Islands in the Mekong

You’ll arrive in Si Phan Don from either the Bolaven Plateau or Pakse and settle into cosy guest house set amidst leafy greenery on the banks of the river. In the evening, try a typical Laotian dish in the restaurant and sit back on the balcony overlooking the river with an ice-cold Beer Lao in hand. The pace of life here is unbelievably laid-back, even by Laotian standards, and most communities here are self-sufficient, growing almost all of their own produce.

Today is free for you to explore Khon Island independently. A beautiful mixture of rice paddies, forested hills, vegetable gardens and small villages, it’s a great place to explore by bicycle. Alternatively, you can arrange a boat trip to hop between the surrounding islands such as Don Det and Don Khon.

Today, you’ll buy your own ferry ticket to the mainland pier, where you’ll be collected by your minibus and guide. From here, you’ll set off on a trip to visit the amazing Khone Phapheng waterfalls, dubbed “The Niagara of the East”. Next, you’ll continue north and cross the Mekong by ferry to visit the famous Khmer Temple complex of Wat Phou, which predates even Angkor Wat! Finally, you’ll grab some lunch in Champasak before reaching Pakse, where this trip will end.