A Complete Guide
The Ultimate Thakhek Loop Guide
The Ultimate Thakhek Loop Guide : A Complete Guide
Throughout my travels in South East Asia, I’ve had the chance to experience and see all types of adventures. I’ve travelled through the jungles of Cambodia and explored the mountain highlands in North Thailand, but out of them all the one that was the most memorable and truly “once in a lifetime experience” was the Thakhek Loop.
The Thakhek Loop is a motorbike loop located in central Laos and offers a chance for travellers to experience adventure like never before. Whether you want to see culture, nature or simply looking for a raw experience, the Thakhek Loop has it all.
If there’s one thing to do in Laos, it’s the Thakhek Loop. Here I’ll share with you my experiences and a complete guide to the Thakhek Loop.
Table of Contents
- Quick Facts About the Thakhek Loop
- How Many Days Do You Need for the Thakhek Loop?
- Best Time to Do the Thakhek Loop
- What to Pack
- Is the Thakhek Loop Beginner Friendly?
- Renting a Motorbike for the Thakhek Loop
- Thakhek Loop Itinerary Overview (4 Days)
- How Much Does the Thakhek Loop Cost?
- Tips and advice
- Is the Thakhek Loop Dangerous?
- Thakhek Loop FAQs
- Final Thoughts
Quick Facts About the Thakhek Loop
What is it?
A scenic motorbike loop in central Laos filled with mountains, caves and raw adventure.
Duration
- 3-5 days (most commonly done in 4 days)
Distance
- Roughly 450 – 550 Km
Mode of transport
- Self driven Motorcycle/scooter
Best Time to Go
- October – February (during the dryer and cooler months)
Key Highlights
- Epic Limestone Mountains
- Grand Caves (Kong Lor Cave)
- Untouched Local Culture
- Absolute Raw Adventure
How Many Days Do You Need for the Thakhek Loop?
The Thakhek Loop is typically done within 3 – 5 days with most travellers opting to do 4 days. I think 4 days hits the sweet stop in that you’re not rushing through anything. Plus, since many other travellers are doing 4 days on the loop, you’ll see more familiar faces as you on the loop.
When I was doing the loop, I started with 2 other people but by the end, we finished as a group of 6! We all just met on the road and decided, hey why not travel and share this experience together!
Best Time to Do the Thakhek Loop
I think the best time to do the Thakhek Loop is during the cooler and dryer months between October to February. It’d just be more of a pleasant experience without the rain and humidity plus it being nice and sunny is always best!
Keep in mind however especially during January February, it can get quite cold in the evenings and early mornings so be prepared!
I did the loop in October and the weather was perfect. The weather was always nice and sunny and the rice fields were starting to turn golden brown, ready for harvest!
What to Pack for the Thakhek Loop
Here’s a quick packlist on some of the items you might forget:
- Sunglasses (a must when riding all day)
- Swimmers
- Power Bank (Navigation drains battery)
- Rain Poncho
- Light Jacket
Some Optional Gear:
- Small Torch (makes exploring the caves 10x better)
- Face mask for riding motorbike
Is the Thakhek Loop Beginner Friendly?
The Thakhek Loop doesn’t present the most difficult riding conditions with no difficult hairpin corners or high mountain climbing, however you should at least be comfortable riding a motorbike.
If you are a beginner I’d recommend at least getting some experience on a bike and getting comfortable prior to even making your way to Thakhek.
For me, I’d only ridden a motorbike a handful of times but I got the hang of it pretty quickly and was confident in my riding abilities to attempt the Thakhek Loop.
Can’t decide whether to do the Thakhek Loop or Pakse Loop? Check out my other post:
Renting a Motorbike for the Thakhek Loop
Since almost all visitors that come to Thakhek are here to do the Thakhek Loop, there are many rental services around for you to choose from.
