Activities and scenery

Myself and Tim en route to Tham Chang cave on the west bank of the Nam Song River

Vang Vieng in Laos is rightfully regarded as a stunningly beautiful location, with its limestone karst terrain and a honeycomb of unexplored tunnels and caverns. It's also become a backpackers paradise with its easy availability of kayaking, rafting, trekking and tubing, as well as the constant re-runs of 'Friends' on the tv's in town. I stayed just one night so avoided the backpacker hordes but did sample a Khmer nighclub, which was loud, very dark and uninviting. However, the scenery more than made up for it and to see the towering limestone karsts across the Nam Song River shrouded in low cloud on a misty morning was particularly engaging. With my brother Tim tagging along, we visited the main cave within easy reach of town, known as Tham Chang, with its 151 steps and friendly novice monks. The cave itself is pretty expansive and the views across the valley from its lookout are very pretty. Lots of other caves await those visitors with longer to stay and soak up the atmosphere, but I was on a tight schedule and left next morning for Vientiane.

Early morning views across the Nam Song River from my digs at the comfortable Elephant Crossing

I love the low-flying cloud that hovers around and blankets the karst limestone scenery

The Nam Song River looking towards the Tham Chang cave area

Its all about scenery and activities in Vang Vieng, which is shrouded in trees on the right of this photo

Three young monks on an early morning stroll to Tham Chang cave