Hiking in Vang Vieng: Big Pha Ngern Viewpoint (Silver Cliff)
The small town of Vang Vieng is an outdoor explorer’s paradise. Sitting beside the Nam Song River and surrounded by karst limestone cliffs, paddy fields, caves and lagoons, there’s plenty of adventuring to be had! But despite this, I found very few marked trails for hiking in Vang Vieng. The one that stood out as accessible, signposted and having incredible views was the Pha Ngern Viewpoint, the highest point in the area surrounding Vang Vieng.
Hiking Pha Ngern (Pha Ngoen), which translates to Silver Cliff, offers two spectacular viewpoints along the way. I took on this hike on my first day after arriving from Luang Prabang, which was a great introduction to the area. Having tackled it myself, this guide will cover everything you need to know to hike to Pha Ngern viewpoint including the route, fees, top tips and plenty of photos!
About Pha Ngern Hike
Walk type: Out-and-back
Distance: 4km (2.5 miles)
Maximum Elevation: 757m (2484 feet)
Minimum Elevation: 268m (879 feet)
Walk time: 2-3 hours (+1.5hrs if walking from Vang Vieng town)
Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult
Highlights: Silver Cliff Viewpoint, Big Pha Ngern Viewpoint
Permit Required: No
Entrance Fee: 10,000 kip ($0.45) [UPDATE: Potentially 20,000 kip]
Dogs Permitted: Yes
Pha Ngern Hike Route
Navigating this hike isn’t difficult once you’re on the trail as the route is clear, signposted and can be tracked on the map below.
However, finding the trailhead in the first place can be tricky given the huge number of similarly named viewpoints around Pha Ngern (Silver Cliff).
How to get to the Pha Ngern Trailhead
If you are venturing from Vang Vieng, you will need to get to the Pha Ngern Trailhead (Pha Nguen Trailhead on Google Maps).
I walked from my hostel in the town centre, crossing over the Nam Song River via the free footbridge. The walk is doable, but without shade it can get very hot! It took me around 45 minutes each way, which added an additional 1.5 hours (and 6.5 kilometres) to the whole hiking route.
Alternatively, you can get a tuk-tuk there instead (I would recommend this option). It shouldn’t cost more than 20,000 kip and will take you directly to the trailhead.
If you are doing this hike after visiting the Blue Lagoons or Nam Xay Viewpoint, there’s also space to park your moped or dune buggy.
Hiking Pha Ngern: What to expect
Like most of the hikes in Laos that I’ve taken on, the Pha Ngern hike is a sweaty one! It’s karst rocks make it a simple up-and-down hike through the jungle. It is moderately steep throughout, with some sections offering bamboo handrails for support. Underfoot, the terrain is a mix of dirt and rock which forms a trail of uneven steps. But to my surprise, the trail is pretty well-maintained throughout!
Pha Ngern Trailhead to Silver Cliff Viewpoint
This first section of the walk is around 1km and took us approximately 45 minutes to reach the first viewpoint.
After paying the entrance fee at the trailhead, you will see the start of the trail leading into the trees. Much of this first kilometre is under tree cover as you walk along narrow jungle paths up a gentle incline. It’s quite disorientating as you go through the trees, but there’s only one path from the bottom so it’s just a case of putting one foot in front of the other until you reach the turn-off.
At the junction, turn left towards Silver Cliff Viewpoint (Silver Cliff Lower Viewpoint). It’s a short, flat walk to the viewpoint where you will have panoramic views in both directions.
This large viewpoint has plenty of space to admire the view, and several benches in the shade to cool off and rehydrate. There’s usually someone selling refreshments up there too!
It’s an ideal pitstop before continuing up to Big Pha Ngern. However, many people choose to turn back here as the viewpoint is impressive in itself.
NOTE: This shelter has been further developed since the photos were taken.
Silver Cliff Viewpoint to Big Pha Ngern Viewpoint
This second section, which leads to the summit, is also approximately 1km. We hiked up in around 50 minutes – slightly longer than the first section.
From the viewpoint, retrace your steps back to the junction and continue up the path towards Big Pha Ngern (left). If you would prefer to return to Vang Vieng, turn right back down the path.
After this point, the hike gets tougher as the elevation increases. Besides that, it’s similar to before as you meander through the jungle. It’s difficult to tell how far there is to go since there are no landmarks to go off (plus most of the signs are inaccurate), but evenually you will pop out at the highest viewpoint around Vang Vieng!