The motorbike rental shops we rented from where:
- Mixay
- Pokemon Go
- Bike&Bed
If you want a complete guide check out my post:
Prices are all about the same with automatics being around 150 000 Kip per day and semi automatics being around 110 000 Kip per day. Note prices may vary and may be up to 30 000 Kip higher when there’s higher demand.
Passport Deposit?
Generally speaking, I don’t feel the most comfortable leaving my passport as a deposit for obvious reasons, however I do feel if it’s your only option, I can trust the rental shops I listed above. They are all extremely reputable places.
I rented mine from Mixay and I was able to deposit my drivers licence instead. Whatever the case may be, try asking if you could deposit anything other than your passport whether that be cash or your drivers licence.
Thakhek Loop Itinerary Overview (4 Days)
Day 0 Arrive in Thakhek
Day 0 is the day you arrive at the town of Thakhek before you embark on the Thakhek Loop.
There are many great accommodation options to choose from where you’ll also get a great chance to meet other people planning on doing the Thakhek Loop.
Renting your motorbike
On day 0 I suggest getting your motorbike sorted for the Thakhek Loop to get the best choice of motorbike you want. You’ll be spending the next 3 – 4 days on your motorbike so I think it’s important to choose a bike that you like.
I rented mine from Mixay and I highly recommend this place. They have a large selection, many bikes to choose from (minded they don’t sell out) and the owners are extremely helpful people.
Check out here if you want more information about renting a motorbike for the Thakhek Loop.
Once you’ve got your motorbike sorted, you’re set for the Thakhek Loop!
Day 1 Thakhek to Tha Lang
Set your alarms early as it’s the first day of the Thakhek Loop! The first day of the loop is marked with stunning limestone formations, remarkable caves and just the overwhelming beauty of Laos country landscape.
Tham Nang Ene Cave
As you begin your adventure and embark onto the roads, your first stop is Tham Nang Ene Cave. It’s located about 40 minutes outside the town and the drive itself will show a glimpse of what is to come. Riding through tall jagged limestone mountains you’ll make your way to Tham Nang Ene Cave.
Tham Nang Ene Cave is a unique cave to explore offering some stunning visuals and architecture reminiscent of the mediaeval era. It’s worth taking your time to explore and makes the perfect first stop on the Thakhek Loop.
For more information about Tham Nang Ene Cave, click here!
Entrance tickets to Tham Nang Ene Cave are 50 000 Kip.
Pha Katai Viewpoint
Continuing your drive through the country roads of Laos your next stop will be at Pha Katai Viewpoint. From Tham Nang Ene Cave it’s about a 50 minute drive.
Entrance to Pha Katai Viewpoint is FREE! (well atleast it was when I did it)
The way up to the viewpoint is steep with some definitely questionable stairs and ladders. Though risky, the panoramic view Pha Katai Viewpoint offers is well worth the struggle and a definite visit in my opinion. Enjoy the vast view into the distance covering through rice fields, plains and mountains whilst being embedded on top the jagged limestone mountains of Thakhek.
Lunch
By this point, everyone in our group was getting a bit hungry especially after the hike up and down Pha Katai Viewpoint. At the time that I did the Thakhek Loop, the rice fields were golden brown and quite the sight to be seen. So we wondered if there was a restaurant with a view facing the rice fields.
All behold we found a restaurant called Rice Field View Restaurant!! As the name suggested the restaurant indeed had a rice field view and a great one at that! So we decided to have lunch here and it was great. Definitely don’t waste the opportunity to have lunch with such a view!!
Song Sa Waterfall
From Rice Field View Restaurant another 15 minute drive along the road is Song Sa Waterfall. Be careful on the way because as you enter the road leading to the waterfall, it is full of dirt roads and potholes.
Song Sa Waterfall is a nice quick stop to enjoy the flowing view of the waterfall and rest up a little before the long drive to Tha Lang. If you’re keen you can also take a swim if you like.
