Perched on the banks of the Mekong River, Pak Beng sits approximately halfway between Huay Xai and Luang Prabang. It has long been used as an overnight stop for the slow boats that service the two-day journey from the Thai border to Laos’ most popular tourist destination.
Once considered a sleazy stopover town which had nothing but its convenient location going for it, Pak Beng has shrugged off its sketchy reputation and is now a welcome pit stop for those traversing the Mekong.
Pak Beng, Laos – What To Expect
Don’t expect too much from your visit to Pak Beng. It’s very much a tourist town out of necessity rather than desire. There’s not much to see or do (not that you’ll have much time to explore anyway) and there aren’t many outstanding places to stay or eat.
Despite this, the town does benefit from a beautiful location and provides a place for you to lay your head after a long day travelling. Taking the slow boat means that you’ll get the chance to spend some time here so you may as well make the most of it!

Arriving in Pak Beng

The slow boats don’t arrive until around 17:00 but when they do, they all arrive at once. By 17:05 the pier is crammed full of confused faces carrying backpacks or dragging oversized suitcases up the rough concrete slope. Guesthouse owners hold signs advertising rooms and children wander around handing out leaflets for Hive Bar – ‘The Best Spot for Sunset, Reggae and Beer.’ Amid the chaos, goats and chickens bleat and cluck their way through the throngs in search of a quick snack.

Tuk tuk, pick up truck and songthaew drivers call out, waving you to their vehicles, promising a quick and easy lift to your accommodation. Each vehicle goes to a specific part of town, so ask around to make sure you get the right one. The ride is included in your accommodation reservation – you don’t need to pay for it at the pier!
What If I’ve Not Booked Anywhere To Stay?
There are dozens of accommodation options available in Pak Beng, many of which aren’t available online. If you’ve not booked anywhere, you can wander around town when you arrive and look for signs advertising rooms. You’ll often get the cheapest rates this way. But beware of scammy sales tactics at the pier itself. You may be told that there are very few rooms left in town and you need to secure one right there and then with a tout or guesthouse owner looking to overcharge you.
By the time you’ve navigated the chaos, found your accommodation (hint: it’s often quicker and easier to walk than to take the transport) and been checked in, the sun will be setting and your stomach will be letting you know it’s time for dinner. A quick jaunt back towards the pier will see travellers coalescing in and around the same few restaurants, selling the same meals for the same prices. Some visitors will head out for a few beers after dinner while others will turn in for the night.

The following morning, it’s up and out of the door by 08:00 (or earlier if you’re taking one of the nicer boats) and back to the pier to continue the journey along the Mekong, leaving you almost no time to actually explore the town.
Fast Track Through The Chaos
If you’ve booked a stay at one of the nicer resorts in town, they have their own vehicles waiting to take you to and from your accommodation. This is much faster than waiting for a standard ride, leaving you with far more time to explore or relax! The nicer resorts tend to overlook the river too, offering a great view of sunset!

Where to Stay in Pak Beng
If you’re planning to take one of the nicer cruises, you’ll have the option to book your accommodation as part of the package. But if you’re looking to save some money, most boats offer a ‘cruise only’ ticket, allowing you to arrange your own accommodation in Pak Beng. If you’re travelling on the public slow boat, you’ll need to arrange accommodation yourself.
Don’t Expect Too Much
Due to the nature of tourism in Pak Beng, the basic accommodation options aren’t anything to write home about. Keep your expectations low and you’re unlikely to be disappointed.
Budget Stays in Pak Beng
Simple, no-frills dorm rooms greet travellers at this basic riverside hostel. The organisation is a little chaotic but the terrace area is a nice place to meet other backpackers with a great view over the river.
Clean, functional and comfortable dorms in Pak Beng – you can’t ask much more from a one-night stay at a very wallet-friendly price.
Mid-Range Stays in Pak Beng
Jahn Ya Phone offers twin, double and triple rooms just a few minute’s drive from Pak Beng pier. All rooms are ensuite, clean and comfortable enough for a single night. There are plenty of food options just a five-minute walk away.

Simple ensuite rooms just a short walk from the pier. One of Pak Beng’s most popular restaurants is across the road and there’s a bakery offering breakfast early in the morning just a few metres away.
Offering double ensuite rooms, Villa Mekong Guesthouse is a 15-minute walk or five-minute drive from the pier. The guesthouse is good value for money when compared to other properties in Pak Beng.
Just a couple of minutes from the pier, BKC villa offers excellent views over the Mekong from the terrace – if you get lucky you may see the elephants from Mekong Elephant Park over breakfast!
Luxury Stays in Pak Beng
Directly opposite Mekong Elephant Park, Sanctuary Pak Beng Lodge offers beautiful rooms with amazing views. A fantastic on-site restaurant and swimming pool round off this luxurious hotel’s offerings.
Things don’t get much better than this 4-star hotel in Pak Beng. The private bungalows give unrivalled views of the surrounding landscape and the infinity pool is the perfect place to unwind after a long day on the slow boat!
This beautiful wooden lodge blends in perfectly with the surrounding countryside. Offering double and twin bungalows, you’ll struggle to tear yourself away from this amazing home away from home!
Where to Eat in Pak Beng
There are several budget restaurants near the pier in Pak Beng. In the evenings, they all tend to serve the same food from the same, classically Southeast Asian, lengthy menus. Whether you want fried rice, noodle soup, pizza, burgers or baguettes, you’ll find it all in most restaurants aimed at tourists.

