A Blend of Calm in Southern Laos

📍 Pakse – Bolaven Plateau (38 km): 45 min Pakse – Champasak (30 km): 50 min

Upon arrival to Pakse, our guide and driver will be waiting to provide transport to the hotel for check in. After a bit of relaxation, embark on a short orientation tour of the town exploring the colonial and Chinese-style buildings as well as the giant local market.

Afterwards, depart for the Bolaven Plateau, a mountainous region home to dozens of hill tribes, waterfalls and coffee and tea plantations.

The first stops are at Tad Fane and Tad Yuang waterfalls. Tad Fane is a set of twin 120-meter-high waterfalls formed by the merging waters of the Champy and Pak Koot rivers. These impressive falls are situated on the edge of Dong Hua Sao protected area, 38km from Pakse

Note: water levels may vary accordingly to the previous rainy season.

Make a short stop in Paksong before continuing east to reach the Sinouk Coffee Resort. An expert in coffee will lead a visit through the coffee plantation, explaining all about the indigenous coffee trees and different processing stages.

After the visit, enjoy a delicious lunch. Most of the vegetables supplied to the meal come from the on-site organic garden. Following lunch, sample many different types of coffee.

On the drive back to Pakse, two stops will be made. The first stop is the visit of Tad Lo waterfalls, a beautiful formation of three separate falls. From the bridge guests will first see Tad Hang and then Tad Lo in the distance. The most impressive of the three, Tad Suong, is located a further 10km upriver.

The second stop is the small village of Ban Houay Houn, famous for its Katu textiles. Observe the village’s women weaving without a traditional loom, using their legs to stretch the fabric.

In the late afternoon you will transfer to the small town of Champasak, on the banks of the Mekong River.

Overnight in Champasak

Inclusions:

🥘 Lunch

📍 Champasak – Wat Phou (9 km): 15 min

After breakfast, pay a visit to Wat Phou. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Wat 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.

The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Champasak and the hotel’s facilities. Alternatively, set off on a bicycle to explore the town independently.

Overnight in Champasak

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Champasak – Khong Island (100 km): 1 hour 30 min

Drive south to the 4,000 Islands Region. Called “Siphandon” in Lao language, this area is where the Mekong stretches to over 14km wide. The river flows between an unknown number of islands, creating waterfalls and rapids.

Travel first by car for around 2 hours to the village of Ban Nakasang. From here, board a local boat to the peaceful island of Done Khone, home to simple villages and plantations. Spend some time cycling around the area or, alternatively , explore the area in a tuk tuk.

One of the stops during the day will be to the impressive Lippi falls, which are on the west side of Don Khone, very close to the Cambodian border. Their original name, Tad Somphamit, means “trap spirit” and the locals revere these falls as they believe they act as a trap for bad spirits.

Continue the exploration observing the locals and easing into the relaxed pace of the region. Lunch will be included at a local restaurant.

Return to the mainland by boat and then return to the hotel by car, arriving in time for sunset.

Overnight in Champasak

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

Enjoy a full day at leisure on the beautiful peaceful island of Don Daeng.

Relax by the pool at the hotel or explore the area by bicycle. Ride alog the shady paths, interact with the locals or visit some of the area’s sandy beaches. Along the way, sample some local fruits or catch the locals at work on handicrafts such as basket weaving. The island also has a few pagodas, which date back to the Wat Phou era and are entangled within the surrounding jungle.

Overnight in Champasak

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Champasak – Pakse (30 km): 50 min

After breakfast, transport will be provided back to Pakse

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast