Results 1 to 24 of 24
  1. #1
    Member

    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Last Online
    22-03-2023 @ 07:22 AM
    Location
    Vientiane, Lao.
    Posts
    303

    Trip to Konglor caves via Paksan

    Hi there all!

    A bit slow to upload this as the trip was back during Songkran, me and my wife rode down from Vientiane where we live, stayed in Paksan for one night and then rode on wards to Konglor caves the next day.

    Anyhow day one we set off at about midday as it's not far to Paksan from Vientiane





    A few pictures from along the way



    We then saw this smashed up truck shortly after









    The truck was Thai registered and didn't look as though it had been there long, by the looks of the truck I should imagine the driver was badly hurt!

    Anyhow not long after this we arrive in Paksan which is where we stayed the night, booked the hotel the day before on Agoda and it was really nice! Only two months old, cost 500 Baht a night which I thought was pretty good!



    Here it is



    After settling in we popped out for some dinner, Paksan is quite a boring place to be honest, it is very very small and also very dark at night so we decided to go out early:



    The food was quite decent, the restaurant was run by a bit of a weird old Swiss guy and his wife who was about a quarter of his age and seemed to boss him around ha ha.

    Went for a beer by the river afterwards but no pics as it was near pitch black due to the severe lack of street lighting.

    Anyhow the next day we got up at about 8am, packed up and got on the road. We continued on wards until arriving at the small town of Pakkading where we stopped for lunch.









    The town it's self is a small dusty little place, just a travel stop for trucks and buses really, lots of Vietnamese also. Stopped at a little bike shop to oil my chain which was kindly done free of charge

    Anyhow we continued on wards across the Soviet made bridge and headed on until turning left on to road number 8 which leads to the Vietnam border. Literally as soon as you hit this road the scenery improved dramatically! Much more interesting indeed!





    Stopped at a nice viewpoint





    We rode on until arriving at Konglor and checked in to our guesthouse at about 2pm, shortly after checking in we went on up to the cave which due to it being Songkran was very busy!



    The entrance to the cave where the river flows out in to a lagoon







    We walked on up to enter the cave






    Here you can travel through the 7.5km Long cave via a small boat for 110,000 Kip per boat return, here are the boats:




    They even give you a life jacket!!!!!




    Stopping along the way through the cave





    At some points in the dry season you have to get out the boat and wade as it grounds out on the shale/rocks

    Arriving at the other end of the cave it is lovely to get back to the light, it is a journey of around 40 Minutes







    You arrive at a village at the other side which is only really accessible via boat as it takes four hours to drive there as opposed to 40 Minutes ish via boat.

    Due to it being Songkran it was very busy!





    The locals were having a party so we stopped for a quick beer

    The sound system was being powered by a tak tak generator ha ha



    This was the road to the village



    Saw this cool Thai registered Ranger and had a chat with the owner who had come to see family, he was proudly telling me about how his Ranger was great in the floods

    Anyhow after having a beer and a chat we walked back to the boat and head back through the cave





    When we got back to the other side of the cave we went back to our guesthouse, had a shower and then chilled out on the balcony with a beer








    We went for dinner to a local restaurant but no pictures as it was pitch black due to no electric, the food was good though! Very nice Laab and sticky rice.

    An early night as it is a very quiet place and I was beer Lao'd out ha ha.

    The next day we got up about 7:30 and got some pics over the surrounding tobacco fields








    Had breakfast and then headed off back towards Vientiane which was quite a distance.

    We stopped off along the journey back at a shrine for the mrs to ensure we had a safe journey (Thankfully it worked)



    Not many other pictures from along the way back as we just road alot! We did however see the remnants of another very very nasty looking accident! The truck was really badly damaged, I'm sure the guy must have died in this





    Look how far the steering wheel is back!!!



    Really bad that the airbag didn't even go off! I mean I know it wouldn't have done alot in a smash like this but it should have deployed! Seeing things like this does really make you think!

    Anyhow thats it for pictures, I hope you liked the thread?

