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15 Best Cafes in Canggu, Bali – Canggu Foodie Guide

Canggu is a little coastal town in the southern part of Bali, near Seminyak. It hasn’t been on the tourist map for long but in the recent years it has quickly become one of the most popular areas amongst digital nomads and beach lovers. As Canggu started to receive more attention, more and more cafes and restaurants started to open up, transforming this little town into a real foodie heaven. In this post I collected the best cafes in Canggu that need to be on every food lover’s list!

If you’re planning to visit Bali for the first time you might be interested in my Ultimate Bali Travel Guide as well. It was written specifically for first-timers and it’s loaded with useful information about Bali like where to stay, how to get around and what to do!

Disclosure: *This post contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link.*

Best cafes in Canggu

I’m a real foodie myself so trying out a new cafe every day was one of my favorite things to do in Canggu. Since we’ve spent 10 days in this cute little town we were able to discover some of the best cafes in Canggu and I got to tell you, I’ve never seen so many amazing places in one spot! We tried all the below mentioned cafes personally and since I’m a vegetarian, all of the cafes in this post offer many vegetarian/vegan options as well.

Tipping is not common in Bali, however almost every cafe charges 10% government tax and 6% service charge on top of their listed prices (this is always marked on the menu, if they do so). Although many cafes accept credit card payment now, there are still a few where you can only pay with cash. Therefore it’s useful to always have some cash in your wallet!

1. Cafe Organic

Address: Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong No. 58, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 7am – 6pm

Website: https://cafeorganic.co

Instagram: @cafeorganicbali

Cafe Organic was one of the first plant-based restaurants in Bali and it’s still one of the best cafes in Canggu to this day. The whole place has a relaxed and chill vibe both outside and inside, therefore it’s a perfect place for digital nomads as well. The staff is always nice and friendly and the menu is full of nutritious and organic vegetarian/vegan meals. We loved this cafe so much we’ve been there three times in 10 days!

Favourite dishes: Smashed Avo, Chocotella & Cashew Butter Toast

2. The Avocado Factory

Address: Jl. Tanah Barak No. 52, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 7am – 5pm

Website: https://www.theavocadofactory.com

Instagram: @theavocadofactory

If you’re also obsessed with avocado like I am, this cafe will be a heaven for you! As the name suggests, you will find countless delicious meals with avocado on the menu. Don’t worry, if you are not a fan of this green yumminess you will still find plenty of options to choose from! The Avocado Factory can be a great choice for both carnivores and vegetarians as their menu caters for everyone. Oh, and they make the cutest latte art on your cappuccino as well!

Favourite dishes: Avo Cheese Croissant XL, Tropical Booster Smoothie Bowl

3. The Loft

Address: Pantai Batu Bolong St No. 50A, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 6.30am – 10pm

Website: https://www.theloftbali.com

Instagram: @theloftbali

We practically lived next to The Loft in Canggu, therefore we visited this amazing place multiple times. After trying various meals from their menu I can safely say that The Loft is definitely one of the best cafes in Canggu!

Although they have a spacious catering area on the ground floor, it usually fills up quickly so it’s better to go early in the morning or outside the busy hours. While this area is quite lively, they have a smaller air-conditioned area upstairs which is perfect for working a few hours (although this area is closed after 5pm).

While they have both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes on their menu, some of their meals are completely vegan. It’s definitely a place where everyone will find their favourite type of food. Don’t forget to try their raw vegan desserts, these are seriously one of the bests I’ve ever eaten!

Favourite dishes: The Loft Waffles, Hummus Bowl, Falafel Salad Bowl, Snickers Raw Cake

4. I Am Vegan Babe

Address: Jl. Tanah Barak No. 49, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 7am – 4.30pm

Instagram: @iamveganbabe

As the name suggests, I Am Vegan Babe is a fully plant-based cafe with the most delicious vegan food I’ve ever eaten in my whole life. Seriously, even my carnivore boyfriend loved having breakfast there! The menu mainly contains savoury dishes like quesadillas, tacos, sandwiches and burritos, but there is no shortage of sweets like pancakes or waffles either.

Favourite dishes: Hello Babe Waffles, Morning Toast A La Mexicana

5. The Shady Shack

Address: Jl. Tanah Barak No. 57, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 7am – 9pm

Instagram: @theshadyshack

If you’re a true veggie lover, The Shady Shack is definitely your place! This cafe is completely meat-free and their meals are not only super beautiful, but healthy and delicious as well. They have an inside seating area which can be perfect if you’re looking for a place to work or you can choose to sit at the lush green outside terrace. If you love coffee, ask for a cappuccino and be amazed by their beautiful latte art!

Favourite dishes: Lost Paradise Smoothie Bowl, Banana Oats

6. Betelnut Cafe

Address: Pantai Batu Bolong St No. 60, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 7.30am – 10pm

Instagram: @betelnutcafe

We accidentally stumbled upon Betelnut Cafe and I’m so glad we did! Not only the food is delicious, but it’s one of the most affordable cafes in Canggu as well. It’s actually the sister cafe of The Shady Shack and it totally lives up to the expectation. They have a small, air-conditioned room on the ground level and a much larger open-air area on the second level, overlooking the rice terraces.

