How to Visit the Plain of Jars in Laos:
An Essential Guide
Everything you need to know to explore Laos’ most mysterious archaeological wonder
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Mysterious megaliths scatter the war-scarred hills. Bomb craters lie next to ancient relics. This archeological site in Northern Laos is not easy to get to, but rewards intrepid travellers with a place untouched by mass tourism and the chance to see an extraordinary part of Laos that most visitors will never experience. Heard about this enigmatic place but unsure how to get there? Here’s our essential guide on how to visit the Plain of Jars in Laos, for a travel experience like no other.
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What is the Plain of Jars?
The Plain of Jars stretches across the highlands in the rugged heart of the Xieng Khouang province in northern Laos. Thousands of massive stone vessels lie scattered across the fields. Some upright, others toppled and cracked. Archaeologists believe the jars date back more than 2,000 years, but their original purpose remains a subject of fascination and debate. Were they funerary urns? Fermentation vats? Part of a long-lost ritual? Why are there so many? And why have they been left here? Nobody can say.
But the Plain of Jars is more than just an archaeological site. This was the most bombed region during America’s Secret War, and UXO is still a heartbreaking fact of life for the Laotians that live here. The Plain of Jars is where Lao’s modern and prehistoric history intersects. Slowly, the region is opening its arms to tourism.
How to Get There
Phonsavan is the capital of Xieng Khouang province and the best base for visiting the Plain of Jars. Here, you can visit the UXO Information Centre, which gives sobering but important context about the Secret War and the ongoing demining efforts. It lacks the charm of Luang Prabang but is a resilient town with a welcoming and very local vibe.
You can get to Phonsavan by flying from Vientiane and Luang Prabang, but the 2 hour flights can be expensive so most travellers opt to get there by road. Minibuses and vans travel daily from Luang Prabang, taking around 7 hours. The road is long but in good condition, and the views along the way are spectacular.
Visiting the Plain of Jars
Despite decades of research, the jars are one of Southeast Asia’s most enigmatic archaeological puzzles. Believed to be linked to prehistoric burial practices, many of them have been found alongside human remains, ceramic fragments and iron tools. Laotian legend tells of a race of giants who brewed rice wine in the jars to celebrate victory in battle, but who really made them remains unknown.
The stone vessels, some as tall as a person and weighing several tonnes, are carved from sandstone, granite and limestone. They’re scattered across more than 90 sites, though only a handful are open to the public due to the tragic legacy of unexploded ordnance (UXO) from the Vietnam War era.
During America’s Secret War, this region became one of the most heavily bombed places on Earth. Between 1964 and 1973, the U.S. dropped over two million tonnes of ordnance on Laos, much of it in Xieng Khouang. Even today, unexploded bombs remain scattered across the landscape, making the work of the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and other demining organizations crucial. Thanks to them, many of the jar sites are safe to visit, but it’s important to respect marked paths and listen to local guidance.
Where to See the Jars
There are actually dozens of jar sites across the province, but most travellers begin with the three most accessible:
Site 1 (Thong Hai Hin)
Just a short drive from Phonsavan, Site 1 is the largest and most visited of the jar fields. With more than 300 jars spread across gently rolling hills, it’s easy to spend a couple of hours here wandering the marked paths. Some of the jars are covered in moss and the views over the countryside are incredible. Look out for the single lidded jar, a rare anomaly, and the carved ‘frogman’ figure on one of the stone lids, a detail that only adds to the mystery of the jars even more.
Site 2 (Hai Hin Phu Salato)
Site 2 is quieter, more atmospheric and in our opinion, more magical. Located about 25km from Phonsavan, the jars here are nestled between two small hills, shaded by trees, with fewer tourists and a sense of stillness. It’s not unusual to have this site entirely to yourself and the wooded setting makes it feel even more mysterious. There are no decorations on the jars here, except for a figure of what appears to be a frog on a broken lid. The countryside here is lush and green and fertile, with cows your only company as you stroll through these ancient artefacts
Site 3 (Hai Hin Lat Khai)
Site 3 is the least visited of the three, with fewer jars than Site 1 and a less magical setting than Site 2. What makes Site 3 so appealing is the more adventurous route to get here – you might feel like Indiana Jones as you cross rickety bamboo bridges and wade through emerald rice paddies to find the jars. Once you reach them, the jars are clustered together in a secluded glade beneath tall trees. There are lots of smaller jars here, and the mystery remains. Why are there so many scattered across such a vast area of Northern Laos? Who made them? And the biggest question of all, why? After visiting the three main sites, you might come away with more questions than answers.
When to Go
The best time to visit the Plain of Jars is during the dry season, which runs from November to March. The skies are clear and the countryside is lush. We’d avoid travelling here during the rainy season, which usually runs from June to October. Up here in the north, heavy rains sweep in making the roads muddy and some jar sites difficult to reach.
Where to Stay
Phonsavan has a few boutique guesthouses and eco lodges popping up as more travellers venture into this remote part of the country. Vansana Plain of Jars Hotel is one of the town’s larger hotels with clean, spacious rooms and beautiful gardens to wander through. Auberge de la Plain des Jarres is a beautiful rustic French-Laotian guesthouse with beautiful views, wooden chalets and home-cooked meals.
Editor’s Side Note
Visiting the Plain of Jars is a unique experience seldom found in this part of the world nowadays. And at the same time, this is a region still healing from war and living with its consequences. Choose guides who are knowledgeable about the area’s history and respectful of its weight. Most hotels and guesthouses will be able to arrange tours to the Jars, both group and private. Stick to cleared paths and never touch or stray near unexploded ordnance markers – the danger here is more prevalent than anywhere else in Laos.
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