Mountain Hill Climb to Tha Lang
After a quick stop at Song Sa Waterfall it’s time for the ride to Tha Lang where you’ll stay for the night. This section of the ride will take around 1 hour and if you were keen about some enthusiastic riding this part is for you.
The drive up to Tha Lang is full of bends and corners as you climb up the elevation. Driving experiences like this is part of what made the Thakhek Loop so fun for me and definitely an eye opening experience as to what “adventuring” can be.
You should arrive in Tha Lang in time for the sunset
Accommodation in Tha Lang
There’s a number of guesthouses and homestays to choose from in Tha Lang.
I stayed at Sabaidee Guesthouse and it was the perfect stay. We didn’t book in prior and just rocked up and the form rooms were 150 000 Kip. There are private rooms as well.
Sabaidee is a great place to meet other people doing the Thakhek and share experiences together. They also do a daily buffet style BBQ which I highly recommend. It is 150 000 Kip so a bit pricey especially in terms of Laos standards but definitely worth it.
Day 2 Tha Lang to Na Hin
Day 2 is a big day, one full of grand scenery and spirited riding. There’s a lot planned today as you make your way to Na Hin so best start your day early.
Explore Tha Lang
On day 2 I decided to wake up before everyone else to explore the surroundings in Tha Lang. Since we had arrived at Sabaidee Guesthouse in the evening when it was getting dark we didn’t get a good chance to see some of the local untouched life. I just went for a quick walk around, seeing the local shops, walking along the river and just absorbing the atmosphere. It’s a peaceful way to start that is going to be full of adventure and energy.
Ride to Dragon Cave
I recommend starting the day early (around 8:30) as the day is full of long scenic drives and adventure. The first activity for the day is making our way to Dragon Cave.
A direct drive from Tha Lang to Dragon cave is about only 1.5 hours, however I recommend planning at least 2-3 hours for this section of the ride. The drive to Dragon Cave is filled with Thakhek’s unique nature driving through floating forests, lush green sceneries and cascading limestone formations.
We spent our time driving through these regions and taking our time to simply enjoy the ride and take in the beautiful scenery that surrounded us. By giving ourselves the extra few hours we were able to truly immerse ourselves in the environment.
Lak Sao
About 30 minutes before reaching Dragon Cave you’ll come across the small town of Lak Sao. It’s a great little stop if you need to buy anything from snacks to electronics. There is also an ATM here as well.
Exploring and Lunch at Dragon Cave
By now it should be lunchtime and we decided to have lunch at Dragon Cave. The food was good and convenient since we also planned to explore Dragon Cave.
Dragon Cave is a must visit in my opinion when doing the Thakhek Loop. This cave system is unique in the sense that it feels like a completely un-supervised caving experience. There is minimal lighting, some areas you’ll need to duck down and get through tight passages and most of all you can freely explore the cave. You can get as close as you want up to the stalactites and stalagmites and marvel at the structuring of the cave.
Dragon Cave also has a scenic viewpoint easily arriveable after a short hike up.
If you want more information about Dragon Cave, click here!
Entrance fee to dragon cave is around 50 000 Kip.
Cool Pool
After Dragon Cave it’s time to hit the road again and on our way to the cool pool. The Cool Pool is a short drive from Dragon Cave taking less than 40 minutes.
On a hot day on the Thakhek Loop, the Cool Pool is the perfect place to cool down and enjoy laying back a litte. After many hours already on the road, the Cool Pool was a much needed rest.
The Cool Pool is one of the most pristine and pure places I have ever seen. In all my travels I have never seen water so crystal clear where you can see everything beneath the surface of the water.
We decided to rest up here while waiting for the road between Na Hin from here to clear up.
Dangerous Roads to Na Hin
There is a section of road that is closed off between the Cool Pool and Na Hin from 1:30 – 5:30. This is the most dangerous section of the Thakhek Loop as the roads are rough and still under construction.
