The 14 Best Boat Trips in Laos

1.Cruise to Pak Ou Caves & Kuang Si Waterfalls

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,769 reviews · from $48Our pick

Spend about nine hours seeing Luang Prabang’s best sights beyond town. Cruise the Mekong to Pak Ou Caves, taste rice whiskey in Ban Xang Hai, enjoy a buffet lunch, swim at Kuang Si Falls, and visit a Hmong cultural center. Guides such as Pong, PingPong, Tony, and Vone are praised for clear, friendly care.

“This tour is well worth doing for an overview of the Mekong River and natural beauty, especially if you have limited time in Luang Prabang. Everything went to plan and the guide was friendly and informative about the stops along the way. The boat was spacious with coffee available while admiring the fantastic views. Highly recommended!”

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2.Cruise to Pak Ou Caves & Kuang Si Waterfalls

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,360 reviews · from $52

Spend nine hours seeing Luang Prabang’s biggest nearby sights with an English-speaking guide. Cruise the Mekong to Pak Ou Caves, sample Lao Lao rice whiskey at Ban Xang Hai, enjoy a buffet at Manifa Elephant Camp, and swim at Kuang Si Falls. Guides such as Mr Pong and Mr Pingpong are known for lively, attentive service.

“We managed to fit in many of the main sites in the outlying areas of Luang Prabang in an unhurried and relaxing manner.”

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3.Half Day Mekong Cruise to Pak Ou Caves (Morning / Afternoon)

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 290 reviews · 5 hours · from $40

Cruise from Luang Prabang to the sacred Pak Ou Caves, where thousands of Buddha images fill two riverside caverns. Stop at Ban Xang Hai for Lao whiskey and rice wine, then enjoy a buffet lunch beside the Mekong. Choose a morning or afternoon route, with guides such as Mr Thin, Pong, or Pingpong leading private or small groups.

“The trip was amazing but the highlight was our guide- PingPhong. He brought the group together and made it so fun! As a solo traveler that was very important. The caves were beautiful, Whiskey Village was a blast and the boat ride was picturesque.”

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4.Afternoon Kuang Si Waterfalls & Sunset Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 158 reviews · 5 hours · from $35Best value

Spend two hours at Kuang Si Waterfalls with time for swimming and forest trails, then take a two-hour Mekong sunset cruise with one drink included. Hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, the Asiatic Black Bear Rescue Centre, and a stop at Kuang Si Heritage Rice Farm make this a full half-day outing. Guides such as Pany, Khanthong, Mr. Da, and Vone have received strong praise.

“Our guide was great and everything was on time. The time at the waterfall was appropriate and the boat trip back was excellent - good guide, beer and snacks.”

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5.2-Day Transfer to Luang Prabang by Slow Boat

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 149 reviews · 2 days · from $75

Travel from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang by VIP van, border bus, and shared slow boat. You will cross Friendship Bridge No. 4, spend a night in Pakbeng at your own expense, then continue down the Mekong. Expect long boat hours, simple arrangements, and memorable mountain scenery.

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6.Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw: River Cruise, Hike & Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 53 reviews · 1 day · from $55

Travel from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw by van and boat, not by a long road transfer. Guide Nouan and the Manifa Travel team lead a scenic Nam Ou cruise, serve a Lao bento lunch, visit Sop Keng village, and guide a waterfall hike. Expect a bumpy two-hour van ride, slippery rocks, and a memorable sunset arrival.

“An excellent full day trip from Luang Prebang to Nong Khiaw. Our guide Nouan (Manifa Travel) was excellent throughout - providing informative commentary on our guided hike and always ensuring we had drinks and were comfortable on the boat trips. One of the most enjoyable trips to get between LP and NK and excellent value for money. An extremely well organised and efficient travel company including pick up from the hotel in the morning.”

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7.Nong Khiaw to Luang Prabang, Mekong & Nam Ou River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 33 reviews · 1 day · from $55

Travel from Nong Khiaw to Luang Prabang by river instead of a long van ride. Guide Nouan handles the Nam Ou leg, while Poon leads the Pak Ou Caves and Mekong section. Expect a full day with lunch, a possible kayak option, a whiskey village stop, and hotel drop-off before 6 PM.

“A full packed day trip which proved excellent value for money. Our excellent guide Nouan took us from Nong Khiaw to the 2nd dam drop off point, This part of the trip involving river boat was superb. We were then transferred by mini bus to the Manifa elephant camp for an excellent buffet lunch before meeting another guide (Poon) for a trip to the Pak Ou Caves and whisky village. This involved joining a much larger group but it was well organised and Poon was an excellent guide with good command of English. The Sunset cruise was superb. In summary, extremely well organised by Manifa travel providing excellent guides (Nouan…”

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8.Mekong Sunset Cruise & Lao Tasting Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 27 reviews · 2 hours · from $44

Spend two hours on a solar-powered wooden boat drifting along the Mekong near Luang Prabang. You’ll receive a Lao mojito or non-alcoholic drink, sample seven local dishes, watch the sunset, and join a simple ritual involving written wishes, burdens, and fish release. Hotel pickup from Luang Prabang Old City is included.

“Great to have the option to be picked up from hotel as I am not very mobile at the moment. The staff on the boat were very friendly and welcoming. Entertainment was fun, a few rituals to keep us entertained along the way. The food was really nice and good variety. i really enjoyed it even though, sadly, it was cloudy but I can imagine on a clear day the sunset must be beautiful.”

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9.2 Day 1 Night Slow Boat to Luang Prabang

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 26 reviews · 2 days · from $85

Travel from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang in two days, crossing into Laos at Huay Xai and cruising the Mekong to Pakbeng. Your English-speaking host helps with the border crossing, while you arrange your own Pakbeng hotel, meals, and visa. Expect 60 to 100 people on the boat, simple facilities, and a memorable river journey.

“it was what everyone else has commented, you get what you pay for. 1st boat to pakbeng was packed like sardines. second day boat was better, little bit more room, not as over crowded.”

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10.Full day / Half Day Kayaking and Pak Ou Caves with optional sunset cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 24 reviews · from $41

Paddle the Nam Ou and Mekong rivers to Pak Ou Caves, where thousands of Buddha icons fill two limestone caverns. Your guide leads the cave visit, then you can shower at Manifa Elephant Camp before returning by car or boat. Choose a half-day, full-day, or sunset option, with shared kayaks possible.

“We did the half day tour in a small group of six. The whole experience was excellent. We really enjoyed the kayaking and the caves. You definitely need to take a change of clothing - there are lockers at the activity centre where you can leave Read more”

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11.Sunset Cruise Luang Prabang

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 20 reviews · from $35

Cruise the Mekong from Khem Khong for about two hours aboard a quiet solar-powered boat. Expect sunset views, a complimentary alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink, and a small group of up to 15 people. The boat may have two decks, snacks, and drinks for purchase. Check the departure time carefully before setting out.

“This was by far the best looking boat out there.. it is double deck there's snacks in a drink that comes with it and or you can purchase more snacks and drinks if you'd like.. the activities on the boat were fabulous this is 10 times better than the experience I thought I was going to get”

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12.Longtail boat&Hot Air Balloon&hotel pick-up

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 20 reviews · 2.5 - 3 hours · from $171

Start with a 30-minute hot-air-balloon flight over Vang Vieng’s rice paddies, Nam Song River, and limestone peaks, then ride a longtail boat through small rapids. Choose morning coffee or an afternoon champagne celebration with fruit and snacks. Hotel pickup is included within Vang Vieng, but allow extra time if transfers are delayed.

“Deux jolis points de vue sur la ville et la région.”

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13.2D Transfer to Huay Xai by Slow Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 18 reviews · 2 days · from $65

Travel from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai by slow boat over two days, stopping overnight in Pakbeng. Hotel pickup, both boat tickets, and accident insurance are included. Expect long hours on a boat shared with 100 to 200 passengers, basic seating, river views, and a separate border crossing into Thailand.

“essayer de fo donner un horaire d arrivée afin de coordonner un transfert vers wchizng Rai”

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14.Luang Prabang Mekong Sunset Cruise and Hot Pot Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $55

Ride a tuk-tuk to Luang Prabang’s Mekong jetty, then spend about two hours on a slow boat as the sun drops behind Luang Prabang and Chompet. Your private guide explains river life, takes photos, and helps you order SinDat hot pot at a local restaurant. Snacks, bottled water, and local beer are included.

“What a great evening. Our guide, Mr Tid, was very informative & explained many things about the Mekong River.”

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