Favourite dishes: Mango Smoothie Bowl, Mexicana Breakfast Wrap

7. Matcha Cafe

Address: Jl. Pantai Berawa No. 99, Tibubeneng

Opening hours: Daily, 7.30am – 7pm

Website: https://www.matchacafebali.com

Instagram: @matchacafebali

I’ll be honest with you, I had a love-hate relationship with matcha for a very long time. But since it has many well-known health benefits I kept trying until I absolutely fell in love with matcha latte in one of the cute cafes in Chiang Mai.

If you’re a matcha lover too, you definitely need to put Matcha Cafe on your radar! Apart from the endless line of organic matcha green tea beverages, you will find many matcha based foods on the menu as well. Think about matcha pancakes. Matcha smoothie bowls. Matcha Tiramisu. Mmm, love them so matcha! On top of that, since Matcha cafe has a quiet and cozy vibe it was one of our favourite places to work as well.

Favourite dishes: Matcha Protein Pancakes, Matcha Acai Superfood, Matcha Latte

8. Monsieur Spoon

Address: Pantai Batu Bolong St No. 55, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 6.30am – 9pm

Website: http://www.monsieurspoon.com

Instagram: @monsieurspoon

Although Bali is mostly famous for its smoothie bowls and avocado toasts, you can find some great bakeries around as well. If you’re craving for a real French pastry, Monsieur Spoon is your spot! Their croissant is just so heavenly, I swear it was even better than the ones I had in Paris (sorry, French folks!). The whole cafe has a cozy, relaxed vibe and there is also a spacious terrace outside if you’re longing for fresh air. It’s perfect for digital nomads as well!

Favourite dishes: Croissant with strawberry jam, Chocolatine

9. Milk & Madu

Address: Jl. Pantai Berawa No. 52, Tibubeneng

Opening hours: Daily, 7.30am – 10pm

Website: http://www.milkandmadu.com

Instagram: @milkandmadu

Although Milk & Madu has a spacious seating area, since it’s one of the most popular cafes in Canggu it’s almost always crowded. But don’t let that scare you off as their food is so worth the wait! They are open all day long so you can choose to have either breakfast, lunch or dinner at their place.

We went there for dinner and they had a 2 for 1 special offer for pizzas so we ended up having our cheapest and one of the most delicious dinners we’ve ever had in Canggu. If you’re looking for the best cafes in Ubud, keep your eyes open for Milk & Madu because they have another location in Ubud as well!

Favourite dishes: Pumpkin Pie Pizza, Byron Bowl

10. The Lawn

Address: Jl. Pura Dalem, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 12pm – 11pm

Website: https://thelawncanggu.com

Instagram: @thelawncanggu

Have you ever really been to Canggu if you haven’t been to The Lawn? This popular beach lounge is definitely one of the most iconic places in Canggu and you absolutely need to check it out for yourself! Featuring a cozy inner seating area, a spacious outside terrace with boho umbrellas and a shimmering infinity pool overlooking the ocean, The Lawn not only provides delicious food and drinks on their menu but grants a whole day of fun for everyone. Unfortunately we only tried some of their drinks but since every dish looked totally mouthwatering, I’m sure they are delicious as well!

11. CRATE Cafe

Address: Jl. Canggu Padang Linjong, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 6am – 6pm

Website: http://lifescrate.com

Instagram: @cratecafe

The industrial-looking, hipster CRATE Cafe is so much more than a regular cafe: they also have a concept store, a gallery and they regularly host interesting events. It’s definitely one of the most popular cafes in Canggu, we even had to come back here because there were no free tables at the first time!

If you’re looking for a lively and buzzing place with good music and good food, CRATE Cafe is your place. Not only their food is super yummi, they are also budget-friendly, especially compared to the prices of the other cafes in Canggu.

Favourite dishes: Brekkie 2 GoGo Smoothie Bowl, Black Out Smoothie Bowl

12. Cafe Vida

Address: Pantai Batu Bolong St No. 38A, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 7am – 10.30pm

Website: https://cafe-vida-bali.business.site

Instagram: @cafe_vida_bali

We stumbled upon Cafe Vida by accident, after we didn’t find any free tables at CRATE Cafe. This cute little cafe is actually taking place inside a traditional Balinese compound so the authentic Bali vibes are guaranteed. If you love beautifully decorated smoothie bowls (and who doesn’t?!) you will love this place! Each and every bowl is a true masterpiece (just look at my photo below or scroll through their Instagram). Oh, and the home-made cakes and cookies look so amazing too!

Favourite dishes: Amazon Acai Smoothie Bowl, Avocado Pesto Toast

13. Motion Cafe

Address: Pantai Batu Bolong St No. 69B, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 7am – 9pm

Website: https://www.motionfitnessbali.com/food/

Instagram: @motioncafe

Whether you are following a paleo lifestlye, a ketogen or a raw vegan diet, you will definitely find your favourite fitness food at Motion Cafe. Apart from healthy meals and big salad bowls, Motion Cafe also offers various fresh and natural juices, delicious shakes and sugar-free sweets.

Favourite dishes: Sweet Potato Waffles with Chocolate Spread and Banana, Sweet Potato Salad

14. The Common Cafe

Address: Pantai Batu Bolong St No. 65, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 6am – 10pm

Website: https://www.thecommonbali.com

Instagram: @thecommonbali

If you loved Milk & Madu, you definitely need to put The Common Cafe on your list as well! Both of them are operated by the same group (The Good Food Brotherhood) and let me tell you in advance, this little cafe lives up to all the high expectations. Their menu caters for everyone as apart from the juicy burgers and burritos they also offer plenty of vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free options.