Sabaidee is the most popular budget restaurant in town but that’s only because it’s got the most Google reviews, which means it gets the most foot traffic and in turn, more reviews. Compared to other restaurants in Laos, it’s nothing to write home about. The restaurants near Sabaidee have identical menus and are much quieter, so you get served much faster!

If you’re looking for something a bit more upmarket, Sunset Bar and Restaurant, a short walk from the pier in the opposite direction from Sabaidee, gets great reviews from travellers!
Guesthouses in Pak Beng tend to offer some sort of breakfast for their guests. In budget offerings, this usually comes at an extra cost. It’s a good idea to order this the night before to save time in the morning.
Alternatively, there are plenty of places to buy baguettes or pastries lining the streets in the morning. You can order these in advance the night before, or just rock up and place your order in the morning.
Pak Beng’s Secret Charm
There’s no time built into the slow boat itineraries to get past the hectic nature of your arrival or departure (which can be just as chaotic) in Pak Beng. The whole tourist industry in town is built around a ‘one and done’ model. Travellers stay for one night, rarely go further than a few hundred metres from the pier, move on the next day and never look back. Unfortunately, the transient nature of tourism means that some locals view visitors primarily as sources of income which can make opportunities for personal connections hard to come by.

Despite this, it is still possible to experience a small slice of this laidback town during your time between boat journeys. If you depart your boat efficiently and make your way through the maelstrom to your accommodation, you’ll have just enough time to get to a nice viewpoint for sunset or take a short walk out of town to glimpse a more authentic Lao way of life.
If you’re an early riser, getting up and out by sunrise is a good way to experience Pak Beng without the chaos. The roads are empty and the shops only just opening their shutters. Groups of locals huddle around small fires, cooking breakfast on grills above the open flames. You’ll be met with bemused looks and a few smiles – people aren’t used to seeing travellers outside the usual hustle and receptions are generally warmer. It can be cold in the morning, especially during the winter months, so be prepared for a bit of a chill. Before most travellers hit the streets, Pak Beng retains a laidback atmosphere as locals slowly ease into the day ahead.

What to Do if You Miss Your Slow Boat
If you’re on one of the more luxurious cruises, this won’t be a problem. The boat won’t leave until everyone is onboard, so while you might not be the most popular passenger should you sleep through your alarm, you won’t be left high and dry. However, the public slow boats will leave without you if you’re not there on time!

If you are stuck for an extra day, check out the big green map at the top of the pier. This ‘Tourist Activities Map’ shows the highlights of the surrounding area. To be honest, there’s not a huge amount to do around the town itself, aside from a nice viewpoint and a couple of temples. But if you miss your slow boat, or want to spend an extra day in town, there are a few small villages that make for an interesting visit.

Across the Mekong from Pak Beng, you’ll see a sign for the Mekong Elephant Park. This is one of Laos’ ethical elephant sanctuaries that rescues elephants from captivity and labour camps allowing them to live relatively unrestricted. The park offers hands-off trips to see the elephants – so, unlike other elephant camps located along the Mekong, there’s no riding, bathing or touching allowed!
To visit Mekong Elephant Park, you need to book in advance. Tours range from half-day to multi-day packages and depart from the reception of Sanctuary Pak Beng Lodge.

Travel Tip! Sanctuary Pak Beng Lodge also has a bar with a fantastic view over the Mekong, so if you don’t mind splashing out a little, you can enjoy a nice drink with a cracking view.
Can I Choose to Spend More Time in Pak Beng?
Yes! It’s possible to book the local boat from Huay Xai to Pak Beng and then book another trip from Pak Beng to Luang Prabang. This is ideal if you want to spend more time in Pak Beng or explore more of the Oudomxay region of Laos as there are regular buses to other towns. Bear in mind that booking the two legs of the journey separately will be slightly more expensive.
Pak Beng – A Round Up
There really isn’t a huge amount to do or see in Pak Beng. It’s not a town that tourists are queuing up to visit and unless something changes in the future – which it may well do when the new Pak Beng Dam is finished – then Pak Beng will remain little more than a stop off for Mekong slow boat trips. But your time there doesn’t have to be fruitless. Get up early and wander the streets before the crowds awaken and you’ll get a glimpse of Northern Laos that’s missed by most travellers!