The 4 Best Hiking Tours in Laos

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

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

Travel from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw by van and private boat, not a crowded bus. Guide Nouan may lead your day, with a Lao lunch on board, a Sop Keng village visit, and a hike to 100 Waterfalls or Tad Mok. Expect mountain scenery, rough roads, slippery rocks, and a late-afternoon river 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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2.Full Day Trek to Kuang Si Waterfalls, Remote Village

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 38 reviews · from $48Best value

Start in Luang Prabang and drive to Ban Nong Heo, a Khmu village of stilt houses, ducks, buffalo, and local work. Hike 2 to 3 hours through forest and countryside, eat at a family-run outdoor restaurant, swim at Kuang Si Falls, visit the Bear Rescue Center and rice farm, then return by Mekong sunset cruise. Guides may include Pany, Da, Vone, Tom, or Bounsou.

“We had a wonderful, interesting and enjojable hike through villages and jungle along the spring to the Kuang Si Waterfalls, which were absolutely stunning. Our guide Tom (Tom Cruise of Laos ;-))was so entertaining and knew a lot about nature and had many good stories to tell. Highly recommended!”

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3.Vang Vieng: Day Tour with Kayaking, Ziplining, and Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 30 reviews · 1 day · from $55

Spend a full day around Vang Vieng with an English or Laotian-speaking safety officer. Paddle the Nam Song River, tube through Tham Chang Cave, hike, eat a local lunch, zipline over the forest, and swim at Blue Lagoon 1. Pickup is included in central Vang Vieng, with activities arranged in an order that can change.

“Such an action packed day starting straight away with zip lining and then kayaking. We felt a bit abandoned during the kayaking as our guide was no where to be seen but another guide from a different tour told us to follow him. Lunch was great- fried rice with a grilled chicken skewer. The cave tubing was fun but wish we had more time there to swim in the nice clear water as the blue lagoon was very crowded. Overall a great day!”

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4.The Wild Explorer – 3 days forest trek with homestay and camping

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 22 reviews · from $154

Spend three demanding days in Nam Ha National Protected Area, hiking about seven hours daily with local guides such as Xai, Peng, Pheng, or Jaiy. Camp two nights near a stream and mountain peak, cook forest ingredients in bamboo, learn fire-making, and visit village communities. Equipment and meals are included, but you bring boots, clothing, and personal supplies.

“We did the three-day 'Wild Explorer' trek with the legendary Peng as our guide. It was an incredible experience.”

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