Favourite dishes: The Commoners Bowl, Chipotle Chicken Burrito

15. Cabina Bali

Address: Jl. Batu Belig Gg. Daksina No. 1, Kerobokan Kelod

Opening hours: Daily, 8am – 9pm

Website: https://www.cabinabali.com

Instagram: @cabinabali

No Bali trip is ever complete without having a fancy tropical floating breakfast, am I right? Although many luxury hotels offer a floating breakfast, if you don’t want to spend a fortune on accommodation just to have this experience, Cabina Bali is your place! They open every day from 8am and I strongly advise you to go early and even reserve your spot in advance because it gets crazy crowded during the day. Unfortunately it’s quite pricy but believe me, this experience was worth every penny!

Favourite dishes: The Tropical Power Bowl, Tropical Pancakes

+1: Kynd Community

Address: Jalan Petitenget No. 12 Kerobokan Kelod, Seminyak

Opening hours: Daily, 7am – 11pm

Website: https://www.kyndcommunity.com

Instagram: @kyndcommunity

Okay, the Kynd Community is technically not in Canggu as it is located in Seminyak. But since it’s so close to Canggu and given the fact it’s one of my favourite cafes in Bali I just simply couldn’t leave it out from this list. They are only serving 100% plant-based food and not only their meals are super delicious, the pinkish chic and boho design easily makes this cute cafe one of the most instagrammable places in Bali as well!

Favourite dishes: Acai Bowl, Leo Gourmet Toast

Best cafes in Canggu - Map

In the below map I collected all the best cafes in Canggu for you. You just have to click on the bracket in the upper right corner and it will open it up on your phone. Super convenient, right?

Where to stay in Canggu

Since the main area of Canggu can be found around the Jl. Batu Bolong if you’re visiting for the first time I would recommend to stay at this area. Batu Bolong is a lively neighborhood within walking distance of the beach so it’s perfect for experiencing the authentic Canggu vibes. On top of that, almost all the above mentioned cafes are located here so if you’re also a foodie, you will love this area!

You can check all the accommodations on the below map or if you’re not in the mood for searching, look at my recommendations below!

Booking.com

*Please note that the below mentioned rates are calculated for 2 people and they are based on my independent research at the time of writing. Therefore I can not guarantee this rate in any way.*

LUXURY – COMO Uma Canggu

COMO Uma Canggu features offers panoramic beach view as it’s only a few steps from Echo Beach and around 500 m from Batu Bolong Beach. Guests can chill out in the outdoor swimming pool.

Room rates start from 222 USD per night including breakfast – BOOK HERE!

MID-RANGE – Canggu Beach Apartments

Offering accommodations with air conditioning, Canggu Beach Apartments is set in Canggu, 300 m from Batu Bolong Beach. Canggu Beach Apartments also includes a 14 m outdoor pool and a tropical garden.

Room rates start from 78 USD per night – BOOK HERE!

BUDGET – Canggu Bagus

Canggu Bagus is set in Canggu and offers air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms. At the guest house, every room comes with a terrace with direct access to the outdoor pool.

Room rates start from 27 USD per night – BOOK HERE!

Final thoughts

Canggu is a real foodie heaven. After reading through this article and seeing all these mouthwatering food photos I think we can all agree on that! I hope you liked this post about the best cafes in Canggu and you will be able to visit at least a few of them if you’re traveling to Bali!

If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment below or send me an email, I always love helping you out! Do you know some other great cafes in Canggu? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo, Kriszti

What camera gear do we use?

Camera body: Sony Alpha 7 III
Standard zoom lens: TAMRON 28-75 mm f/2.8
Wide angle lens: Sony FE 16-35mm f/4
Drone: DJI Mavic 2 Pro
GoPro: GoPro Hero 7
Camera Bag: Peak Design Everyday Backpack 30L
Tripod: Manfrotto Compact Action

If you want to read more about what is in our camera bag, check out my detailed post about our travel photography gear!

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Top 10 Best Things to Do in Vang Vieng, Laos

Beautiful limestone mountains, green rice paddies, crystal clear blue lagoons, amazing local food and friendly people. Sounds amazing, right? You can have it all in Vang Vieng! During our one week in Laos we spent the majority of our time in Vang Vieng and it definitely became my favourite place in the country. I collected the top 10 best things to do in Vang Vieng to inspire you to visit this beautiful gem in Laos!

Disclosure: *This post contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link.*

Best things to do in Vang Vieng

1. Try the famous river tubing

Vang Vieng used to be famous for its drunk and often drugged-up backpackers whose favorite activity was tubing down on the Nam Song River and having a drink or two at every bar they could find along the river. As one can expect, without any proper ground rules things got out of hand quickly which resulted in many serious accidents. After many deaths have been reported the government banned the whole activity and decided to give a full safety transformation for the river tubing.

Nowadays the tubing takes place in a much safer environment and almost all the riverside bars had been closed down, only a handful of them are allowed to be open at the same time. Thanks to these restrictions Vang Vieng has completely been rebranded and now it’s more about the outdoor adventures and the beautiful scenery rather than a party scene for drunk backpackers.

