Nong Fu volcanic lake trek in Attapu?

1

there is some info on Travelfish

http://www.travelfish.org/sights/laos/southern_laos/attapeu/attapeu

also called Nong Fa

Nong Fa Lake

This huge, serene, crystal-clear lake (sometimes called Nong Kai Ok, or Cock Lake) is believed to have been formed by a volcanic eruption millions of years ago, and the local inhabitants regard it as sacred. It used to be accessible by motorbike or 4WD vehicle via a dirt road used by a Vietnamese company that was logging in the area. In 2003, however, their license expired and they pulled out, leaving the road to deteriorate so badly it's now impassable except on foot. The only way to get there now is via a 5 to 6 day trek that costs about 350 USD per person. If you've got the time, the money, and the physical fitness to handle it, it comes highly recommended by those who have undertaken it. Plan way in advance by contacting Mr. Ngai at Attapue travel or another guided tour outfit operating in the area.

Attapeu Travel
Attapeu Palace
T: (036) 211 204;(020) 552 2219;(020) 240 9186
F: (036) 211 834
E-mail: atpalace@yahoo.com, a_noy2005@yahoo.com

2

I am doing it! Thanks for the info

"You know how it is with me...got drunk, sobered up, got bored, got drunk, got hungover, got drunk..." -or something like that from Dmitry Karamazov in 'The Brothers Karamazov'

3

More links about Nong Fa Lake are on

http://picasaweb.google.com/sfogm9/LaosNongFaLake

and see part 2 about halfway down the page on

http://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorcycle-forum/sth-laos-hcm-trail-nong-fa-lake-attapeu-t5189.html

Rent the motorcycle and guide if needed in Attapeu. It is not going to work in the wet season though... Enjoy your visit.

4

Yea, if it can be walked, a dirt bike/enduro would be good, the problem is having a accurate map to go solo, or else a guide to go with, both might also have to secured in Pakse as far as a Enduro goes....

Good Luck and report back....Also, what time of year your going will be key, dry season is hot but the trails are at least passable. The area of Bolevan is a easy and fun are to explore, but a lot of it is being heavily logged by the Chinese....

Attapue is a nice town worth hanging out a few nights too....they have a very good morning market for food.

*Get a Guidebook & Get Lost* See pictures of Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Italy, France, Morocco and USA National Parks, click on SOLOHOBO Profile.

5

The Chinese again....I can't stand then

"You know how it is with me...got drunk, sobered up, got bored, got drunk, got hungover, got drunk..." -or something like that from Dmitry Karamazov in 'The Brothers Karamazov'

6

a lot of it is being heavily logged by the Chinese

Chinese logging companies work mainly in northern Laos, near the border with China. In southern Laos, on the border with Vietnam, it is Vietnamese logging companies that have made such a miserable name for themselves. No reports lately though about logging trucks in that area.

One access road to Nong Fa seems to be off the main Attapeu / Bo Y / Kontum road at a place called Xe Sou but maybe the guys in Attapeu know another way to get to the lake.

they have a very good morning market for food.

Good point about downtown Attapeu. The GT Rider who put up the page mentioned above did the 340 KM trip there and back in 9 hours. He is an experienced rider on such roads so 9 hours really would be the minimum time needed for the full round trip. There is no food available at the lake. Stock up before you leave Attapeu. And if you plan on staying at the lake overnight, you would also need to bring a hammock. There are no guest houses up there. No Beer Lao either.

More links

http://ezinearticles.com/?Trekking-to-Nong-Fa-Lake-Southern-Laos&id=1258147

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/message.jspa?messageID=14267930#14267930

Read this book for background on the area

http://www.amazon.com/History-Ho-Chi-Minh-Trail/dp/9745240761/ref=sr_11_1/102-3171855-6247302?ie=UTF8&qid=1176687931&sr=11-1%22

http://www.north-by-north-east.com/articles/10_06_1.asp

For visitors coming from Yak Lom Lake in Banlung in Rattanikiri, there is something else to do. Of course you could ride a share taxi from Banlung to Stung Treng and then cross the border into Laos from there. Easy, but look closely at this map on

http://www.nexus.net/~911gfx/vietnam/maps/nd48-07/nd48_07h.html

In the bottom right hand corner, you will see a place called Siempang on the Tonle Kong, aka the Xe Kong River. This is the same river as in downtown Attapeu.

Immediately to the east of Siempang is old road number 194. This road comes from Banlung. You could get a moto driver in Banlung to drive you to Siempang.

