About
The Bolaven Plateau rises to about 1,000–1,300 m, 40–50 km east of Pakse. It stays cool almost all year, and its rich volcanic soil grows the best coffee in Laos, with the market town of Paksong at its heart.
Highlights
Getting there: songthaews leave the Southern Bus Terminal (Lak 8) for Paksong every morning, or hire a car / rent a motorbike for the 2–3-day "Bolaven Loop". The rainy season (June–October) makes the falls spectacular but roads slippery; coffee harvest runs November–February.
Sample data — please verify before travelling.
Must-see
A 40-metre curtain of clear water falling into a swimmable pool, with a viewing bridge in front and local coffee stalls at the gate — near Km 40 on the Pakse–Paksong road.
Twin streams plunging more than 120 m into a jungle gorge — the tallest falls in southern Laos — seen from the resort-side viewpoint or from a zipline across the gorge, about 38 km from Pakse.
A cool volcanic plateau 1,000–1,300 m high — home of Laos’ best coffee, dozens of waterfalls, cafés in nature and ethnic-minority villages.
Timber bungalows in the forest on the gorge rim, a few minutes’ walk from the Tad Fane viewpoint.
A wooden café among arabica bushes serving pour-over and espresso from its own beans, plus banana cake.
A small roastery selling arabica and robusta from farmers around Paksong, roasted weekly — taste before you buy.
Ziplines across the gorge near Tad Fane, treetop walkways and rope bridges, with safety guides throughout.
Sleep in a wooden house in the middle of a family coffee farm, pick cherries in the morning and drink coffee roasted on site.
Recommended · Sponsored
These places paid to be featured here. How it works
A mid-range hotel in Paksong town with spacious heated rooms, breakfast and a waterfall tour desk.
A Lao sindad grill-and-hotpot restaurant, perfect for cool plateau evenings, with vegetables fresh from Paksong farms.
What's on
Dec 4 – 6, 2026· 08:00
Town ground near Paksong market, Bolaven Plateau · Bolaven Plateau (Paksong)
Dec 12 – 13, 2026· 08:00
Ethnic villages near Paksong, Bolaven Plateau · Bolaven Plateau (Paksong)
Jan 9 – 10, 2027· 08:00
Family coffee farms around Paksong · Bolaven Plateau (Paksong)
Getting around
Paksong tuk-tuk & motorbike-taxi stand
Tuk-tuk stand · ບ່ອນຈອດຕຸກຕຸກ ປາກຊ່ອງ
Tad Fane – Tad Yeung turn-off (Km 38)
Tuk-tuk stand · ທາງແຍກຕາດຟານ (ຫຼັກ 38)
Tad Pha Suam junction (Route 20)
Tuk-tuk stand · ທາງແຍກຕາດຜາສ້ວມ
Paksong market (songthaew stop)
City centre · ຕະຫຼາດປາກຊ່ອງ
Fair-price standard
Reference prices set with local operators. Anything above the ceiling is overcharging — show the Driver Card and agree the price before you ride.
