Southern Laos Travel Guide
The far south of Laos is made up of four provinces: Attapeu, Champasak, Sekong and Salavan. This region borders Vietnam to the east, Thailand to the west and Cambodia to the south. Politically, this region of Laos is important, as most of the leading politicians and bureaucrats tend to come from Champasak province.
Champasak province is where most visitors will head, as it is the location of the controversial Khmer ruins of Wat Phu. This southern area of Laos has historically been a disputed area between Thailand and Cambodia, with many battles fought here. Located at the base of Mount Phu Kao, it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. In Champasak, visitors should also check out the Khonphapheng waterfalls.
The main gateway to the far south is the city of Pakse in Champasak province. Lao Airlines has direct flights to Pakse daily from Vientiane, the capital of Laos. You can also reach Pakse overland from Thailand using the Chong Mek border crossing by car or on foot. Foreigners need a visa to enter Laos, but this can be obtained on arrival. The cost ranges from US$15 to 100 depending on nationality.
Although Pakse is the main city in the south and the capital of Champasak Province, it only has a population of 70,000. Visitors here should seek out the Champasak Palace Hotel, the former residence of the King of Champasak. Located at the confluence of the Mekong and Se Don, fresh fish is a major delicacy here. For culture buffs, there is also the Champasak Provincial Museum.
Attapeu province is along the famous Ho Chi Minh Trail and is a popular place to go trekking through the Annamite mountains, which also form part of the border with Vietnam. The Annamite mountains are part of the Pu Mat National Park on the Vietnamese side and include numerous plateaus on the Lao side.
Senkong province is considered to be the most isolated and most mountainous area in Laos, with many villages inaccessible during a large part of the year. This area boasts some of the most important forest area of the country and is protected by the government, although illegal logging is increasingly becoming a problem.
The Senkong province area is also considered to be the most ethnically diverse, with less than 5 percent of the population considered to be ethnic Lao. The major ethnic groups include: Alak, Katu, Tarieng and Nge.
Salavan province is most famous for the Bolaven Plateau, where most of the Lao coffee is grown. The capital is a city of Salavan is a great place to enjoy the excellent Lao coffee and buy some to take back as a souvenir.
Traveling around the southern region of Laos can be difficult if you are not part of a tour. Flights are only available to Pakse and other transportation will have to be by bus or glorified taxi. The buses tend to be slow and unreliable, so make sure you allow plenty of time for travel.