Konglor Cave road trip

[Roger Ramjet]

In early January 2014 we set off on a family road trip to Konglor Caves in central Laos........It was just great!
We left Thailand in our trusty little Nissan Pick Up, with it's new "car passport" over the bridge from Mukdahan, after a night at Mukdahan Manor an upmarket B & B and restaurant.The Western food was great. (lamb chops) and the two rooms available are up market for Thai standards and reflect Western value (although the hot shower was not!).The location is very pleasant the service very friendly, despite the best instructions and a G.P.S. it is still hard to find!
We got a great welcome from five well behaved furry friends on arrival!

[Roger Ramjet]

After a slow bridge crossing as the "pick and peck typing" road transport department staff entered our car details into their computer, (and similarly on arrival on the Lao side) we crossed over and spent a night in Savanakhet, had dinner and a walk about, and watched the sun set on Mukdahan, from our river front accommodation. We drove North, and took a look at the many very large, almost completed, factories in the International Industrial Zone, North of the city.It seemed to be "on hold" with very few people actually working, but was impressive in scale and build quality! The Drive North was easy and became very picturesque once we turned in from the Mekong into the mountains, about 100km from Konglor .

[Roger Ramjet]

The winding road towards the Vietnam border provided spectacular scenery ....except for the smoke that day, which spoiled all efforts to get some pictures until descending down into Konglor valley.
The road into Konglor is sort of sealed...it was once, and now is the pot hole road from hell!......but there was nice scenery, small villages all along the river, lots of goats, pigs, ducks and buffalo to dodge as well,.... so the pot holes are probably good to keep the speed down!

[Roger Ramjet]

We arrived in the evening, and it was getting quite cold,.... well below 20 Deg C, which is unusually cold for this area.....The farmers were so concerned with the cold, that they had lit a big fire, and put their cows in a small yard to keep them warm...This tickled my fancy!

[Roger Ramjet]

There are several accommodation guesthouses in Konglor village, plus if you want really basic...you can also do "home stay"...we chose a Western standard, but very inexpensive guesthouse (about 500bht/night including breakfast) located right on the road, surrounded by acres of tobacco, growing with the aid of irrigation from the river nearby, which enters the valley through the mountain and via Konglor Cave.

[ossierob]

This will be an interesting thread I feel....looking forward to more photos. I do enjoy learning about potential sight seeing jaunts I may take on in the future if I can get someone to drive me. My current lack of peripheral vision makes driving very stressful for myslelf and others around me in Thailand haha

[beerlaodrinker]

Good one rog, glad to see your trip got off to a good start

[Roger Ramjet]

The following morning we walked to the National Park entrance near-bye, and parted with a small amount for entrance to the cave park, then arranged for our approximately three hour boat trip through the cave. It was really great, and unbelievable value for the cost! There are a lot of boats available as they cater for the minibus backpacker tours that arrive each day. If you go early before 9.30am you can generally beat the tours. The whole three hour boat ride including the three of us the driver boat ,fuel, and lifejacket hire was less than 500 bht!!!
The cave is through a large mountain!...and takes about 1.5 hours each way by boat, with a stop off in the cave in an Electrically lit area with quite good formations. You can get off the boat and walk through this section, and take pics etc. Each solid wooden longboat has a driver, and can take up to three passengers. All passengers must wear the life jackets provided, and you need to wear water capable shoes, as at times you need to get out of the boat and help it across shallow sandbars, and sections. There are also sharp rocks under water, and as the cave is flooded at times, lots of dangerous hidden stumps and rocks in uncleared areas. At times the boats reach maybe 20 knots in the long wide sections, and the river is quite large with the cave also 100 meters high in places, so not really claustrophobic at all! In places you need to keep your hands in, as the boats scoot through shallow rapids, and at times you will need to get out and help portage the boat through shallow sections, depending on the water flow, and time of year. You can take your own torch, or rent one cheaply from the boatman. Life Jackets are provided.



The Konglor side cave entrance where the river flows out....clear pleasantly temperature fresh water, complete with a nice sandy sun baking beach,....and bikini clad backpackers...(which I did not photograph, as I did not wish to suffer! )





The loading beach inside the cave.

[Roger Ramjet]

[Roger Ramjet]

At the Upstream entrance on the opposite side of the mountain, the boats travel along a picturesque section of jungle to a small village, where you can disembark, and get snacks and COLD BEER LAO! before the return trip!

[Roger Ramjet]

Konglor National park also has wild Tigers, Elephant, Deer and big cats, and it is possible to hire local guides(armed so you don't finish up as breakfast!) and if you are prepared for a 4 day camping trek....you might get to see some....There are several very nice guided walks (with US gifts cleared) near the village with excellent scenery.

[Roger Ramjet]

There are lots of pretty girls in Konglor....


Just one suggestion .....if you drive from Thailand...bring some good food to get cooked up...the food choices are poor compared with Thailand, and more expensive than Thailand.....in Konglor that is!
Thakek is another story ...great place to stay, eat, and drink Beer Lao on the way back to the Nakhon Phanom friendship bridge on the way home!

[Roger Ramjet]

Note to drivers....If you think Thailand has pot-holes...and bad roads,......by comparison with present Lao roads other than the Vietnam highways...(but rapidly improving with huge road construction projects under way) Thailand has no pot holes!

I destroyed my already tired front suspension during our 1,000km drive, which included "The Konglor motorcycle loop" (but done in a small non 4wd pick up)....
The good news was that complete re-build, new shockers, front struts, ball joints, tie rod ends, and bushes all up installed in a few hours at Thai prices..... less than 250 AUS$! We had lots of fun and my wife wanted to stay except for the food choices!

I am already planning a drive to Northern Laos,..... and into the coast in Vietnam as soon as the visa system and easier car access is allowed. It should be just a 5 hour drive on the new road to the coast in Vietnam, much better and closer than driving South in Thailand..Roll on ASEAN!

[cdnski12]

I visited Kong Lor Cave in 2011. Bussed from Vientiane to Hwy Junction then took a Songteow to Kong Lor Village; where we OVN'd. The Kong Lor Cave was spectacular! Carried on by Mini Bus & regular bus to Savannakhet & Pakse. Toured Wat Phu & Champasak on a rental scooter. Really interesting. The Bus Stations in Eastern Thailand were the cleanest & best I saw in S/E Asia. Very impressive. Lao Hwy's were really rough ... especially Savannakhet to Pakse.