• Follow Me on Twitter!
  • Like Me on Facebook!
  • View My Channel!
  • View My Snapshots!

Main menu

Skip to content
  • Home
  • No Access
  • Shop
  • About Me
  • Archives
  • Bucket List
  • Links
  • Contact Me

Short Hike to Nong Khiew Viewpoint, Northern Laos

Posted on November 3, 2015 by journeyingjames 2 Comments
Share
Tweet

Short Hike to Nong Khiew Viewpoint

nong khiaw viewpoint 2

Nong Khiew or Nong Khiaw is a very small town in Northern Laos. Around 4 hours north of Luang Prabang. I stayed here for 6 days and there was a day wherein I didn’t see any tourist. That is how off-the-beaten it is, there was a day too that we were 20 tourists in one restaurant eating on a candle-lit dinner because the power was off. All pertinent information can be found at the end of the blog- where to sleep, eat and how to get there.

When you are in Nong Khiew, locals would always ask you if you have been to the Viewpoint or probably tell you to go there. It took me 3 days of convincing to finally take the short trek up. For one, even though I love the mountains, I’m usually not excited on hiking it. haha I’m more of a beach boy where when you get there no need to climb down. Plus my purpose in Nong Khiew is just to rest after too much partying and staying up late in Chiang Mai.

unexploded bombs

So anyway, the trek to Nong Khiaw Viewpoint is about 1-1 1/2 hours, 2 kilometers, depending on your physical capabilities. It took a chubby Korean 2 hours. The poster on top speaks perfectly, “Some things beautiful, nice and good we have to work for it. Too easy is boring.”

too easy is boring

The route is kinda steep at the beginning then would somehow get easier the further you get up. The path is well-covered with tall trees about 75% of the time so it’s not that hot except if you climb from 10am-2pm. I even took off my slippers after 20 minutes since the path is not that rocky and I love the feeling of my barefoot kissing the ground. Although 10o meters during the final ascent the sharp limestone rocks would be visible so take caution.

serenity at nong khiaw

I was planning a sunrise hike but since I overslept I left my room around 8am. I started trekking around 8:30am and arrived at the summit 9:30am.

framed nong khiew framed by the forest

I was speechless for about 15 minutes when I reach the viewpoint. I can’t even take photos since the experience was so special. At the viewpoint you see mini-terraced rice paddies especially on the east and north, the surrounding limestone karst of which why the town is being frequented by tourists and the chocolate river Nam Ou and the town’s bridge.

mountains nong khiaw viewpoint sea of clouds nong khiaw viewpoint

The 360-degree is just mind-blowing, the fog-covered hills, lush green mountains and the cluster of houses in town. It’s perfect space for some meditation- both walking up and at the top.

summit nong khiaw viewpoint

barefoot trek nong khiaw viewpoint bamboo section nong khiaw

Lovely weather, great walking meditation along the trail. Enjoyed this 360-degree vista for 2 hours before I went back to town.

I was up there, solo, enjoying the beauty of Mother Nature for around 2 hours before going down. Incredible place I took an oath to go back.

True to my pledge, I went for a sunset climb the same day. Before the trek, I already saw dark clouds approaching which means that it would definitely rain while I hike but nonetheless I carried on. If you want to do a sunset hike, do start around 3:30pm and not later than 5pm, the caretaker discourages hiking up after 5pm. Anyway, I went up (you have to pay 20,000kips again) around 5:15pm and true enough it drizzle at the middle of the trail. In my mind, I already see that it would just make the scene more dramatic since rains make beautiful sunset. This gave me further motivation. This time btw I did a barefoot hike all the way up and then down.

Nong khiew sunset

After an hour, I was dumb-founded. Silence filled my being and the majesty of the place engulfed me. I didn’t took photos for about 15 minutes and just suck it all in. It was kinda sacred, intimate and the two other hikers was just there staring at the changing hues on the horizon, one French girl and a Jap. Magnifique! Utsukushīdesu!

Nong Khiaw Viewpoint at sunset Magnifique Nong Khiew

It was starting to get dark when we went down. It took us almost 2 hours because the trail was a bit slippery and headlights not that strong. But we were happy and had a great dinner afterwards!

Here’s how far it is from where you would usually come from:

Chiang Mai Thailand – 19-21hours via Luang Namtha

Luang Namtha – 7-10hours depending on the road condition

Luang Prabang – 4-5hours

Vientianne – 15-16hours via Luang Prabang

Where to sleep in Nong Khiew: I rented a bungalow for 5 days at 40,000kips at Sunrise Guesthouse which is by the river. I think this has the most beautiful spot for sunset. The homestays and guesthouses are usually near each other. Starts from 30,000kips on a low season and 50,000kips when highs-season this is already good for 2 people.

Where to eat in Nong Khiew: I recommend the 2 Indian restaurants, I always order the vegetable thali. The restaurant in front of the Indian restaurant has good local food too. Order the Banana mint smoothie. Sunrise guesthouse offers good food too. Food are kinda expensive compared to Thailand. Expect to pay around 25,000-50,000kips for a meal. Drinks about 10,000-20,000kips.

