Southern Laos

Region

The wide lower Mekong and the Bolaven Plateau. Pakse is the hub for the Khmer temple of Wat Phu at Champasak, the coffee farms and waterfalls of the plateau loop, and Si Phan Don, the 4,000 Islands, where the river breaks into channels and falls near the Cambodian border. Savannakhet has a faded French quarter. November to February is dry and pleasant; by April it is very hot.

Southern Laos Hin Nam No National ParkBolaven PlateauSi Phan DonKhone Phapheng FallsKhong IslandDon KhonDon DetTad Fane WaterfallDon DaengDong AmphamDong Phou ViengTat LoUo MoungVat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural LandscapeXe PianSavannakhetPakseXépônChampasakSalavanSekongPaksongVat PhouAttapeuXaysethaMuang KhôngSekongBan XénôBan LaongamBan Bachiang

Southern Laos essentials

Country: Laos
Driest months: Dec-Feb
Pay in: Kip (₭)
Language: Lao

Where to Go in Southern Laos#

City Pakse PakseSouthern hub for the Bolaven Plateau and Wat Phou City Savannakhet SavannakhetColonial riverside town on the Mekong City Champasak ChampasakCity in Champasak Province, Laos City Attapeu AttapeuCity in Attapu, Laos Island Si Phan Don Si Phan DonArchipelago of Mekong River islands and seasonal waterways Island Khong Island Khong IslandLarge Mekong river island with rural villages Island Don Khon Don KhonIsland in Si Phan Don famed for Mekong waterfalls Island Don Det Don DetMekong island in Si Phan Don History Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural LandscapeKhmer temple complex and ancient settlements in river valley Nature Bolaven Plateau Bolaven PlateauLavish Luang Prabang royal temple with ornate mosaics Nature Khone Phapheng Falls Khone Phapheng FallsSoutheast Asia's largest by discharge, powerful Mekong waterfalls Nature Tad Fane Waterfall Tad Fane WaterfallTwin-drop waterfall on Bolaven Plateau

Regions & Cities#

Savannakhet Explore Savannakhet Old French villas and a broad Mekong promenade mark Savannakhet; visitors check museums, cross the Friendship Bridge, browse its night market and set out to nearby caves and provincial temples. Pakse Explore Pakse At the confluence of coffee routes and the Mekong, Pakse feeds travelers bound for the Bolaven Plateau, Tad Fane waterfall, river islands and French-era cafés; market stalls sell strong Lao coffee and grilled river fish. Xépôn Explore Xépôn Once a wartime logistics hub on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, Xépôn now draws history-minded travelers to jungle trails, bomb-crater sites and local markets in Savannakhet province. Champasak Explore Champasak At the southern Mekong bend, Champasak towns ferry visitors to Wat Phu’s Khmer ruins, river islands and coffee farms; small riverside temples and local grilled fish anchor the provincial rhythm. Explore Salavan A provincial town tucked into Laos’ southern hills, Salavan keeps a relaxed market life and French‑era buildings. Explore Sekong Sekong town sits on the Sekong River, a gateway to rainforests, ethnic minority villages and waterfall treks; riverboats, hill markets and coffee from the uplands draw those wanting to leave beaten trails. Paksong Explore Paksong Highland coffee estates and plunging waterfalls define Paksong on the Bolaven Plateau; travelers tour plantations, sip robust dark coffees, and drop into cascades like Tad Fane between brief jungle hikes. Vat Phou Explore Vat Phou Vat Phou is a Khmer temple complex in Champasak province, a UNESCO site visited for stone shrine ruins, riverside terraces and inscriptions that predate Angkorian temples.

Southern Laos at a Glance#

Local Time
1:35 AM
GMT+7
Population
2,313,338

Best Things to Do in Southern Laos#