Southern Mekong Tour, the four thousand islands - 4 days

DAY 1:  PAKSE

From Pakse, travel eastward to Bolaven Plateau, famous for its fertile ground of coffee and tea plantations, countless waterfalls and various ethnic minorities, predominantly the Laven. Located between Pakse and Paksong, Tad E Tu Waterfall offers a serene place for refreshing swimming in its small pool at the bottom. Next three kilometers away, vsit is Tad Fane Water, the tallest twin waterfalls in Bolaven and probably in Laos. Heading north to Salavan with a stop at villages of ethnic minorities. On the return to Pakse, visit the most beautiful waterfalls of Tad Lo and nearby Tad Hang and Tad Pha Suam Waterfall. Overnight in Pakse

DAY 2:  PAKSE - WAT PHU OR VAT PHOU - DON KHONG (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Head south to Champassak City to visit one of the oldest archaeological site in Laos, the Wat Phu, or “Mountain Temple” (6th-13th century), built by the pre-Angkorian Khmers about 200 years before Angkor Wat. Wat Phu is situated at the foot of the holy mountain - Phu Kao, and offers a splendid scenery of the surrounding plains and the Mekong River. The stone complex is consisted of two ruined palaces and a hall on the lower terrace, six shrines on the middle and a temple sanctuary on the upper. Wat Phu has been designated as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2002. Continue further south to Tha Ban Hat and cross the Mekong River by a ferry to Tha Ban Na for the journey to Don Khong Or Khong Island, located within the region of Si Phan Done (or Four Thousand Islands). Don Khong, with its peaceful villages and lovely people, offers a great unique experience in this unexplored southern land. In the late afternoon, visit to Muang Sene to enjoy the sunset over the Mekong River. Overnight in Don Khong.

Meal: Breakfast

DAY 3:  DON KHONG - SI PHAN DON (FOUR THOUSAND ISLANDS) - (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Take a scenic cruise on the Mekong River to the twin islands of Si Phan Don, - Don Det and Don Khone Island, connected by a former railway bridge. Don Det and Don Khone offers a go back in time experience with its typical Lao way of life - serene village, smiling locals and kids, rice paddy fields, coconut and bamboo trees, river and fishing nets, all are an unforgettable and lovely scene of the islands. If you are lucky, there is an opportunity to see Mekong dolphins in the river. At Ban Khon Village, you can see many old French colonial houses. Hike along the historic railway built by the French in 1897, but stopped operation in 1945. Also a great place for taking photographs. Continue to see the amazing Li Phi Waterfall (or locally called Taat Somhamit), raging set of rapids at one end of Don Khone. Return to Don Khong for overnight.

Meal: Breakfast.

DAY 4:  DON KHONG - KHONE PHAPAENG - PAKSE (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Make a farewell to Don Khong and take a ferry across the Mekong River from Tha Ban Na to Tha Ban Hat. Continue by car to visit the magnificent Khone Phapheng Waterfall, the Southeast Asia’s largest and most spectacular waterfall. Known as Niagara, Khone Phapheng offers Enjoy a dramatic scenery of formidable rapids cutting through rocks and gorges at Khon Pha Pheng Waterfall, known as Niagara, where you can view and take great photos. Drive north to Pakse and drop off at your hotel.

Meal: Breakfast