𝐍𝐚𝐦 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐦 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 - 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐡𝐞𝐤 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐩

Located within the Phou Hin Phoun NPA near the village of Na Hin, Tad Namsanam is a spectacular multi-level double waterfall, which topples over a sandstone cliff into a rocky stream below.

Part of the reason for coming here is the trek through a lush jungle alive with gigantic trees and wildlife that includes birds and butterflies. The hike is not to be taken lightly—the rough cut trail is difficult, steep and slippery. At a decent pace it takes three hours roundtrip—those doing the Tha Khaek Loop in three days will find it difficult to include this hike due to time constraints.

Start no later than 14:00 to ensure a return by sunset. The admission booth closes at 16:00 but we heard from other travellers than they have no qualms selling tickets to hikers right up until closing time, in spite of the fact that it would mean returning in the dark.

The waterfall is at its most spectacular in the rainy season (May to October) when the waters are rampaging. In the dry season the water flow slows to little more than a trickle, pretty nonetheless.

The entrance is on the main road (Route 8) beside the wat. From here it is 1.7 kilometres to the motorcycle parking area and a further 1.5 kilometres of jungle bashing to the falls themselves.

Some of our adventure packages include Namsanam waterfall in the Tha Khaek to Konglor trips. You can also add Tad Mouang waterfalls, trekking further to see the 18 tiers which flow year round.

Bring plenty of water and we strongly advise against hiking alone. In 2008, an Australian tourist was almost killed on this trek after becoming lost during a tropical downpour. Paths were washed away and access back to town cut. He was rescued 11 days later by helicopter.

Der Pakse Loop hat im Gegensatz zum Thakhek Loop unterwegs nicht viel Landschaft zu bieten. Dafür sind zwischendrin so viele unglaublich schöne Wasserfälle. Wir waren total überwältigt und fanden einfach jeden einzelnen so toll. Der Loop war etwas kürzer und wir hatten nur eine Zwischennacht. Die haben wir in einer kleinen Hütte mit Matratze und einem wunderschönen Blick auf den Sonnenuntergang verbracht.

Top 7 Best Places to Visit in Laos For An Exciting Trip

Nestled amidst the lush landscapes of Southeast Asia lies Laos, a country rich in culture, history, and natural beauty. From the tranquil temples of Luang Prabang to the adventurous allure of the Bolaven Plateau, Laos offers a tapestry of experiences for travelers seeking an unforgettable journey. With its serene rivers, mist-covered mountains, and welcoming locals, Laos captivates visitors with its timeless charm and unspoiled landscapes. Whether you're a history buff, an adventure seeker, or simply in search of tranquility, Laos beckons with its top destinations that promise an exciting and enriching trip. Join us as we explore the top seven best places to visit in Laos, each offering its own unique blend of heritage, adventure, and serenity.

Here are seven of the best places to visit in Laos for an exciting trip:

Luang Prabang:

This UNESCO World Heritage-listed town is nestled in the mountains at the confluence of the Nam Khan and Mekong Rivers. It's known for its well-preserved French colonial architecture, vibrant night markets, and numerous Buddhist temples, including the famous Wat Xieng Thong.

Vang Vieng:

Situated amidst picturesque limestone karst landscapes and alongside the Nam Song River, Vang Vieng offers outdoor enthusiasts a paradise for activities like rock climbing, kayaking, and cave exploration. The stunning scenery makes it perfect for adventure seekers.

Vientiane:

 As the capital city of Laos, Vientiane offers a blend of traditional and modern attractions. Visitors can explore ancient temples such as Wat Sisaket and Pha That Luang, stroll along the Mekong River promenade, and experience the lively atmosphere of the night market.

Si Phan Don (Four Thousand Islands):

 Located in the southern part of Laos, Si Phan Don is a tranquil archipelago in the Mekong River. It's famous for its laid-back vibe, beautiful waterfalls like Khone Phapheng, and the chance to spot rare Irrawaddy dolphins in the surrounding waters.

Bolaven Plateau:

This elevated region in southern Laos is renowned for its stunning waterfalls, lush coffee plantations, and ethnic minority villages. Visitors can embark on trekking and biking adventures, visit tea and coffee farms, and enjoy the refreshing climate.

