Undiscovered Southern Laos

📍 Vientiane – Kong Lor Caves (290 km): 5 hours

Meet up with our guide and driver and begin with a departure from Vientiane. Heading south along Route 13, take the picturesque journey to Ban Kong Lor. The first stop of the trip will be made three hours in at Wat Prabath Phonsane. Afterwards, enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.

The drive will then enter into the Phou Hin Poun NPA (National Protected Area), where the scenery becomes much more spectacular. From leaving the main road to reaching the destination will take approximately 2 hours. 

Upon arrival to the small town of Ban Kong Lor, enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to soak up the beautiful surrounding views. For those interested, take a guided walk through the surrounding local villages. 

For dinner, we recommend a simple local restaurant (dinner not included).

Overnight in Ban Kong Lor

Inclusions:

🥘 Lunch

📍 Ban Kong Lor – Thakhek (190 km): 5 hours

For early risers we recommend a walk around 06:30 to explore the villages as they wake up and prepare for the day. This can be individually discussed with the guide.

After breakfast, take a short drive to the Kong Lor Caves. After donning the provided life jackets and headlamps, make for the entrance of the cave. Upon entering the cave, board a longtail boat for the 7.5 km cruise along an underground section of the Hin Boun River… without daylight! The river flows all year and reveals vast formations of stalactites and stalagmites, some of which can be seen from the boat, and others which can be explored on foot. 

Upon reaching the other side, stop for refreshments or take a short walk into the surrounding local villages alongside the guide. Return to the boat for the trip ‘downstream’ through the cave, with an ultimate destination of Ban Kong Lor. Enjoy lunch independently before travelling south.

Wrap up the day with a four-hour drive to the sleepy, colonial town of Thakhe, arriving in time for a stroll along the Mekong during sunset. 

Overnight in Thakhek

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Thakhek – Savannakhet (116 km): 1,5 hour / Savannakhet – Pakse (215 km): 3,5 hours

After a leisurely breakfast, meet with the guide around 09:30 for the 1.5-hour journey south to Savannakhet. On the way, make a stop at the beautiful 16th Century temple of That Ing Hang. 

Continue on to Savannakhet, the birthplace of the father of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Kaysone Phomvihane. Take a short tour of the architectural highlights of town, which include various French villas and the striking St. Teresa Catholic Church.

Next, step into the quirky and fascinating Dinosaur Museum—a delightful hidden gem that feels like stepping back in time. Don’t be fooled by its modest exterior, inside lies a treasure trove of prehistoric wonders! The museum showcases genuine dinosaur remains discovered nearby, dating back an astonishing 150 to 250 million years. You’ll marvel at the ancient fossils and, if lucky, have a chance to chat with a passionate local paleontologist about their incredible work. Best of all, a visit here directly supports this unique project, ensuring the preservation of these Jurassic jewels for future generations. It’s a weird and wonderful experience that’s sure to leave you smiling!

After enjoying lunch in a local restaurant, hit the road for Pakse, a drive which will take approximately 3.5 hours. Check in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. 

Overnight in Pakse

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Pakse – Vat Phou (30 km): 1 hour / Champasak – Don Khong: 1,5 hours

After breakfast, transfer 1 hour by road to Vat Phou. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Vat Phou is a spectacular pre-Angkorian temple that sits among the rice fields and waterways of southern Laos. The temple was constructed in three levels: the bottom level is focused on the baray (water reservoir) and promenade, the second level features pavilions and galleries of carvings, and the top level is the sanctuary. This site served as the most important economic and political centre of the region and still is one of the Lao people’s most revered temples.

Pass through the small town of Champasak, where French colonial buildings offer a great contrast to Wat Phou. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.

After lunch, continue south, stopping at the wood carving village of Ban Nong Bune.

Continue south to the 4,000 Islands Region. Called “Siphandon” in Lao, this is an area of the Mekong that stretches 14 kilometers wide, and is dotted by thousands of islands, cascades and rapids. To reach the night’s accommodation, take a short boat ride across the river, arriving in the late afternoon.

Overnight in 4000 Islands

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

Spend the morning exploring the peaceful islands of Don Det and Don Khong, illustrated by simple villages and plantations. For exploring the area, we recommend either bicycles or hiring a local tuk tuk. 

Visit the impressive Lippi falls, which are on the west of Don Khong, very close to the Cambodian border. Their original name, Tad Somphamit, means “trap spirit” as the locals believe the falls act as a trap for bad spirits. 

The islands played an important role during the French Colonial rule as they linked Laos to Cambodia and Southern Vietnam. To overpass the waterfalls, a railway and bridge were built, which today prove to be the perfect place to soak in the views.

Lunch will be included at a local restaurant.

The final highlight in this area is the imposing Khone Phapheng waterfalls. Soak up the views and discover why this is the only section of the Mekong that cannot be navigated by boat!

Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in 4000 Islands

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Don Khong – Pakse Airport (150 km): 2,5 hours

After breakfast at the hotel, begin the journey back to Pakse. This will take approximately 2.5 – 3.5 hours, depending on the chosen island. Transportation will be provided to the airport to catch the onward flight. 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast