Pak Ou Buddha Caves at Luang Prabang, Laos

Pak Ou Caves
or Buddha Caves
at Luang Prabang

Visiting Luang Prabang, you have to go for the Pak Ou Caves trip to see the thousands of Buddha statues there. It seems like the entire Luang Prabang guests either have been or are going when in town. This Buddha Caves trip is sold at all travel agents around town and happily, I was one of the tourist that took the trip here. The broucher says "Take a boat ride, Visit a traditional Lao whiskey village and see the Thousand Buddha Statues at Pak Ou Caves". It is also the 'must-see' places of Luang Prabang.

Pak Ou Caves - Boarding jetty from Luang Prabang

Getting to Pak Ou Caves is via long boat from Luang Prabang. The journey of 25 kilometers will be one you remember as you would be cruising along the great Mekong River for almost an hour making one or two stops at a local Lao Whiskey Village or Sa Paper Village. When you book your tour, the agent will meet everyone in town and then walk you from town through some lanes passing peoples homes and eventually arriving at a sandbank where few boats are waiting.

Please stick to your group as they will arrange your trip via groups. Once you board the Lao long boat, your Mekong River cruise will start. Don't mind the water as the colour is pretty normal. The long boats are pretty basic so no 5 star treatment. You get to sit on a wooden stool/chair for your entire journey.

Pak Ou Caves - Journey via long boat

On the way to Pak Ou, if you are a backpacker, this would be a great pace to meet fellow travelers as the journey will take about an hour. Looking out the boat, you see nothing much but Lao landscape and an occasional fisherman. Villagers go by their daily washing of clothes and Lao children playing by the river are common sights. You will also see a number of other tourist boats, some faster than your boat zooming past by.

Hotel boat on the Mekong River

Along the way to Pak Ou, I saw a Hotel Boat where guest live on board. I asked around and was told that there are a number of hotel boats that travel along the Mekong River stopping at various towns.

Pak Ou Caves - Entrance staircase

Reaching Pak Ou Caves, you will see a number of boats parked there and this huge hole in a cliff . The boatman will stop you at the jetty and you will find yourself climbing up a flight of stairs reaching a small counter where tickets are purchased to enter the Pak Ou Caves. I assumed it was all taken care by the agent, but nope, you have to pay about 8,000 KIP (US$0.80) to get into the caves.

Pak Ou Caves - Buddha Statues

Once you reach the top of the caves, you will be greeted by hundreds of Buddha statues placed all over the area. On looking closer, the hundreds start to seem like thousands of them in various sizes and colours. This lower part of the cave is called Tham Ting or lower cave where there is an approximate 2,500 or more Buddha statues there. An amazing sight to see and photograph.

Making your way around the Pak Ou Caves at the lower level, you see more an more Buddha statues just all over the place and there is a walk way to the upper part of the caves called Tham Theung.

Pak Ou Caves - Buddha statues by the thousands

Apparently the local Lao people have been coming to the Pak Ou Caves for thousands of years bringing statues of the Theravada Buddha. Until today, the locals still make their way there and continue to bring Buddha Statues. During the Laos New Year, pilgrimages of Lao people travel by boat to the caves and perform the washing ceremony of all the old Buddha images. Previously this was performed by the King and members of the Royal Family but now is performed by the Governor of Luang Prabang and local families.

Pak Ou Caves - Lao boy selling little birds in cages

When walking to the upper caves, you will be most likely greeted by local Lao children selling you little birds in tiny bamboo cages. They will sell them for US$1.00 a cage. On asking the little child what would I do with the bird in cage, he confidently replied that I would be paying for the birds freedom by letting it go from the cage.

Pak Ou Caves - Lady selling a local thin pancake

Upon reaching the upper cave in Pak Ou, I made a quick visit and saw more Buddha statues there. Going deeper into the upper caves would require a flashlight which I did not have. So, if you plan to explore the upper cave, do bring along a flashlight. By the way, there are more stairs to climb when going to the upper caves of Pak Ou so best be prepared with proper shoes.

You might also want to have some bug repellent on stand by and pack some food as there are no shops or restaurants at the caves.

For the adventurous, there are also companies that offer Kayaking trips to Pak Ou Caves so you can enquire with the local tour companies for this. And for those who do not like long boat rides, you can also visit the caves via Tuk tuk going through the villages.

Video of the Buddhas in Pak Ou Caves

Pak Ou Caves information

Entrance Fees at Pak Ou - 8,000 KIP

Things to bring - Trekking Shoes, Flashlight, Drinking Water, light snacks and bug repellent.

~jrhogan