The Thakhek Loop is considered one of the most beautiful scooter journeys in Laos. With a scooter, you ride for at least 3 days through stunning landscapes and experience authentic Laos. For many, it is the absolute highlight of their trip to this beautiful country. Curious about what this journey looks like and how to plan it best? We will tell you all about it below!
All About the Thakhek Loop in Laos
→ Handy: Find your flight deals to Laos here
→ Accommodation tips: Naga Hostel, Sabaidee Guesthouse & Spring River Resort
Your Planning Ahead
Let’s start planning this ultimate scooter trip through Laos!
The Route of the Thakhek Loop
This loop requires at least 3 days. It can be tight and intense due to the long scooter rides. We did the Thakhek Loop in 4 days, which gives you an extra night in Konglor. The additional day ensures that you have a day where you don’t have to ride a scooter, allowing you to visit the most beautiful cave of the loop at a leisurely pace. The loop can also be completed in 5 days if you choose to take the same route back from Konglor to Thakhek. In that case, you will spend another night in Thalang.
3-Day Route
- First day: Thakhek to Thalang
- Second day: Thalang to Konglor
- Third day: Konglor to Thakhek
4-Day Route
- First day: Thakhek to Thalang
- Second day: Thalang to Konglor
- Third day: Exploring around Konglor
- Fourth day: Konglor to Thakhek
5-Day Route
- First day: Thakhek to Thalang
- Second day: Thalang to Konglor
- Third day: Exploring around Konglor
- Fourth day: Konglor to Thalang
- Fifth day: Thalang to Thakhek
Renting a Scooter
The three best scooter rental companies in Thakhek are:
- Pokemon Go Rental: If you prefer not to leave your passport, this is a good place to rent a scooter; you can also provide another form of ID.
- Mixay Rental: The owner is very friendly, and you receive a bottle of water and a snack both when you depart and return.
- WangWang Rental: The downside of this rental company is that if you pay less, you will get a worse bike.
All these scooter rentals are located close to each other in Thakhek, and if you go in the morning, they will likely still have scooters available. Renting a scooter costs around 170,000 KIP per day. Throughout Laos, you must leave a passport when renting a scooter as a deposit, so if you don’t want to do this, it’s advisable to rent from Pokemon Go. It’s important to thoroughly test the scooter beforehand to ensure everything works before going on the road for four days.
Information for the Journey
The roads of the Thakhek Loop are generally very good, with few potholes and light traffic. Some parts are more challenging, like the beginning and end of the loop where many trucks drive. Some roads are also not fully completed, meaning you’ll drive over gravel with some bumps. When you drive slowly, you can adequately anticipate the traffic and road, and it will be just fine! The Thakhek Loop is certainly manageable for beginners if you ride at your own pace. Moreover, there are several gas stations along the route, but it’s wise to ensure your tank is at least half full. On some roads, it takes longer to find a gas station, and it’s not pleasant if your tank is nearly empty.
How to Get to Thakhek?
Vang Vieng: From Vang Vieng, you will be picked up at 9:00 am by a minivan heading to Vientiane. There, you will be dropped off at a hotel and then taken to the bus station. A large bus awaits to continue the approximately 6-hour journey to Thakhek. You will arrive around 7:00 pm in Thakhek.
Vientiane: From Vientiane, it takes approximately 6 hours by bus to Thakhek. The bus goes directly and only stops a few times to load and unload packages.
Pakse: From Pakse, it takes about 7 hours by bus to get to Thakhek.
This is What the Thakhek Loop Looks Like Day by Day
Curious about how each day looks? We would love to take you along on our trip and share how we experienced the loop. Let’s go!
Day 1
It’s time to leave! With a fully fueled scooter, you leave the center of Thakhek and the landscapes quickly become more and more impressive.
The first stop is the Tham Nang Aen Cave, located about 20 kilometers from Thakhek. The entrance fee to the cave is 50,000 KIP per person. This enormous cave is fully explorative on foot. Additionally, you can also enter the cave by boat, which costs 150,000 KIP per person. A visit to this cave is certainly worth it!
Next, you will ride about 40 kilometers to Pha Katai Viewpoint. The entrance fee is 20,000 KIP per person. The view is beautiful, but the metal stairs going up seem very poorly maintained. Some steps are loose, and the boards are broken. To reach the top, you need to hike up the stairs for about 20 minutes.
It’s lunchtime! On the route is Rice Field View Restaurant, a lovely restaurant with a beautiful view over the rice fields. They serve Laotian and Thai dishes at a great price. After that, you can choose to make another stop at Song Sa Waterfall. It’s not a big waterfall, but it’s worth seeing if you have the time. In Thalang, there is Phosy Thalang Restaurant. This restaurant also offers sleeping spots and is super nice for a drink, snack, or dinner. It is located by the river and is very trendy.