Plain of Jars:

 Located in the Xieng Khouang Province, the Plain of Jars is an archaeological site featuring thousands of ancient stone jars scattered across the landscape. These mysterious jars, some dating back to 500 BCE, are believed to have been used for burial rituals.

Thakhek Loop:

Adventure seekers and motorbike enthusiasts shouldn't miss the Thakhek Loop, a scenic route that takes you through limestone karst landscapes, caves, and traditional villages. Highlights include the Kong Lor Cave, Blue Lagoon, and the charming town of Thakhek.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Laos offers an array of captivating destinations that promise unforgettable experiences for any traveler. From the serene beauty of Luang Prabang to the adventurous allure of Vang Vieng, Laos boasts a rich tapestry of culture, history, and natural wonders waiting to be explored. Whether you seek spiritual enlightenment, adrenaline-pumping adventures, or simply a tranquil retreat amidst stunning landscapes, a Laos tour promises to fulfill your wanderlust and leave you with cherished memories that will last a lifetime. So, pack your bags, embark on a journey through the heart of Southeast Asia, and immerse yourself in the enchanting charm of Laos. Read More: Shimla Kullu Manali Package

A dream come true: Der Thakhek-Loop (12.- 16.10.)

Am 12.10. fahren wir mittags mit dem Bus in Vientiane los, Ziel: die Kleinstadt Thakhek. Über unser Hostel (das nicht besonders schön, ziemlich düster und für sein junges Alter schon zu schmutzig war, aber auch nur knapp 6€ pro Bett inklusive Frühstück gekostet hat) haben wir Tickets für den "VIP Bus" gebucht und sind sehr gespannt. Wir werden abgeholt und zum lokalen Busbahnhof gefahren. Dort wartet auf uns ein Bus, der aussieht wie aus den 70ern und eine mehrfach gesprungene Frontscheibe hat, aber es ist ein richtiger großer Bus, kein Minivan, außer uns sind auch andere Touris an Bord, und das Beste: eine funktionierende und sogar sehr potente Klimaanlage. Hallelujah!

Laut Plan soll der Bus von 13-19 Uhr unterwegs sein, aber mittlerweile wissen wir es schon vor Abfahrt besser, und so sind wir nicht überrascht, dass wir um 21 Uhr erst ankommen. Schnell mit dem Tuk Tuk ab zum Hostel, denn hier gibt es sehr wenige (bezahlbare) Hotels und das Hostel hat super Bewertungen. Zu Recht, wie wir finden, denn es ist ziemlich klein, die Schlafsäle sind klimatisiert und haben große Betten mit Vorhängen für mehr Privatsphäre und eigene Lichter und Steckdosen sowie Schließfächer. Außerdem ist es makellos sauber, was wohl daran liegt, dass das vietnamesische Inhaberpaar hier auch selber wohnt.

Am nächsten Morgen machen wir uns nur mit einem kleinen Rucksack ausgestattet auf den Weg zur Mopedvermietung. Die großen Backpacks dürfen wir für die nächsten Tage im Hostel lagern. Denn wir haben jetzt ein großes Abenteuer vor uns: den Thakhek Loop! Dabei handelt es sich um eine knapp 500km lange Rundstrecke durch Zentrallaos, die man mit dem Auto, Motorrad, Moped und auch Fahrrad befahren kann. Entlang der Strecke gibt es viele Höhlen, Aussichtspunkte usw. zu sehen. Seit ich mich vor Jahren mal zu dieser Südostasienreise entschieden habe, war irgendwie immer klar, dass ich hier in Laos mal auf einem Zweirad durch die Landschaft düsen will. Und endlich geht's los! Wir mieten zwei vollautomatische Mopeds (genau genommen dürfen wir die hier nicht fahren, obwohl wir einen internationalen Führerschein haben, weil die Dinger hier über 100km/h schaffen und wir dafür einen Motorradführerschein bräuchten; netterweise wird uns beim Vermieter auf einer Karte direkt eingezeichnet, an welchen Stellen die Polizei deswegen Touristen rauszieht und Geld kassiert). Während ich mir beim Aussuchen meines Helmes viel Zeit lasse, fährt Torben schonmal die Maschinen probe und lässt sich zwei Schlösser aushändigen, und dann geht's auch schon los. Neben der Papierkarte habe ich die Route auch interaktiv für Google Maps von unserem Hostel Chef geschickt bekommen; hier hat er auch Unfallstellen, Schlafgelegenheiten etc. eingezeichnet.

