This tour shows you some of the most delightful spots of the sleepy south. From spending the night at a coffee plantation and an an eco resort with a sustainable elephant jungle trek – to staying in luxury in the 4,000 Islands. Leave your watch at home and get ready for some serious hammock action.
DAY 1 - WELCOME TO THE COFFEE REGION OF LAOS!
After landing in Pakse you will be driven east into the Bolaven Plateau. The Bolaven Plateau is known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley. We visit a tea plantation, followed by a visit to the nearby Tad Fan Waterfall, a picturesque twin chute waterfall. Spend the night at a lovely coffee plantation with beautiful accommodation on site.
DAY 2 - EXPLORE THE BOLAVEN PLATEAU AT DEPTH
After breakfast, continue your tour of the plateau, stopping at Tha Teng Market, a colourful ethnic minority food market before exploring a couple of fascinating minority villages, that boast sacrificial altars and see how some villagers keep coffins under their houses. In the afternoon you visit the stunning Tad Lo Waterfall, before continuing to Kingfisher Eco Lodge, your retreat for the night.
DAY 3 - ELEPHANT JUNGLE SAFARI
Start your elephant trek in the morning from the village of Khiet Ngong, passing paddy fields and wetland, you will be led inside the jungle. This is a fabulous off the beaten trek through undiscovered jungle, run by local mahouts. After two to three hours ride you let the elephants be free to feed in the forest and mahouts will serve your delicious picnic Lunch. We then ride back to the village, arrive by early evening.
DAY 4 - EXPLORE THE 4,000 ISLANDS
This morning board a local private boat for a boat tour of the 4,000 Islands. Explore the picturesque island of Don Khone by a unique mode of transport, a small motorbike with sidecar! Tracing the route of an old abandoned railway and admiring some of the old French Colonial buildings, and the beautiful Liphi Waterfall before heading out onto the Mekong for some dolphin spotting. Check into Sala Done tonight.
DAY 5 - ANCIENT TEMPLES AND LEISURE TIME
After breakfast we boat back to the mainland, visiting the spectacular Khone Phapheng Falls, one of the largest and most powerful waterfalls in Southeast Asia. We continue by car to Wat Phou, an ancient Khmer religious complex dating back to the 5th Century. This dramatically sited temple is one of the highlights of any trip to Laos. In the afternoon we take a boat across to Don Daeng Island, where you check into La Folie and relax at leisure.
DAY 6 - ENJOY AT LEISURE
We’ve planned nothing for you today so you can soak up your beautiful hotel and setting at leisure. Set on the island of Don Daeng, it is the perfect place to borrow a bike and explore at your own leisure – or just enjoy a relaxing and luxurious lunch at the hotel and dip in the inviting pool!
DAY 7 - BON VOYAGE!
Following breakfast we will drive you about one hour, to Pakse, where you can board your flight home – there are regular flights to Bangkok from Pakse. Check-out is at 12 noon so you can spend the morning relaxing at La Folie if you have a later flight booked. Safe Travels!