Laos - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 715

that takes you 200m up a cliff face. In the rainy season the entrance floods, so you have to
take a little boat to get here. It's also possible to go 50m into the mountain by boat along a
turquoise river. To get here, take a laterite road north from Rte 12 about 4km after you
cross Rte 13. Turn right after about 500m and follow the old railway bed before taking the
left fork. The tourist information centre ( Click here ) in Tha Khaek also runs day treks to
the cave.
Back on Rte 12 are several other caves. A track heading south for about 400m at Km
14, near the bridge over the Huay Xieng Liap and the village of Ban Songkhone (about
10.5km from Rte 13), leads to the stunning limestone cave Tham Xieng Liap , the entrance
of which is at the base of a dramatic 300m-high cliff. Rte 12 continues through a narrow
pass (about 11.5km from Rte 13), with high cliffs on either side. Immediately beyond, a
track leads north to the holy cave of Tham Sa Pha In (Tham Phanya Inh).
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Savannakhet Province
Savannakhet is the country's most populous province and has become an increasingly im-
portant trade corridor between Thailand and Vietnam. Most people stop here to experience
a bit of Mekong city life and/or to go trekking in the Dong Natad and Dong Phu Vieng
protected areas.