The southern zone follows the Mekong from Pakse down to the Cambodian border and holds southern Laos' UNESCO World Heritage site and its grandest nature.
Highlights
- Wat Phou — UNESCO-listed, pre-Angkorian temple complex over 1,000 years old at the foot of Phou Kao
- Champasak old town — French colonial houses along a quiet stretch of the Mekong
- Kiet Ngong / Xe Pian — elephant village and wetlands
- Si Phan Don (Don Det, Don Khon, Don Khong) — riverside hammocks, cycling and sunsets
- Li Phi (Somphamit) falls and Khone Phapheng, the largest falls in Southeast Asia by volume — the grand southern Mekong
- The old French railway and bridge on Don Khon
Getting there: Wat Phou is about 45 km from Pakse (via the Ban Muang ferry or the west-bank road). Nakasang pier is about 145 km away by van or bus, then a boat to Don Det / Don Khon — always confirm whether a boat price is "per person" or "per boat".
Sample data — please verify before travelling.