Laos - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 628

caves yourself, or it's possible to go in an organised group. Wear proper shoes, as the
caves are dark and slippery, and absolutely make sure you have your own torch (flash-
light), not the dim ones they rent; it's very easy to get lost.
The most famous cave, Tham Jang (admission 17,000K) , south of town, was used as a
hideout from marauding Yunnanese Chinese in the early 19th century. A set of stairs leads
up to the main cavern entrance. There's also a cool spring at the foot of the cave.
Another popular cave is Tham Phu Kham (Blue Lagoon; admission 10,000K) . To reach it,
cross the seasonal bamboo footbridge (walking/cycling/scooter toll 4000/6000/10,000K) then walk or
pedal 6km along a scenic, unsealed road to Ban Na Thong, from where you have to walk
1km to a hill on the northern side of the village. It's a tough final 200m climb, but worth it
for a dip in the turquoise pool afterwards.
The Tham Sang Triangle is a popular half-day trip that's easy to do on your own. It takes
in Tham Sang plus three other caves within a short walk of each other. Begin this odyssey
by riding a bike or taking a sŏrngtăaou 13km north along Rte 13, turning left a few hun-
dred metres beyond the barely readable Km 169 marker. A rough road leads to the river,
where a boatman will ferry you across to Ban Tham Sang for a small fee. Tham Sang (ad-
mission 5000K) , meaning 'Elephant Cave', is a small cavern containing a few Buddha im-
ages and a Buddha 'footprint', plus the elephant-shaped stalactite that gives the cave its
name. It's best visited in the morning, when light enters.
From here a signed path takes you 1km northwest through rice fields to the entrances of
Tham Loup and Tham Hoi (combined admission 10,000K) . Tham Hoi reportedly continues about
3km into the limestone and an underground lake. About 400m south of Tham Hoi, along a
well-used path, Tham Nam (admission 5000K) is the highlight of this trip. This cave is about
500m long and a tributary of the Nam Song flows out of its low entrance. From Tham
Nam an easy 1km walk takes you back to Ban Tham Sang.

Tours

Green Discovery
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ADVENTURE TOUR

( 023-511230; www.greendiscoverylaos.com ; Th Luang Prabang; 1-day cycling tour per person US$37,
half-/full-day rock climbing US$27/36, kayaking to Vientiane per person US$53) Green Discovery is
Vang Vieng's most reliable operator, offering trekking, kayaking, rafting, rock climbing
and caving. From here you can also head out with them to Nam Lik Jungle Fly ( 020 5662