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Longing for an adventure? Then you should definitely visit Nong Khiaw in northern Laos. Nong Khiaw village is surrounded by lovely limestone peaks. Most of these mountains are accessible by well-marked trails carved out by the locals through dense woods. While there are many viewpoints in Nong Khiaw, the most famous one is Pha Daeng Peak, also referred to as the “Nong Khiaw Viewpoint”.
Nong Khiaw, Laos
Nong Khiaw’s location is idyllic. Nestled between two mountains and the center divided by the mighty Nam Ou River, it’s a place where dreams are made of.
Tourism is well on its way here and Nong Khiaw counts multiple tour agencies, a plethora of guesthouses, and a bunch of tasty restaurants.
The main draw here is the hikes up to the many viewpoints around town. While there are quite a few viewpoints to choose from, like the Sleeping Lady Viewpoint and Phar Kewlom, the most famous one with the best views is Pha Daeng Peak.
View from Pha Daeng Peak
Pha Deang Peak is the most scenic one of all the viewpoints in Nong Khiaw. As a result, keep in mind that you won’t be alone on this hike.
It doesn’t get crowded but you surely won’t be alone at the top. If you want to take some good photos, especially with the flag, then it’s best to go as early as possible!
Bridge in Nong Khiaw
The village of Nong Khiaw can be reached easily from Luang Prabang, Luang Namtha, Sam Neua, or Muang Khua.
The starting point of the trail is called Nong Khiaw Viewpoint Trail Entrance and Ticket Office on Google Maps. It is actually not located in the center of Nong Khiaw but over the bridge, where a bunch of the guesthouses is located.
From the guesthouse and restaurants just across the bridge, walk a bit further on the main road (1C). After about 500 meters, you will see the entrance of Nong Khiaw Viewpoint to your left.
There are some instructions on the panels before the entrance. Read them carefully and remember, once you start the climb, to stay on the path. There are still some unexploded bombs from the Vietnam War hidden in the area that can be potentially dangerous.
Pha Deang Peak is a community project and a part of the money funnels back into the local community. At the entrance, we were greeted by two children who were selling tickets for the climb.
Nong Khiaw Viewpoint entrance ticket + trail
While children selling tickets is questionable, we were happy to embark on this hike. It was halfway through January and the weather conditions were perfect. We left at 9 A.M. in the morning and temperatures were hovering around 20 degrees Celcius.
View halfway through the climb to Nong Khiaw Viewpoint
Climbing up the peak took us one and a half hours but we made many stops on the way. There are a few comfortable resting areas with benches and bins where you can stop if you need to..
Bring enough water en maybe a snack because there’s no possibility to buy this on the way!
View from the top of Pha Daeng Peak Viewpoint, Nong Khiaw
The trails are well-indicated and in perfect condition. While it involves some rock climbing in the end to get to the top, in general, this is a hike that anyone with a normal level of fitness can do.
View of the Nam Ou River towards Muang Ngoi
From the top, you will have a wonderful view of Nong Khiaw town and the Nam Ou River. There is a wooden shelter on the top with a seating area to catch your breath.
At the time of my visit, there was some construction going on at the top. Apparently, a few tour agencies are offering overnight trips to the top of Nong Khiaw Viewpoint and a toilet building was in the making to make these trips more comfortable.
→ PRO TIP: Read my complete packing list for Laos for conscious travelers!
The best time to visit Nong Khiaw Viewpoint is from November to March. Outside of these months, it can get very hot and especially very wet. The north of Laos can receive up to 600 milliliters of water per square meter in July and August.
The best time of the day to visit Nong Khiaw Viewpoint is early in the morning. If you are disciplined enough to get out of bed at 6 A.M. and start the hike, you will be rewarded with a mist of clouds at the top that will slowly disappear when the sun rises.
I wasn’t that disciplined, unfortunately!
Pha Daeng Peak Viewpoint is open daily from 6 A.M. to 4 P.M. and the entrance fee is 40 000 kips. The path up to the peak is safe and leads you through forests and fields but can be dangerous after dark.
Here are the websites I personally use whenever I travel to Laos:
Booking.com: For the best cheap guesthouses, homestays or small hotels
Hostelworld: To find the best hostels located in the cities
Homestay: For a unique immersive homestay experience in Luang Prabang
12GO and Bookaway: The best transport websites for long-distance buses and train travel in Laos
Loca: Uber and Grab don’t operate in Laos but Vientiane has its own ride-hailing app called Loca!
Skyscanner: For affordable flights to Vientiane or Luang Prabang
Viator and Get Your Guide: book all kinds of activities from a Kuang Si waterfall cruise to a private cave and jungle trekking in Vang Vieng!
Get your Visa for Laos online through the Evisa website. Do note that you cannot enter just any border with the Evisa. You can fly with an Evisa into Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Pakse and cross three borders with Thailand. They don’t accept the Evisa when you want to cross a land border coming from Vietnam, Cambodia, or China. It’s best to contact the Laotian embassies in these countries to obtain a visa.
If you’re looking for travel insurance, the one with the best benefits online is without a doubt Heymondo! It’s very easy to ask for a quote on the website and if you book with this link you’ll get 5% off!
Get access to mobile data straight away when entering the country with a Laos E-sim or an Asialink E-sim when traveling through multiple countries.
Nong Khiaw has become a well-known spot along the tourist trail. It doesn’t see as many people yet as places like Vang Vieng and it is still less developed but guesthouses tend to fill up in high season and it can be difficult to find a place to stay.
Nong Khiaw riverside
Note that a lot of guesthouses cannot be found on Booking or Agoda yet. If they are sold out, you’ll have to go back to how backpacking was in the old days and look for a room at your arrival (which is in my opinion still a better option!).
At the time of my visit, most of the rooms online were sold out so I had to hunt for a place after arriving on the bus from Luang Prabang. I found a room at Pho Sai River View Guesthouse, a simple guesthouse on the banks of the Nam Ou River. The room had everything I needed, a good bed, a hot shower, and a lovely terrace with a magnificent view but it was a bit basic and I saw better options around.
Although most restaurants and tour agencies are located on the other side of the bridge in Sop Houn, it’s much more relaxing to stay by the Nam Ou River on the other side of the bridge.
Nong Khiaw Riverside Resort is a good option if you like to have a little bit more (rustic) luxury. If you fancy having a room with a view, you can opt to stay at the Nong Khiaw Viewpoint Resort.
Several local restaurants in Nong Khiaw are a delight to eat at! Here are my favorite restaurants in Nong Khiaw:
Climbing Pha Daeng Peak in Nong Khiaw is a great experience. Whether you are a seasoned adventurer or just getting into hiking, the view from the peak is absolutely breathtaking and well worth the climb.
I hope this Nong Khiaw Viewpoint travel guide was useful! If you have any questions or concerns about climbing to Nong Khiaw Viewpoint, let them know in the comments below or drop me a message through my contact page!
ENJOY!
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Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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