Few activities cause your adrenaline to flow to like rock climbing. The excitement of scaling natural rock formations is accentuated when paired with a unique location. Vang Vieng, Laos provides the perfect combination of scenery and climbing opportunities. The most popular destination for newcomers along with experienced individuals includes a short hike through stunning rice paddies (below) and countless formations.
Rice Paddies, Laos © Gennaro Salamone
Vang Vieng is a standard stop for backpackers on the Southeast Asia route. Though there is plenty of space for peaceful contemplation, the center of the town tends to be filled with young travelers enjoying re-runs of Friends and The Simpsons at the various restaurants. The diners often remove their shoes to sit cross-legged at tables encircled with couch-like seating.
That being said, the majority of the wanderers who enter the town are looking to break a sweat. Rock climbing, tubing, and mountain biking are just the beginning of the early morning activities. The cost for 1-3 days of rock climbing depends upon the number of travelers in your group. For up-to-date rates, examine the rates of well-established Green Discovery. If the sound of all that “work” is too much for your holiday, consider an inexpensive ($5-10 per hour) massage in the evenings.
Rock Climbing, Laos © Gennaro Salamone
Be sure to befriend a couple of fellow travelers in Vang Vieng. It is one of the easier places to meet people in Southeast Asia.
Read about meeting Buddhist monks or fishermen in Laos.
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Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing an article or photograph for publication.
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sima
Looks like a fun activity and a great spot to carry it out!
Tim
That’s next on the list 🙂
Ingrid R
I love rock climbing. I’ve done quite a bit in Europe and a couple of times in North America. I am looking forward to making a trip to SE Asia during the summer. Definately going to check out Laos. Sounds like a great spot for outdoor activities.
John P
Laos is amazing. I love it there. Cool people both foreigners and locals. Lots to do. And it’s still light on toursits compared much of the rest of Southeast Asia.
Gennaro
Thanks for the comments.
@John P
Agreed. Lots of cool and friendly people throughout the country.
RachelT
Those rice paddies are beautiful. Love the photo. Thanks for sharing!
Travelers86
I love Vang Vieng. I had a blast there Met tons of people. Still keep in touch with a few. Didn’t do the rock climbing, unfortunately. Guess I’ll have to go back.
Gennaro
@Travelers86
No doubt.
Xander
My favorite thing about Vang Vieng was our room, a comfy $6 hut with a beautiful view across the river to dramatic limestone karsts. When I was in Vang Vieng, all the restaurants were showing ‘Friends’ and ‘The Family Guy.’ I just wanted one TV to be showing ’30 Rock’… -X
Gennaro
@ Xander
Sounds like you found the perfect hut. It’s amazing how inexpensive accommodation are in Vang Vieng.
Stuart Edwards
I know what you mean about needing a massage! I’d never done rock climbing before, and it totally destroyed me! Ha.
Or maybe it was the heavy tubing session the night before?!
Cheers!