Wir fahren los, fühlen uns herrlich frei, die ersten Kilometer noch auf dem Highway zusammen mit einigem Verkehr, bis der dann Richtung Vietnam abzweigt und es leer wird auf der Straße. Zeitgleich setzt leider auch ziemlich nerviger Regen ein, der uns die nächsten drei Stunden begleitet. Wir kaufen am Straßenrand riesige Regencapes, machen uns drüber lustig, wie bescheuert wir darin aussehen, und lassen uns die Stimmung nicht verderben. Wegen des Wetters machen wir allerdings nicht an den Höhlen halt, sondern fahren nur von einer kurzen Kaffeepause unterbrochen bis zu unserer ersten Unterkunft. Der Weg ist irgendwie auch das Ziel, denn die Natur ist spektakulär (ich schreibe das so oft, das nervt euch bestimmt schon, aber es ist echt so)! Wir überfahren einen Bergpass und schlängeln uns durch Serpentinen, vorbei an einem Stausee und in der Folge viel überfluteten Landschaften, in denen die Baumstümpfe ganz gespenstisch aussehen, durch Reisfelder, Dschungel und Hochebenen mit grandiosen Aussichten. Der ganze Loop ist mittlerweile (abgesehen von ein paar kurzen Schadstellen) asphaltiert, sodass wir die Umgebung gut genießen können, und je weiter man kommt, desto weniger Verkehr gibt es.

Am ersten Abend schlafen wir in einem Guesthouse direkt an einem durch die Regenzeit stark angeschwollenen Fluss, der Blick von der großen Terrasse direkt über das Wasser ist grandios und das Frühstück übertrifft mit frischem Omelett und selbst gebackenen Brötchen alle Erwartungen (und das alles für insgesamt 23€). Der zweite Tag führt uns auf quasi leeren Straßen weiter Richtung Norden (wir fahren die Runde gegen den Uhrzeigersinn) und dann nach Westen zu unserer zweiten Unterkunft. Heute ist das Wetter richtig schön, und nachmittags halten wir an einem "natural pool" und gehen schwimmen, das Wasser ist blaugrün, arschkalt und herrlich erfrischend. Auf dem Weg zum Guesthouse müssen wir oben in den Bergen ein schwieriges Stück Strecke meistern, wo die Straße vor kurzem von einem massiven Erdrutsch weggerissen wurde. Jetzt gibt es hier nur noch rote Erde und große Steine, und das Stück ist echt anspruchsvoll, aber wir fahren gaaanz langsam und kommen unbeschadet durch.

Der dritte Tag ist der Kong Lor Höhle gewidmet, für die wir ein ganzes Stück ins Innere des Loops hineinfahren (und abends wieder zurück). Die Höhle gilt als eines der Wunder Asiens, denn sie ist über 7km lang und kann mit kleinen schmalen Booten durchquert werden. Bis auf zwei Stellen, an denen man aussteigen und die Stalagmiten, Stalagtiten und Stalagnaten (das Wort habe ich von Torben neu gelernt) zu Fuß bewundern kann, ist die Höhle stockdunkel. An der größten Stelle ist sie 90m breit und 100m hoch! Wir steigen in ein kleines Boot, mit schwachen Stirnlampe ausgestattet, und unser Guide und Bootsführer steigt hinten ein und fährt uns durch die Höhle (seine Lampe ist erheblich heller). Ich muss sagen, dass mich dieses Abenteuer wegen der Dunkelheit und der Tatsache, dass unser Bootsführer hinten konstant Wasser aus dem alten Boot schippt, einige Überwindung kostet, während Torben anscheinend den Spaß seines Lebens hat, aber es ist dennoch eine einmalige und sehr eindrückliche Erfahrung.

Den vierten und letzten Tag auf dem Loop verbringen wir mit der Rückfahrt an der Westseite des Loops, zurück nach Thakhek im Süden. Die Rückfahrt besteht aus 180km größtenteils brandneu asphaltiertem Highway. Da die Sonne gnadenlos vom Himmel brennt, wir uns sehr auf den Verkehr konzentrieren müssen und uns mittlerweile echt der Allerwerteste wehtut, ziehen wir die Strecke ziemlich zackig durch und können nachmittags die Mopeds wieder in Thakhek abgeben.

