Why go
Southern Laos moves at a different pace to the north, and Pakse is where that shift starts. The town itself is workaday rather than scenic, but it puts a working coffee plateau, a Khmer temple complex and a river delta of hundreds of islands all within a half day’s drive.
It suits travellers who want fewer crowds than [Luang Prabang](destinations/luang-prabang) or [Vientiane](destinations/vientiane) and don’t mind covering more ground by road. A loop up onto the Bolaven Plateau for waterfalls and coffee, then south toward the Cambodian border for the islands, fills three or four unhurried days.
Things to do
Bolaven Plateau coffee country
At around 1,000 metres elevation, the plateau around Paksong grows most of Laos’ arabica and robusta coffee on rich volcanic soil. Farm visits usually include a walk through the rows, a look at drying and roasting, and a cupping session before you buy.
Tad Fane waterfall
Twin streams drop close to 120 metres into a forested gorge, best seen from a viewpoint restaurant a short walk from the car park. It’s one of the tallest falls in Laos and rarely crowded outside weekends.
Wat Phou
This UNESCO World Heritage temple complex near Champasak predates Angkor and climbs a hillside toward a stone sanctuary linked to an ancient linga shrine. Go in the cooler morning hours — there’s little shade on the upper terraces.
Si Phan Don, the 4,000 Islands
South toward the Cambodian border, the Mekong spreads into a maze of islands and channels. Don Det and Don Khon are the two set up for visitors, with bicycle tracks, riverside guesthouses and, near the border, a chance to spot Irrawaddy dolphins.
Champasak old town
A scatter of French colonial buildings along the river gives Champasak a slower, older feel than Pakse itself, and it makes a natural overnight stop on the way to or from Wat Phou.
When to go
November to February is the most comfortable stretch, with lower humidity and mild days on the plateau, though nights up at elevation can turn cool enough for a jacket. The hot season from March to April brings the year’s highest temperatures at lower elevations; the wet season from May to October keeps the waterfalls at their fullest but can slow travel on unpaved plateau roads.
Getting there and around
Pakse International Airport connects to Vientiane and a handful of regional routes, making it the easiest entry point for southern Laos. Overland travellers also cross from Thailand at the Chong Mek border post, a couple of hours from town. Getting around the plateau, Wat Phou and Si Phan Don means hiring a driver or joining a guided loop, since public transport between these sites is limited. For background on the wider region before you travel, see our [Laos travel guide](travel-guide/why-travel-to-laos).
Tours that include Pakse
Plan your trip
Tell us your dates, your group and what you want out of the trip. We reply with a costed itinerary within one working day.
In pictures
In pictures
In pictures
In pictures
In pictures
In pictures
In pictures
In pictures
In pictures
In pictures
In pictures