Read this section for more information, however especially if you are not a confident rider, plan your day around this section. It’s not a bad idea to plan to cross this section before 1:30 as there will be a lot less traffic and you won’t be in a rush to arrive at Nah Hin before sun down.
When I did the Thakhek Loop, we severely underestimated this section of road. Although we all managed to pass safely it was definitely sketchy at times and a rush to get off the treacherous road before sun down.
Accommodation in Na Hin
We stayed at the Sanhak Guesthouse and Restaurant. It’s a cozy place with both dorms and private rooms. The restaurant here is great and they also have really cheap rice wine!
I stayed in the dorm room which was less than 100 000 Kip.
Day 3 Nah hin to Kong Lor Cave
Day 3 is all about the Kong Lor Caves. The plan for the day is to go to Kong Lor Cave and explore!
There is a lot to cover about the Kong Lor Caves, so check out my other post about the Kong Lor Cave.
The Kong Lor Cave system spans over 7.5 km and is a main highlight of the Thakhek Loop. I would allocate about half a day to do a tour through Kong Lor Cave. There are different options when doing the cave tour but as a group expect it to cost around 200 000 Kip per person.
Accommodation at Kong Lor Cave
I’m not necessarily the type of person who spends too much time dwelling on where to stay but if you are on the Thakhek Loop don’t miss the opportunity to stay at one of the bungalows situated in front of Kong Lor Cave.
The view from the bungalows here are unmatched and hard to describe how stunning it was. Depending on when you do the Thakhek Loop, the rice fields will be green to golden brown overlooking the horizon. I was lucky enough to do the Thakhek Loop when the rice fields were golden brown and witnessing the sunset over the fields and Kong Lor Cave was an unforgettable experience.
After abit of negotiation, I paid 250 000 Kip for my stay at the bungalows.
Day 4 Konglor to The Rock Viewpoint to Thakhek
Day 4 is the last day of the Thakhek Loop with a stop at The Rock Viewpoint before heading onto the highway back to Thakhek.
The Rock Viewpoint
The Rock Viewpoint is for the people who like a bit of adrenaline and adventure. Here there are options to do zip lining, crossing rope bridges and spider nets plus many more thrill seeking activities.
Prices range from $30 – $120 USD depending on how long you want to spend here.
Drive back to Thakhek
From here it’s a long drive back to Thakhek. You’ll be on the highway so be prepared to drive a little faster but don’t worry there isn’t a lot of traffic either. It’s a long drive taking closer to 3 hours to do.
Once you arrive in Thakhek, Loop Closed!!! You have completed the Thakhek Loop.
How Much Does the Thakhek Loop Cost?
For my trip, all in all I spent around 500 000 Kip per day excluding The Rocks Viewpoint. This covered most of my expenses including food, accommodation, motorbike rental etc. Laos in general is really cheap so you should be able to budget for it no matter the type of traveller
I’ll share with you how a daily budget may look like 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
If you interested more about how much the Thakhek Loop cost check out my full budget breakdown
Tips and advice
Start your Days Early
Laos, like the rest of South East Asia, the sun sets early. Usually by the time it’s 6 pm it’s already dark and since there’s basically no street lights on the Thakhek Loop you wouldn’t want to drive at night.
I’d recommend planning accordingly and start your days early. It’s a good idea to wake up, have breakfast, pack and be back on the road by 9 in the morning. That way you can explore so much more and not have to rush to your accommodation before nightfall.
Don’t Book Accommodation in Advance
When I say don’t book accommodation in advance, I mean don’t book days in advance. From my experience since the Thakhek Loop isn’t the most popular, there’s always rooms and dorms available. I think booking too early, you lose that spark of adventure because your plans become set.
I personally didn’t even book accommodation. I just rocked up and didn’t find any problems with accommodation. By not booking anything, we weren’t locked into anything so we were able to change our plans depending on how we were feeling and stay together with people we met whilst on the loop. This leads me to my next point…
Be Flexible with your Plans!