Den Blog schreibe ich übrigens bewusst erst jetzt, sonst hätte meine Oma vor Sorge sicher kein Auge zugetan ;-)

Wir sind gesund und munter wieder angekommen, beide völlig begeistert von diesem Land und den Leuten, die uns in jedem Dorf begeistert gewunken haben und uns stets freundlich und neugierig begegnet sind. Und ich bin glücklich und dankbar, dass der Traum von der Moped-Tour durch Laos in Erfüllung gegangen ist.

Thalang, Lao.

Caves, Mountains and Lakes on my latest Motorbike-Tour

On another “little” (450km) Tour by Motorbike, I went exploring the Area around Thakhek which is located pretty much in the Middle of Laos. I went to see a huge, very impressive Cave, the “Konglor Cave”, that you can cross for 7 Kilometers with a little Boat and also a smaller but not less interesting Cave. The Tour also went through beautiful Mountain Areas and Wetlands with a flooded “dead” Forest in it that looked really special.  I like it more and more to explore a certain Area by Motorbike, its such a free and independent Way to get around and I’ve seen and visited a lot of Places that I never would’ve reached without a Motorbike. More new Pictures coming soon!

Thakhek- the Loop - vie de vaches à travers la ville

Laos - Thakék loop and 4000 Islands

Hello from Cambodia!

After our flight we had a brief stop over in Udon Thani before catching an early bus to Nakhon Phenom where we would then get another bus to cross the border into Laos. The ride was long, hot and smelly due to the door for the toilet being broken, and the journey felt like it took forever...5.5hrs (we were expecting 3hrs!), so we were relieved to get off the bus at around 4pm and find some lunch. Two minutes before getting on the bus we had the minor panic of not being able to draw out any cash at the bus station, therefore leaving us without any Loas currency to pay for our visas! Thankfully, despite Emily’s small meltdown, all went smoothly with the visas though and there was an ATM at the border. We reached Thakhek and got a Tuk-Tuk straight to our hotel, a delightful affair which had a ‘massage’ parlour in its car park - Spud did a double take when he saw what the girls were wearing!

Although we were both ready to call it a day, the plan was to leave early the next day to ride the Thakhek loop so we wanted to arrange a scooter that night before dinner. We got a good feeling from the rental guy and after he said he was happy for Spud to take a proper look at the bike the next morning we went with his recommendation of a dreaded 125cc automatic.

The next day we split our bags down to two small day sacks, picked up the bike and headed onto the loop. We had a bit of a problem getting out of Thakhek with our hand-drawn paper map (although, no thanks either to Spud’s sense of direction - or his inability to possibly believe that he might have it wrong) but after that hiccup we were off! The roads were a bit of a shock to begin with as we were basically on a Loas highway. Long and straight with lots of long haul trucks overtaking us and kicking up dust. Not to mention the sections of the road that disappeared before your eyes and turned into very rough hardcore every 2 minutes. Nevertheless we cracked on and visited the Elephant cave and Tham Nang An cave which was beautiful, and massive. We had a boat ride to begin with into the cave which must have been 1-2 miles in length. The water was so still making it feel really eerie, especially since we were the only people there. Once we got to the other side we could walk amongst the rocks and felt as though we had reached Mordor from Lord of the Rings, our guide took us a a ‘holy well’ and invited us to drink from the water there - a refreshing if not slightly muddy beverage.

Once we got back to the scooter it was time for us to get some miles under our belts as the caves were in the first 20km of the 450km we would be riding over the next few days. The road became a lot more enjoyable after turning off the highway and Spud allowed Emily to share the riding (he does love being pillion) to our first stop - Sabaidee Guesthouse, where we met another ten or so riders also doing the same journey. The evening was spent playing boules, drinking a few beers and eating the BBQ’d food put on for us.

