The story of Luang Say Lodge, since 1998
A family-owned lodge built in traditional Laotian style on four hectares of riverbank at Pak Beng, run day to day by the local team who greet every boat.
A lodge built for the river
Luang Say Lodge was built in 1998 on four hectares of riverside grounds on the bank of the Mekong River at Pak Beng, Laos, in traditional Laotian architecture of teak and rosewood. It is family-owned, under the ownership of Toune Sisouphanthavong, and is reached only by boat: the overnight highlight of the slow-boat journey between Luang Prabang and Huay Xai. Twenty bungalows sit among the riverside gardens, linked by wooden walkways to a central restaurant serving organic Lao cuisine. Day to day, the lodge is run by a team of local staff, many in traditional dress, who look after every stay from arrival at the dock to departure. Sustainability has long been part of how the lodge operates, from organic sourcing to garden composting.
In teak and rosewood, the way houses here were always built
The lodge went up in 1998 on four hectares of riverbank above the Mekong at Pak Beng. Its long, shingle-roofed buildings follow traditional Laotian architecture: teak and rosewood, high timber ceilings, linked by wooden walkways and staircases that step down through the gardens toward the water. It has kept that style, unchanged, ever since, and its own landing is still the only way to arrive.
Family-owned, locally run
Luang Say Lodge is family-owned, under the ownership of Toune Sisouphanthavong. Day to day, it is the local team who greet every boat at the landing, keep the bungalows and the gardens, and run the riverside restaurant, many in traditional Lao dress, carrying on the same hospitality the lodge has offered since 1998.
Six commitments, kept every day
Sustainability here is a set of everyday practices across the property, not a slogan. Each of these is in place now:
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01
No Single-Use Plastic
Reusable options replace single-use plastic across the property.
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02
Organic & Local Sourcing
The kitchen sources organically and locally, supporting local farmers.
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03
Natural Cleaning Products
Natural, antibacterial cleaning products are used throughout, with no harsh chemicals.
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04
Water & Electricity Regulation
Water- and electricity-regulating technology reduces the lodge's resource use.
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05
Regenerative Gardening
Riverside gardens are maintained through regenerative, organic gardening practices that support biodiversity.
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06
Garden Composting
Kitchen waste is composted organically and returned to the gardens as fertilizer.
The people behind the lodge
See where you'll stay
Check availability for your dates, or see the bungalows the team looks after every day.