The best part about the Thakhek Loop for me was its unfiltered raw sense of adventure. We could literally go and explore anywhere and we dictated what to do that day depending on how we felt. I think truly travelling free is the best way to travel and especially on the Thakhek Loop you don’t want to restrict that at all.
So be flexible, don’t be afraid to change things up. Trust your instincts and go with the flow!
Planning to do the Thakhek Loop in 3 Days
The Thakhek Loop is over 450km. Limiting yourself to 3 days only would be such a shame as all you’ll be doing is riding on the road. You’ll miss out on a lot of what makes Thakhek so memorable and I just can’t recommend it. You’ll probably won’t get another opportunity to do the Thakhek Loop again, so why limit yourself to only 3 days.
Is the Thakhek Loop Dangerous? (Safety & Risks)
Trucks and Traffic
There isn’t a lot of traffic on the road however on the first day you will encounter a number of trucks. Since the roads are relatively wide, if you do encounter trucks just stick to the side and you’ll be fine. I personally didn’t find any issue driving alongside trucks however it’s important to always be cautious and be alert when driving.
Highway Travel
The route most people take will have them travelling on the highway back to Thakhek on the final day of the loop. Traffic isn’t too heavy however you will find yourself cruising at speeds of 80+ km/h. It’s a long drive as well taking a few hours to complete so mind that.
Road Conditions and Potholes
Overall the road conditions are acceptable however poorly maintained. Even if the road looks well paved, there very well may be big potholes waiting for you around the corner. So always be cautious especially when cornnering.
Road between Lak Sao and Na Hin
Along this stretch of the road, you’ll encounter the most dangerous section of the Thakhek Loop.
More specifically between the Cool Pool and Na Hin there is a section of road that is closed between 1:30pm to 5:30pm as it is under construction. This road is straight up just dirt and loose gravel, the most dangerous riding conditions on a motorbike.
We decided to drive after 5:30 pm as it was approaching nightfall and it was the worst driving experience by far. Not only are there massive potholes but there is a queue of trucks and lorries lining up to pass. Most likely at some point you’ll be wedged between lorries trying to make your way down.
There is no way of avoiding this road so if you are doing the Thakhek Loop, you will need to trek through it. If it rains or the conditions are wet, I highly recommend planning your day so you can cross this section before the 1:30 pm close. Else, it will be a slippery nightmare to try to traverse
Thakhek Loop FAQs
Is the Thakhek Loop suitable for Beginners?
For the most part, yes. The roads and driving conditions are relatively good for the most part. Just make sure you are at least comfortable on a motorbike and have some experience.
Are there ATM’s on the Thakhek Loop?
Yes, there are ATM’s at almost all the local towns you go through. I wouldn’t worry about that.
I’m travelling during the rainy season, should I still do the Thakhek Loop?
Absolutely YES. If that’s your only opportunity to do it, I think just go for it. Even if it is the rainy season, it usually means there’s only to be bursts of heavy rain but still a lot of sunshine. Just make sure to pack your poncho with you and take extra precautions.
I’m travelling solo, I don’t want to do it by myself though, should I still do the Thakhek Loop?
YES! Most people that do travel to Thakhek are also solo travellers. Thakhek Loop is one of the easiest places to meet people to travel with as everyone else is also looking for the same thing! Whether it’s initially at your accommodation in Thakhek or on the loop somewhere, it’s easy to meet other travellers.
I started with 2 other people that I met whilst travelling Laos and by the end of the Thakhek loop we finished as a group of 6. We all met each other on the loop somewhere and at that point decided to just stick together!
Final Thoughts
The Thakhek loop truly offers the adventure of a lifetime. It is filled with raw unfiltered experiences and changes your perspective as to what travel can be. If there’s one thing to do in Laos, it’s the Thakhek Loop!!!