8 Days Discover Southern Laos

Upon arrival at Pakse Airport, you will be met by your guide and driver. We head east onto the Bolaven Plateau. The Bolaven Plateau is known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley. We continue to the nearby resort with the rest of the day at leisure.

Today we head out to further explore the Bolaven Plateau. We first visit Tad Fan Waterfall, a picturesque twin chute waterfall which is with 120 meters the highest of the Bolaven Plateau. We then transfer to Paksong, where we visit Jing Jhai Coffee House. This philanthropic coffee roaster buys from the source and reinvests all profit back into the region. Meet the roasters who will teach you to cup coffee. Learn the differences of taste + aroma of a variety of coffees, during a 30-minute coffee cupping session.

We leave Paksong behind and transfer north to the fascinating minority villages, Ban Bong Neua, an Alak village that boasts a sacrificial altar, and Ban Kokphung, a Katu village where they keep coffins under their houses. We then proceed to the Tad Yeuang waterfall where there is time to relax and go for a swim in its inviting waters if you like. We then transfer back to the hotel, with the rest of the day at leisure

After breakfast and checking out, we transfer to the village of Ban Beng, where we meet a specialist guide for the day. We change vehicle and continue by vintage jeep, which is the ideal vehicle for the terrain we will cover. We take a backroad onto the Bolaven Plateau and make a stop at the Tad Moan waterfall where there is time to relax and go for a swim if you like. We then continue by jeep on a trail cutting right through the plateau, on a route rarely visited by foreigners. By late afternoon, we arrive at the coffee plantation of your guide. Walk around the coffee plantations or fresh up while your hosts prepare a delicious home cooked meal. Tonight, you overnight is at a basic but comfortable bamboo hut.

Wake up early and see the sun rise above the surrounding coffee fields. Your host will roast some fresh coffee, while explaining the coffee growing process from seed to cup. After breakfast, head out by jeep and visit some of the interesting ethnic minority villages and trek up to a mountain peak where you will be rewarded with beautiful views of the Plateau. Return to the coffee farm for lunch and say goodbye to your hosts before we transfer by jeep to Paksong, the Coffee Capital of Laos in the early afternoon. From here, we continue our way by minivan. We leave the Bolaven plateau behind, pass by Pakse, and arrive in Champasak in the late afternoon with the rest of the day at leisure. 

After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to the Wat Phou Temple Complex which is the oldest ancient Khmer ft religious temple in Laos and even outdates its big brother Angkor Wat in neighboring Cambodia. Wat Phou exhibits a remarkable well-preserved complex of monuments and other structures over an extensive area between river and mountain, some of outstanding architecture. Explore the grounds and temples before climbing up the stairs which lead to the main sanctuary located on a terrace at the foot of the cliff where a sacred spring flows and where you will be rewarded with stunning views over the surrounding land and Mekong River. Learn from your guide about the rich history and be amazed by the magnificent workmanship in this outstanding complex. We return to Champasak town by noon with the afternoon at leisure.

After an early breakfast, we transfer South to the biggest island of the 4000 Islands; Don Khong. We then continue our journey by mountain bike. We cycle winding dirt roads south, until we pass the temple Wat Phou din where we take a ferry that will transfer us to the quiet island of Don Phou Man. We’ll explore and cross this quintessentially Lao fishing island before taking another ferry on to the island of Don Saang Fai where we will visit its ancient wooden Buddhist temple and learn about the importance of religion and beliefs in the local culture.

Another ferry will bring us to the island of Don Loppadi, where the villagers are specialized in weaving both bamboo baskets and the much-used fishing nets in the region. We cross the island, cycling the dirt roads, which lead us to a quaint village where a friendly family has prepared a home-cooked lunch of local specialties. After exploring the village, we continue by boat to the island of Don Khone where we arrive mid-afternoon with the rest of the day at leisure.

Following breakfast, we head-out to explore the island. Transferring by local tuk tuk, we trace the route of an old, abandoned railway and admiring some of the old French Colonial buildings. Next, we visit the beautiful Liphi Waterfalls, one of the most impressive falls in South East Asia. Get very close to the exciting rapids, by crossing the 5 interconnected suspension-bridges, which offer an exciting perspective of the cascades. We then return to your hotel, with some free time at leisure is the afternoon.

Late afternoon, a local boat will collect you for a beautiful sunset-cruise. Pass by a small uninhabited islands, and enjoy a cool Beerlao or sofitdrinks and some local snacks , while the sun sets behind the mountains. We arrive back at the island, just after sunset with the evening at leisure.

Following breakfast, we board our boat which brings us back to the mainland. From here, at Ban Nakasang, we transfer to the Border Town of Dom Kramlor, making a stop at the spectacular Khone Phapheng Falls, which is considered the largest and most powerful waterfalls in Southeast Asia. We then continue to the Border crossing of Dom Kralor where you will be met by your Cambodian Tour guide. 

Another option:  On this day, we can also take you back to Pakse and drop you off at the international airport.