5 days southern laos pakse – champasak – 4000 islands

After arriving in Pakse, we’ll drive towards the Bolaven Plateau. This is the region where the renowned coffee of Laos is produced. During colonization, the French promoted the production of high quality Arabica and Robusta strains. Production declined during the war, but is now growing again. The climate of the plateau with its cooler temperatures and heavy rainfall makes it the perfect place for coffee production.

We have a chance to visit some coffee and tea plantation and taste the unique flavour of Lao coffee.

This area is rich in ethnic groups, predominantly Laven. We continue our drive between Pakse and Paksong on the western edge of the plateau, and we visit Tad E-Tu Waterfall. Continue to Tad Fane Waterfall, the highest in Champasak Province, and the nearby Tad Yuang Waterfall.
Overnight in Paksong (L)

After breakfast, we drive from Paksong down into the Mekong plains and visit the town of Champasak, where we’ll discover the French colonial architecture dotting the town. We continue further South and we reach the ruined Khmer temple complex of Vat Phou. Then we continue to Done Khong.

VAT PHOU

Vat Phou is considered as one of the oldest archaeological sites in Laos. One temple on the site was constructed around the 5th century but most buildings found in the complex are from the 11th till 13th centuries. Like other notable Khmer architecture in Southeast Asia, it was constructed using sandstone, laterite and bricks. Among many of the outstanding carvings there, you will see Indra, the Hindu god of war, storms, and rainfall, riding a three-headed elephant and Vishnu riding on a garuda, an eagle.

Overnight on Done Khong (B/L)

Explore the area of ‘​​Si Pan Done’ (4000 Islands) by boat. The pace of life is slow in this rural area. Here local people live in small wooden houses on stilts and cows, goats, pigs and other animals roam around free.

SI PHAN DONE

Meaning “Four Thousand Islands”, Si Phan Done is a group of islands in the Mekong river in the South of Laos. The area’s main attractions are its rural character, the tranquility, the opportunity to watch the rare Irrawaddy dolphin and the Khone Phapheng Waterfall.

DONE KHONE, DONE DET & DONE KHONG

The most visited islands are Don Khone, Don Det and Don Khong, which is the largest island. Don Det is a small island that offers the most choice of accommodation. The island is very famous for backpackers. The larger Don Khone Island, which is just one kilometre from the Cambodian border is less developed than Don Det. The Irrawaddy dolphin lives in the waters South of this island. The island is connected with Don Det with a bridge built by the French during the colonial era. During the rainy season it is up to 12 km wide. When the water goes back, there are many small islands. It is this phenomenon that gave the region its name.

Overnight on Done Khone (B/L)

Return to the mainland and visit the legendary Tad Khone Phapheng Cascade Falls.

TAD KHONE PHAPHENG WATERFALL

A series of cascading waterfalls in the Mekong river is one of Laos’ most beautiful natural attractions. The impressive falls in Champasak province near the Cambodian border are the largest in volume in Southeast Asia.

The falls, also known as Khone Phapheng, are located in the 4000 Islands. At this point the Mekong river broadens out; during the rainy season, the river and series of cascades are kilometers wide and extend over a length of almost 10 km downstream.

We continue on to the Xe Pian National Park area to the beautiful Kingfisher Ecolodge to relax or, alternatively, for some lighter activities; e.g. hike or go on elephant safari to Phou Asa Mountain.
Overnight in  Kingfisher Ecolodge (B/L)

Free time in the morning; then return transfer to Pakse. Arrival in Pakse in the afternoon. Transfer to the airport for departure flight. (B)