VLT Natural Tours
VLT Natural Tours
4
4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours • Balloon Rides • Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks • Nature & Wildlife Tours • Kayaking & Canoeing
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6:00 AM - 11:30 PM
Monday
6:00 AM - 11:30 PM
Tuesday
6:00 AM - 11:30 PM
Wednesday
6:00 AM - 11:30 PM
Thursday
6:00 AM - 11:30 PM
Friday
6:00 AM - 11:30 PM
Saturday
6:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Sunday
6:00 AM - 11:30 PM
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About
Local Tours and Activities in Vang Vieng. Travel and Tourism Services for the whole of Laos.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.0
102 reviews
Excellent
55
Very good
18
Average
6
Poor
11
Terrible
12
LaurencecjGood
Leeds, UK52 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
Absolutely would recommend Vone and his team.
We booked in for a full day’s activities for my birthday (they also surprised me with a delicious cake, photo attached), which included Kayaking, Caving, BBQ lunch, zip lining, swimming at Lagoon 1 and finally a hike up to a viewpoint for sunset.
The activities themselves exceeded my expectations and I certainly got my rush that I was hoping for from the zip line.
Our guide, Si, spoke good English and was a lovely man. He cooked our lunch by the river at a location of our choosing, making us BBQ skewers, fried rice and baguette. It was perfect fuel for the rest of the day.
Communication with the owner, Vone, was easy over WhatsApp and I had no problems.
I think the price was very reasonable for myself and three others.
If you’re doing the hike at the end, perhaps bring some proper shoes that you can leave in the van until needed.
Have fun!
We booked in for a full day’s activities for my birthday (they also surprised me with a delicious cake, photo attached), which included Kayaking, Caving, BBQ lunch, zip lining, swimming at Lagoon 1 and finally a hike up to a viewpoint for sunset.
The activities themselves exceeded my expectations and I certainly got my rush that I was hoping for from the zip line.
Our guide, Si, spoke good English and was a lovely man. He cooked our lunch by the river at a location of our choosing, making us BBQ skewers, fried rice and baguette. It was perfect fuel for the rest of the day.
Communication with the owner, Vone, was easy over WhatsApp and I had no problems.
I think the price was very reasonable for myself and three others.
If you’re doing the hike at the end, perhaps bring some proper shoes that you can leave in the van until needed.
Have fun!
Written October 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Leesree_and_Subbi
Perth, Australia2,891 contributions
Sep 2012 • Friends
Note: We’re putting this at the top of our review, so we can be sure people don’t miss it… While in Vang Vieng we learned that you need to be careful when choosing your tour company. There are well reviewed, well rated companies whose names are being “copied” by other businesses (similar to the problems experienced by the well known Sinh Café in Viet Nam) in order to pick up business. For example there is a VLP tours in Vang Vieng (very close in name to V.L.T. Natural Tour) and Green View tours (similar to the well known Green Discovery). Unfortunately some people visit intending to travel with the well known companies, however end up with these copies and don’t always have the same experience, and in some cases may even believe they had used the “original” company, coming away wondering why companies such as V.L.T etc. would be listed in guides such as Lonely Planet, or have good reviews on TripAdvisor. It’s worthwhile to make sure you have the right company.
***
After much research via TripAdvisor, Lonely Planet, and by scouring travel websites, we contacted a few tour companies based in Vang Vieng to sound out their tours, and tour prices. When contacting V.L.T. Natural Tours (sometimes known as Vang Vieng Tours, per their website) we very quickly received a reply from Vone (Lavone) responding to our enquiry. Vone was great, very prompt in responding to emails, answered any questions or concerns we had, and made sure we knew all we needed to know about the tours. We found the tour prices to be excellent (much cheaper than another well ranked company we also contacted) and, based on the prices, prior reviews, and quick, friendly email contact, we decided to book to join V.L.T. Natural Tour’s “Trekking - Caving - Hilltribe” tour.
The tour visits four caves (Water Cave, Loup Cave, Hoi Cave, Elephant Cave), 2 villages (a Hmong village and Laos village), and includes lagoon tubing, BBQ lunch, and transport to and from Vang Vieng. We were given three options for return from our last sight to Vang Vieng - either via truck, kayak, or tube. As one of us has problem shoulders, and the other states she is “too old to kayak” we opted to return via truck. Our tour cost us just US$15 per person - absolute bargain for a full day tour!
On the day of our tour we were promptly met at our hotel and transported to V.L.T’s Office to make payment for our tour (we stayed at Elephant Crossing which was perhaps 150m from V.L.T’s Office - it was actually quite funny to be driven there, but the tour included hotel pick-up and hotel pick-up they did!). Our guide, a young, friendly and fun man named Ham, took payment and then we were off, bouncing about in the back of a large, covered truck - what fun! Even better, our tour comprised just the two of us!