However river tubing still remained one of the best things to do in Vang Vieng so if you’re feeling adventurous definitely go for it! If you want to try the river tubing, you can hire tubes and dry bags from the Tubing Center in the middle of the town. As of 2020, renting a tube costs 60,000 kip (6.7 USD) and depending on the current flow of the river the whole activity can be completed in 3-5 hours. You will still find some bars along the river and drinking alcohol is not banned but please be careful!

And please don’t forget about travel insurance! Unfortunately accidents can happen anytime and it’s better to be prepared for that. After many hours of research I decided to chose SafetyWing and I can honestly recommend them! You can use the below form to get a quotation tailor-made to your own travel preferances.

2. Admire the views from Nam Xay Viewpoint

If tubing is not your thing you don’t need to worry: Vang Vieng has so much more to offer! The second best thing to do in Vang Vieng is definitely hiking. There are many viewpoints in the mountains from where you can have an amazing view but if you have only time for one, make it the Nam Xay Viewpoint!

The starting point is located 20 minutes from the city centre so you need to either rent a scooter/buggy or hire a tuktuk driver to get there. Once you arrived you need to pay 10,000 kip (1.1 USD) as an entrance fee. Although I’ve read on a lot of other blogs that they considered this hike easy-moderate I will be completely honest with you: I found it very very hard!

There is a marked pathway so you will not get lost but the roads are very tricky and rocky. The first section didn’t seem so bad but after a point you are basically doing rock climbing and you will need all your hands and feet for that. It takes around 30-45 minutes to reach the top depending on your fitness level and the view is absolutely worth all the struggle! Just please be very careful, wear appropriate clothes and if you’re going for sunset don’t stay up too long because doing this hike in the dark can result in serious injuries.

3. Hike up to the Pha Ngern Viewpoint

The other most popular viewpoint in Vang Vieng is the Pha Ngern Viewpoint. It’s located fairly close to the city centre, only a 5-10 minute drive away. You need to follow the main road after crossing the bridge and you will find a turning point around the TCK Buggy Car Station. From here you need to follow the signs and you will easily find the starting point. You need to buy a ticket for this hike as well which costs 10,000 kip (1.1 USD).

Based on what I’ve heard this is a very difficult hike, even more difficult than the one to the Nam Xay Viewpoint. Since I found that one quite challenging as well I decided not to go for this one so I have no personal experience. I only recommend to do this hike if you’re in a very good shape as it takes around 1-2 hours to complete and the terrain is quite hard as well. There are two separate viewpoints along the road and both of them offers an amazing 360 view over the whole area so I’m sure you will be rewarded for all your efforts if you decide to do it!

4. Swim in one of the Blue Lagoons

Vang Vieng is quite famous for its blue lagoons and spending the day at the crystal clear blue water is definitely one of the best things to do in Vang Vieng! You will find several blue lagoons around the city and they are all numbered. The Blue Lagoon 1, 2 and 3 are the closest ones to the city and they are the most popular ones as well.

It’s important to know that the water in the blue lagoons is only blue in the dry season or if it hasn’t been raining for a couple of weeks. Otherwise you will find them all brown and kinda disappointing. We visited in the end of February and luckily they were all blue and crystal clear.

You need to rent either a scooter/buggy or hire a tuktuk to get to the blue lagoons. Although many hotels offer free bicycles rentals I don’t recommend to actually use them since the blue lagoons are quite far away from the city centre. The entrance fee is 10,000 kip (1.1 USD) per person for each blue lagoon and if you manage your time wisely you can easily visit more of them in a day.

5. Visit the Tham Chang Cave

Actually you can find many different caves around Vang Vieng, most of them are located at the blue lagoons. Tham Chang Cave is the most popular one and since it’s fairly close to the city centre it’s a real must visit in Vang Vieng. If you’re staying in the centre you can easily walk there or you can take a bicycle.

In order to reach the cave first you have to pass through a resort which costs 2,000 kip (0.2 USD) per person. After that you need to walk across an orange bridge and you will easily find the entrance of the cave where you need to buy a ticket for 15,000 kip (1.7 USD) per person. There are different pathways inside the cave and you will also find a small blue pool by the entrance.

6. Rent a buggy to explore the area

The scenery around Vang Vieng is absolutely beautiful and while you can hire a tuktuk to drive you around the best way to explore the are is to rent a buggy. You can also rent a scooter but I don’t recommend this as there are no concrete roads (only until you reach the Blue Lagoon 1), the roads are full of holes and everything is really dusty.

There are several places in Vang Vieng where you can rent a buggy, we rented it from TCK Tours (I marked their offices the map below). The prices depend on the type of the buggy (2 or 4 seats) and on the duration (1-6 hours). For example we rented a buggy with 2 seats for 5 hours and it cost us 400,000 kip (45 USD).

Having a buggy gives you the freedom to go wherever you want and explore the area in your own pace. We decided to do the following route: after crossing the bridge we went to the Blue Lagoon 1, then drove up to Blue Lagoon 3 and finally drove down to Blue Lagoon 2 before heading back to our hotel. You can complete this small circle anywhere between 3-5 hours depending on how much time do you want to spend at the blue lagoons or how frequent you stop to admire the scenery.

7. Enjoy the views from a hot air balloon

When talking about hot air balloons, most people instantly think about Cappadocia in Turkey or Bagan in Myanmar. However you can go for a hot air balloon ride in Vang Vieng as well! Although don’t expect a sky full of balloons as only a few ballooning companies operate in the area.

