Muang La Lodge
Muang La, Northern Laos
The town of Oudomxay lies within one of South-East Asia’s most striking regions and offers a very welcome stopping point on your exploration of northern Laos. The Muang La, tucked alongside a peaceful river in the neighbouring village of Tai Lu, provides stylish accommodation well away from the bustling streets of the town itself.
Set in lush tropical gardens, the lodge offers traditional living with modern flair. Traditionally built wooden villas are decorated in a deceptively simple, but beautifully finished, local style. Sculpture and artworks from regional artisans add the finishing touches, with each room uniquely themed to honour a local hill tribe.
All the accommodation options benefit from private terraces overlooking the gardens, river, or the impressive countryside beyond, offering an opportunity to catch sight of rural day to day life. In order to provide complete tranquility to their guests, you won’t find any in-room TVs either!
Location
Perched on the banks of the Nam Pak River, in the charming village of Muang La. Combined with Nong Khiaw, around a 5-6 hour drive away, this hotel’s location shows off northern Laos’ untouched countryside.
A little more detail
2 natural thermal pools
Traditional sauna
Salt mine
Cookery lessons
From a client…
Due to its remote location it was totally unexpected but extremely welcome.
Image gallery
Why we love it
Discover what to expect from staying at Muang La Lodge
An oasis of calm
Landlocked Laos is a little lacking in beaches (aside from the 4,000 Islands, of course), however the north of the country, particularly Muang La, provides the perfect place to escape into an oasis of calm after a busy itinerary. Sit for hours on your balcony, taking in views over the rice paddies and watching local life unfold along the riverbank: children playing, laundry being washed, buffalo pausing for a well-earned drink. A rare glimpse of daily life in the largely untouched countryside.
Farm to table
Considering its remote location, Muang La offers some of the best cuisine we’ve had in Laos. All meals are home-made and prepared using fresh ingredients grown on the land surrounding the lodge. That, combined with a little French influence, has resulted in scrumptious dishes and high-end dining. Every night a different, delectable 5-course set menu is served - just another reason to stay longer. Not to mention the delightful selection of wines from around the world. They certainly get a big thumbs up from us!
What can you do there?
Enjoy a meal at Muang La’s top class restaurant which serves Lao-French cuisine against a backdrop of imposing mountains, lush paddy fields and a picturesque river. The hotel also offers a cookery course that includes a shopping trip to the local market and an expert lesson in traditional Laos cuisine in the resort’s friendly kitchen. The hotel boasts an infinity pool built onto a small, private island across from the flowing river where you can doze the day away. For the more intrepid travellers, there are some fantastic hiking trails to explore, or for something a little lighter (but perhaps bumpier) head out on a 4x4 jeep tour.
Sustainability at Heart
Sustainability is something close to their hearts at Muang La Lodge and great care has been taken to respect both the environment and the welfare of Tai Lu’s villagers, with local sustainable or recycled materials used throughout the property. The spa is fed by a nearby natural hot spring and the lodge pays to maintain the riverbanks, taking care to use only a small proportion of the spring water.