Our tour was great fun! We took an easy trek over bridges, past beautiful rice fields, taking in the incredible, amazing, beautiful scenery that drew us to Vang Vieng in the first place! Our first stop, the Hmong village - Ham explained that the villagers wear their traditional clothing during festivals. He also educated us about their history, and their culture.
Onwards we continued to the water cave, where we waded into the lagoon, hopped into our tubes, and pulled ourselves by rope through the dark cave. There were quite a number of people enjoying the same part of their tour (another two tour groups) including Aussies, Brits, South Koreans, a girl from Viet Nam (who we had met on the minibus trip from Vientiane to Vang Vieng the previous day), Germans - a real mix.
This was to be our lunch stop - after tubing through the cave with our guide, he settled us in the sheltered seating area while he joined other guides around the BBQ. While relaxing we could choose to purchase icy cold drinks (a little makeshift shop served soft drinks, water, beer, as well as some snacks such as potato chips) for quite reasonable prices (considering its location). Lunch included a warm baguette, tasty fried rice, and two chicken kebabs including tomato, cucumber, chilli, onion. Delicious and far too much food (well, we couldn’t get through all of ours though we desperately tried).
Lunch down, time to start “trekking” again - onwards to Loup Cave (Tham Loup), up some rough steps, and down some (muddy and slightly slimy) wooden steps in to a deep, long cave with fantastic stalactites and stalagmites, sparkly rocks, a few puddles, and a few hairy sheer drops into big holes that Ham ensured we saw and didn’t fall down! Sabrina managed to bump her head while in the cave and was delighted when Ham said it must be because she was so tall (she’s under 5 foot 1 inch) - this was one of many moments of laughter with Ham, what a great fun guide (who also provided entertainment by singing along the tracks, and while inside the caves - great voice too!).
Hoi Cave (Tham Hoi), with its Buddha statue in the entrance was looooong and dark. We went a short way inside (relative to the size of the cave complex), and learned that the cave continues kilometres into the hillsides. Ham told us of a river running within the cave, but cautioned that being wet season it would be rather difficult and potentially dangerous to try to continue further (we were relieved). Ham also relayed a tale of warning - a tourist who decided to explore without the use of a guide, and only two flashlights, who managed to get a long way in to the cave, but never made it out.
After a brief rest stop we continued on to Elephant Cave, where nature has created a stone elephant - very clear to see what it is!!! Quite cool to think that this was created naturally, not carved. The cave included a reclining Buddha statue and some other small statues. From there we visited a grotto containing what is purported to be Buddha’s footprint, then continued on through the Laos village (which we had seen across rice fields earlier in our trek). We finished our tour at a rest stop by the river, enjoying a cold drink. Next we hopped on to a teeny tiny boat to cross the river - somewhat disturbing that the boat sinks so much that the water was about an inch below the edge, and water did start to slowly appear in the bottom of the boat - but it was just for the river crossing to return to our truck!
We had an absolutely fantastic day, you couldn’t wipe the happy and exhausted smiles off our faces. Later that night we got a call from Vone checking how our tour went, to make sure we had had a good time, that our guide did his job well, and to get feedback to help better his company. We were nearby his office, so decided to pop in and actually got to meet Vone in person, and chatted to him about Vang Vieng and the changes facing the town. Vone and his wife run V.L.T. together, and Vone has been in the tourist industry for a long time, having seen many changes in Vang Vieng town (it is amazing to think that as little as 15 years ago Vang Vieng had no electricity, and very few hotels). Vone told us that in the weeks before we arrived the bars that used to line the river have closed down so Vang Vieng has seen a reduction in those tourists looking to spend all their time getting drunk while tubing down the river; however those who avoided the town because of that element have not yet started arriving. It was clear that people in the town are worried, at night town was very sparsely populated as far as tourist numbers. Speaking with Vone he hopes that the natural beauty of Vang Vieng and the ecotourism options available will continue to draw travellers to the town - it was lovely speaking with someone who is so proud of what his hometown has to show. Vang Vieng is a truly truly beautiful town, and people would be mad not to visit!
When we return to Vang Vieng we will, without hesitation, use V.L.T. Natural Tour! Hopefully Ham will still be there, and we’ll get to enjoy his company, insights, cooking, and singing again!
