VLT Natural Tours
VLT Natural Tours
4
4WD, ATV & Off-Road ToursBalloon RidesZipline & Aerial Adventure ParksNature & Wildlife ToursKayaking & Canoeing
6:00 AM - 11:30 AM
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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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
108 reviews
Excellent
59
Very good
18
Average
6
Poor
11
Terrible
14
LaurencecjGood
Leeds, UK71 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 as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AAA
41 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
We almost didn't do this tour because of the bad reviews but they were great! We did a half day buggy tour. The seatbelts worked well and the driver even stopped to get us helmets at our request. We visited all 3 lagoons and had ample time there. Was a challenging drive back in the rain but that's all part of the fun. The tour guide sat in the back and we took turns to drive. He offered lots of water. The lagoons are a lot of fun. Thank you :)
Written June 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dario
Miami, FL90 contributions
Nov 2024 • Solo
I reached to Vong the owner of the agency a day before via Whattapp and he was so quick and attentive that arranged in 1 hour my entire days of activities in Vang Vieng including transfer from Vientiane to Vang Vieng and back with a minivan.
I sincerely enjoyed his five star service considering the last minute noticed and I had an incredible experience all taken care of.
I will highly recommend to anyone planning to visit the area.
I sincerely enjoyed his five star service considering the last minute noticed and I had an incredible experience all taken care of.
I will highly recommend to anyone planning to visit the area.
Written December 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patrick V
Manosque, France205 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 as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Renate S
12 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 as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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.
Ray Jomtien
Pattaya, Thailand8 contributions
Aug 2024 • Friends
We enjoyed a very nice private tour with VLT Natural Tours. We were picked up by our driver Leo at the Friendship Bridge, when arriving in Laos from Nong Khai, Thailand. He drove us safely to Vang Vieng where we stayed two nights. We did a sunrise balloon flight, a bicycle trip to the blue lagoon (golden crab lagoon), the blue bridge and some exciting caves nearby. We ended our day with a relaxing boat trip along the Nam Song River.
We left Vang Vieng for Muang Fuang on the Nam Lik River. A very beautiful and relaxing scenery. There we experienced another great boat trip on that river.
Our final day Leo, our driver, drove us back to the Thai border near Vientiane and stopped for some relaxing moments along the way, showing us for instance a magnificent temple.
The whole trip was very well organized. We had a great time during our four day/three night trip in Laos. And we also got value for our money!
We left Vang Vieng for Muang Fuang on the Nam Lik River. A very beautiful and relaxing scenery. There we experienced another great boat trip on that river.
Our final day Leo, our driver, drove us back to the Thai border near Vientiane and stopped for some relaxing moments along the way, showing us for instance a magnificent temple.
The whole trip was very well organized. We had a great time during our four day/three night trip in Laos. And we also got value for our money!
Written August 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tony S
Paris, France1 contribution
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 as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leesree_and_Subbi
Perth, Australia2,893 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 as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
scuba71
Daytona Beach Shores, FL10 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 as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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 as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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.
Written August 29, 2015
Hello Madam
Half day Buggy to water fall Cost: $40/person
Written February 29, 2020
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.