Related Posts with Thumbnails
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged How to get to Nong Khiaw Viewpoint, Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw, Luang Prabang to Nong Khiew, Nong Khiaw Guide, Nong Khiaw Travel Guide, Nong Khiaw Viewpoint, Nong Khiaw Viewpoint Laos, nong Khiew photos, Nong Khiew Viewpoint, Nong Khiew Viewpoint Laos, Where to Eat Nong Khiaw, Where to Sleep Nong Khiaw. Bookmark the permalink.

Post navigation

← How To Stay Healthy When Traveling?
#100DaysSEA Feature on TV Patrol Southern Tagalog, Bandila and ANC →

2 thoughts on “Short Hike to Nong Khiew Viewpoint, Northern Laos”

  1. hei lee said:
    Reply
    January 22, 2016 at 3:32 am

    Amazing! I’m smiling while reading this and at the same time I’m imagining myself actually doing that too….
    all fingers up! Not just thumbs (ha-ha) GREAT! so inspiring!

  2. Happy said:
    Reply
    February 19, 2016 at 10:36 am

    SF . NY . DUB (Aer Lingus) at DUB (Ryanair.com ) LondonThen Ryanair to Sweden then road or Rail to Norway ,Rail?Road to Holland Is France Paris then do it before where ever in Germany but if Germany is just say Hamburg and Frankfurt then go from Holland by train.Into Italy by train and hope to fly sratight to Nepal, Personally I might have gone Italy Greece by boat and maybe even Greece,Crete, Cyprus,Egypt before heading for NepalNepal for me would need a bigger reason to visit than the Mountains. It Budget wise cheap as an add on to an Indian tour but a fly in for a short time,your trip,your Budget.Napal,road Laos,Road,Burma,Thailand Thailand (Air New Zealand) flight book through to SF ( Think you can have an up to 7 day stop over in Nz and have it costed as direct flight. You might have been able to travel on an Air New Zealand round the World ticket which allows for a certain amount of stops and up to a 3.000 mile variation from a sratight route (Ithink)With Scandanavia you could not get a route that sratight. Your carrier would not be Aie New Zealand on ever leg but their partners in certain areas.Go to a good travel agent or if you are under 26 and or a Student try your local Student Travel Agency they will know the best ways to work the system and save. When in doubt check with Travel Advisor .com just to see who knows what and the latest news of the actual on the ground situation to day.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CAPTCHA Image
Refresh Image

*

Search

Like Me?

PRESS & MEDIA

Back-to-Back GMA News TV Interviews
Cebu Pacific's Featured Article: Around the Philippines for 100 Days
Manila Bulletin: Around the PH for 100 Days
TV 5: ISANGDAAN Journey Interview
ABS-CBN News Channel: ISANGDAAN Journey Live Interview
GMA News To Go: ISANGDAAN Journey Live Interview
Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho: Hidden Paradise Feature
ABS-CBN Southern Mindanao: Short Interview
Living Asia Channel: Watch Me Dancing
Radio Guestings
Cebu Pacific’s Smile Magazine: Bacolod on a Budget
Cebu Pacific’s Smile Magazine: Zamboanga City on a Budget
PAL's Mabuhay Magazine: Tacloban on a Budget
PAL's Mabuhay Magazine: Not Your Ordinary Palawan
PAL's Mabuhay Magazine: Iloilo and Guimaras Travel Guide
8 Travel Tips to Save Money While on the Road
How to Start Your Own Backpacking Trip

Top 25 Posts

  • No To Mining in Palawan- A Petition Letter (313)
  • 100 Days of Backpacking the Philippines- The Cheapest Way Possible (240)
  • My Top 10 Philippine Travel Destination (167)
  • ISANGDAAN: The Most Epic Travel Challenge in the Philippines- A Success! (138)
  • Calaguas Islands Trip Guide: The Cheapest Way Possible (125)
  • Puerto Princesa City to El Nido Travel Guide (114)
  • Do-It-Yourself Puerto Princesa City Tour (86)
  • No Money, No Honey or Why I Travel Solo? (84)
  • Hundred Islands Travel Guide (83)
  • Cheap Accommodations in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (81)
  • Panampangan Island: Tawi-Tawi's Finest White Beach (80)
  • Why You Should Date a Traveler? (79)
  • Surigao Nature Fuck: The Most Depressing Road Trip Ever (76)
  • Dear Reader, I'm not a snob... (75)
  • Wrap Up of Mindanao 400 Challenge (73)
  • Cheap Accommodations in Camiguin Island (71)
  • Puerto Princesa City: Benchmark Of What Paradise Is (70)
  • I’m on TV! Thanks Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho Summer Special (70)
  • Boracay Cheap Accommodations and Rates (68)
  • September-October Travel Plans in Bicol, the Visayas, and Ilocos (62)
  • 10 Travel Secrets of JourneyingJames (61)
  • 10 Things to Do in Quezon Province (58)
  • GMA News To Go Interview about ISANGDAAN Journey (58)
  • How to Fund Your Wanderlust? (58)
  • On Pursuing My Passion (58)
Copyright 2012 | Journeying James Designed by: Regine Garcia