Champasak

Wat Phu - One of the UNESCO heritage-listed temples and the most prominent, Wat Phu is a 12th century Angkor Hindu temple built in Khmer style of architecture located close to the city centre of Champasak. It was later converted to a Buddhist temple which is still prevalent. The entry to the temple along with the museum costs 50000 LAK per person and is open for visitors between 9 AM to 4.

Wat Nang Sida - Located about 2 km from Wat Phu is Wat Nang, another ancient Angkor temple ruin and a UNESCO world heritage listed site. Thao-Tao and To Mo are other Khmer temple ruins found in this area which are worth visiting.

There are a lot of attractions to explore while basing yourself in Champasak. Some of the popular ones include:

Plan a trip to Bolaven Plateau - Bolaven Plateau is an elevated region located in the Champasak. It is a luxurious plain known for its cool climate, stunning waterfalls, forested mountains, coffee and remote villages home to the few ethnic groups in Laos. It is one of the most popular attractions for adventure, hiking and mountains.

Bolaven Plateau region has many waterfalls. Some of the famous ones are:

• The Tad Lo Waterfalls - The Tad Lo is one of the most visited waterfalls in the Bolaven plateau. More than the waterfalls, the greenery leading to the falls is a great place to hike and enjoy amidst nature.
• Tad Hang Waterfalls - Another beautiful waterfall located close to the Tad Lo, which can be combined.
• That Fang - Also known as Dong Hua Sao, this 120 metre falls is the tallest waterfall in Laos. You need to hike along a well-marked trail surrounded by gorgeous mountains for about 6km to get to the waterfalls.
• Pha Suam & Tad Yuang - Two smaller waterfalls located on the way between Pakse and Bolaven plateau known for their dense greenery.
• Paksong - Paksong is a little hill town located on the Bolaven Plateau in the Champasak province. It is popular among the tourists for the four waterfalls and beautiful mountains surrounding the village. It is also home to many coffee plantations and is called the coffee capital of Laos. While here, plan a visit to these waterfalls.:
  • Tad Fane is the largest of the four waterfalls and very impressive. Tad Champee is a lovely waterfall where you can go Kayaking at the bottom of the falls.
  • Tad Yuang is another attractive waterfall surrounded by the mountains, which is ideal for swimming.
  • Tad E-Tu is located close to Paksong and worth visiting for the views.
  • Si Phan Don - Popular as Four Thousand Islands, it is an island group located in the Mekong River in Southern Laos. Si Phan Don comprises of numerous islands of varying sizes, some of which get submerged during the monsoon. The four main islands in the group are Don Kong, Don Khon, Don Det and Don Som. The highlight of Si Phan Don is Khone Phapheng, the most significant falls in Southeast Asia. It is one of the most visited destinations in Laos by tourists who head to the famous Don Det and Don Khon to enjoy the Mekong river life, and watersports.