If you’re interested in the hot air balloon ride, I would recommend to check out Above Laos. Their flights start from 120 USD per person which is totally budget friendly compared to the crazy high prices in Cappadocia or Bagan. They have a sunrise flight every day and they also offer sunset flights on some days.

8. Get a traditional Laos massage

If you’re looking for a relaxing experience you need to try the traditional Laos massage! This type of massage is based on the body’s pressure points and the masseuses use their own body-weight to add force to the rhythmic repetition. The treatment usually starts with foot reflexology and then moves up to the legs, back, arms and head.

We tried the traditional Laos massage at the Riverside Sala Spa and I can only recommend this place. The Spa is located at a remote area inside the Riverside Boutique Resort, right next to the Nam Song River. The ambience of the place is very quiet and relaxing and it offers an amazing view over the mountains. A 60 minute long session costs 200,000 kip (22 USD) per person.

9. Have a boat ride on the Nam Song River

Although tubing is still the most popular river activity luckily this is not your only option. If tubing is not your thing but you’d still like to experience the scenic views from the Nam Song River you can either go kayaking or rent a long-tail boat.

Many tour companies offer kayak or boat rentals across the city, basically you just need to walk around the streets and choose one you like. If you don’t have the time for searching you can also ask your hotel to arrange a rental for you or you can book a guided tour online.

10. Try the local Lao cuisine

Generally you will find the best Laotian dishes on every restaurant’s menu, however if you would like to get a complex experience I would recommend trying the Lao Degustation Menu at the Restaurant du Crabe d’Or. The menu is composed of 5 different dishes served at the same time. Although the menu contains fish and meat, if you’re a vegetarian they can offer you another types of dishes to try like tofu or stir-fry vegetables.

If you’re planning to eat at the Restaurant du Crabe d’Or I highly recommend to book a table in advance. Since this is the top rated restaurant in Vang Vieng it fills up quickly in the evenings. Try to get a table outside since the restaurant offers an amazing view over the Nam Song River and the limestone mountains.

Best things to do in Vang Vieng - Map

To make your life easier I collected all the best things to do in Vang Vieng with their exact locations in the below map! You just have to click on the bracket in the upper right corner and it will open it up on your phone. Super convenient, right?

Best time to visit Vang Vieng

Laos has only two seasons: wet season and dry season. The wet season runs from May to September while the dry season lasts from October to April. The temperature is usually the hottest between March and July while the rainiest period is from July to September.

Although Vang Vieng can be visited all-year-round, the best time highly depends on what are you planning to do. For example, hot air balloons only fly in the dry season and if you want to visit the blue lagoons you should do it in dry season too, otherwise they will be brown and disappointing in the rainy season. However if you’re mainly looking for lush green rice paddies and mountains and you want to try tubing, the early wet season will be a better choice for you.

How to get to Vang Vieng

Unfortunately Vang Vieng has no airport. Most people fly to Luang Prabang or Vientiane and visit Vang Vieng from there. In the below section you can find out how to get to Vang Vieng from either Luang Prabang or Vientiane!

How to get to Vang Vieng from Luang Prabang

Basically you have two options from getting to Vang Vieng from Luang Prabang: you can either rent a car or book a bus/minivan ride. Since the roads are not in a good condition and renting a car is generally more expensive, I recommend taking the bus/minivan.

Whenever I travel in Asia, I always use 12Go Asia to check the possibilities, availability and prices. You can easily check all of it in the below box by modifying your dates!

If you’re planning to travel between Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng you can choose from two companies: Sout chai and Naluang. Sout chai operates both buses and minivans but unfortunately you can’t tell in advance if you will get on a bus or a minivan. There is only one departure per day at 14.40 and the ticket costs 17 USD per person.

Naluang operates only minivans and they have several departing times so we decided to choose them. Their minivans depart from the Southern Bus Terminal, you can take a tuktuk from your hotel to get there. The ticket price is also 17 USD per person.

You need to get to the Bus Terminal 30-60 minutes before your actual departing time to exchange your tickets (you need to print them!) and to make sure your baggage has a place in the minivan. I didn’t want to believe when I first read about it but it’s true: your baggage will travel on top of the minivan! Unfortunately if there is no more space for your bags on the minivan you need to wait for the next departure so make sure to get there in time!

I won’t lie to you: the roads are bad. Pretty bad. According to the company it takes 5 hours to reach Vang Vieng but since the full route goes through the mountains it takes around 6-7 hours in reality. If you get sick easily, make sure to have some pills for motion sickness with you. The van has multiple stops along the road where you can use the toilet and buy some snacks if you’re hungry.

How to get to Vang Vieng from Vientiane

If you’re planning to travel to Vang Vieng from Vientiane you have the same two options: renting a car or taking a bus/minivan. Since the car rental is much more expensive I recommend taking the bus/minivan.

As I mentioned before, 12Go Asia is my to go source for booking transportation in Asia. You can easily check your possibilities by putting your dates in the below box!

Sout chai operates both buses and minivans but unfortunately you can’t tell in advance if you will get on a bus or a minivan. There is two departures per day and the ticket costs 9 USD per person. They also offer free hotel pick-up which is super convenient because you don’t need to take another tuktuk to go to the Bus Terminal.

The whole journey takes around 4 hours and the roads are in much better conditions than the ones coming from Luang Prabang. Another advantage is that only a small part of the route goes through the mountains, after that the bus/minivan continues on the highway. Their minivan is also in a much better condition than the ones at Naluang which makes the journey much better.

