Southern Laos

Introducing Southern Laos

A contrasting combination of archetypal Mekong River life, the cooler climes of the Bolaven Plateau and three remote and little-visited eastern provinces make southern Laos a real mixed bag of tasty offerings. The whole area remains refreshingly raw, but as in the rest of Laos a series of community-based tourism projects have made getting inside Lao-style life easier than ever.

The obvious, almost unavoidable staging point is Pakse, the Mekong River–side capital of Champasak Province with an all-round good vibe. From here the Mekong flows south past the ancient Khmer religious complex at Wat Phu Champasak and Don Daeng, before spreading out in Si Phan Don, the ‘four thousand islands’ that straddle the Cambodian border. Among this stunningly beautiful maze of waterways are the palm-lined Don Khong, Don Det and Don Khon, where you can soak up the million-dollar sunsets from your hammock without being interrupted by endless reruns of Friends (for now, at least).

Going east from Pakse you climb to the cooler climes of the Bolaven Plateau, with its picturesque waterfalls and high-grade coffee. Keep going and you start getting well off the beaten track and into the little visited provinces of Salavan, Sekong and Attapeu where minority ethnic groups are still surprised to see falang visitors. More adventurous souls will love the Southern Swing motorbike loop or negotiating themselves a boat trip down the remote and untouched Se Kong (Kong River). So whether you’re seeking an off-beat adventure or are happy just lazing in a riverside hammock, prepare to stay longer than you planned.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009