Nong Khiaw · Backpacking

Meals run 15,000–45,000 kip (a vegetarian curry about 15,000, most mains 20,000–30,000), viewpoint or cave entry is 50,000 each, and the village herbal sauna is around 100,000. A day with no guide and no ticket can come in under 200,000 kip; add a guided trek and it triples.

The long-standing backpacker base in the middle of the strip, with dorm beds and rooms above a café. Like most of Nong Khiaw it runs on messaging rather than booking engines — write ahead in high season, or just turn up.

This is a village. Card acceptance is close to non-existent and guesthouses, boatmen and agencies all want cash in hand, in kip. Draw what you need for the whole stay before you get on the minivan north.

The scheduled boats to Muang Ngoi go at 11:00 and 14:00, returning at 09:00, and cost a fraction of a private charter — the fare is around 25,000 kip. Buy at the boat office about half an hour before departure; a charter only makes sense if you are four or more.

Treks and the 100 Waterfalls day are priced per group, not per head, so the cost per person roughly halves going from two people to four. Agencies on the main road put sign-up sheets out the evening before — ask around at dinner.