Pakse
Southern Laos

On the other hand, there are no other reasons to stay in Pakse than the ones mentioned above..

It`s a simple town with French architecture. And it doesn`t have any lively and charming atmosphere as Luang Prabang (in my opinion). So, I`m afraid that some travellers will find this town as...boring and lacks personality...

But overall, the town is worth a visit just because of the Bolaven Plateau!

Where to sleep

Lankham Hotel

Price per night: 7 dollars (Nov 2007)

A good value option! Nice, clean, spacious rooms, large bathroom with hot water, TV and air-con. You can rent bikes downstairs, OK internet access (slow connection at times), and there`s a local restaurant just outside the hotel. Their noodle soup was cheap and good
(0,5-2 dollars).

If you`re interested, Lankham is located in the heart of the town on Road 13.

Tad Fan Resort

Tad Fan Resort is located by the incredible Tad Fan Waterfall!

Price per night: 40 dollars

They have simple and clean bungalows which overlook the waterfall. You can drink tea while enjoying the view. All the rooms have their own bathroom and hot water.

If you want to find out more about the resort outside Pakse, click here.

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Where to eat and relax

Markets and restaurants I tried.

Cheap, delicious food is waiting for you!

... you even get prices for food! :-D

Welcome to Laos Food!

Where to party

I didn`t get to try the nightlife in Pakse, because I never heard of any parties!!! I just heard of some discos along the river, but they close around 11 pm.

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Where to shop

Champasak Plaza Shopping Center

In Pakse town you`ll find Champasak Plaza Shopping Center where they sell everything from clothing to household items. It`s so cheap that you almost don`t need to bargain. It`s near Road 5.

Talat Dao Market

The new Talat Dao Heuang Market near the Japanese Bridge. You`ll find clothes, CDs, food and much more.

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Bolaven Plateau

The best and cheapest thing to do is to rent a bike (8 dollars a day) and drive outside Pakse to explore the charming hill tribe villages and spectacular waterfalls close by. You have the huge and amazing Bolaven Plateau. It rises 1500 metres above Mekong Valley so it`s chilly here.

I recommend this instead of a tour because you`ll get to see the things you want in your own pace and do whatever you want, like fruit picnics and as many village visits as you like.

Here`s an example of a 1-day trip at the Bolaven Plateau:

Tad Pha Suam Waterfalls

The waterfalls are not more than 5-6 meters, but they were impressive. It was so nice to just sit down and listen to the great volume and feel the cool breeze. You can have a nice picnic here or walk around the area. And there weren`t many people there, we just saw a few Thai tourists. If you get hungry and didn`t bring food, there`s a restaurant at the top.

There was an entrance fee and it was a little pricey (I don`t remember the price). But I still think it`s worth a visit!

Village stops

Stop by a couple of small and simple villages on your way to Taat Lo Waterfall.

It`s just heartbreaking to watch kids in their blue/white school uniforms, playing and laughing. Some of the little cute girls approached us, smiled and just looked at us.

And it gets better...

You`ll get to see how the tribes live their lives at the Bolaven Plateau. Contribute to their economy by purchasing handcrafts and gorgeous silk textiles. They come in handy as gifts!

Hilltribes living at the Bolaven Plateau are for instance Alak, Arious, Ong, Loven, Souei, Katou and Nghe. They all live on the edge of the Bolaven Plateau, between Pakse and Tad Lo.

But the first village we stopped at wasn`t actually that much of a pleasure.

I wanted to take pictures of the local people, and asked first. The cranky old lady with a baby in her arms reached out her hand and yelled something I didn`t understand. I assumed she wanted money before a picture was taken.. (you have to get used to that)

The problem wasn`t the money she asked for, but her rude attitude. There were a few tourist minibuses in the area, so I sensed that the village was used to foreigners..

Stop by coffee- or tea plantations

Visit huge farms covered with tall coffee plants. If you look closer, you`ll see the dark red/brown coffee beans hanging in the shade of the plants. It`s kind of hard to believe that all the coffee we drink every day comes from these small beans...!

Tad Lo Waterfalls & Tad Lo village

When you enter the village, you`ll sense the quiet and relaxing atmosphere… the sounds of the waterfalls, kids playing and people doing their laundry in the river. The water was crystal clear and you have to take a dip in the refreshing water! It was cold, but still nice. We saw a few guesthouses by the waterfall, so you can stay the night if you feel like it. And some of them arrange elephant rides!

Accommodation in Tad Lo

Sypaseuth Guesthouse

Sypaseuth Guesthouse is right on the river.

Price per night: 30 000-60 000 Kip

The cheapest rooms are with fan and shared bathroom: 30 000 Kip.

Sailomyen Guesthouse

Price per night: 25 000 Kip

Cheap bungalows with porches facing the river. And also hammocks. Always secure the bungalow before you leave as there have been rumours about thefts.

If you want to stay a couple of nights at the Bolaven Plateau, you can add the popular and amazing Tad Fan Waterfall as well.

What should I bring for the trip?

You should bring bottles of water, fruit/snacks/food, a hoody or a sweater. It can get chilly at the top of Bolaven Plateau. And not to mention a map!

Buy the regional road map because of its accurate guide to the surrounding sites. And try to find an original map, than copies...

You should also have enough gas in your bike, because the petrol shacks aren`t always close by.

The shacks are usually close to the Lao villages. And the gas is contained in bottles with rubber tubes. You probably have to fill up twice, depending on your Bolaven Plateau route.

Price for gas per liter: 10.000 Kip

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So, where do you want to go next?

Try the popular caving and tubing in Vang Vieng.

Stop by Luang Prabang!

Going South to visit the Angkor Temples in Cambodia?

Return to Backpacking Tips Asia.