Downhill walk from Phou Khoun to Kasi


The road between Kasi and Phou Khoun is very scenic, I realised on my way up, so I decided to return. I was thinking of renting a scooter in Phou Khoun, but locals told me nobody has any for rent, and I am not that confident with these motorised two-wheeled machines anyhow. If I knew about this scenic route, I would have rented a bicycle in Kasi and have it taken up by a bus, then just roll down back. Anyway, if I wanted to travel this route at my own pace, I had no other choice but to walk. I left Phou Khoun early in the morning, hitched a ride out of town to the first view point, Phu Paing Far, from where I started walking. Locals were friendly, a Hmong man invited me to eat and finish a bottle of not too strong home-brew with them and even wanted me to stay overnight at his place, but I had to carry on. It is all downhill about 3/4 of the way, until the small river (stream) called Nam Kaen, from where it is a gentle but steady uphill for a while when it becomes a gentle but steady descent. Shortly after Nam Kaen, there is a hot spring which seems to be a popular picnic spot. You can also camp here, which was my original plan, but since I got here early, I decided to continue. This is also where you leave Pha Tiao behind, the rugged peak that dominates the view all along - from here, the landscape changes to rolling hills and rocky outcrops, with the view of big mountains in the far distance. I stopped shortly before Kasi in a village - I walked 26 kms to this point according to my GPS, which is not that much, but I was carrying a heavy bag and got quite tired and sore. Here, I had to drink beer with friendly Khmu people, then I hailed down a microbus. A small village, Phathang, is what I still wanted to visit, but then I will be saying goodbye to the Vang Vieng area.




























































Popular posts from this blog

Countries

Image
     The world is yours. Where do you want to go next? Featured: Those countries are featured where posts with useful information are available—such as maps, practical details, guides, instructions, etc.—in addition to the many accompanying photos. 
More »

Avatar Mountains, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park - Day 1: Yuanjiajie & Golden Whip Stream

Image
  Located about 30 kilometers from the city of Zhangjiajie, near the town of Wulingyuan, is China’s oldest national park: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. This is the place that inspired the floating mountains in the movie Avatar, earning it the popular nickname "Avatar Mountains". The park covers a large area, with shuttle buses, cable cars, and even lifts operating inside to connect the main scenic spots. (Shuttle buses are free with the ticket; the rest are at an additional cost.) There are popular cliff-edge paths as well as quieter hiking trails. The national park is divided into 4 main areas, and the entrance ticket is valid for four consecutive days, which is useful if you want to explore each earea to some extent. It's not likely that you can hike every trail in four days unless you’re an extreme walker. The four main areas consist of Tianzi Mountain, Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, and Huangshi Village (Huangshizhai), and between them are other locations such as the Gol...
More »

Leshan (very basic) tourist information with map

Image
  Many visitors come for just a few hours on a day trip from Chengdu—but that’s a mistake. You need a full day to properly visit the Leshan Giant Buddha , see it from the river, and explore the nearby Oriental Buddha Park and Wuyou Temple hill. At a leisurely pace, it could easily take two days. You can also do a day trip to Emeishan from Leshan by public bus, but in my opinion, it's better to stay overnight there—perhaps in a monastery below the Golden Summit. So, for Leshan alone, you’ll need at least one night, preferably two. The city itself is quite sprawling, modern, and tidy, but it doesn't offer many attractions. The train station is a bit far from the center, but public transport is a good option to reach both the city center and the Leshan Giant Buddha. Below are the tourist basics. 
More »

Leshan Giant Buddha - Walking tour and boat ride

Image
  Located near Chengdu, Leshan is home to the tallest stone Buddha statue in the world. Carved out of a cliff face, the 71 meters tall statue overlooks the junction of the Min and Dadu Rivers. You can walk up to the statue’s head and look down, walk down to its feet and look up, and view it from a boat. The area also offers distant but nice city views. You could do the walk and the boat ride easily in a short day, along with a visit to the Mahao Cliff Tombs and Wuyou Temple, both located between the Giant Buddha and the cruise port. In a longer day's program you can also include a visit to the Oriental Buddha Park, a separate and fairly large attraction (separate ticket required) that is well worth seeing — see the post about the Oriental Buddha Park . 
More »