| Fare type | Route | Fair price | Ceiling | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| By distance | ₭ 15,000 + ₭ 6,000 per km Flag fall + per km. Always agree the price before boarding (sample — verify). | ₭ 20,000–30,000per vehicle≈ $0.93–$1.4 | ₭ 40,000 | Daytime |
| By distance | ₭ 20,000 + ₭ 8,000 per km Night rate (approx. 20:00–06:00), usually 20–30% above the day rate. Agree the price first (sample). | ₭ 30,000–45,000per vehicle≈ $1.4–$2.09 | ₭ 60,000 | Night |
| Fixed route | Paksong tuk-tuk & motorbike-taxi stand → Tad Fane – Tad Yeung turn-off (Km 38) | ₭ 100,000–150,000per vehicle≈ $4.65–$6.98 | ₭ 200,000 | Any time |
| Fixed route | Paksong market → Tad Fane junction Approximate price for the whole vehicle. Agree the price before boarding (sample — verify). | ₭ 100,000–150,000per vehicle≈ $4.65–$6.98 | ₭ 200,000 | Any time |
| Hourly hire | Hourly charter (around Paksong) Fuel included; entrance and parking fees not included. Agree the itinerary and price before departure (sample). | ₭ 80,000–100,000per vehicle≈ $3.72–$4.65 | ₭ 130,000 | Any time |
| Daily hire | Day charter – waterfalls around Paksong (Tad Fane, Tad Yeung, Tad Champee) Fuel included; entrance and parking fees not included. Agree the itinerary and price before departure (sample). | ₭ 450,000–550,000per vehicle≈ $21–$26 | ₭ 700,000 | Any time |
| Fare type | Route | Fair price | Ceiling | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| By distance | ₭ 20,000 + ₭ 7,000 per km Flag fall + per km. Always agree the price before boarding (sample — verify). | ₭ 30,000–45,000per vehicle≈ $1.4–$2.09 | ₭ 60,000 | Daytime |
| By distance | ₭ 25,000 + ₭ 9,000 per km Night rate (approx. 20:00–06:00), usually 20–30% above the day rate. Agree the price first (sample). | ₭ 40,000–60,000per vehicle≈ $1.86–$2.79 | ₭ 80,000 | Night |
| Fixed route | Paksong tuk-tuk & motorbike-taxi stand → Tad Pha Suam junction (Route 20) | ₭ 200,000–250,000per vehicle≈ $9.3–$12 | ₭ 300,000 | Any time |
| Hourly hire | Hourly charter Fuel included; entrance and parking fees extra — DEMO sample data. | ₭ 100,000–130,000per vehicle≈ $4.65–$6.05 | ₭ 160,000 | Any time |
| Daily hire | Day charter (about 8 h) Fuel included; entrance and parking fees extra — DEMO sample data. | ₭ 550,000–700,000per vehicle≈ $26–$33 | ₭ 900,000 | Any time |
| Fare type | Route | Fair price | Ceiling | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| By distance | ₭ 10,000 + ₭ 1,000 per km Price per person (shared ride, leaves when full). Chartering the whole vehicle costs much more (sample). | ₭ 15,000–25,000per person≈ $0.7–$1.16 | ₭ 40,000 | Daytime |
| By distance | ₭ 15,000 + ₭ 1,500 per km Night rate (approx. 20:00–06:00), usually 20–30% above the day rate. Agree the price first (sample). | ₭ 20,000–30,000per person≈ $0.93–$1.4 | ₭ 50,000 | Night |
| Fixed route | Pakse (Southern terminal) → Paksong market Price per person (shared ride, leaves when full). Chartering the whole vehicle costs much more (sample). | ₭ 30,000–40,000per person≈ $1.4–$1.86 | ₭ 50,000 | Any time |
| Fixed route | Pakse (Southern terminal) → Tad Fane junction (Km 38) Price per person (shared ride, leaves when full). Chartering the whole vehicle costs much more (sample). | ₭ 25,000–30,000per person≈ $1.16–$1.4 | ₭ 40,000 | Any time |
| Hourly hire | Hourly charter (around Paksong) Fuel included; entrance and parking fees not included. Agree the itinerary and price before departure (sample). | ₭ 120,000–150,000per vehicle≈ $5.58–$6.98 | ₭ 200,000 | Any time |
| Daily hire | Day charter (about 8 h) Fuel included; entrance and parking fees not included. Agree the itinerary and price before departure (sample). | ₭ 700,000–900,000per vehicle≈ $33–$42 | ₭ 1,100,000 | Any time |
| Fare type | Route | Fair price | Ceiling | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| By distance | ₭ 30,000 + ₭ 8,000 per km Flag fall + per km. Always agree the price before boarding (sample — verify). | ₭ 50,000–70,000per vehicle≈ $2.33–$3.26 | ₭ 90,000 | Daytime |