After speaking to the other guys we decided to cut our journey down by one day to three rather than four. We figured that there was perhaps not enough to do over four days, so the next day we aimed to reach Konglor cave which was apparently a highlight of the trip. The roads were much better again and after a few stops to take pictures we arrived at the Cool Pool, which is a stunning natural pool of clear turquoise blue water. Needless to say, after a hot dusty ride we didn’t hang around and jumped straight in. Whilst we were at the pool most of the group from the previous night arrived, so we hung out with them for a while before leaving to get some lunch. The rest of the day was quite relaxed and we got to Konglor at around sunset. The ride along the plateau to the cave was very scenic and the colours made by the sunset were beautiful. We buzzed through multiple littles rural villages, spotting all the animals, including dozens and dozens of babies - calves, chicks, kids, piglets, puppies, kittens, ducklings, and baby water buffalo. We had arranged to meet up with Dorian and Marie, a French couple we had met at the first guest house, so we had dinner with them and planned to do the cave together the next day.

We had an earlier start the next morning as we had 80-90 miles to ride after the cave, and knowing what the roads were like this was going to take us time. Konglor cave is a gigantic cave complex, and the main area is a river which has run a huge tunnel through the rock which leads to a nearby village. To get to the village you need to take a boat with a guide and we estimated that the length of the journey was between five and six miles in complete darkness. We were glad we had bought a head torch before we left, so we could just about make out the huge caverns in the tunnel and appreciate just how good the guys manoeuvring the boats were around shallow water and bits of rock jutting out in the pitch black! Halfway through the cave we were dropped off to do a short walk between up-lit stalagmites and stalactites before jumping back into the boats. One section ended up with Dorian and Spud helping the guys lift the boats over a small rapid as the water was too low to motor up and over it. When we eventually reached the other side it was pouring with rain so we bought a packet of hot chocolate and some hot water from one of the vendors, and after a brief walk around the huts of the village we set off to get back to the other side.

We were burning rubber again by about 1pm, and to begin with the roads were smooth and enjoyable. As soon as we joined the final highway section though they got bad again. Lots of trucks and difficult surfaces for our small wheels. Some of the sections were quite torn up (half way between a gravel drive and a sandy beach!) but we were rewarded with a stunning view at the highest point of an ancient limestone forest, before we shot back down to more level territory. We reached Thakhek at about 6pm, dusty sweaty and tired, but our evening had only just begun. The four of us had agreed it was best to leave Thakhek that night (its a bit of a nothing town) and catch a bus to Pakse which was about six hours away. We ended up booking tickets with our rental place which was a ‘VIP sleeper’ that left between 12.30am and 1am depending on the bus, dutifully we arrived at the shop for our transfer at midnight as instructed...at 3am the bus eventually arrived and could not wait to get on and get some shut eye! The bus was interesting to say the least. In our heads we expected a coach similar to the comfortable one in Thailand where we were served water and snacks in our reclining chairs. This was far from the case. The coach was a galley of narrow bunk beds, which by the time it reached us were full. Luckily the conductor arranged a few people and the four of us ended up with two bunks to share which was fine, but the downside were that the sheets and blankets smelt like they might have never been changed and that the beds were at the back of the bus over the engine which was hotter than the sun. Our feeling of griminess was moving towards unexpected levels though we were able to get some broken sleep between the gigantic potholes in the road. As soon as we got to Pakse we negotiated a ride to the 4,000 islands in a mini-van. By this point we had adopted a Dutch traveller as well, so the journey ended up being quite cheap and included a boat ride across to Don Det, the first island we planned to visit.

The 4,000 islands are based on the Mekong river just shy of the Cambodian border. The river is gigantic and its clear why its know as being mighty. The boat ride was easily 10-15 minutes and even then we were only taken to one of the first islands you could see. As soon as we reached Don Det we knew we were in for a few days of total relaxation, the island is small, with mainly rice farming and tourism as the main incomes. We found some desperately needed sustenance we strolled along the main strip next to the river front looking for somewhere to stay. After looking at a couple of really grotty riverside huts, we decided to sack off the view for a little more comfort and picked some quaint little cottages set back slightly from the river front. After jumping into a cold shower (a record 40 hours between washes 😫), we relaxed for a couple of hours, both of us getting a restful nap before walking to the west side of the island to watch the sunset whilst drinking some local LaoLao cocktails. An early night was had by all.