    Cheers

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    59,983
    Great travel thread, cheers for posting it. I have never heard of this place before.

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat
    Mid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    1,411
    Thanxs for the pics , interesting stuff

  4. #4
    Member

    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Last Online
    28-10-2023 @ 11:47 AM
    Posts
    189
    Great pixs thanks

  5. #5
    Thailand Expat terry57's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Last Online
    07-12-2022 @ 03:12 PM
    Posts
    26,746
    Nice thread Mate and A really nice bike you got going there.

    Cheers

  6. #6
    ความสุขในอีสาน
    nigelandjan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Frinton on sea and Ban Pak
    Posts
    13,332
    Nice one mate , thanks for sharing .

    Its really great to see someone as young as yourself getting up and doing something with your life , ie enjoying it !

    It takes balls to get up and go like you did and I really hope it all works out for you both.

    There are many people stuck back in the UK moaning every day about it , allways threatening to do something about it , but never do , so well done .

    You have time on your side so keep safe and enjoy yourselves !
    I'm proud of my 38" waist , also proud I have never done drugs

  7. #7
    Thailand Expat misskit's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Chiang Mai
    Posts
    48,094
    Enjoyed this thread. Thanks!

  8. #8
    Member
    Roger Ramjet's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Last Online
    07-10-2022 @ 03:15 PM
    Location
    high in the sky!
    Posts
    309
    Great thread and pics..tks...Will go down for a look with the family..just need to figure out transport. Did you rent the bike from Vientiane?

  9. #9
    loob lor geezer
    Bangyai's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Last Online
    02-05-2019 @ 08:05 AM
    Location
    The land of silk and money.
    Posts
    5,984
    Interesting thread , great pics , nice bird .............. thanks for posting.

  10. #10
    Thailand Expat
    aging one's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    22,632
    Nice thread thanks a million. Never seen or even heard of the place so it was very interesting.

  11. #11
    I'm in Jail

    Join Date
    May 2011
    Last Online
    29-04-2023 @ 08:08 AM
    Location
    Not in jail
    Posts
    7,255
    Nice thread supa, that road leading to the viet border crossing is indeed nice, crossed over there to vietnam years ago but hadnt even heard of those caves then, been meaning to take a look,
    Looks like the usual Lao carnage on the road during songkram .

  12. #12
    I'm in Jail

    Join Date
    May 2011
    Last Online
    29-04-2023 @ 08:08 AM
    Location
    Not in jail
    Posts
    7,255
    Quote Originally Posted by beerlaodrinker
    Saw this cool Thai registered Ranger and had a chat with the owner who had come to see family, he was proudly telling me about how his Ranger was great in the floods
    That guy and Fondles should get together and swap ford ranger flood storys LOL

  13. #13
    R.I.P
    Mr Lick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Last Online
    25-09-2014 @ 02:50 PM
    Location
    Mountain view
    Posts
    40,028
    Thanks for sharing that experience with us SN. We like pics on TD.

  14. #14
    Member
    cdnski12's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Last Online
    13-11-2020 @ 04:02 AM
    Location
    Trail, BC, Canada
    Posts
    278
    Great Trip. Went to Kong Lor Cave c/w Thai GF in 2010. Spectacular. There were very few tourists in mid October. Think we ate in the same restaurant. Seems those trucks crashed on the steep turns on the Hwy. That is the most spectacular cave I was ever in. The underground river was a bit low, so we had to hop in/out of the boats, while they were man-handled over the shallow spots. Unfortunately the Cave Guides never pointed out that I left my $25 MEC Headlamp, clipped to their very dirty life vest ... even though I bought them a few beers after the river trip. Never noticed it was missing, until we cycled 2.5km to the river. Met several Scooter Riders who made the Khammouan Loop Ride. I will return to Luang Prabang in 2014. Had a bizarre experience there in 1972.
    Last edited by cdnski12; 13-08-2013 at 02:48 AM.

