My Budget Breakdown
Thakhek Loop Budget Guide
Thakhek Loop Budget Breakdown
The Thakhek Loop is one of, if not the best thing to do when travelling through Laos. It’s a 3-5 day motorbike loop and let me tell you, it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done! On the Thakhek Loop you’ll encounter some of the grandest caves I’ve ever seen, pristine clear rivers and amazing limestone scenery.
I did the Thakhek Loop in October and stayed 4 days on the loop. Laos in general is a very affordable travel location and Thakhek is no different. In this post I’ll share with you what you can expect to spend on the loop, what your expenses could look like and my recommended budget for this adventure.
So here is my full Thakhek Loop Budget Breakdown!
Check out some of my related posts about the Thakhek Loop:
Trip Overview
How many days should you do the Thakhek Loop?
At the absolute minimum 3 days but ideally 4,5ish days. (the more days the better!)
If you do opt to only do 3 days you’ll rush through a lot of small gems and miss out on a lot. Plus you’ll be driving like 200 km per day which would be very tiring. The Thakhek Loop itself is around 450 km and that is not including any detours you may want to do to see some attractions.
I think 4 to 5 days is a sweet spot and what I opted to do. You’ll meet many other travellers also doing 4 days and it’s great to make some travel buddies along the way. Obviously if you have time, doing it in 5 plus days is also a great option and definitely what I’ll do the next time I do it. The longer you stay on the loop, the more you’ll be able to enjoy the destinations, culture and environment.
Motorbike Rental
The Thakhek loop is a self driven adventure, meaning you have to know how to ride a motorbike/scooter. The most popular options are the 125cc Honda Click or a 110cc Honda Wave. Both are great options and are more than enough for the loop. In my travel group, we had both types of bikes and both were no problem.
If you want a full guide to renting a motorbike for the Thakhek Loop check out my other post:
Recommended Rental Shops
Mixay
Within the town of Thakhek there are a number of highly rated motorbike rental shops. I booked mine from Mixay and from my experience the owner is honest, kind and very hospitable. The prices are good and the bikes are well looked after. Just make sure you secure a bike before your start day as they can quickly sell out of bikes.
Bike&bed (or any of the popular hostels in the town of Thakhek)
Another good place to rent your bikes is from your accommodation. Basically everyone that travels to Thakhek is coming to do the Thakhek Loop and the owners of the accommodation knows this. Whether you are staying in a hostel or guesthouse, if the reviews are good, chances are they are reputable and reliable to rent your bike from as well.
I stayed at Bike&Bed
If you are staying here, I highly recommend renting from here. The prices are good and the bikes are also of very good quality. My travel buddies managed to book the last remaining bikes from here so I missed out, however after being on the loop for 4 days with these guys, their bikes worked perfectly.
Motorbike Rental Price
For the automatic Honda Clicks expect to pay around 150 000 Kip per day and for semi automatic Honda Waves around 120 000 Kip per day.
Bike rental cost summary:
- Automatic ~ 150 000 Kip per day
- Semi automatic ~ 120 000 Kip per day
Season/Best Time of Year to Go
I went in October and I think it was the perfect time to go.
The weather was still warm but not very humid and it was always sunny. It was also harvest season for the rice fields so we got to see some of the most amazing golden rice fields. Especially around Kong Lor Cave, the huge rice field there, during the sunset, cascading next to the limestone mountains was simply mesmerising!
If you opt to go between November to around March, the weather will be much cooler and at night even cold. I think the cooler weather is also a great time to go. Personally, I like riding in the cold and wearing some warm clothes but most likely you’ll miss out completely on any type of rice fields.
If you go between May and August, it will be in their rainy season. Meaning most likely daily downpour, high humidly and blazing sun. I still think it’ll be fun but maybe a bit less comfortable. But still, if that’s your only opportunity to do it, then just do it!
Travel Style
No matter what type of traveller you are, if you plan to do the thakhek loop, you’ll most likely have to travel like a backpacker. This is simply because you’ll be in rural areas and staying in local style accommodation. No western food, no 5 star hotels (or hotels in general). Don’t worry though because I think to do the Thakhek Loop, this is all part of the process and if you have to do it like this, why not enjoy it!
Cost Categories Breakdown
In this section I’ll break down the main costs associated with the Thakhek Loop.
I’ve broken the costs down to:
- Bike Daily Rental
- Accommodation on the Loop
- Food and Drinks
- Activities (Caves, Kong Lor, The Rock etc)
If you’re planning on doing the Thakhek Loop, check out my complete guide:
Bike Daily Rental
As mentioned, the Thakhek loop is a self driven motorbike journey, so your mode of transport is of utmost importance. The most popular options are the Honda Click 125cc which you can rent for about 150 000 Kip or a semi automatic Honda Wave 110cc for about 110 000 Kip.
Fuel is another factor that you would need to consider. Since the Thakhek Loop covers over 450 km altogether I recommend making sure you have as much fuel as you can at the start of each day. That being said, overall you will average about 50 000 Kip worth of fuel per day.
So in summary expect to spend:
- 110 000 Kip – 150 000 Kip per day for a motorbike
- 50 000 Kip per day on Fuel
Accommodation on the Loop
Accommodation is very affordable on the Thakhek Loop and there are many options to choose from, ranging from hostels and homestays, to absolutely stunning villas with pristine scenery. Basically every place you stop there’s going to be something around you.
Quick summary for accommodation costs:
- 100 000- 150 000 Kip for dorm rooms
- 250 000 Kip for private rooms
Should you book accommodation in advance?
When I did the loop, the group and I decided to just go with the flow and wing it.