The next day was a scorcher, and we had decided to walk onto the neighbouring island, Don Khon, to visit a big waterfall that was part of the Mekong. Unfortunately the pictures that the ‘attraction’ advertised (free zip lines, a nice looking pool with blue water, a beach, and a splash pool) didn’t turn out to be quite accurate. Having built up a good sweat walking over, telling ourselves that we could cool off in the waters of a nice cool pool...we looked on in dismay at the pool which seemingly didn’t exist, either flooded in the previous wet season leaving just sludge in the bottom of it, or never finished, and the zip lines were on the floor. Brilliant.

(Ahhhh reality....)

Nevertheless we made the most of the falls which were quite spectacular, as the sheer amount of water caused them to be crescent shaped. We also lounged on the ‘beach’ for a little while and briefly swam in the Mekong before heading back. By the time we reached our little cottage we were all sunburnt, but nothing that a dash of aftersun wouldn’t sort. We had a quick turnaround and headed back to the sunset side of the island for more drinks and card games. We had had a late and big lunch so shared a chicken burger for dinner. Oh what a mistake this turned out to be...

We had a nice day the following day, as we rented bikes so were able to get round a bit quicker than the previous one. Again we went onto Don Khon but this time ventured to the far side which promised good views of the Mekong and more traditional Loas island villages. The cycle was suspiciously straight, and it turned out that we were using the old French railway line which lead to a port.

En-route we stumbled across a load of parked scooters and Laotian men cheering from a bush; it was all a bit strange. It seemed like they were having a good time though so we popped our heads through the undergrowth and found that they were hosting a cock-fight. Thankfully although the cocks looked double ‘ard’ they didn’t have blades strapped to their feet so the fights weren’t to death, only to a decision on who had won. How this was judged we will never know, but what we do know is that most of these guys were smashed on Lao Lao (local booze) at about 10:30am. As soon as we turned up they spotted our white faces and Dorian and Spud were persuaded to drink from a mangled plastic bottle that had pieces of banana and what looked like chestnuts in it. It was marinated whisky which packed enough punch to hang around on their breaths for a while after!

We left the merry lot to their games and cruised on. After a small lunch on the far side of the island we decided to head back a more scenic route that the boys had spotted. By the way, the views were good and you could see a particularly wide part of the Mekong and surrounding islands, but nothing to rave about. Almost immediately after turning off the old railway we were in full on jungle and it didn’t take long for us to be forced back by a fallen bridge. The boys were in their element, and with testosterone flowing, and despite some female protestations, found us a route around the first bridge. They were up-front hacking away at bushes with their bikes determined to stick to our tiny path. But 15 minutes in we found an even worse fallen bridge with no way around. We were also being persuaded to turn around by a guy with a machete who had somehow monkeyed his way across the bridge a little too quickly for our liking. Somehow we wouldn’t have been surprised too surprised to find out what he was protecting! It was then that Emily screamed that she had a leech between her toes! After checking the floor and our bikes it was clear we were in the middle of an enormous infestation of blood sucking of leeches. There were loads of them; wiggling on the frames of our bikes and the floor hoping to catch onto our flesh. Somehow Spud got away with it but Emily, Marie and Dorian all got bitten on their feet, so needless to say we quickly got out of there and back to the safety of the old train line.

The afternoon and evening was a relaxed one, and we spent some time arranging our next moves. The Frenchies that we had spent time with over the last week were due to move on the next day, but we decided to stay an extra night to get ourselves sorted before heading to Cambodia, which in the end was a huge blessing. Remember I mentioned that the chicken burger was a mistake? Well that night Emily fell ill with food poisoning and spent the whole of the next day in bed with a raging fever and D&V. It was a down day for Spud who played the role of Francis Nightingale very well, he might say so himself.

