Study &Exploration ofCaves &Quarries.

Return to Tham Phaka and Tham Phayem in the Nam Fuang massif. Exploration and surveying activities continued on the Pha Lay and Pha Koy areas. The Phou Pachao massif is gradually revealing its secrets. A major new cave, Tham Nam Khao, was also discovered in the limestone ranges bordering the Mekong River, within Sayabouri Province.

Exploration of several caves in the Pha Lay area and within the central valley of the Nam Fuang.
Subsequent discoveries included new sectors and additional caves south of Ban Nam Fuong (such as Tham Pha Luang), as well as several resurgences located near the Kasi Hotspring Resort.

This expedition continues the exploration of the three consecutive underground networks of the Nam Fuang river: Tham Pha Yem, Tham Loynam and Tham Phaka; and reveals a group of staggered caves in the Pha Lay: Tham Pha, Tham Lom, Tham Phahony, Tham Phahok.

The exploration of the Nam Fuang system was continued. In the central valley, Tham Pha Yem, a massive river cave is discovered. The mountains surrounding the northern valley reveal some impressive chasms high up in altitude. Further south, Tham Pha Ka exploration is pushed upstream. In the Pha Lay, Tham Pha (aka Tham Phato #2) our survey shows that we could be close to find our way out on the other side of the mountain.

We continued to explore the exceptional Nam Fuang river area. In the northern valley, a few more ponors are discovered, some further upstream putting a new light on the underground potential of the Nam Fuang and the Nam Sakai. The remote central valley was eventually reached and the upstream entrance to a subterranean river was discovered as well as a resurgence nearby. In the South, the gigantic Tham Phaka exploration continued. Closer to Kasi, the Pha Lay revealed two caves Tham Phato 1 and Tham Pha (Tham Phato 2).

We began to explore the outstanding Nam Fuang system. The Nam Fuang river passes through a significant karst area and vanishes underground at least three times. In the North, the river disappears in the three neighbouring Sakai ponors. In the South, the Nam Fuang flows out of a gigantic river cave Tham Phaka.
East of Kasi, we continued the exploration of the subterranean Nam Sana river, near Ban Bouak.
The new road from Kasi to Louang Phabang gave us access to the Phobeuy plateau and some caves were discovered along this road.

This is the first expedition focused on the areas around Muang Kasi. East of Kasy, we surveyed the Nam Samoy and the Nam Sana subterranean rivers.

We continue to explore the many karst outcrops West and North of Vang Vieng, as well as venturing further North into the Kasy District, surveying Tham Khoun Lang.

We continue to explore the many karst outcrops North of Vang Vieng, as well as venturing further North into the Kasy District. East of Kasy, we surveyed the Nam Samoy and the Nam Sana subterranean rivers.

We continue to explore the many karst outcrops West and North of Vang Vieng, as well as venturing further North into the Kasy District, surveying Tham Khoun Lang.

We continue to explore the karst outcrops north of Vang Vieng: Pha Lay, Pha Phouk and the Nam Xang nua ponor. We also tried to find from Tham Hong Ye some connections to Tham Khan et Tham Pha Leu Si.

This expedition is focused on the Namthem polje surronded by the Pha Lay, Pha Phouk and Pha Them karst outcrops, north of Vang Vieng.

Nam Xang area was the primary exploration playground of this expedition.