So basically we didn’t plan anything and just got on with it. This may sound a bit daunting to some of you but I think this is the best way to do the loop. You’re not locked into a set destination you have to arrive by so the adventure and destination is all up to you.
Planning your trip this way, it gives you the absolute sense of freedom and adventure but also leaving just enough for a bit of wonder and the unexpected. By planning our trip like this we got to explore as much as we wanted and were able to continually mold our plans based on what we were feeling that day.
Notable Places to stay
Although I recommend just getting lost out there are 2 places that stood out and I recommend keeping in mind if you are around the area.
Notable Places to Stay on the Thakhekp Loop:
- Sabadee Hostel
- Kong Lor Cave Rice Field Front Bungalows
Sadadee Hostel
This is a relatively well known place to stay and you’ll most likely encounter it on the first night of your trip (if you went anti clockwise like a normal person). I cannot recommend this place enough. The private rooms are cute little individual cabins and they also offer a simple dorm option but the atmosphere and vibe here is incredible. They also do a bon fire and bbq for the travellers and it’s a great way to socialise and get to know other people on the Loop.
Sadadee Hostel Prices:
- around 130 000 Kip for dorm rooms
- around 200 000 Kip for private rooms
Kong Lor Cave Rice Field Front Bungalows
Now this isn’t referring to a specific bungalow but many bungalows in front of Kong Lor Cave facing the rice fields.
When visiting Kong Lor Cave, staying in one of these bungalows is a MUST DO THING!
These bungalows had one of if not the best views I’ve ever had from an accommodation. I visited in October and the rice fields were golden and ready for harvest. Words can’t describe how perfect these bungalows were.
I can’t give a specific recommendation (because honestly I just rocked up and was like wow I need to stay here) but there are several different bungalows all side by side. All of them offer the same experience with the stunning scenery.
Bungalow prices:
- I paid 250 000 Kip for my bungalow
- If you want a better price and have the time, asking around is not a bad option as well.
Recommended Bungalows (these places are right next to each other and pretty much the same):
Food and Drinks
Like the rest of Laos, food and drinks are affordable and are often cheaper than places like Luang Prabang or Vientianne. Since the Thakhek Loop ventures into more rural places in Laos, I often saw prices often being much cheaper. That being said, I spent around 150 000 – 200 000 Kip per day. Some accommodations also offer free breakfast, so you might be able to save a bit on that as well.
Food and Drinks cost summary:
- 150 000 – 200 000 Kip per day
Socialising and drinks
If you choose to party or let loose a bit, expect to pay a little more for alcohol. Beer Lao is all over the place and can be found for as little as 20 000 kip. At one of the places we stayed we managed to get 10 shots for only 50 000 Kip! That was definitely a night to remember.
Always keep in mind, if you are planning on drinking, plan your next day accordingly. Driving a motorbike when you are not well conditioned is one of the stupid things you can do.
Activities & Entrance Fees
There are many interesting and fun stops along the Thakhek Loop. The Thakhek Loop is largely known for its amazing and unique sceneries as well as its grand caves. Most of the smaller activities and attractions meant for quick stops won’t cost you more than 50 000 Kip. Places such as the dragon cave, cool pool and the numerous other small caves along the loop won’t cost much.
Activities & Entrance Fees cost summary:
- General entrance fees ~ 50 000 Kip
- Kong Lor Cave ~ 200 000 Kip
- The Rocks $30 – $120 (USD)
If you want more information about the activities and entrance fees along the Thakhek Loop, check out my post about the 3 Must Visit Caves on the Thakhek Loop.
Kong Lor Cave
By far the most popular and grandest of the activities along the Thakhek Loop is adventuring through the Kong Lor Caves. There are several options available and prices vary depending on how many people are in your group.
Generally speaking for the boat tour through the cave and exploring the various sections of the cave, it should cost around 200 000 kip.
The Rock Viewpoint
Another popular activity on the Thakhek Loop is visiting the Rock Viewpoint. This area is unique in the sense that the limestone mountains have formed to create this unique daggered loop.
It’s definitely worth the visit and if you want to simply admire the place the viewpoint is free, however this area also offers a wide range of adventure activities including ziplining, climbing and walking along a spider net bridge!
Prices are a bit steep, with the cheapest being a 2 hour run around for about $30 (USD) with other options including half day and full day options available which will run you up to $120. Still, if you love adventure activities and want something unique I highly recommend it!
Recommended Daily Budget
My recommended daily budget would be around 550 – 600 000 Kip per day
All in all, including accommodation, bike rentals, food, activities and miscellaneous fees, setting a budget of around 550 000-600 000 Kip per day would be reasonable (not including Kong Lor Cave and The Rocks Viewpoint).
Much of the Thakhek Loop is really affordable and no matter how much you spend or don’t spend it, it’ll be one hell of an adventure.
What about ATM!!
Don’t worry there are plenty of ATM’s scattered along the Thakhek Loop and they are quite easy to find. Most of the cities you’ll go through will have an ATM.
Sample Budget per Day
Here is a sample budget of how you might spend your money on a day on the Thakhek Loop.
Day 1
- Bike Rental: ~ 120 000 Kip
- Fuel: ~ 50 000 Kip
- Accommodation: ~ 200 000 Kip
- Waterfall Entrances: ~ 80 000 Kip
- Food and drinks: ~ 100 000 Kip
Total ~ 500 000 Kip
Final Thoughts
The Thakhek Loop was the best thing I did whilst travelling through Laos. My only recommendation is don’t skip the Thakhek Loop. You’ll meet so many new friends, go on awesome adventures and see nature in a way you’d never seen before. For those you are already committed to doing the loop or people wanting to find more information about the loop, I hope my budget breakdown was helpful!
Safe travels and see you on the road!