Overnight at Sabaidee Guesthouse in Thalang
This is a super lovely guesthouse on the Nam Theun river. You sleep in a hut with a bathroom and can choose between air conditioning or a fan. The room was still very new, and they are currently building more huts. Every evening, there is a large barbecue at Sabaidee Guesthouse, allowing you to chat with other travelers. Even if you don’t stay at this guesthouse, you can join in to enjoy delicious Laotian pizza and skewers. The barbecue costs 130,000 KIP per person.
→ Tip: If you feel like doing an extra activity upon arrival in Thalang, you can kayak and swim in the river at both Sabaidee Guesthouse and Phosy.
Day 2
On the second day, it is advisable to depart around 9:00 am towards Spring River Resort, near Konglor Cave. This day you will cover more distance, and there are often roadworks on this route.
The first stop is the grand Buddha statues along the road after about 25 minutes of driving. The statues are beautiful and are located at two points right after each other. Next to the road, it is possible to safely park the scooter so you can take beautiful pictures!
Next, you drive towards the Cool Pool. Along the way, you pass the village Lak Sao where there is a bakery with delicious pastries; the white brioche rolls are particularly recommended.
The road to the Cool Pool is less good; it’s an unpaved road with many bumps and holes. Once at the Cool Pool, you can cool off in the cold water or simply enjoy the beautiful view. The entrance fee is 20,000 KIP per person. The Cool Pool is definitely worth it! There’s also a restaurant where you can have a nice lunch.
Overnight at Spring River Resort in Konglor
Then it’s really time to continue to the Spring River Resort. Spring River is a beautiful resort on the Nam Hinboun river, surrounded by a green oasis of plants. The resort has a restaurant where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner. With the view of the river, this is the perfect place to end the second day.
Day 3
You can relax on this extra day. It’s possible to have breakfast at Spring River Resort, but you can also enjoy breakfast on the way to Konglor Cave. Happy Restaurant & Bar is a recommendation for breakfast and lunch! They offer delicious pastas and burgers.
The most beautiful cave of the Thakhek Loop is undoubtedly the Konglor Cave. It’s about 4 kilometers from the resort to Konglor Cave by scooter. The entrance fee is 200,000 KIP per person. Then you hop into a small boat with a guide, which can accommodate a maximum of 3 people excluding the guide. You sail through the beautiful cave and make several stops along the way where you can get out of the boat. In total, you’ll be on this trip for about 2 hours.
Day 4
On the last day, you have to drive a long distance back to Thakhek, so it is wise to depart early. This day’s route is somewhat dull; you only stop at The Rock Viewpoint. The view from this viewpoint is stunning, making it an ideal place for breakfast. From the large rocks, there’s also an opportunity to zipline with an amazing view!
After visiting Rock Viewpoint, you can drive back to Thakhek via the highway, or take the same route back towards Thalang.
Overnight Stays During the Thakhek Loop
Overnight stay at Naga Hostel in Thakhek: This is a quiet and clean hostel without private rooms, located in a central spot in Thakhek. The owner has created a map on Google Maps including all recommendations and the route for the trip. At this hostel, you can leave your backpack behind to pick it up after the trek.
Overnight stay at Sabaidee Guesthouse in Thalang: This is a super nice guesthouse on the Nam Theun river. You’ll sleep in a hut with a bathroom and can choose between air conditioning or a fan. The room was still very new, and they are currently building more huts. Every evening, they host a barbecue, allowing you to chat with other travelers.
Overnight stay at Spring River Resort in Konglor: Spring River is a beautiful resort on the Nam Hinboun river, surrounded by a green oasis of plants. The bungalows have a small balcony and mosquito net. The only downside is that the toilet and shower are shared. The resort is a 10-minute scooter ride from the famous Konglor Cave. If you prefer not to ride a scooter, the resort also offers a boat taxi to the cave, which accommodates 3 people. The complete boat costs 300,000 KIP.
The Thakhek Loop is truly a must if you are traveling through Laos! Do you have any additional tips? Please share them in the comments below.
Want to read more about Laos?
Check out these articles:
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- Backpacking in Laos you never do alone, even if you go solo
- 4 days scootering across the Bolaven Plateau in Southern Laos
- Itinerary for Laos: this is the ideal backpack route
If you’re planning a trip, check out these useful links:
- Flight tickets deals to Laos
- Complete travel to Laos with 333Travel
- Book a round trip in Laos via VanVerre
- The coolest hotels in Laos
→ View all articles about Laos here
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