Tham Ting

Overview

Known by tourists as Pak Ou Caves due to its proximity to Pak Ou village, there are actually two separate caverns at this location, which is locally known as Tham Ting.

  • Open everyday from 08:00am to 17:00pm
  • Note! you can pay  for the entrance fee at there.

Many tour operators make daily trips on the Mekong River to Tam Ting, often stopping for other sights along the way. The boat trip takes about 1.5 hours, heading upstream from Luang Prabang, and this is a great way to get a glimpse of life along the river. It’s also possible to travel most of this distance by vehicle and make a short boat crossing at Pak Ou.

The lower cave is the most popular and widely photographed of the two. It’s more like a small opening in the cliff-face rather than a cave. Ever since Buddhism was introduced to the area, local people have been bringing statues and placing them inside this cave as a way of making merit. There are thousands of Buddha statues in this cave and they make for quite a spectacle.

The staircase to the left of the lower cave leads you through the forest to the upper cave. During Lao New Year the Royal Family used to travel to the cave, along with many monks and local devotees, to pour water over a sacred Buddha statue as part of Pi Mai celebrations. There isn’t much to see inside the cave but there is a stunning doorway with ornate metalwork that is well worth the walk.

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