AUTHENTIC EXPLORATION TRIP TO SOUTHERN LAOS 13 DAYS

01 - Overview

03 - Tour Detailed

1. 1

   DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN PAKSE – PAKSONG

   On arrival at the Pakse International Airport, you will be met and transferred to town before heading east onto the Bolaven Plateau. The Bolaven Plateau is known for its cooler temperature and being located high above the Mekong Valley.

   Stop at a tea plantation, followed by a brief visit to Tad Fan Waterfall, a picturesque twin chute waterfall.

   We will also visit the local village at Ban Lak Sipchet, which makes iron knife; and Ban Lak Samsip, which makes bamboo basket.

   If time permits, we will also visit Tad Yeung and take some dip into the cool clear natural pool at the foot of the waterfall.

   Last stop is at a coffee plantation before arriving at your destination for the evening.

   Overnight at a hotel in Bolaven Plateau.

   

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2. 2

   DAY 2: PAKSONG – ATTAPEU & HO CHI MINH TRAIL

   Today we drive to see two different waterfalls, Tad Fat and Tad Huekun, before heading to Attapeu. Here we can explore the ancient town before driving through the beautiful countryside where we will visit the villages of many different ethnic minorities. Some elderly members of these groups wear elaborate traditional clothing. We stop for lunch again in the town of Attapeu where we will have a meal of traditional Laos food.

   In the afternoon we drive a short distance to a district that borders Vietnam. We will learn about the history of the Secret War in Laos as we drive along a section of the Ho-Chi-Minh Trail. We make a stop at the ancient temple of King Xaysettha, one Lao’s most famous and respected kings. Here we can learn some of Lao’s ancient history from the time of Lane Xang. We then make our way back to Attapeu before heading to our guesthouse to rest for the night.

   Overnight at a guest house in Attapeu.

   

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3. 3

   DAY 3: ATTAPEU – PAKSONG

   After breakfast, we will continue our way and we will spend some time exploring the ruined town before we make a short visit to the resettlement village. Here we can meet some of the villagers whose lives were uprooted after the dam collapse and were forced to leave their traditional homes. From here we will visit two waterfalls, Xe Pha and Xe Pong lai Waterfall. We will then make our way to Paksong, stopping in a coffee plantation to try some fresh coffee. We then explore the town’s lively market, a meeting point for many of the communities that live on the Bolaven plateau.

   Overnight at a hotel in Paksong.

   

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4. 4

   DAY 4: JEEP TOUR EXPLORING THE COFFEE TRAIL – FARMSTAY

   09:00Am, we will meet the Jeep tour specialist at Chai Coffee and have some discussion with him there while enjoying a cup of coffee.

   After that, we will hop on the Jeep and drive 30 minutes to Tad Moun Waterfalls, where we can enjoy the fresh cool water, and visit the nearby vegetable farm.

   11:00 Am, we continue driving to the Coffee Farm of Mr. Khamsone via the 10KM bumpy and muddy road, which will take you 01 hour with your special Jeep car.

   Upon arrival, Mr Khamsone, the Coffee farm’s owner will take 1hr to demonstration about coffee Roasting step and finishing by a coffee cupping to Savor the different kind of coffee (Robusta, Arabica and Typica).

   We will have a picnic lunch on the farm at around 1:30PM before walking to the nearby refugee cave, which is used as the hidden place by the local villagers during the war time.

   After that, we will continue walking along the farm to see the volcano mountain named Phou Sanark where we can enjoy the view over the farm and the nearby villages during the sunset.

   You can learn to cook Laos foods with the wife of Mr. Khamsone while preparing the dinner with her.

   Overnight at a tent camp at the coffee farm.

   

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5. 5

   DAY 5: BACK TO PAKSONG

   09:00 am: After breakfast we continue driving by JEEP for 14km or 1hr to Laven village name’s B Setkhord. In this village there are 500 families living around 100 years old.

   So, during the France Indochina, these plateau call Laven plateau, which means: An area or the hometown of Laven people living. Upon arrival, we can walk around, and our guide can tell you more stories about this village.

   We then drive to Tad Say Waterfall where we will have the picnic lunch.

   After that we will drive to a Suay Village named B Darsia, where you can see many traditional houses. 30% of the houses here are still traditionally built long houses, and 60% are traditional houses.

   The house is the place where many generations will share together. The family uses the house for all daily activities such as cooking, eating, and sleeping.

   We will arrive back to our hotel in Paksong late afternoon. Free for the rest of the day.

   Overnight at a hotel in Paksong.

   

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6. 6

   DAY 6: TREE TOP EXPLORER

   After breakfast, we will transfer to the village of Ban Nongluang. After the safety instructions from our local guides, we start to hike through coffee plantations and vegetable gardens.

   until wild semi-evergreen forest gradually takes over. Along the way, the guides explain the plants that are traditionally used in the village kitchen or as herbal medicine. The challenge starts with a breath-taking canopy walkway crossing a steep river valley. Immerse yourself in nature as you make your way through some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Bolaven Plateau to reach the giant ‘Kamet’ fall. Here is where the zip-lines start, and the real thrill takes its course!

   We then enjoy a lunch break in the wilderness, with achance of a cooling swim, before mastering the unbelievable zip-lines circuit to truly become one with nature. A once-in-a-lifetime feeling flying over the majestic waterfall’s valley!

   After a day of great activity, we finally settle for the night. Behind delicious local food and barbecue dinner, we retire into our own tree house almost 10 m above the ground, which are only accessible by a zip-line. An instant cozy sleep shrouded by the fiddling sound of the forest crickets is guaranteed.