She still wasn’t right the next morning so we made sure to check out as late as possible, and thankfully we were able to get straight on a boat to the mainland. We took things slowly, stayed hydrated and made sure we were 100% prepared for the crossing into Cambodia after the worries of crossing into Laos. Once the Tuk-tuk drivers had stopped arguing about who had stolen who’s business we were taken to the border, and thankfully the crossing was painless. We had read horror stories of corruption and planted drugs online so were prepared for battle, but the border was weirdly quiet. The reason for this is that all of the buses from the border leave late morning. We arrived at about midday...so we were on the Cambodian border with no way of travelling south. We took the opportunity to sit in some shade for a while as Em was still struggling, and after an hour or so we had arranged a private van to take us and a Norwegian traveller with a great moustache to Stung Treng, a halfway house of a town. Once there we stocked up on food and water and organised a night bus to Phnom Penh, which compared to the Loas bus was significantly better. We slept most of the way and arrived in the capital at 5.30 in the morning. We bee-lined for our hostel, Lovely Jubbly Villa (which we recommend by the way) and they were kind enough to let us dump our bags, use their outdoor pool shower, and rest up on the pool loungers until 7am when we could get breakfast.

Chapter ‘Cambodia’ up next!

Ciao, Spud & Poopy pants x

der loop

Unser Loop ist nun schon zwei Tage her. Rückblickend betrachtet war er nach wie vor ziemlich schön.

Hier auf dem eingefügten Bild hab ich unsere Stationen markiert. Insgesamt hat der Loop fünf Tage gedauert und wir sind mehr als 400km weit gefahren.

Thakhek war unser ‚zu Hause‘, wo wir auch unsere großen Rucksäcke ließen. Die braune Stecknadel zeigt unser Klettercamp an, in dem wir die Tage zuvor klettern waren und die folgenden lilafarbenen Stecknadeln zeigen unsere drei Stops an: Thalang, Nahin und Konglor. (die gelbe Stecknadel ist nur eine Stadt über die wir gefahren sind) Eigentlich hätten wir zu Vervollständigung des Loops von Konglor wieder auf die Hauptstraße zurück und Richtung Westen gemusst. Doch wurden wir gewarnt, dass diese Strecke des Loops anstrengend zu fahren sei und es kaum etwas zu sehen gäbe. Also fuhren wir einfach nur den halben Loop und wieder zurück.

Gemeinsam auf einem Roller fuhren wir durch Dörfer, vorbei an: winkenden Kindern, ner Menge Tieren, grinsenden Laoten auf Rollern, Palmen, typisch laotischen Holzhäusern (auf Stelzen), Hinweisschildern („accident ahead!“) und anfangs vielen Lkws; kurzzeitig durch Regen, der sich bei 70kmh anfühlte wie Hagel, knallende Sonne (Anne pellt sich zum Glück nicht mehr), kühlenden Schatten und manchmal leider auch Schlaglöcher. Die Straßen waren zum Teil sehr durchlöchert und sandig. Auch die sehr schwarfen Kurven der Serpentinen in den Bergen waren eine Herausforderung, aber wir fuhren unsere Strecke mit Bedacht, vorsichtig und ohne zu verunfallen. Die sich ständig ändernde Landschaft war super schön anzusehen. In Thalang hielten wir an einem Wasserfall und in Konglor sahen wir uns eine Höhle an. Mit einem Boot fuhren wir in die Dunkelheit und nur die Lichter unserer Stirnlampen ließen uns erahnen wie weitläufig diese 7km lange Höhle sein musste.

Natürlich gab es eine Kehrseite! Abwechselnd taten uns die Po‘s vom langen Sitzen weh. Und da wir nur einen Roller fuhren, konnte nur Ännes Gepäck im Korb und Kofferraum Platz finden. Meinen Rucksack musste sie als Beifahrerin auf dem Rücken tragen, was sie häufig verständlicherweise meckern ließ. Das fahren machte mir zwar Spaß, doch war es wirklich anstrengend dauernd konzentriert zu sein. Am Ende des Tages fiel ich meistens einfach erschöpft ins Bett. Wir fuhren im Durchschnitt 3h +-1h. Am letzten Tag circa 5h. Aber es hat sich gelohnt. Es war echt toll.

Weil wir nicht im Anschluss sofort einen zweiten Loop machen wollten, entschlossen wir uns zu erst zu den 4000 Inseln aufzubrechen. Dieses ist unser am südlichsten liegendes Ziel.

Hier sind wir nun. Es ist ganz schön. Wir haben einen Bungalow mit zwei Hängematten vor der Tür und Flussblick. Für morgen haben wir eine Fahrradtour zu den nahegelegenen Wasserfällen geplant. Hoffentlich wird es nicht so heiß wie heute.

