Warning: read before visiting. For us this experience was both amazing and absolutely terrifying (seriously, we are somewhat lucky to live and tell the tale). Bottom line: don't go behind the iron ladder inside the cave if you're not into next level adventure :)
You can easily find the area of the cave, as there is a sign on the main road. Follow the very bumpy rock path, and you will arrive at a small wooden house and desk. We went without a guide, but we did get headlights. After paying the entrance fee (10.000 LAK), you walk through the beautiful rice fields to the cave. During dry season, just follow the flags. You have to cross the bamboo bridge on the photo. Especially for the last bit to the cave, make sure you have mosquito repellent (we were swarmed by mosquitoes). Enjoy the view and the echos between the mountains (give it a go and yell, you will hear it multiple times in different places).
Right before the entrance of the cave, there is a pond with a very comfortable temperature and some small fishes. To enter the cave, you have to climb some rather steep, slippery stairs, but you can easily hold on to the wooden bars (see photo). Inside the cave, it's hot and in some places very slippery.
Is was a bit scary, but very awesome to be completely by ourselves in the cave. The cave itself is awesome: stalacmites, stalactites, and at one point some glittery stones. Real Indiana Jones vibes guaranteed!
>>> But now the tricky bit: we followed the marked route which sent us up an iron ladder. Don't go up, just turn around and go back. We went up thinking you might be able to walk out at another exit. This is not the case. Up the ladder, it's rather dangerous: small slippery surface to stand on, depth next to you. Running on adrenaline and the idea we didn't want to go down the ladder, we tried going a little further. Here we encountered a little, small bridge with no handrails and depth on both sides. After crossing it on hands and knees, the route turned out to not be a loop so we had to descend the same way. Getting back was, to us (inexperienced in this kind of situation) scary to death and obviously very tricky because of the wet clay-like rocks and walls.
So don't climb the ladder if you're not looking for that kind of adventure and you will have an amazing experience here. This place is unique, beautiful and we encountered no one for hours. Enjoy and be safe!