  15. #15
    Member

    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Last Online
    22-03-2023 @ 07:22 AM
    Location
    Vientiane, Lao.
    Posts
    303
    Quote Originally Posted by beerlaodrinker View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by beerlaodrinker
    Saw this cool Thai registered Ranger and had a chat with the owner who had come to see family, he was proudly telling me about how his Ranger was great in the floods
    That guy and Fondles should get together and swap ford ranger flood storys LOL
    Lol yeh never put the two together until you mentioned it ha ha, I also realised that I forgot to post the picture of the Ranger is question...Here it is!




    It certainly looks flood worthy

  16. #16
    Thailand Expat
    Lantern's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Last Online
    Yesterday @ 06:29 AM
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    1,158
    Must try to make it up there one day. Thanks for posting, looks like a great few days away.

  17. #17
    Thailand Expat
    MeMock's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Baan Nok Ubon / outback Australia
    Posts
    11,146
    Nice thread - thanks for sharing. I have a farm located at the end of that highway about 20kms before the Vietnam border so do that road quite often. Thanks for that info on the new hotel as that could come in handy. Do you have a link of any kind to the place you stayed at near the cave? Can you believe that I am still yet to take a look at those caves. One day!
    News is what someone, somewhere is trying to suppress - everything else is just advertising.

  18. #18
    Cacoethes scribendi
    Loombucket's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Last Online
    15-06-2015 @ 08:51 AM
    Location
    Lanchester and Nong Bua Deng
    Posts
    3,310
    Another great thread with some really good pictures! Thanks for sharing.

  19. #19
    Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Last Online
    19-08-2015 @ 11:54 AM
    Location
    Pattaya
    Posts
    80
    Nice pictures & report Supernovadw.
    They clearly also reveal how much tourism has developed in just a few years.
    Not only does Konglor now have many visitors, but I've noticed that many sites all over So East Asia have grown significantly. This is a good thing for the economies of the local communities adjacent to unique sites!

    In early 2007, I saw the Konglor Cave. It was one of many places I explored on a my dirt-bike ride through the length of Cambo, Laos and back through Essan before returning home to Pattaya.

    Just those few years ago, the road from Hwy 8 to Konglor was a poor dirt track.
    Konglor had no adjacent hotels/guest houses, nor were there the hordes of tourists that are shown in your photos. I was the only visitor that day!
    No one except cattle were cooling themselves in the waters:


    pattaya local

  20. #20
    I am in Jail

    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Last Online
    30-05-2014 @ 10:48 PM
    Posts
    2,630
    Missed this thread until now. Really enjoyed it and I echo what Nige said. Fair play to you for taking life by the balls. 98% of people barely leave their own county, so to be living on the other side of the world at your age is pretty cool.

  21. #21
    Member

    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Last Online
    10-02-2020 @ 03:34 PM
    Location
    Pattaya
    Posts
    108
    Thanks for the excellent thread and photos, enjoyed reading/viewing.

    Good to see it is working out for you.

    Well Done.

  22. #22
    Member

    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Last Online
    09-04-2021 @ 08:11 AM
    Location
    Brooksville Florida
    Posts
    141
    Was very interesting and hope to get back to Thailand next year and check out this area near Vietnam. thanks for time and pictures.

  23. #23
    Member

    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Last Online
    22-03-2023 @ 07:22 AM
    Location
    Vientiane, Lao.
    Posts
    303
    Wow thanks for all the kind replies, really didn't think I'd get so many positive responses!

    Apologies for not replying to you all, just been very busy with work as only been back in Laos for ten days now.

    The accommodation we stayed at was called Chanta House, I simply booked it on Agoda.

    The place was super busy when I went but I think simply due to Songkran, otherwise I think it would largely look just as the pictures above. There was a massive party on with music and stalls everywhere and I'd say that 90% Of the people were there just for that as there weren't many people actually going through the cave itself.

    Will update with some more pictures when I get time to upload them all.


    Cheers

  24. #24
    A Cockless Wonder
    Looper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Last Online
    Yesterday @ 10:15 PM
    Posts
    15,185
    Quality thread mate, thanks!

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •