ODYSSEY IN SOUTHERN LAOS

DAY 1 : ARRIVAL IN PAKSE – CHAMPASSAK – DON DAENG (- / L / D)

Upon arrival at Pakse Airport we will be welcomed by a guide. We then set off on a 50 km, one-hour private transfer to Wat Phou.

Step back in time and discover Laos’ rich heritage at an ancient temple complex and board a minivan with our guide for a one-hour drive to Champasak to visit Wat Phou. This UNESCO-listed temple dates back to pre-Angkorian times and it is framed by sprawling rice fields and canals at the foot of Phou Khao Mountain. The temple’s history stretches back to the 5th century. However, the surviving structures were built between the 11th and 13th centuries. The sacred site was the mastermind of Khmer kings before the creation of Cambodia’s Angkor Wat. It served as the economic and political hub of the region and remains one of Laos’ most revered temples.

Next, we cross the iconic Mekong River to La Folie Lodge where we check-in and have the rest of the day to enjoy this tranquil riverside sanctuary. We marvel at the might of the Khmer Empire and experience the Mekong’s magic on this excellent excursion. 

Lunch at a local restaurant   

OPTION 1 : CYCLING TOUR TO WAT PHOU

For those who would like to exercise, there is a possibility to ride a bicycle from Champasak to Wat Phou, and then return back to Champasak (one way: 10 km)

Dinner and overnight at La Folie Lodge

DAY 2 : DON DAENG – FREE AT LEISURE – OPTION: COOKING CLASS (B / - / D)  

Enjoy a full day at leisure on the beautiful peaceful island of Don Daeng. If you can tear yourself away from the inviting pool, then the best way to explore is by bicycle (provided free of charge by the hotel with a map of the 3 cycling itineraries). You can pedal your way along shady paths, across the small fishermen villages and rice paddies, and enjoy the laid-back pace of life in southern Laos. 

OPTION 2 : COOKING CLASS WITH THE ISLANDERS OF DON DAENG [10:00 AM – 01:00 PM]

Explore the culinary delights of Laos and learn how to cook using traditional techniques on this gastronomic excursion. The staple food of the Laotians is steamed sticky rice eaten by hand. In fact, the people of Laos eat more sticky rice than anyone else in the world.  You will be taken to a local village on the island of Don Daeng where you will learn all about the ingredients used in creating an authentic and delicious meal. After the cooking class, enjoy your food as we dine with the local villagers. Content with a delicious meal, we then head back to our overnight accommodation

Dinner and overnight at La Folie Lodge 

DAY 3 : DON DAENG – 4.000 ISLANDS – DON KHON & DON DET – DON KHONG (B / L / D)

Step back in time and discover Laos’ rich heritage at an ancient temple complex.

At 9 am we check-out and board a minivan with our guide for a one-hour drive to Champasak to visit Wat Phou. This UNESCO-listed temple dates back to pre-Angkorian times and it is framed by sprawling rice fields and canals at the foot of Phou Khao Mountain. The temple’s history stretches back to the 5th century. However, the surviving structures were built between the 11th and 13th centuries. The sacred site was the mastermind of Khmer kings before the creation of Cambodia’s Angkor Wat. It served as the economic and political hub of the region and remains one of Laos’ most revered temples.

Next, we cross the iconic Mekong River to La Folie Lodge where we check-in and have the rest of the day to enjoy this tranquil riverside sanctuary. We marvel at the might of the Khmer Empire and experience the Mekong’s magic on this excellent excursion. Lunch and dinner are to our own arrangement.  

Lunch at a local restaurant 

Dinner and overnight at Pon Arena Hotel

DAY 4 : DON KHONG - 4.000 ISLANDS HOPPING & HANDS-ON WORKSHOP - PAKSE (5 HRS) (B / L / D)

09.00 Our exploration takes us by boat to Si Phan Don, an idyllic area also known as the ‘4,000 Islands.’ This riverine archipelago consists of thousands of islands and sand bars at a point where the Mekong expands to a width of 14 km – the river’s broadest reach along its 4,350 km stretches from the Tibetan Plateau to the South China Sea. We will explore this area by water transport and get on and off the boat to meet the locals and view their unique riverside communities. 

The first stop is Don Loppadi Island, which is famed for its skilled weavers. Next, we head to Don Som, where you will learn how to use craft palm leaves to make a sun hat. We then enjoy a home-cooked family lunch with the islanders (one soft drink or a local beer is included). 

We then take the boat back to Don Khong and stop at Ban Houay Khong en route. The local villagers here are famed for making rice paper and rice noodles by hand which they sell at the market in Pakse.

Around 13.30, you may have a chance to visit the Don Khong History Museum [Note: Opens Monday to Friday – From 08:00 am to 03:30 pm]. Set aside a charming two-storey French-colonial style building, the Museum features a collection of instruments, animal traps, photos of the island’s past, as well as some explanation about the history of the Lao governor who lived there. Upstairs, you can even find the original pieces of furniture that show how the house was when it was still resided by the Lao governor’s family.

Transfer to your hotel in Pakse. Free time at leisure.

Dinner and overnight at Pakse Hotel 

DAY 5 : PAKSE – BOLAVEN PLATEAU – PAKSE (B / L / D)

08.00 You will be picked up at your hotel’s lobby and transferred to the Bolaven Plateau (40KM/45 mn drive). “Home of the Lavens hilltribe”, this unique elevated region in Laos, is also home of towering waterfalls and coffee and tea plantations. 

Jeep adventure on the Bolaven Plateau: Once arrived in Paksong area on the Bolaven Plateau, your “vehicle” and driver of the day will welcome you. 

Please note that your jeep is one of the few surviving jeeps left behind after the war, that have been later acquired by the locals (Jeeps are from USA, Russia and China, and date from 1945 for the oldest!); thus, they might not offer the same comfort as more recent models. 
[Note: Capacity of the vintage Jeep: 3 passengers’ maximum per jeep / 12 jeeps in total - Maximum capacity: 34 pax +1 guide+1 jeep leader]

Recommendations:  We recommend to bring a hat, sunglasses and sun cream, and to wear comfortable clothes, a swimsuit and walking shoes/sneakers

Hop in the jeep, and leave the main road for a more rustic trail to start your discovery of the region’s most preserved ed rural vistas: you will pass through local farmland, forest and coffee plantations before reaching a Laven village. There, you will learn more about the way of life of the area historical dominant ethnic. Continue to Mystic Mountain farm, nestled in a coffee plantation of several hectares. 

Lunch at Mystic Mountain.

After lunch, it’s coffee time! Visit the plantation where you will mainly find Arabica and Robusta trees, and learn about the process of coffee production from the tree to the cup. Try to roast your own coffee beans, with the help of the passionate farm owner and savor a delicious freshly brewed cup! 

Around 3:30pm, we head back to the “modern world”; jump into the jeep for a last drive through bush-type scenery, and make a short stop at the impressive Tad Moun waterfalls, where you can enjoy a refreshing dip [water level may vary depending on the season] before reaching the main road. There, your car will wait to transfer you back to your hotel.

[Note: Jeep tour duration (without R/T transfer Pakse-Bolaven Plateau): 6 hrs approx. / this tour is available into an abbreviated version / others itineraries are also available, depending on the season and the road conditions]

Dinner and overnight at Pakse Hotel 

DAY 6 : PAKSE - DEPARTURE (B / - / -) 

After breakfast at the hotel, we will be collected from the hotel lobby and taken to the airport for the departure flight.                     

End of our services.