Where to stay in Vang Vieng

Vang Vieng has only limited option when it comes to accommodation but luckily you can always find a good place for every budget. There are no luxury hotels in the area but there are a few cute boutique resorts with amazing views. Below you can see my recommendations or you can check all the accommodations in Vang Vieng here.

*Please note that the below mentioned rates are calculated for 2 people and they are based on my independent research at the time of writing. Therefore I can not guarantee this rate in any way.*

Mid-range boutique resorts

Riverside Boutique Resort Vang Vieng

Located on the banks of the Nam Song River, Riverside Boutique Resort, Vang Vieng features elegant French colonial architecture and a stylish ethnic decor. We also stayed here and I can only recommend this place!

Room rates start from 120 USD per night including breakfast – BOOK HERE!

Inthira Vang Vieng

Located in Vang Vieng, 700 m from Post Office, Inthira Vangvieng provides accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, a bar and a garden.

Room rates start from 90 USD per night including breakfast – BOOK HERE!

Amari Vang Vieng

Amari Vang Vieng features accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, an outdoor swimming pool and a fitness centre.

Room rates start from 80 USD per night including breakfast – BOOK HERE!

Budget options

Serene Premier Vang Vieng Hotel

Serene Premier VangVieng Hotel is located right in the city centre and it offers accommodation with a bar and free WiFi throughout the property as well as free private parking for guests who drive.

Room rates start from 18 USD per night – BOOK HERE!

Vangvieng Rock Backpacker Hostel

Vang Vieng Rock Backpacker Hostel offers cosy accommodation in the centre of Vang Vieng. Surrounded by lush greenery and mountain ranges, this property provides air-conditioned dormitory and private rooms.

Beds for 2 people start from 12 USD per night – BOOK HERE!

Final thoughts

Vang Vieng is a true paradise for outdoor lovers and basically anyone who loves to relax in a beautiful and peaceful scenery. If you’re planning to visit Laos I would absolutely recommend to spend at least 2-3 days in Vang Vieng to soak in all the beauty it has to offer.

If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment below or send me an email, I always love helping you out! Would you like to add something to the list about the best things to do in Vang Vieng? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo, Kriszti

What camera gear do we use?

Camera body: Sony Alpha 7 III
Standard zoom lens: TAMRON 28-75 mm f/2.8
Wide angle lens: Sony FE 16-35mm f/4
Drone: DJI Mavic 2 Pro
GoPro: GoPro Hero 7
Camera Bag: Peak Design Everyday Backpack 30L
Tripod: Manfrotto Compact Action

If you want to read more about what is in our camera bag, check out my detailed post about our travel photography gear!

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Where to Stay in Yangon – LOTTE Hotel Yangon Review

Yangon was the first stop on our Myanmar itinerary and we decided to stay at LOTTE Hotel Yangon for 3 nights during our visit. Yangon is a really interesting city with many beautiful pagodas and historical sites so I can absolutely recommend spending a few days there! If you are looking for a beautiful luxury hotel for an affordable price LOTTE Hotel Yangon will be the perfect choice for you. Here’s my complete review about the hotel!

Disclosure: *We were invited to stay at LOTTE Hotel Yangon. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own as always. This post contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link. I only recommend products and services which I really believe in and by purchasing through my links you can support me being able to continue working on this blog. Thank you for your support!*

Arriving to Lotte Hotel Yangon

Location

LOTTE Hotel Yangon is located on the banks of the Inya Lake and it offers an amazing view over the lake and the surrounding area. You can even see the Shwedagon Pagoda from the hotel! The location is really convenient if you’re looking for a quiet and relaxing place away from the bustling city centre.

The public transportation is not so tourist friendly in Yangon and motorcycles and bicycles are not allowed inside the city. That means your only option is to use taxis to get around but luckily it’s pretty easy and cheap as well. The Grab application works perfectly so if you don’t have it already on your phone make sure to download it before arriving to Yangon!

We were flying from Bangkok so we arrived to the Yangon International Airport. The hotel is located only 7.5 km away from the airport but the traffic can be pretty busy so it can take anywhere between 15-30 minutes to arrive to the hotel. We paid 5,400 kyat (3.7 USD) for our ride which is totally affordable!

The LOTTE Hotel Yangon offers both hotel rooms for short-time visitors and serviced apartments for long-time visitors as well.

Lobby & Check-in process

Right after we arrived we were greeted by the friendly staff at the door and we were immediately escorted to the check-in counters. Many colleges worked behind the desks so we didn’t need to wait anything and the check-in process was really quick and smooth. The lobby is really grand and beautiful with warm colors and an amazing design.

If you arrive earlier than the official check-in time you can wait in the bar which is located right next to the lobby. They serve many types of beverages and some snacks so you can already have a pleasant experience while you’re waiting for your room.

The Room

Lotte Hotel Yangon has 343 rooms in total, some of which offers an amazing view over the Inya Lake and the Shwedagon Pagoda. The Delux Rooms start from 101 USD per night but if you want to have an amazing view from the window you should choose one of the Premier Lake Rooms that starts from 109 USD per night!

We stayed at a Premier Lake Room and absolutely loved the view. Our room had a floor to ceiling window overlooking the lake, a big comfortable double bed, a desk and a flat screen TV.

The bathroom featured a separate shower and a bath tub which was very practical. We also received some bathrobes, disposable toothbrushes and toothpaste and high quality bathroom amenities.