***
After much research via TripAdvisor, Lonely Planet, and by scouring travel websites, we contacted a few tour companies based in Vang Vieng to sound out their tours, and tour prices. When contacting V.L.T. Natural Tours (sometimes known as Vang Vieng Tours, per their website) we very quickly received a reply from Vone (Lavone) responding to our enquiry. Vone was great, very prompt in responding to emails, answered any questions or concerns we had, and made sure we knew all we needed to know about the tours. We found the tour prices to be excellent (much cheaper than another well ranked company we also contacted) and, based on the prices, prior reviews, and quick, friendly email contact, we decided to book to join V.L.T. Natural Tour’s “Trekking - Caving - Hilltribe” tour.
The tour visits four caves (Water Cave, Loup Cave, Hoi Cave, Elephant Cave), 2 villages (a Hmong village and Laos village), and includes lagoon tubing, BBQ lunch, and transport to and from Vang Vieng. We were given three options for return from our last sight to Vang Vieng - either via truck, kayak, or tube. As one of us has problem shoulders, and the other states she is “too old to kayak” we opted to return via truck. Our tour cost us just US$15 per person - absolute bargain for a full day tour!
On the day of our tour we were promptly met at our hotel and transported to V.L.T’s Office to make payment for our tour (we stayed at Elephant Crossing which was perhaps 150m from V.L.T’s Office - it was actually quite funny to be driven there, but the tour included hotel pick-up and hotel pick-up they did!). Our guide, a young, friendly and fun man named Ham, took payment and then we were off, bouncing about in the back of a large, covered truck - what fun! Even better, our tour comprised just the two of us!
Our tour was great fun! We took an easy trek over bridges, past beautiful rice fields, taking in the incredible, amazing, beautiful scenery that drew us to Vang Vieng in the first place! Our first stop, the Hmong village - Ham explained that the villagers wear their traditional clothing during festivals. He also educated us about their history, and their culture.
Onwards we continued to the water cave, where we waded into the lagoon, hopped into our tubes, and pulled ourselves by rope through the dark cave. There were quite a number of people enjoying the same part of their tour (another two tour groups) including Aussies, Brits, South Koreans, a girl from Viet Nam (who we had met on the minibus trip from Vientiane to Vang Vieng the previous day), Germans - a real mix.
This was to be our lunch stop - after tubing through the cave with our guide, he settled us in the sheltered seating area while he joined other guides around the BBQ. While relaxing we could choose to purchase icy cold drinks (a little makeshift shop served soft drinks, water, beer, as well as some snacks such as potato chips) for quite reasonable prices (considering its location). Lunch included a warm baguette, tasty fried rice, and two chicken kebabs including tomato, cucumber, chilli, onion. Delicious and far too much food (well, we couldn’t get through all of ours though we desperately tried).
Lunch down, time to start “trekking” again - onwards to Loup Cave (Tham Loup), up some rough steps, and down some (muddy and slightly slimy) wooden steps in to a deep, long cave with fantastic stalactites and stalagmites, sparkly rocks, a few puddles, and a few hairy sheer drops into big holes that Ham ensured we saw and didn’t fall down! Sabrina managed to bump her head while in the cave and was delighted when Ham said it must be because she was so tall (she’s under 5 foot 1 inch) - this was one of many moments of laughter with Ham, what a great fun guide (who also provided entertainment by singing along the tracks, and while inside the caves - great voice too!).
Hoi Cave (Tham Hoi), with its Buddha statue in the entrance was looooong and dark. We went a short way inside (relative to the size of the cave complex), and learned that the cave continues kilometres into the hillsides. Ham told us of a river running within the cave, but cautioned that being wet season it would be rather difficult and potentially dangerous to try to continue further (we were relieved). Ham also relayed a tale of warning - a tourist who decided to explore without the use of a guide, and only two flashlights, who managed to get a long way in to the cave, but never made it out.
After a brief rest stop we continued on to Elephant Cave, where nature has created a stone elephant - very clear to see what it is!!! Quite cool to think that this was created naturally, not carved. The cave included a reclining Buddha statue and some other small statues. From there we visited a grotto containing what is purported to be Buddha’s footprint, then continued on through the Laos village (which we had seen across rice fields earlier in our trek). We finished our tour at a rest stop by the river, enjoying a cold drink. Next we hopped on to a teeny tiny boat to cross the river - somewhat disturbing that the boat sinks so much that the water was about an inch below the edge, and water did start to slowly appear in the bottom of the boat - but it was just for the river crossing to return to our truck!
