Phu Khao Khuay National Protected Area (NPA),meaning ‘mountain of the buffalo horn’, lies north of Vientiane in a mountainous region of Vientiane Province that is popular with outdoor types and day-trippers.
Phu Khao Khuay NPAencompasses Ang Nam Ngum reservoir, Southeast Asia|Asia’s largest manmade lake, while Ang Nam Leuk and Ang Nam Mang 3 reservoirs are also in the park. Phu Khao Khuay NPAis largely mountainous and the mountains are drained into the Mekong by several rivers comprising many gorges. Many tourists take a boat trip from Thabok to Tad Mang on the Nam Mang River.
The park is one of forests and grasslands and a diverse range of wildlife. Elephants, tigers, Asiatic black bears, and cheeked gibbons all call Phu Khao Khuay NPA home, as do a huge variety of reptiles, amphibians and birds, including the almost extinct green peafowl.
The best way to get the most out of the park is by trekking and boating, both of which can be easily arranged with a local guide.
Getting There & Away
You can enter Phu Khao Khuay NPA from Thabok in the east of the protected area via highway 13 and buses run regularly here from Vientiane in 2 or 3 hours. Buses and shared taxis then run from Thabok to the park entrance. Vientiane International Airport is the main point of entry to Laos.