Gem Cutting Workshop in Bokeo: Cut Your Own Gemstone

Cut and polish a gemstone from rough stone to finished facet

A 3-hour gem cutting workshop at a working gemstone factory in Bokeo, Laos, where you learn directly from experienced cutters, shape your own stone using professional equipment, and take home what you made. Hotel pickup and drop-off within Houayxay are included. The workshop covers materials, guidance and refreshments.

The experience

Three hours at Bokeo Gems Lao puts you inside a real working factory, not a tourist demonstration space. You start with a guided tour of how rough stones move through the cutting and polishing process, then move to the workshop bench where an experienced gem cutter shows you the techniques and hands you the tools. The stones you work with are practice-grade material, so the focus stays on learning the craft rather than producing a flawless gem.

The cutting itself is the core of the class. You'll shape and polish your own gemstone from start to finish under direct guidance, using the same professional equipment the factory cutters rely on. What you produce (faceted, polished, and ready to wear or display) leaves with you as a souvenir. Coffee or tea is served during the workshop. Hotel pickup and drop-off within Houayxay are included, so you don't arrange transport yourself.

The experience runs in English or Thai, depending on the guide assigned. The factory sits in Bokeo, a region known for gemstone work, and the workshop is designed for all fitness levels, though it's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off within Houayxay.
• factory tour of the working gemstone facility.
• gem cutting workshop with professional equipment.
• practice gemstone material.
• instruction from experienced gem cutters.
• the gemstone you cut and polish.
• coffee and tea.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDepartures at 09:00 and 14:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (under 12)

GroupUp to 2

Live guideEnglish and Thai

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Bokeo Gems Lao

Is this one for you?Three hours is short enough to fit alongside other activities in your day, but long enough to move from watching the process to actually cutting and finishing a stone yourself. If you're planning a full day of sightseeing, this workshop works as a morning or afternoon block without consuming the whole day.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Thai.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 12).

How much time does the gem cutting workshop actually take?

The workshop runs 3 hours total, including the factory tour and hands-on cutting instruction.

What gemstone will I be cutting?

You work with practice-grade gemstone material during the workshop, shaped and polished by your own hand under expert guidance.

Do I get to keep the gemstone I cut?

Yes, the gemstone you cut and polish during the workshop is yours to take home as a souvenir.

Is hotel pickup included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off within Houayxay are included. The workshop handles the transport logistics.