Beautiful Places #1: Nong Khiaw

All travellers are finding themselves reminiscing during this travel hiatus. It’s good to reflect on places which were so beautiful they left not just a lasting impression, but also the distinct feeling that you didn’t stay long enough. Here we look back at some of ours.

Like many places of incredible beauty, Nong Khiaw isn’t the easiest to get to. In reality the only sensible option is to make a visit to Nong Khiaw whilst based in Luang Prabang, and even then it’s a fairly lengthy bus journey between the two places – bus journeys which can be just a little bit cramped and uncomfortable. Take it from us though, it is worth any pain.

On our first evening there, we sat on the decking of our apartment looking across the Nam Ou River, just about speechless at the natural beauty of the surrounding area. Impossibly high limestone karst hills tower above the snaking river, lush green foliage hugs the base of the hills, basic farming fills the valleys and fishermen sit patiently midstream. Whether viewing the towering peaks from below or looking down on the village from a higher standpoint, Nong Khiaw is as breathtaking as it is beautiful. 

Our mountain treks were tough but hugely rewarding; our evenings sat watching the Nam Ou flow gently by were wonderfully peaceful. The village, straddling the river over a single bridge, is unquestionably on the rustic side, popular with backpackers from across the globe, and is small enough to mean that you are likely to meet drinkers in bars who you met as trekkers on the mountain earlier in the day. 

We left Nong Khiaw vowing to return. We loved our few days there.