Pakse / Bolaven Plateau

Pakse is the largest town in southern Laos and functions more as a regional hub than a classic tourist destination. Its wide streets, riverside setting, and slower pace make it easy to navigate, with a mix of local markets, cafés, guesthouses, and travel services geared toward independent travellers.

Most people come to Pakse to explore the Bolaven Plateau, a cooler highland region famous for waterfalls, coffee plantations, and quiet rural villages. Pakse is also the jumping-off point for trips to Wat Phou, a UNESCO-listed Khmer temple complex predating Angkor, as well as onward travel toward Champasak, Si Phan Don (4,000 Islands), and the Cambodian border.

While the town itself is low-key, Pakse has everything you need: motorbike rentals, banks, supermarkets, and a growing café scene. Sunset along the Mekong, simple local food, and the feeling of being slightly off the main tourist trail give it a grounded, everyday Lao atmosphere.

Pakse works best as a base, arrive, get organised, explore the region, and move on. It is an essential stop for anyone travelling through southern Laos.

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Pakse / Bolaven Plateau

Pakse is the laid-back gateway to southern Laos, set at the meeting point of the Mekong and Xe Don rivers. It’s best known as the starting point for the Bolaven Plateau loop and a convenient base for visiting ancient Khmer ruins, waterfalls, and coffee-growing highlands. Calm, practical, and unpretentious, Pakse is a place to organise, refuel, and head out exploring rather than linger long-term.

Bolaven Plateau tour from Pakse

3-day, 2-night Bolaven Plateau tour from Pakse

Top sights

Ban Kok Phung Tai and Captain Hook’s tour

Captain Hook is a local Katu guide on the Bolaven Plateau who leads long, story-filled village tours and also offers a simple homestay experience for travellers wanting to stay overnight in the community.

Mr. Vieng Coffee Plantation

Mr. Vieng Coffee Plantation is a small, family-run coffee farm on the Bolaven Plateau, offering a straightforward look at how local Arabica coffee is grown, processed, and brewed. It’s an easy, informative stop on the loop and a popular place for a coffee break while riding through the plateau.

Phu Salao (Golden Buddha)

Phu Salao is a hilltop viewpoint overlooking Pakse, best known for its large golden Buddha statue and wide views across the Mekong River. Easily reached from town, it’s one of the best places around Pakse for sunset and a calm introduction to southern Laos’ landscapes.

Tad Lo Waterfall & Tad Hang

Tad Lo Waterfall and nearby Tad Hang flow directly through the village of Tad Lo on the Bolaven Plateau, creating one of the loop’s most relaxed and atmospheric overnight stops. Easily accessible on foot, these wide, gentle falls offer swimming spots, riverside walks, and a calm village setting that makes Tad Lo a natural place to slow down after a day on the road.

Tad Pha Suam

Tad Phasouam is a wide, atmospheric waterfall located north of Pakse, known for its distinctive rectangular, room-like shape. Flowing year-round and surrounded by forest and gardens, it’s an easy and rewarding first stop on the Bolaven Plateau loop, ideal for a short visit, picnic, or relaxed lunch by the water.

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