Service & Facilities

Gym

The fitness center at Lotte Hotel Yangon is located on the B1 floor and has an amazing view over the lake. The gym is huge and you can find various types of Techogym equipments such as running treadmills, exercise bikes, cross trainers and free weights. If you prefer group trainings you can also join yoga, zumba dance, step board workout or kickboxing classes during your stay.

Pool area

The pool area was definitely my favourite part in LOTTE Hotel Yangon. The outdoor infinity pool is located right next to the Inya Lake and it’s the perfect place for watching the sunrise. We woke up very early on our first day to capture the first morning lights and the view was absolutely breathtaking. Just look at the below pictures and see for yourself!

Although the infinity pool is definitely the best feature you will also find a hot tub, a kid’s pool and a cabana complex in the outdoor area. They are located right next to the BBQ zone which is the perfect spot to have a nice lunch or dinner and some drinks.

And the best part? Even if you are not an early morning person (trust me, I get it!) you can still witness an amazing sunset from the outdoor area!

Beside the outdoor pool area you can also find a huge swimming pool inside. In case the weather is not so friendly outside you can still take a dip in the water inside!

Spa

If you want to pamper yourself you can do it at the B&A Spa located on the B1 floor. The spa offers various skin treatments like whitening and anti-aging and several types of massages.

Culinary delights

The buffet style breakfast is served between 6 am and 10 am at the La Seine restaurant located on the B1 floor. The restaurant itself is huge and you can have an amazing view over the lake while having your breakfast.

Beside the breakfast hours the restaurant is also open all day long. There is a dinner buffer from 6 pm to 10 pm but you can also order a la carte from the menu.

The food selection for breakfast was absolutely amazing, you can find everything from various types of eggs, grilled vegetables, freshly made waffles and pancakes, danish pastries, nuts and seeds to local seafood, prime cut meats, noodles and sushi. I’m eating as a vegetarian and I could always find many delicious things to eat!

Beside the La Seine, there are two other restaurants in Lotte Hotel Yangon. The Korean styled Mugunhwa is located on the 1st floor and the Toh Lim Chinese restaurant is located on the 14th floor.

Final thoughts

Staying at the Lotte Hotel Yangon was an amazing start to our Myanmar trip. The location of the hotel is absolutely amazing, I loved waking up to the stunning lake view every day. It’s also a perfect place to escape the busy streets of Yangon and relax after a full day of exploring.

The service was extraordinary and the staff was always polite and helpful. I think the hotel has an amazing value for the price and I can definitely recommend staying there if you are visiting Yangon. Check the latest prices and the availability here!

If you have any questions about the hotel feel free to leave a comment below or send me an email, I always love helping you out! Have you already visited Yangon or is it still on your bucket list? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo, Kriszti

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Where to Stay in Bangkok – The Okura Prestige Bangkok Review

During our 6 months long Asia trip we visited Bangkok for one week where we had the chance to stay at The Okura Prestige Bangkok for two nights. This Japanese style hotel is one of the best luxury hotels in Bangkok and staying there was an absolute dream! Here’s my full review about this amazing hotel and what I loved the most about it.

Disclosure: *We were invited to stay at The Okura Prestige Bangkok. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own as always. This post contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link. I only recommend products and services which I really believe in and by purchasing through my links you can support me being able to continue working on this blog. Thank you for your support!*

Arriving to The Okura Prestige Bangkok

Location

The Okura Prestige Bangkok is located in the heart of downtown Bangkok, only a few steps away from the Phloen Chit BTS Skytrain station. Since using the Skytrain is one of the best options to get around Bangkok the location is perfect for everyone!

You can find countless shopping and dining options around the hotel and if it wouldn’t be enough, two of the biggest shopping malls in Bangkok (Central World and Siam Square One) is only two stops away with the BTS skytrain. The Grand Palace, the Wat Pho and the other historical sites can be easily reached with a 30 minutes taxi ride from the hotel that costs around 120 bath (4 USD).

The Okura Prestige Bangkok occupies the 23-34 floors in the Park Venture Ecocomplex Building and since those are the top floors in the building you can imagine how amazing the view is. But let’s not get that far away now!

The entrance of the hotel is marked with a huge bronze and black logo from the road and this color pattern continues on the entrance door itself. When we arrived we were immediately greeted with the friendly staff at the door who took care of our suitcases and showed us the way to the elevators.

Lobby & Check-in process

After we entered the building we took the elevators to the 24th floor where the lobby of the hotel is located. The lobby is huge and beautifully decorated with the same dark bronze style we’ve seen at the entrance. Around 4-5 agents were working at the same time behind the desk so we didn’t have to wait anything and the check-in process was really smooth.

Even if you have to wait a little bit for some reason (like arriving earlier than the official check-in time) the lobby offers many comfortable chairs and sofas. The whole place looked so cozy with the earth tone colours and the natural light coming in from the big windows.

After we finished the check-in process one of the employees escorted us to our rooms. There are 240 rooms at The Okura Prestige Bangkok in total, all of them are located in the upper levels. We needed to take another set of elevators to go up to our room.

The Room

During our visit we stayed at one of the Deluxe rooms on the 30th floor. The room was spacious with a huge king sized bed and an amazing view over the Bangkok skyline. The brown and white colour combination made us feel ourselves at home immediately! Our room featured a separate working area with a desk and comfy chairs, a huge flat screen TV and a minibar with complimentary coffee and a Japanese tea set.

