Kingfisher Ecolodge

We spent four nights here, and they became some of our best memories from a six-week trip. The place is special if you want wilderness and quiet, with water buffalo and birds to watch. The food was very good and reasonably priced, and they catered well for us as vegetarians. We also joined activities arranged by the helpful staff: guided walks, bike rides, and a canoe trip on the lake with local fishermen. It was a lovely place to slow down.

The house has an amazing view, with buffalo and lots of birds to see. The staff were very friendly and helpful, the beds huge and comfy, and the food was extremely tasty, especially the chicken curry.

The lovely setting and gorgeous rooms made this a place we really wanted to relax in, and we loved canoeing over the wetlands and returning at sunset. We were glad we stayed, but our two nights never quite felt like the relaxing treat we'd hoped for because so many small things went wrong. At arrival, our bag was mistakenly put in the car of guests who were checking out, leaving us without a change of clothes for four hours. They couldn't find our room key either. That felt okay because the place seemed very safe, until we came back from our trip on day two and the cleaner had locked us out. The ceiling fan didn't work; after we asked twice, they brought a standing fan instead. That was usable, and they kindly didn't charge us for the room upgrade we'd chosen as an apology. There was confusion around the canoe trip too. They said they'd check whether it was possible, and I asked them to let us know once it was confirmed. They never did, so I eventually went to reception and learned the boat man was waiting. I had to rush back to get my partner. At dinner, we ordered chicken with peppercorn sauce, but it arrived without sauce. Only after we asked did they explain it had gone off, and by then it was too late to change the order. It was very plain. One borrowed mountain bike also broke its chain halfway through our ride. We freewheeled back, so it was fine, though it would've been very annoying if it had happened earlier. The staff were generally lovely, and none of this was a huge problem, but it did take away from the sense of a restful stay. Some everyday things could be better too: the water pressure was very low unless you wanted a cold shower, and the food was hit and miss. Local food was generally better, though even that wasn't the most exciting we'd had in Laos. We're still happy we stayed for the setting, but don't expect everything to go seamlessly.

The sunrise over the swamp was great. It's a beautiful natural spot with lots of birds, and the staff were very helpful and friendly.