We had an absolutely fantastic day, you couldn’t wipe the happy and exhausted smiles off our faces. Later that night we got a call from Vone checking how our tour went, to make sure we had had a good time, that our guide did his job well, and to get feedback to help better his company. We were nearby his office, so decided to pop in and actually got to meet Vone in person, and chatted to him about Vang Vieng and the changes facing the town. Vone and his wife run V.L.T. together, and Vone has been in the tourist industry for a long time, having seen many changes in Vang Vieng town (it is amazing to think that as little as 15 years ago Vang Vieng had no electricity, and very few hotels). Vone told us that in the weeks before we arrived the bars that used to line the river have closed down so Vang Vieng has seen a reduction in those tourists looking to spend all their time getting drunk while tubing down the river; however those who avoided the town because of that element have not yet started arriving. It was clear that people in the town are worried, at night town was very sparsely populated as far as tourist numbers. Speaking with Vone he hopes that the natural beauty of Vang Vieng and the ecotourism options available will continue to draw travellers to the town - it was lovely speaking with someone who is so proud of what his hometown has to show. Vang Vieng is a truly truly beautiful town, and people would be mad not to visit!
When we return to Vang Vieng we will, without hesitation, use V.L.T. Natural Tour! Hopefully Ham will still be there, and we’ll get to enjoy his company, insights, cooking, and singing again!
Written October 5, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
scuba71
Daytona Beach Shores, FL12 contributions
Sep 2012 • Solo
I booked a bus ticket from V.L.T. Natural Tours from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang. The tour company owner, Vone, promised me that he would get me a seat in the front of the bus, since I was concerned about car sickness on a very windy/twisty road for 6 hours if cramped into a back seat. To make sure he delivered on that promise, he drove me himself to the bus very early the next day to ensure that I was the first customer and could choose the seat I wanted. Who could possibly ask for more? Vone is a good guy who keeps his word.
Written October 30, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Renate S
6 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
I took a sunset balloonflight and knew beforehand that flight time would be short. We were told about 30 min. Actually it was more like 20 min and most of the time we were flying close to the ground. Only a couple of minutes at 500m. And definitely no sunset yet. When we landed it became clear why: While we were let out of the basket they 'loaded' another group to take off with the same balloon. So the balloonflight is cheap but you get what you pay for, which really isn't that much.
Written February 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Hello
Thank you very much for your reviews Usually Balloon over Vangvieng W fly only 25-40 Minute Sometime pilot fly higher depend on weather
Thanks
Vone
Written March 3, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Patrick V
Manosque, France209 contributions
Nov 2019
We booked a Buggy tour for half a day and we had proposed a tailor made itinerary. this was no problem apparently. it was including rice field, a cave and the lagoons. In the end we have never seen any cave. It was clear that our guide/driver prefered to go to the lagoons. Of course there is an entrance fee, not included in the tour, and the guide has obviously some participation from the owners of the lagoon cantine. Do not forget goggles and a dust mask. The buggy broke down just across the bridge on the way back to the office. None of the seat belts were working.
Written January 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Tony S
Paris, France3 contributions
Jun 2012 • Friends
I had the worst experience with this tour agency.
First, I went to this place because a canadian family in Luang Prabang had given me a present to give to the owner of this tour for his pregnant wife. As I was going to Vang Vieng the next day, I accepted.
So I went to VLT tour to give the present and book a kayaking tour in the morning with my Ipad. Unfortunately, I forgot my Ipad at the office. At night, when I realized I didn't have my Ipad, I asked them if they had it (I was sure it was there as I kayaked the whole day without using it). The owner said he did not have it and that it was probably someone from my hotel who stole it.
The truth was that he kept it and I discovered it because with my friend's ipad, I managed to see that he was using it (thanks to Icloud!). I could see the data in my stolen Ipad and his name was everywhere in the calendar!
So please, don't go to this tour agency. I cannot believe that I brought him a present and that he would steal my Ipad!
His excuse was that he bought my ipad from someone in the street and that he wanted to sell it to me! Fortunately he came finally to reason and brought it back to the police.
First, I went to this place because a canadian family in Luang Prabang had given me a present to give to the owner of this tour for his pregnant wife. As I was going to Vang Vieng the next day, I accepted.
So I went to VLT tour to give the present and book a kayaking tour in the morning with my Ipad. Unfortunately, I forgot my Ipad at the office. At night, when I realized I didn't have my Ipad, I asked them if they had it (I was sure it was there as I kayaked the whole day without using it). The owner said he did not have it and that it was probably someone from my hotel who stole it.
The truth was that he kept it and I discovered it because with my friend's ipad, I managed to see that he was using it (thanks to Icloud!). I could see the data in my stolen Ipad and his name was everywhere in the calendar!
So please, don't go to this tour agency. I cannot believe that I brought him a present and that he would steal my Ipad!