   Overnight in top tree house.

   

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7. 7

   DAY 7: TREE TOP EXPLORER

   We wake up amidst the warbling, piping, chirping, twittering of the innumerable birds in the dense canopy around us. A simple European-style breakfast prepares us for an easy 30-minute trek through a great forest before reaching the first cable. Be ready for extended flights through the jungle with the longest zip-line of 400m as a real highlight. Its speed, it felt infinite, the proximity to the usually invisible upper stratum of the forest is an amazing and unforgettable experience.

   A picnic lunch is served in the best of nature. We return to the camp in the late afternoon by passing the ‘Red Rock’ stream, where we will have time for some rest and swimming before falling asleep in our tree house.

   Overnight in top tree house.

   

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8. 8

   DAY 8: BACK TO PAKSONG

   It’s a day of more challenges, but also a day of saying ‘goodbye’! After breakfast, we slowly trek uphill, passing a section of forest where gigantic trees dominate. The trail suddenly ends at a steep rock wall that will draw our next challenge! Enjoy a short but thrilling via Ferrata way to reach the top of the mountain.

   Once in the top of one of the highest peaks in the area, an open plateau rewards with stunning views of three waterfalls and vistas over the Mekong deep into neighboring Thailand. We’ll take our lunch here before an easy 1:30 hours hike back to Ban Nongluang.

   We then transfer back to Paksong.

   Overnight at a hotel in Paksong.

   

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9. 9

   DAY 9: PAKSONG – TAD LO – CHAMPASAK

   After breakfast, we will transfer to Champasak via the rest of Bolaven Plateau Loop.

   Along the way, stop to visit a tea and/or a coffee plantation. Laos is known for its famous coffee, the majority of which is grown here on the Bolaven Plateau.

   A visit to one of the plantations will show you the process of planting, harvesting and roasting these delicious beans.

   We will also stop Tha Teng Market, a colorful ethnic minority food market. Next, we explore a couple of fascinating minority villages of Ban Pong (An Alak village that boasts a sacrificial altar) and Ban Kokphung (A Katu village where they keep coffins under their houses).

   From there, drive further to Tadlo Waterfalls, upon arrival, we will trek to visit waterfall and other minority village near by Tadlo area of Ban Kiengtanglae and Ban Nanong. We then continue driving over the plateau to Paksong.

   We will arrive in Champasak about mid or late afternoon depending on the road conditions and the time you spend at each stop.

   Free for the rest of the day to explore this charming town by yourselves.

   Overnight at a hotel in Champasak.

   

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10. 10

    DAY 10: CHAMPASAK – WAT PHOU – DONE KHONG – DONE KHONE

    After breakfast, visit Wat Phou, an ancient Khmer religious complex dating back to the 5th Century.

    Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Wat Phou is a spectacular pre-Angkorian temple that sits amidst the rice fields and waterways of southern Laos, which was built by the rulers of the Khmer empire before the construction of Angkor Wat.

    The temple served as the most important economic and political centre of the region and still is one of the Lao people’s most revered temples.

    After your visit, we continue in to Champassak to see samples of French colonial architecture before driving to Done Khong.

    From there, embark on a 1.5 hour long tail boat for venturing into the widest reach of the Mekong River, where during the dry season the waters recede and leave behind thousands of islets, giving this area a lovely name” Si Phan Done”.

    We will arrive in Done Khone just in time to catch the sunset.

    Overnight on Done Khone Island.

    

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11. 11

    DAY 11: DONE KHONE – KHONE PHAPHAENG – PAKSE – NKM HOMESTAY

    After breakfast, explore the local peaceful villages of Ban Khone, where you will see an array of relics from the French colonial era and retrace the old colonial past, including old French colonial buildings and the remnants of the first Laos railway with its locomotive.

    We continue to discover the 4000 islands area by tuktuk and visit the marvelous Liphi waterfall, also called the “Corridor of the Devil” one of the most beautiful waterfalls marking Lao border with Cambodia.

    In the afternoon, return to the mainland at the fishing village of Ban Nakasang and drive further south to visit Khone Phapheng, which is considered the largest waterfall by volume in Southeast Asia

    Khone Phapheng is an impressive spot near the Lao-Cambodian border, set within an area which is teeming with wildlife, making this area one of the most breathtaking destinations in Laos.

    Afterwards we drive back to Pakse.

    Arriving back in town, we will check in NKM Homestay, which is owned by a French specialist, Mr. Nicholas and his family.

    The rest of the day is your own free time to talk with Mr. Nicholas to learn more about Laos, which will give you plenty of inside information about Laos.

    Overnight at NKM Homestay.

    

    

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12. 12

    DAY 12: HIDDEN PAKSE EXPLORATION

    You are free today to stroll around the town for your own exploration. One of the best ways is to join a tour of inside the hidden Pakse guided by Mr. Nicholas.

    He will bring you to the hidden routes and spots of Pakse that are rarely visited by other tourist but guarantee the unforgettable memory for your trip to southern Laos.

    Overnight at NKM Homestay.

    

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13. 13

    DAY 13: PAKSE – UBON RATCHATHANI – DEPARTURE

    After breakfast, we will transfer directly to Ubon Ratchathani (Thailand) via Chongmek Border to take the flight to Bangkok and connect to your departure flight back home.

    Note:

    + Transfer time: 3 hours including border time.

    + From Pakse, you can also take the flight to Siem Reap, Ho Chi Minh City, Vientiane, Luang Prabang, or Bangkok.

     

    

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