hospitality. The journey is perfect for those seeking off-the-beaten-path adventures, providing a true sense of exploration and connection with nature.

Cross the Mekong River to Laos by boat for a one-day trip. Easy and convenient, delicious food, beautiful nature. Note: I recommend that you don't forget to exchange kip after crossing. The money exchange shop is next to the immigration checkpoint. 📌 Thakhek, Khammouane Province, Lao PDR - Wat Phra That Si Kot Tabong - Nang Aen Cave - Xienglieb Cave: There is a small zip line to play. #VisitLaos #Thakhek #NangAenCave #xiengliebcave #WatPhraThatSiKotTaBong #onedaytrip

#foreigner pose

#TravelLaos This year, I have been to Laos twice. In the middle of the year, I went to Pakse and Paksong and got to play Zip LINE at Tad Fane Waterfall. After that, my father came back and started to fall in love with the complete nature and kindness of the people. They were so kind that you don't have to worry about being tricked. When I drove and got a flat tire, they helped me change the tire. And that was the accumulation of good impressions that made me have to go back again. This time, we changed to visit Ta Khaek, Kham Muon, Central Laos. Nature and people still create the same impression. Laos, whether it's the rainy season or the beginning of the winter, the atmosphere is different. If you come, don't forget to visit the Nang Aen here. It is very beautiful and different from other places.

Delicious roast duck from Thakhek, Khammouan, Lao PDR. The duck is marinated in spices and is very delicious. Normally, they only sell duck, but the restaurant takes good care of it. They ordered sticky rice with a variety of fresh vegetables. The vegetables were very crispy and sweet. The best part was the dipping sauce... It cost more than 1.2 million kip.... #LaosTravel #LaosAttractions #Thakhek #KhammouanProvince #LaosTravel #Laos #RoastDuck #RestaurantReview #RestaurantsInLaos

Thakhek is the charm little town bordered with Nakhon Phanom of Thailand along the legend Mekong River. When in Thakhek, no way you can miss the 2 Naga Statues on the riverside. The Naga on Thai side across the river has 7 heads but this one looks like 1 head. I visited in early August and it rained very often. The tails of the statues both sides of the staircases are under the river. Not sure if we can see the full tails in other seasons or they designed that way. Near there is the night market called Center Point. Bus to Nakhon Phanom runs 4 times a day: about 9am, 11am, 2pm and 4pm and costs about 70 Thai Baht. Thai and Lao citizens can cross by boat but others must go by road. The bus takes more than 2 hours as they check longer when going into Thailand. The trip back to Thakhek takes about 90 minutes. #freehotelstay #Thakhek #Khammouane #Laos

You can also visit Laos for a day trip. This trip, we crossed the Mekong River from Nakhon Phanom to visit Thakhek, Khammouan Province, Lao PDR, which is on the opposite side. Getting there is not difficult. We came on a weekday. The border crossing fee was only 36 baht per person (you can stay for 3 days and 2 nights). The boat fare was 60 baht per person. The ride was very short. When we landed in Laos, we had to pay a 100 baht land landing fee per person. If there were many of us, we could hire a three-wheeled vehicle to take us around. The price would be 800-1,000 baht, depending on our bargaining skills. However, there were only 2 of us, so it wouldn't be worth it to hire a three-wheeled vehicle, so we rented a motorbike instead. The price was 250-300 baht per day. Tha Frang is only 15-16 kilometers from Thakhek. Be careful when riding a motorbike, because people ride on the right side of the road here. There are a lot of trucks on this route because it is the route to the Vietnamese border, which is only 150 kilometers away. The reason this place is called Tha Frang is because during the World War The French soldiers used this river to transport food supplies to this port, so Lao people called it Tha Farang. In addition to Tha Farang, this route also has many other tourist attractions. Come and visit. #Where to travel this summer #Tha Farang

📍Address - Thakhek, Khammouane Province, Lao PDR That Sikhottabong is located in Wat That Sikhottabong, on the Mekong River in Laos. It is a sacred pagoda where you can ask for anything you want, especially lost things. Most Lao people think that they will get them back, but love is an exception. It is said that Phraya Sikhottabong was disappointed in love and died because of this. In addition, there is a Buddha statue in the ordination hall for Buddhists and tourists to worship. Inside the ordination hall, there are period images that indicate the prosperity of the Lan Xang era, including the use of hands to rub the bell to make a loud sound throughout the chapel of Wat That Sikhottabong. In front of the door of Wat That Sikhottabong, there are Lao houses on stilts from different regions set up for tourists to visit and see the way of life of Lao people in different regions. How are the houses built? 💰To visit, there is a 5,000 kip fee per person. ✋Prohibitions: Women must wear a sarong to enter the temple. Pants are not allowed. #thakhek #khammouane #laos

Thakhek Loop is an unforgettable off-the-beaten-path excursion if you're looking for adventure and authenticity. Begin the Loop in Thakhek (Tha Khaek) and bike around the Phou Hin Poun National Bio Diversity Conservation Area in a counter-clockwise route. Include stops at a variety of caves and other items of interest along the journey. We strongly suggest taking an 80-kilometer roundtrip detour to Konglor Cave, a fantastic 7.5-kilometer subterranean river adventure accessible by longtail speedboat. The local village and scenery are worth the journey in and of themselves. #nationalpark#naturalwonders#roadtrip#summervacation#hikingtrails#urbanexplorer