His excuse was that he bought my ipad from someone in the street and that he wanted to sell it to me! Fortunately he came finally to reason and brought it back to the police.
Written September 10, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Felix B
New York City, NY11 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
We booked a half-day kayak and cave trip (4hrs). Our kayak was missing a seal at the back so water kept filling it up, making us heavy and slow. Had to stop multiple times to let out the water. Our guide kept pedaling ahead making us feel rushed when we were looking to take it easy and enjoy the scenery. He also barely spoke English, so he didn't provide much value besides helping us cope with the bad equipment.
Written July 3, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Chris H
Kent, UK38 contributions
Jan 2015 • Couples
We booked a kayaking tour from Vang Vieng which was supposed to be 4 hours kayaking plus an hour for lunch and a mini van from our hotel to the river and from the river to Vientienne on completion of the kayaking. The guide Eh and his assistant Pong arrived at the hotel on time at 9am and we arrived at the river at approx 11am and boarded the kayaks. The scenery was beautiful and the river calm, the rapids we came across were very mild, however after about an hour we heard an explosion and a huge cloud of dust appeared about 200 - 300 metres ahead of us - they were damming the river. This was somewhat worrying as we assumed that the guides would have been aware that this work was being carried out - they weren't !! We got past the the dammed area unscathed and stopped just beyond this for lunch, which was great, BBQ chicken and veg on skewers with lovely rice and a baguette. Lunch lasted 90 minutes and we set off again - 30 minutes later our guide advised that the kayaking was finished and we should board the minivan. When we asked why the kayaking only lasted 2 hours instead of the 4 hours promised he could give no answer. Once in the minivan he advised us that he wouldn't be taking us to Vientienne but that we should catch a bus from a nearby town where he would leave us. We complained and advised him that we expected him to take us all of the way as we had booked but he refused and said he had to go. We finally persuaded him to wait with us for the bus, which he did, very reluctantly. He told us the local bus would arrive in about half an hour, it eventually arrived after 2 hours and during this time he was constantly trying to leave us and it was only because of a local lady, who spoke good English, that we knew what was going on. It appears that the bus did not normally stop at this point and that we should insist on the guide staying until the bus arrived. After some fabulous scenery on the river, although very short and dangerous, the whole experience was ruined at the end of the day. I would never use this company again and strongly advise others to avoid them.
Written February 27, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
kathyosh
Sydney, Australia61 contributions
Sep 2012 • Couples
We had a half day outing and then a full day's outing with VLT Tours. There were four of us: my husband and I, and our two friends, another married couple. We chose this travel agency on the recommendation of our hotel (Elephant Crossing) and we were not disappointed in any way. At very short notice (we turned up at about midday) Vone organized an afternoon's outing for us to Vang Vieng Falls and then (after a delicious lunch prepared by Vone's wife) we continued to a cave and then Blue Lagoon. We had a great afternoon but the next day's full day trip was even better. We did the four caves of which the last one, the tubing cave, was definitely the highlight. Then we had a delicious bbq lunch which included Vone's wife's delicious fried rice; after that, we had fifteen or so kilometres of kayaking in double kayaks; and, finally, last but not least, was a tubing section of the river for about an hour - that was the most fun of all. Our guide was Ted, an amazing young man with a great sense of humour. We had the best day of our whole holiday (four weeks in Laos and Cambodia). We were looked after so well that we felt perfectly safe so that even I, a scaredy cat in the water, was able to relax and enjoy and soak in the beautiful scenery that we were kayaking and tubing through. The four of us would all recommend VLT Tours - they are inexpensive, reliable, efficient and absolutely trustworthy. The only thing I was sad about was when I saw our hotel as we were tubing down the river and I realised that our fun day was over. Thanks so much Vone and Ted. You made our stay in Vang Vieng absolutely memorable
Written October 19, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
4amigo
1 contribution
We found vone and his wife to be very helpful in organising two tours so we could experience as much as possible in our 2 days in Vang vieng. With very short notice vone organised a trip to the water fall a delicious lunch cooked by his wife and also a trip to the blue lagoon. Out was a wonderful half day trip. The next day we went on an amazing your with vlt caving tubing through the caves kayaking down the gentle rapids and finally tubing down the last 2 kms to town. The your guide was fun and took great care of is to masked our time on Vang vieng very memorable. We would highly recommend vlt natural tours.
Written September 20, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Huyen99r4
Da Nang, Vietnam1 contribution
Can you tell me the cost of Half day ATV & Buggy tour to Water fall?
I read on the official website but it does not have more detailed information.
Balloon over vangvieng
Vang Vieng, Laos4 contributions
Hello Madam
Half day Buggy to water fall Cost: $40/person