Photo by Corto Maltese 1999 on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
The Bolaven Plateau
Arabica coffee and waterfalls: Tad Fane's twin 120 m falls at Km 38 on the road to Paksong; Tad Lo farther north.
Pakse
The capital of southern Laos, where the Xe Don meets the Mekong. The town itself takes little time; people stay here to head up to the Bolaven Plateau, down to Vat Phou or on to the 4000 Islands.
Photo by Shutterstock
Photo by Alexkom000 on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
Photo by Hector Garcia on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo by Alexkom000 on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
Photo by Christophe95 on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo by Christophe95 on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo by Christophe95 on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo by Alexkom000 on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
Photo by Corto Maltese 1999 on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Photo by Suraphat Nuea-on on Pexels
Photo by Christophe95 on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where on the river?
- East bank Where the Xe Don flows in.
- World Heritage?
- 45 km away Vat Phou, listed in 2001.
- How many days?
- 2 days 4 more for the Bolaven loop.
- When to go?
- Nov → Feb Dry season, November to February.
- How to get there?
- Plane or bus Flights from Vientiane, night buses.
Pakse is a town to pass through more than one to tour: a commercial center between the Xe Don and the Mekong, a big market and a few riverside temples. It works as a base: the Bolaven Plateau waterfalls are about forty minutes away by road, Vat Phou is 45 km south, and the Khone Falls, near the Cambodian border, are 150 km away.
Things to do in Pakse
Photo by Suraphat Nuea-on on Pexels
Vat Phou
Champasak's Khmer temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001, 45 km south on the west bank.
Photo by Christophe95 on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
The golden Buddha of Phou Salao
On the west bank, just past the bridge: a staircase, or a 4.5 km road, up to the view over the town and the river.
The Bolaven loop: 374 km in four days, by motorbike or car, according to the tourism office. Don't leave your passport as a deposit with the rental shop, and avoid driving at night.
Where to stay in Pakse
A hostel downtown, near Wat Luang, a hotel with a pool near Dao Heuang market, and a guesthouse with a garden.
Photo: Sanga Hostel
Sanga Hostel
Ban Wat Luang · downtownA hostel with a bar and restaurant serving Italian and Thai food; rooms with balconies, shared bathrooms, bikes for rent.
≈ $9 a night
Check availability on Booking Affiliate link
Photo: Le Jardin Hotel
Le Jardin Hotel
Ban Phonsavanh · near Dao Heuang marketOutdoor pool and garden, 600 m from Dao Heuang market; free shuttle to the town center at 7 and 9 p.m.
≈ $68 a night
Check availability on Booking Affiliate link
Photo: Xuanmai Garden Resort
Xuanmai Garden Resort
Pakse · guesthouseA guesthouse with a garden and bar, air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms; airport transfers.
≈ $37 a night
Check availability on Booking Affiliate link
Booking affiliate links · average nightly price checked in October 2026
Getting to and from Pakse
By air
Pakse International Airport (PKZ), 3 km north
Lao Airlines flies to Vientiane two or three times a day, in about an hour, and to Luang Prabang, Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap three times a week (winter 2026-27 schedule). No flights to Bangkok.
From Vientiane, by night bus
Southern Bus Station → Pakse · 10 to 13 hours
Sleeper buses leave between 5 and 8 p.m. The Laos-China Railway stops at Vientiane: a line to Pakse is only at the feasibility-study stage.
Tickets and times on 12Go Affiliate linkTo Thailand
Vang Tao – Chong Mek · bus to Ubon Ratchathani, 4 to 5 hours
Lao visa on arrival at the Vang Tao checkpoint, but no e-Visa; open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tickets and times on 12Go Affiliate linkDownriver, to the 4000 Islands
Minivan and boat · 2.5 to 3 hours to Don Det
No regular boat on the Mekong: the road, then a boat across. The Vat Phou cruise has not run since 2022.
Tickets and times on 12Go Affiliate linkTimes and fares checked on 12Go on October 9, 2026, for a departure on October 12: check again before you travel.
Pakse weather and best time to visit
November to February: dry season, 30 to 32 °C in the afternoon. March and April: 34 °C. May to October: the monsoon, up to 451 mm of rain in August, and the Bolaven waterfalls in full flow.
| Month | J (current month) | F (current month) | M (current month) | A (current month) | M (current month) | J (current month) | J (current month) | A (current month) | S (current month) | O (current month) | N (current month) | D (current month) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airhigh / low | ||||||||||||
| Rainmm | ||||||||||||
| Daysof rain | 1 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 23 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 17 | 5 | 1 |
| Mekonglevel | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Rising | Rising | High | High | High | Falling | Low |
| Our take | Ideal | Ideal | Fair | Fair | Fair | Difficult | Difficult | Difficult | Difficult | Good | Ideal | Ideal |
| Month | Low – high | mm | River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan (current month) | 2 | Low | |
| Feb (current month) | 4 | Low | |
| Mar (current month) | 25 | Low | |
| Apr (current month) | 54 | Low | |
| May (current month) | 191 | Low | |
| Jun (current month) | 315 | Rising | |
| Jul (current month) | 446 | Rising | |
| Aug (current month) | 451 | High | |
| Sep (current month) | 343 | High | |
| Oct (current month) | 138 | High | |
| Nov (current month) | 36 | Falling | |
| Dec (current month) | 6 | Low |
Tours to book in Pakse
4 tours to book in Pakse
Affiliate links GetYourGuide · Prices checked October 9, 2026
-
Bolaven waterfalls, Vat Phou and Phou Salao
Top rated- 7 to 8 hours
- 4.5/5 · 29 reviews
from$103
Availability -
Pakse on foot, with essential Lao words
- 3 hours
- Small group
from$80
Availability -
Vat Phou, Hong Nang Sida and the Phou Salao Buddha
- 7 to 8 hours
- Small group or private
from$89
Availability -
Khone Phapheng falls in a day
- 8 hours
- Private group
from$230
Availability
Pakse FAQ
Do you need a visa at the Vang Tao border?
Yes. The Lao checkpoint at Vang Tao issues visas on arrival but does not accept the e-Visa, according to the immigration department's list. If you have an e-Visa, enter through Pakse airport or another crossing that accepts it.
Can you reach the 4000 Islands by boat from Pakse?
Not by regular boat. The Vat Phou cruise between Pakse and the 4000 Islands stopped in 2022, and no cruise boat operates in southern Laos in 2026; a German tour operator has announced a new one, from Pakse, starting in 2028.
Can you visit Vat Phou as a day trip from Pakse?
Yes: the site is 45 km south, and organized tours from Pakse last 7 to 8 hours, with other stops. You can also stay in Champasak, closer to the temple.
Sources: climate, Open-Meteo (ERA5 archive, 1991-2020 averages); sights and distances, Tourism Laos, UNESCO and Lonely Planet; flights, Lao Airlines winter 2026-27 schedule; border and visa, Lao Department of Immigration; buses and minivans, 12Go (checked October 9, 2026); cruises, Asian Trails (2022) and Lernidee (March 2026); rail, Vientiane Times (January 2026); safety, FCDO and French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs; tours, GetYourGuide (checked October 9 and 10, 2026). Updated October 12, 2026 by Pierre-Marie Coupry.
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