In January 2009 an international team of cave researchers conducted a very successful expedition to Oudomxay in Northern Laos. The most significant finding and major highlight since the expeditions in northern Laos started in 2002 is the exploration of the Chom Ong Cave System 45 km northwest of Oudomxay town near the village of Ban Chom Ong.
The system stretches along a 4 km long mountain ridge and has a parallel running and interconnecting fossil and river passage. It was in two explorations (2009 and 2010) explored to a length of 16.4 km (preliminary) with several wide open side passages remaining.
It ranks now as the longest cave in Northern Laos and is one of the top 10 South East Asia. The typical passage dimension is 20-25 m width and 20-30 m height. Two huge overlaying halls mark the connection of river and fossil passage with each 100 m length, 30 m width and ceiling heights of 30-50 m.
The cave is a trough cave and could be entered with exploration equipment near the stream inlet in the north and left at the outflow in the south. The full traverse would take about 5 hours with additional 1 and 3 hours respectively return walking time to Chom Ong village! The cave was pushed at the last day in a 15 hour trip to its current length.
Chom Ong Cave
Location: Oudomxay, Laos
