Camping at Phou Khoun was a lucky find. No information on the internet other than on google maps. Zooming in and following the winding road researching for my journey from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng thinking of how to break the journey led me to this small little town Phou Khoun which has a camping site at a small little strawberry farm with amazing views of the mountainous Laos.
It was a 100 km ride from Luang Prabang slowly climbing the hills with medium road conditions, the usual pothole here and there and some gravel of short stretches but easy enaugh ride since I had time so by 3pm, 6 hours riding later i was at the farm, asking for a tent and just admiring the view.
Tent cost 50000kip per night and they had squat toilets with hot water for showers. Local family run place with simple menu for every meal plus beer Lao when ever one needed, it was a place to relax. Tent was great as well with mattress, thick plenty of blankets and pillows. Weather was cold, but not too extreme that with a jacket it was lovely just to chill and laze around watching the clouds and mountains during the day and by nightfall, the owners lights up a campfire where we all huddle to say hello.
I knew there was trouble and fun the moment the owner Sai brought out a bottle which looked like the Laotian Lao Lao whisky. Hard to say no and so the night begin.
Sai was a military man serving the army during 1993 to 1997 which was how he came to know about this place and later set it up. He spoke simple english and at the age of 63 i could see the wisdom in the eyes. Not much conversation out of him but every word was spoken slowly with deep thoughts.
Dan and Mo was the most interesting couple. Dan from Australia 35 years and his wife Mo 29 years laotian. Dan could even speak laotian. I find it beautiful and Mo kept most of the conversation going speaking in both Laotian and English with the bottle of Lao Lao whishky at hand mischievously pouring shots and never letting anyone out of the fun.
One of the local girl came and join and Mo and her giggled all night talking about something which seams to involved Dan. I could barely follow the conversation but it was all fun and drink around a campfire.
The stars were bright and the place was cosy with great vibe. Not a party type vibe although we were drinking lao lao whisky the lao way ... sharing one bottle with one shot glass going in turns in circles. Once the whisky was finish, Sai brought out his home made strawberry wine, and once that was finish Mo started buying beer followed by me buying beer ... all shared from one shot glass going round and round until someone surrendered and then there was 4, then there was 3 and 2 and it was time to sleep ... barely 10pm.
In the morning before I left Dan remembered a place and told me to visit the hotsprings in Kasi on the way down .... i ended up staying at the hot-spring albeit a bit expensive at 100000 kips a night but then this is Laos, slow and relax was the way to go.
Traveled on: Jan 2019
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| The beginning of the ride up to Phou Khoun |
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| Going up and up ... |
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| The Road from Luang Prabang to Phou Khoun |
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| Slowly but surely - High up in the mountains of Laos |
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| The dirt road riding towards the campsite |
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| Phou Khun Strawberry Farm - Parked for the night |
Sai was a military man serving the army during 1993 to 1997 which was how he came to know about this place and later set it up. He spoke simple english and at the age of 63 i could see the wisdom in the eyes. Not much conversation out of him but every word was spoken slowly with deep thoughts.
Dan and Mo was the most interesting couple. Dan from Australia 35 years and his wife Mo 29 years laotian. Dan could even speak laotian. I find it beautiful and Mo kept most of the conversation going speaking in both Laotian and English with the bottle of Lao Lao whishky at hand mischievously pouring shots and never letting anyone out of the fun.
One of the local girl came and join and Mo and her giggled all night talking about something which seams to involved Dan. I could barely follow the conversation but it was all fun and drink around a campfire.
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| Just watching the mountains from afar .... Phou Khoun |
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| Mini Map of Phou Khoun |
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| The Strawberry farm - Phou Khoun |
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| Just Chilling away - Phou Khoun |
In the morning before I left Dan remembered a place and told me to visit the hotsprings in Kasi on the way down .... i ended up staying at the hot-spring albeit a bit expensive at 100000 kips a night but then this is Laos, slow and relax was the way to go.
Traveled on: Jan 2019
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