Why? See old road 97 to the north of Siempang. It parallels the Xe Kong River as it heads north towards Attapeu. Speculation in Cambodia is that the old road number 97 to the north of Siempang might be due for reconstruction one of these days in an effort to stimulate trade between southern Laos and northern Cambodia.

It would be worth a look if you are in Banlung anyway. If you can't cross to the north of Siempang, there are boats going south to Stung Treng where you get back onto the main road.

Either way, don't forget that a visa for Laos must be in your passport beforehand. They are not available upon arrival when coming from Cambodia.

7

#6, that is some excellent info, thanks. I live in Taiwan, so I've got to find out how to get a Lao visa ahead of time, because I'm flying directly from Taipei to Phenom Penh. Wonder if Laos has a Taipei office. Going to check it out.

"You know how it is with me...got drunk, sobered up, got bored, got drunk, got hungover, got drunk..." -or something like that from Dmitry Karamazov in 'The Brothers Karamazov'

8

Wonder if Laos has a Taipei office.

If not, don't worry about it. The Embassy of Laos in Phnom Penh will issue your visa in 24 hours. Just don't forget to do it immediately upon arrival in Phnom Penh.

One ice cold big Beer Lao to the first who does the Siempang / Attapeu crossing. Cheers,

9

Nice info RecTravel-

When I was riding around the Bolevan area for 4 days, I did take a side trip from Attapue towards the VN border for 35KM, its hot country up there even in early January, but anyway I was inquiring about the logging operations in both Sekong province and Attapue, and was told it was Chinese, I saw trucks going both towards Pakse and also towards VN, so maybe both are culprits in the rape of the hillsides....The area between Attapue and the VN Border, looked like it had been bombed for miles on end....huge swaths of forest leveled in 2004.

Any idea where he would get his hands on a Enduro in Attapue?

Also, would I be mistaken, but one should watch where they ride/walk in remote areas of Laos due to unexploded ordinance from the American war?

Here is a link to the Adventure Rider Motorcycle forum, thats similar to this forum, just far more interesting stories and no complaining allowed :)

http://www.advrider.com/

*Get a Guidebook & Get Lost* See pictures of Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Italy, France, Morocco and USA National Parks, click on SOLOHOBO Profile.

10

Any idea where he would get his hands on a Enduro in Attapue?

No idea but no worry. The local operators will know all about how to get the ride set up. Just ask around upon arrival. Worst case scenario is that you take the couple hour bus ride down to Pakxe to find a 250cc motorcycle.

I would be more concerned about what sort of motorcycle helmets are available in Attapeu. Probably, there are none. Bring your own. I won't ride without one any longer, and above all not on a road like this one. There is also no medical care at the lake so any sort of motorcycle crash would be a real problem. Also, count on there being very little traffic on the road. If there is any sort of crash or motorcycle breakdown, you might be spending the night right there on the road itself. Take it slow, and don't forget your hammock.

Also, would I be mistaken, but one should watch where they ride/walk in remote areas of Laos due to unexploded ordinance from the American war?

This is never a problem on the roads themselves. In this case, Lao construction crews have been rebuilding the road. No worry. Just stay on the road itself. Around the lake, the villagers will be able to say if there are any dangerous spots. I doubt it. The guides in Attapeu will know about this. There used to be a UXO station in Attapeu. Pay them a visit too.

All in all, this long motorcycle trip between Attapeu and Nong Fa Lake is one that should not be done alone. Pay the extra money to have one of the guys in Attapeu come along. This way, at least you can be sure to actually find the lake. He could also translate while talking with the villagers around the lake. Cheers,

11

The Chinese again....I can't stand then
Wow, are you in for a surprise!

Edited by: somebody who can't stand racist cunts.

12

taking it too literally, jackass

"You know how it is with me...got drunk, sobered up, got bored, got drunk, got hungover, got drunk..." -or something like that from Dmitry Karamazov in 'The Brothers Karamazov'

13

Yeah, your subtle irony really fooled me there.

14

When I write "I can't stand the Chinese" -it should be taken in context. I started an earlier thread titled "Chinese set to wreck Bokeo". I despise what the Chinese are doing in Laos in terms of resource extraction and environmental degradation. This should be pretty obvious based on that prior thread, which I am sure you read, Henning, with your 8,000+ posts. In the context of environmental destruction in Laos, I see nothing wrong -and certainly nothing RACIST about stating, "I can't stand the Chinese".

"You know how it is with me...got drunk, sobered up, got bored, got drunk, got hungover, got drunk..." -or something like that from Dmitry Karamazov in 'The Brothers Karamazov'