Exploring the Bolavean Plateau

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thomas2313
thomas2313

Hi guys,

I will be backpacking SEA at the end of this year and will be crossing into Pakse from Bangkok around the beginning of October. From Pakse I'd like to check out the Bolavean Plateau and 4000 Islands before moving up North. I was just wondering how people usually go about exploring the plateau? I've read people hire motorbikes and do it independently . I'll be there in October so the end of the rainy season and have no experience riding a motorbike so this may not be possible. What other options are there and how long should I set aside to see the Bolavean Plateau and 4000 islands? Do people just do daytrips or is it more of a 3-4 day thing? I have roughly 3-4 weeks to fill in in Laos so no mad rush.

Cheers

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larsay
larsay

I am going into the whole area (Pakse, Bolovens and 4000 thousand islands), so, if you send me a private message to remind me around 20 March, I will have info (I do it by motorbike but will check agency programmes and public buses)

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thomas2313
thomas2313
In response to #1

Awesome that would be great, thanks a lot!

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julie_l
julie_l

You can hire a songthaew in Pakse to take you around the whole plateau in one day.

Using public transport you are going to have to stop off at the locations of the waterfalls/guesthouses, and make your way from the main road down to them, which may be a long way and may not be. The towns are just dull - you don't want to spend your time in them if you can help. I started doing this trip by public transport in 2012 but gave up and went back to Pakse.

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adore1979
adore1979

Like the above poster, I also tried to do the plateau myself via public transport... had some great journeys but hardly got to see anything so I gave up and went back to Pakse. Your hotel can help you hire your own transport/driver to take you around the plateau and see the sites etc. So, one day should be ok.

Recommend spending at least a couple of days at the 4,000 islands.

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julie_l
julie_l
In response to #4

I'm glad I'm not the only one!

My favourite memory from that day was the bus trip back to Pakse - crammed full of people and goods, with a motorbike literally hanging halfway out of the front door (but the trip there was also wonderful).

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wombatrois
wombatrois

We did it by a combination of public transport / local push bikes / local tours / private car. So we spent relatively nothing on the public transport and lots of $s on the private car.

It is definitely worth doing! We will go back again one day.

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