P.s. Weihnachten werden wir in Sri Lanka verbringen. Wir haben bereits Flüge für den 4.12.18. Offenbar kann man dort surfen☺️

Ich schicke Bilder und Grüße!

Thakhek Loop 2 

Von Tha Lang aus geht’s weiter Richtung Norden zu den Cool Springs. Die sind uns etwas zu kalt zum Baden. Wir fahren weiter zu einem Wasserfall bei dem man zunächst 30min durch den Dschungel laufen muss. Leider ist in der Trockenzeit relativ wenig Wasser vorhanden :-/ Wir genießen die Landschaft bis nach Konglor und sehen vor Sonnenuntergang all die Farmer wie sie ihre Tiere nach Hause treiben. Ein faszinierendes Schauspiel.

From Tha Lang, we head north to the Cool Springs. They are a bit too cold for bathing. We continue to a waterfall where you have to walk 30min through the jungle. Unfortunately, there is less water present in the dry season :-/ We enjoy the landscape on our way to Konglor and see the farmers bringing their animals back home before sunset. A fascinating show to see.

The multi-day motorbike loop from Thakek is nothing short of epic.⠀⠀ .⠀⠀ .⠀⠀ .⠀⠀ .⠀⠀ .⠀⠀ #laos #thakek #konglor #motorbike #mountains #magichour #epic #travel #travelphotography #travelgram #travelawesome #instatravel #instago #backpacking #backpacker #wanderer #wanderlust #explore #lonelyplanet #nategeotravel #condenasttraveler #cntraveler #thediscoverer #worldnomads #beautifuldestinations #fiercetravels #lensculture #magnumphotos #latergram (at Thakhek)

In der nächsten Stadt haben wir etwas ganz anderes gemacht. Thakhek ist bekannt für seinen Motorrad Loop - 500km, über 4-5 Tage. Startpunkt ist natürlich die Stadt Thakhek. Wir haben dort das erste mal in einem Schlafsaal geschlafen, und sind früh morgens los zu WangWang um uns einen Automatik-Roller für die Fahrt zu leihen. Nicht ganz billig für 190.000 Kip (~11€) pro Tag, aber für 2 Personen in Ordnung. Los gings dann nach dem Frühstück zur ersten Höhle. Über den kompletten Loop gibt es verschiedenste Höhlen, von groß bis klein, mit Wasser oder bunter Beleuchtung. Auch einen Wasserfall gabs auf dem Weg. Dort haben wir Kieran kennengelernt, einen Mitreisenden aus Südafrika der abends dann auch am gleichen Guesthouse halt gemacht hat. Wir haben abends alle am Lagerfeuer zusammen gesessen und über unsere Reise geredet. Mit Alice und Alex aus England haben wir uns auch prima verstanden. Nach einigen Bier und Diskussionen über den Nachthimmel sind wir glücklich und müde ins Bett gefallen. Am nächsten Tag gings dann weiter nach Konglor.

Layers - Thakhek Loop in Laos [OC] [6000x4000]

Layers - Thakhek Loop in Laos [OC] [6000x4000] via /r/EarthPorn https://ift.tt/3dHSYgp

Loop #2, Central Laos, Around Thakhek, Set 1, March 2018.

Four years ago today I was on a motorbike loop in Thakhek Laos. It was like driving through a Windows screensaver. • • It was truly a moment of peace and tranquil. No worries in the world, just driving through the endless nature. One of my favorite memories and moments. • • There is something so unique and soul balancing about driving like that, with no time limit or pressure. Just going with the flow and going in our own pace, stopping whenever and wherever our hearts desire. In complete control. • • • How about you? Have you ever been on a motorbike loop? What is your favorite form of transportation? What are your favorite travel memories? • • • • • • • • • • #bloggerscommunity #bloggingmoments #travelandwrite #writeandtravel #writeandtravelblog #travelwriting #laostravel #laosmotorbike #laosmotorbiketours #thakhek #thakhekloop #writerslifestyle #writeeveryday #fouryearsagotoday #facebookmemories #pasttravels #pasttrip #writinginspiration #writinglife #travellifelove #travellog #travelloversofinstagram #motorbikeloop #windowsview #windowsscreensaver #travelmemories (at Thakhek) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCJR_tDppqK/?igshid=1a81tbjvwmhqu