From the top, you can see for miles! Looking left, you will see the rest of Silver Cliff that you climbed (including the previous viewpoint). Spanning right, you will see Vang Vieng and the road leading out of it. Just after we arrived, we saw the first few hot air balloons take off in the distance which was magical.
Down to the right, you will see Pha Ngern Silver Cliff Viewpoint – a standalone karst rock viewpoint which looks out towards the sunset.
There’s a small hut at the top, which we were lucky enough to have all to ourselves!
The sunset view from this main viewpoint is slightly obstructed, but thankfully there are a couple of small trails leading through the trees to another outpost where you can see beyond.
Alternatively, you could watch sunset from the first viewpoint on the way back down. This would mean less hiking in darkness and as well as a clear view of the sun going down behind the mountains.
Hiking down from Big Pha Ngern Viewpoint
The route down from the top follows exactly the same trail which you took up there.
We hiked quicker going down, which meant it took just over an hour to get back to the trailhead. This was partly due to the lower temperature and humidity, but also because there were fewer reasons to stop (rests, views, navigation questions).
The only thing that slowed us down was the darkness. Given the tree cover, it falls dark incredibly quickly so be prepared if you plan on staying out for sunset.
Tips for hiking in Vang Vieng
- Bring a headtorch: It gets dark quickly, so make sure you have light available in case the hike takes longer than you expect. A phone torch will suffice, but that uses a hand which you would otherwise use for balance.
- Go to the toilet beforehand: There are none on the trail, so go before you set off!
- Stay hydrated: This hike can be very sweaty so replenish all the fluids you will lose.
- Leave No Trace: Follow the Leave No Trace Principles so our nature remains pristine for everyone to enjoy!
- Wear appropriate footwear: Even though the hiking trails are well-maintained, it’s important to wear appropriate footwear to avoid blisters and not trip. Hiking trainers are fine, however, if you do this hike after rain it will be more slippery.
- Wear sun protection: Whilst there’s plenty of tree cover on this hike, you should still put suncream on the back of your neck and other parts. Wear protection if you intend to walk to the trailhead from Vang Vieng!
- Avoid the midday sun: It’s a hot hike anyway, there’s no need to make it more difficult by going in the heat of the day.
FAQs
Can you hike Pha Ngern solo?
Yes, you can hike Pha Ngern viewpoint without a guide. Navigation is relatively simple and the trail itself isn’t treacherous. If you do hike solo, let someone else know where you are going before you leave.
That being said, novice hikers might prefer local knowledge and guidance. Therefore, there are guides and tours available in Vang Vieng town. This is also a great option if you want to hike with other people!
Best time to hike Pha Ngern?
Best time of day: The best times to do this hike are early in the morning to avoid the heat of the day, or nearing the end of the afternoon. I opted to hike to Pha Ngern viewpoint for sunset which was utterly beautiful, but also means a darker hike down.
Best time of year: The best time of year to hike Pha Ngern is during peak season (October-February) when temperatures are slightly cooler and the weather is dry. Try to avoid Laos’s burning season (March-April) because the air quality gets worse. Wet season (May-September) also carries risks as muddy paths make the trail more difficult and slippery after it has rained.
Is Pha Ngern Difficult?
While the hike to Pha Ngern isn’t particularly far in terms of distance, the elevation and humidity make this hike tougher than you might expect.
For experienced hikers this will be easy, but if you haven’t hiked much before it’s doable but tough. Make sure to pack plenty of water!
Other Hikes in Vang Vieng
Besides Pha Ngern there are several of other hiking options near Vang Vieng, most of which revolve around viewpoints (and are thus very up-down). Entry for most of these viewpoints is 10,000-20,000 kip.
- Nam Xay Viewpoint: The most popular hike near Vang Vieng, known for its iconic motorcycle at the top!
- Pha Ngern Silver Cliff View Point: similar to the hike described in this post, except it’s lower and shorter.
- Phapoungkham Cave and Viewpoint: Another short hike to a viewpoint. This one has caves along the way as well as a model plane at the top!
Given the beauty of Vang Vieng, you could also explore independently or look for a guide in town to find some more routes!
Before you go
Thank you for reading my travel guide on Pha Ngern viewpoint near Vang Vieng. If guides, itineraries, and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.
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Happy hiking!
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