By air
Xieng Khouang Airport, Phonsavan (XKH), ~5 km
Southeast Asia · Laos
Plain of Jars, Laos
Ancient stone jars across a highland plateau
Getting there
Best time to visit
November to April — dry season
Don't miss
Jar Site 1
Jar Site 2
Jar Site 3
Phonsavan
Things to do
Visiting Jar Sites 1 to 3
The MAG visitor centre in Phonsavan
Nearby villages
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Jakub Hałun · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Layers for cool mornings, walking shoes; stay on the cleared paths
A quieter corner
Jar Site 3, reached through the rice paddies
Questions travellers ask
What should I know before walking the Plain of Jars?
Stay on the cleared paths. Bring walking shoes and layers for cool mornings; November to April is the dry season.
Which Plain of Jars sites should I visit?
Jar Sites 1 to 3. Jar Site 3 is reached through the rice paddies.
Can I fly to the Plain of Jars?
Yes, Xieng Khouang Airport, Phonsavan (XKH) is about 5 km away.
What else is there to do in Phonsavan?
Visit the MAG visitor centre and nearby villages, and try Hmong noodle soups in Phonsavan's market.
About Plain of Jars
- Hills
Where it is
The Plain of Jars is an upland plateau in Xieng Khouang province in northern Laos, at the northern end of the Annamite Range, where thousands of ancient stone jars lie scattered in groups around the town of Phonsavan.
History
The jars were carved from stone in prehistoric times, and recent dating suggests some were put in place as early as 1240–660 BC; human remains and burial goods found around them show that they were used in funeral rites. The plateau was heavily bombed during the Indochina wars, so only jar sites cleared of unexploded ordnance are open to visitors, and the Plain of Jars became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.
People
Xieng Khouang's people are Lao, Hmong and Tai Phuan communities, who speak their own languages as well as Lao; the plateau was once the heart of the Phuan principality. Many families farm rice and vegetables, and Hmong New Year, late in the year, is celebrated with ball-tossing games and embroidered costumes.
Known for
- Jar Site 1 near Phonsavan
- Ancient carved stone jars
- The MAG unexploded ordnance centre
- Hmong villages of the plateau
- Rolling upland scenery
Did you know?
Some of the jars stand more than 2 m tall and weigh several tonnes, and a local legend says they were made to brew rice wine for a victory feast.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.