The bathroom was right next to the bed and first I thought it’s a fully open bathroom but later I discovered that it had a sliding door so it could be completely closed if we wanted some privacy. It had a full marble design, the bath tub and the rain shower was separated with a glass wall from the rest of the bathroom. My favourite place was definitely the Powder Room in the corner: it was very useful when doing my daily makeup, not to mention how beautifully decorated it was.

We were absolutely spoiled by the hotel! We received sweet little surprises upon our arrival like the tailor-made welcoming cards, a fruit bowl and delicious little sandwiches and cookies. And it didn’t stop there: every night when we came back to our room we found some sweets from the Up & Above Bar on our table! It was very thoughtful and we absolutely loved these little surprises.

As I mentioned before the view from our room was incredible as we had a full panoramic view over the Bangkok skyline. We could even see the sunset from our room which was absolutely magical! I’m obsessed with sunsets and seeing the colours in the sky turning into soft orange tones from our room was one of my favourite memories from our Bangkok trip.

Service & Facilities

Gym

If you want to stay in shape during your travels you don’t need to worry as The Okura Prestige Bangkok provides a fully equipped gym to their guests. The gym is located on the 25th floor right next to the pool and you can have an amazing view over the Bangkok skyline while doing your daily workout. It was really great to see that many people used the gym while we were there but since the gym is huge there is plenty of space for everyone.

Pool

The pool is also located right on the 25th floor together with the gym. It’s a 25 metres long infinity pool which is perfect for relaxing and having a dip in the Bangkok heat. Not to mention the amazing views over the city!

The pool is facing north so if you’re visiting in the summer period I would recommend going up there for sunrise as that is the only time you can witness it from the pool. Since we visited during January it was not an option for us so we went up there during sunset instead. The colours were absolutely beautiful! I loved the perfect reflection on the pool with the pink sky and later on when the lights in the skyscrapers got turned on it was even more magical.

Spa

The spa at The Okura Prestige Bangkok is open both for hotel guests and non-hotel guests. We personally didn’t try any of their spa treatments but if you want to relax a little bit during your Bangkok visit you can find the spa menu here.

Culinary delights

Up & Above Restaurant and Bar

For breakfast the hotel guests can choose between two restaurants: the Up & Above Restaurant and the Yamazato Restaurant. Since we stayed for 2 nights at The Okura Prestige Bangkok we decided to try both of them!

For our first breakfast we went to the Up & Above Restaurant that serves an international buffet breakfast every morning. The restaurant is located on the 24th floor, right next to the lobby on the right.

The selection of the food was absolutely amazing, there were several types of eggs, cheese and ham platters, dim sums, fresh fruits and vegetables, delicious pastries and fruit juices. Since I’m more of a sweet breakfast kind of girl my favourites were the freshly baked waffles and pancakes!

Beside the restaurant, the Up & Above has a bar area as well which is open all day long. The indoor area is open from 7am to 1am and the outdoor area is open between 6pm -1am. We visited the outside terrace during sunset and absolutely loved it. The terrace offers an amazing view over the Bangkok skyline, I was totally obsessed with the view!

Yamazato

For our second breakfast we decided to try the Japanese breakfast which is served at the MICHELIN Plate Yamazato Restaurant. Apart from the main room, the Yamazato also features two teppanyaki tables, a sushi bar and private dining rooms.

Asia

Best cafes in Canggu

1. Cafe Organic

2. The Avocado Factory

3. The Loft

4. I Am Vegan Babe

5. The Shady Shack

6. Betelnut Cafe

7. Matcha Cafe

8. Monsieur Spoon

9. Milk & Madu

10. The Lawn

11. CRATE Cafe

12. Cafe Vida

13. Motion Cafe

14. The Common Cafe

15. Cabina Bali

+1: Kynd Community

Best cafes in Canggu - Map

Where to stay in Canggu

Final thoughts

More posts about Bali

What camera gear do we use?

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Best things to do in Vang Vieng

1. Try the famous river tubing

2. Admire the views from Nam Xay Viewpoint

3. Hike up to the Pha Ngern Viewpoint

4. Swim in one of the Blue Lagoons

5. Visit the Tham Chang Cave

6. Rent a buggy to explore the area

7. Enjoy the views from a hot air balloon

8. Get a traditional Laos massage

9. Have a boat ride on the Nam Song River

10. Try the local Lao cuisine

Best things to do in Vang Vieng - Map

Best time to visit Vang Vieng

How to get to Vang Vieng

How to get to Vang Vieng from Luang Prabang

How to get to Vang Vieng from Vientiane

Where to stay in Vang Vieng

Mid-range boutique resorts

Budget options

Final thoughts

What camera gear do we use?

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Table of Contents

Arriving to Lotte Hotel Yangon

Location

Lobby & Check-in process

The Room

Service & Facilities

Gym

Pool area

Spa

Culinary delights

Leave me your email to receive new posts, tips, and special offers only for you! Don't miss any update!

Final thoughts

Pin it for later!

Table of Contents

Arriving to The Okura Prestige Bangkok

Location

Lobby & Check-in process

The Room

Leave me your email to receive new posts, tips, and special offers only for you! Don't miss any update!

Service & Facilities

Gym

Pool

Spa

Culinary delights

Up & Above Restaurant and Bar

Yamazato