Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw

Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw, Laos by boat. We took the slow boat in January at the height of Laos dry season. A ten hour journey navigating shallow waters and small rapids. More reading: Boat Ride from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw Villages around Nong Khiaw

Man Concentrating - Nong Khiaw, Laos
He didn't say much, but he got us through shallow water and up small rapids in our little rickety boat with impressive skill. Every now and then he'd stick his hand out and the other boat traveling aside us would come over and hand him a lighter to light his cigarette. Not a man of many words. Read more about this boat ride from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw.
Woman Looking at the Boat - Luang Prabang, Laos
This is the boat we took from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw along the Nam Ou River. It snugly fit about 12 people their backpacks. We were all sitting on remarkably tiny kindergarten style chairs - amusing for the first couple of hours, then the leg cramps set in... That said, the trip was terrific and worth every bit of discomfort. The scenery, including the landscape and people-scape, was impressive. Oh yeah, no bathrooms on board (obviously due to a severe shortage of space). When the boat finally made a pit stop (4 hours after launch), the urgency and pending relief was palpable. We haven't seen people move like that since the Black Friday release of the Cabbage Patch Kids. Read more about this boat ride from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw.
Nam Ou Reflections - Nong Khiaw, Laos
A taste of the landscape along the Nam Ou River. Read more about this boat ride from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw.
Kids Playing on the Shore - Nong Khiaw, Laos
Kids play on shore and wave to us as we putter on by up the Nam Ou. Read more about this boat ride from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw.
Man Looking Out on the Nam Ou - Nong Khiaw, Laos
Read more about this boat ride from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw.
Boat Plying the Waters - Nong Khiaw, Laos
Our boat traveled in a pair, in part for safety reasons and primarily because they sold too many tickets and couldn't shoehorn everyone to fit in one boat. Read more about this boat ride from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw.
Limestone at the Nam Ou River - Nong Khiaw, Laos
More landscape cuts from the Nam Ou river between Luang Prabang and Nong Khiaw. Read more about this boat ride from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw.
Kids Waving - Nong Khiaw, Laos
Waving from boats, waving from the shore, just waving. And remarkably friendly smiles, too. That defines the journey along the Nam Ou from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw. Read more about this boat ride from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw.
Kids Waving from the Riverbank - Nong Khiaw, Laos
Along the journey to Nong Khiaw, we saw groups of boys with masks on who apparently dive for their fish. Read more about this boat ride from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw.
Main Street - Nong Khiaw, Laos
The main street of Nong Khiaw offers an odd blend of modern and traditional - thatch houses, satellite dishes, wooden carts and mobile phone card shops. Read more about this boat ride from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw.
Water Buffaloes at the Riverside - Nong Khiaw, Laos
One of the numerous herds of water buffalo relax along the Nam Ou riverside. Read more about this boat ride from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw.
Beautiful Nam Ou River and Mountains - Nong Khiaw, Laos
The Nam Ou carves an impressive path through the mountains of northern Laos. Read more about this boat ride from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw.
Mother Carrying Child on her Back - Nong Khiaw, Laos
We trekked ourselves outside of Nong Khiaw and came across some villages that were paid less than the occasional visit from tourists. We showed the mother the photo afterwards in the display, and she called her family and friends around to look at it. Everyone in the village seemed to get a good laugh. Read more about the villages near Nong Khiaw, Laos.
Quiet Village Street - Nong Khiaw, Laos
We originally planned a more substantial hike into the hills, but the Nong Khiaw tourist office had absolutely no information on...Nong Khiaw. So, we set off on the paved road out of town and headed towards the caves. We came across several villages along the way where simple village life lay in plain view. It was a great trek after all. Read more about the villages near Nong Khiaw, Laos.
Man Working on Bamboo - Nong Khiaw, Laos
This man was hollowing out bamboo and making perfectly formed sticks...all day long, from the moment we passed in the morning to the moment we returned in the afternoon. He had a great smile. Read more about the villages near Nong Khiaw, Laos.
Black Goat - Nong Khiaw, Laos
No short supply of livestock in the mountains of Laos. This particular specimen didn't quite know what to do with us other than to pass us a perplexed look and take off up the mountain. Read more about the villages near Nong Khiaw, Laos.
Pink Water Lilies - Nong Khiaw, Laos
Read more about the villages near Nong Khiaw, Laos.
Temple Drum - Nong Khiaw, Laos
Read more about the villages near Nong Khiaw, Laos.
Tree Sign - Nong Khiaw, Laos
This sign was above a huge crater in the ground next to the Tham Pha Tok cave where villagers hid out to escape American bombings. According to our guidebook, the American government dropped over two million tons of bombs between 1964 and 1973 as part of the "Secret War" to root out communist sympathizers. Parts of northwestern Laos are riddled with pock-marks and unexploded ordnance. Read more about the villages near Nong Khiaw, Laos.
Girl Drying Bamboo Flower Reeds - Nong Khiaw, Laos
This girl was laying out bamboo flower reeds to dry out in the sun. They are exported to Thailand for use in making pillows and car seats (or so we were told). Read more about the villages near Nong Khiaw, Laos.
Flooded Rice Fields - Nong Khiaw, Laos
Rice fields below the Tham Pah Tok cave stand flooded in preparation for rice season. Read more about the villages near Nong Khiaw, Laos.
Drying Bamboo Reeds - Nong Khiaw, Laos
If people are impatient, they can dry out the reeds by fire instead of letting them dry in the sun. How they manage to do this without burning their villages to the ground, we have no idea. Read more about the villages near Nong Khiaw, Laos.
Nam Ou River Boats - Nong Khiaw, Laos
The late afternoon sun has its way with the Nong Khiaw landscape. Read more about the villages near Nong Khiaw, Laos.