Best Laos Kayaking Tours: Our Top 7

1.Kayaking & Cave Tubing with Zip Line/Blue Lagoon

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 410 reviews · 6 - 8 hours · from $30Our pick

Spend 6 to 8 hours outside Vang Vieng with guides such as Duang, On, Lee, or Om. Paddle the Nam Song, tube through a short cave, walk through limestone chambers, eat a banana-leaf picnic, then add a jungle zip line or Blue Lagoon visit. Expect small rapids, wet clothes, and mountain views.

“The kayaking was very enjoyable. The river is mostly calm with a few spots that have the smallest of rapids that get your bum a little wet. The main guide spoke good English. We did the half day kayaking and caves with lunch. After lunch we kayaked back to town. Overall approximately 2 hours of kayaking. Great value for the money.”

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2.Tham Nangfar and Tham Nam Day Tour with Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 147 reviews · 5 hours · from $24Best value

You will kayak down the Nam Song from a Khmu village, handle small rapids, tube through a cave, eat a BBQ lunch by the river, and visit Tham Nang Far, also called Angel Cave. Hotel pickup, equipment, water, cave fees, and an English or Thai-speaking guide are included. Expect about five active hours.

“Kayaking? FANTASTIC. Food? GREAT. Tubing in the cave? Total chaos, hectic, cold... Like a bad Disneyland ride.”

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3.Kayak Tour to Pak Ou Caves

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 115 reviews · 5 - 9 hours · from $43

This small-group day trip combines easy kayaking on the Nam Ou and Mekong, the Buddha-filled Pak Ou Caves, a buffet lunch, Kuang Si Falls, and a Hmong village stop. Guides such as Lan, Mungkone, Vone, and Yearxiong have been praised for clear English and warm service. Expect a full, active day with some muddy river access.

“My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of this activity. Our time on the River with the kayak and guide was such a nice way to take in the beauty of the Laos countryside. Highly recommend this activity.”

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4.FULL DAY – Kuang Si Waterfall, Kayak on the Nam Ou / Mekong River, Pak Ou Caves

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 81 reviews · from $50Top rated

Spend a full day outside Luang Prabang kayaking the Nam Ou and Mekong, visiting Pak Ou Caves, stopping at Whisky Village, and swimming at Kuang Si Falls. A guide leads the cave visit, lunch is served at Manifa Elephant Camp, and the group is capped at 15. Expect a long, active day with some awkward kayak access points.

“A very full and exciting day. Especially enjoyed the kayaking, waterfall and the excellent buffet lunch with the elephants.”

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5.Vang Vieng Tour with Cave Kayak & Zipline

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 32 reviews · 9 hours · from $113

Spend nine hours exploring Vang Vieng from Vientiane with an English-speaking guide. Kayak the Nam Song River, zipline near Nangfa Cave, visit Jang Cave and Tham Phu Kham, then swim at Blue Lagoon 1. Guides such as Nam, Souk, Gao, and Mr. King have led past departures, while private groups are available.

“my tour didn't have enough people so the company helped me out with a private driver that took me around on a great "customized" tour,it was amazing!!! driver was excellent, she was super nice n helpful!”

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6.Muang Ngoi, View Point, Water Fall and Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 26 reviews · 8 hours · from $35

From Nong Khiaw, you’ll travel by boat along the Nam Ou River to Muang Ngoi, visit a history cave and Phanoi Viewpoint, then walk through villages, farms, and terrace fields to Tad Mok Waterfall. Lunch, swimming, weaving, and sunset kayaking round out this active eight-hour day. English guidance and hotel pickup within 5 kilometers are included.

“It was great. We didn’t see all the listed places and maybe we didn’t do all the activities, but certainly we did a lot.”

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7.2-Day Trekking,Hmong village,Home Stay&Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 17 reviews · 2 days · from $80

From Nong Khiaw, trek through primary forest to Lao, Khmu, Tai Lao, and Hmong villages with an English-speaking guide such as Bic or Bick. You will make bamboo handicrafts, eat and sleep in a village home, visit a cave and Phanoi viewpoint, swim at Tad Mork Waterfall, and kayak down the Nam Ou River.

“We loved exploring the remote villages. The hikes was challenging but not too difficult. The waterfall was beautiful.”

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