| By distance | ₭ 40,000 + ₭ 10,000 per km Night rate (approx. 20:00–06:00), usually 20–30% above the day rate. Agree the price first (sample). | ₭ 70,000–90,000per vehicle≈ $3.26–$4.19 | ₭ 120,000 | Night |
| Fixed route | Pakse centre → Tad Fane junction (one way, private) Approximate price for the whole vehicle. Agree the price before boarding (sample — verify). | ₭ 350,000–450,000per vehicle≈ $16–$21 | ₭ 550,000 | Any time |
| Hourly hire | Hourly charter (in town) Fuel included; entrance and parking fees not included. Agree the itinerary and price before departure (sample). | ₭ 180,000–220,000per vehicle≈ $8.37–$10 | ₭ 280,000 | Any time |
| Daily hire | Bolaven loop day trip (Tad Fane, Tad Yeung, coffee farms, Paksong) Fuel included; entrance and parking fees not included. Agree the itinerary and price before departure (sample). | ₭ 1,000,000–1,200,000per vehicle≈ $47–$56 | ₭ 1,500,000 | Any time |
| Fare type | Route | Fair price | Ceiling | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| By distance | ₭ 40,000 + ₭ 8,000 per km Flag fall + per km. Always agree the price before boarding (sample — verify). | ₭ 80,000–100,000per vehicle≈ $3.72–$4.65 | ₭ 130,000 | Daytime |
| By distance | ₭ 50,000 + ₭ 10,000 per km Night rate (approx. 20:00–06:00), usually 20–30% above the day rate. Agree the price first (sample). | ₭ 100,000–130,000per vehicle≈ $4.65–$6.05 | ₭ 170,000 | Night |
| Fixed route | Pakse (Southern terminal) → Paksong market Price per person (shared ride, leaves when full). Chartering the whole vehicle costs much more (sample). | ₭ 50,000–60,000per person≈ $2.33–$2.79 | ₭ 80,000 | Any time |
| Hourly hire | Hourly charter Fuel included; entrance and parking fees extra — DEMO sample data. | ₭ 200,000–250,000per vehicle≈ $9.3–$12 | ₭ 320,000 | Any time |
| Daily hire | Bolaven loop day trip (Tad Fane, Tad Yeung, coffee farms, Paksong) Fuel included; entrance and parking fees not included. Agree the itinerary and price before departure (sample). | ₭ 1,300,000–1,600,000per vehicle≈ $60–$74 | ₭ 2,000,000 | Any time |
| Fare type | Route | Fair price | Ceiling | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| By distance | ₭ 50,000 + ₭ 9,000 per km Flag fall + per km. Always agree the price before boarding (sample — verify). | ₭ 100,000–130,000per vehicle≈ $4.65–$6.05 | ₭ 170,000 | Daytime |
| By distance | ₭ 60,000 + ₭ 11,000 per km Night rate (approx. 20:00–06:00), usually 20–30% above the day rate. Agree the price first (sample). | ₭ 130,000–170,000per vehicle≈ $6.05–$7.91 | ₭ 220,000 | Night |
| Hourly hire | Hourly charter Fuel included; entrance and parking fees extra — DEMO sample data. | ₭ 250,000–320,000per vehicle≈ $12–$15 | ₭ 400,000 | Any time |
| Daily hire | Day charter (about 8 h) Fuel included; entrance and parking fees extra — DEMO sample data. | ₭ 1,500,000–1,900,000per vehicle≈ $70–$88 | ₭ 2,400,000 | Any time |
| Fare type | Route | Fair price | Ceiling | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| By distance | ₭ 10,000 + ₭ 4,000 per km Flag fall + per km. Always agree the price before boarding (sample — verify). | ₭ 15,000–25,000per vehicle≈ $0.7–$1.16 | ₭ 35,000 | Daytime |
| By distance | ₭ 15,000 + ₭ 5,000 per km Night rate (approx. 20:00–06:00), usually 20–30% above the day rate. Agree the price first (sample). | ₭ 25,000–35,000per vehicle≈ $1.16–$1.63 | ₭ 45,000 | Night |
| Fixed route | Paksong tuk-tuk & motorbike-taxi stand → Tad Fane – Tad Yeung turn-off (Km 38) | ₭ 60,000–80,000per vehicle≈ $2.79–$3.72 | ₭ 100,000 | Any time |
| Hourly hire | Hourly charter Fuel included; entrance and parking fees extra — DEMO sample data. | ₭ 50,000–70,000per vehicle≈ $2.33–$3.26 | ₭ 90,000 | Any time |
| Daily hire | Day charter (about 8 h) Fuel included; entrance and parking fees extra — DEMO sample data. | ₭ 250,000–300,000per vehicle≈ $12–$14 | ₭ 400,000 | Any time |
Ride with confidence
Calculate the fair price for any trip, or hire a verified driver whose prices are checked against the standard.