Bolaven Plateau situated in southern Laos is known for its landscapes illustrating unspoilt nature: myriads of waterfalls and green scenery. It can be considered an ideal place to take a rest or the one perfect to have a tour visiting waterfalls while staying in Pakse. Also this time we recommend you to hop on a motorbike although the area you will have to move along covers 180-200km. We purchased a tour at a tourist agency tempted to see 3 more attractions in one day and paid 2,50USD more per capita comparing the costs of taking a motorbike for 2, but later we regreted that we did not do that the usual way – on a motorcycle, despite the large distance to traverse. For sure it would have been more fun! (Especially since our driver was driving his clunker so fu(..)ing slowly!…)

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P1210759  Everywhere in Pakse when renting a motorbike you will get a map of Bolaven Plateau for free with names of waterfalls and coffee plantations along the way. Below you can find an exemplary photo. The cheapest price in Pakse for renting a motorbike is unfortunately still a more expensive offer than in other Asian countries (10USD) + fuel for the whole day (5USD) + admission fees to the waterfalls (yes! Unfortunately.. everywhere you have to pay approximately 10.000Kip / 1,25USD, and sometimes there’s a parking fee too – 3.000Kip / 0,40USD).

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The most impressive waterfalls along the way are: Tad FaneTad Champi & Tad Yuang (38km from Pakse), Tad Hang  & Tad Lo (124km from Pakse), and Tad Pasuam (35km from Pakse back the other way).

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waterfall tad lo

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Along the way you can enter one of coffee (and tea) plantations, although, to be honest, you shouldn’t expect such plantations as in Colombia, these ones look rather like small ” gardens ” where coffee is grown.

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Moreover, you can come across many villages along the way, where people breed an impressive number of pigs!

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Reaching the last waterfall it is possible to visit an ethnic village located in the same area.

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There is nothing better than these views of pure nature accompanied by natural sound of water that help you calm down internally and clear your mind off problems. A fantastic spot to relax and feel proximity of nature. The only downside is that you have to pay for all that…

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And how did we get to Pakse?

From Vientiane we got to Pakse by a comfortable night bus! Literally we slept in a double bed (the bus is filled with double beds :)) and they provided us with blankets, pillows, water, packed lunch (whole journey takes up to 12h). Do not let yourself be screwed up by choosing a little bit cheaper sleeper bus (that costs below 150.000Kip / 18-19USD), because the difference is huge! In Laos they have 2 different companies that offer a night transport from Vientiane to the south of the country. The company that offers cheaper dilapidated buses with beds not longer than 160cm and sordid toilets makes you pay only 2,50USD less than the other one with nice night buses. This better company currently has its tickets available at the station for 170.000Kip (much inflated price, in Vientiane in some travel agencies they will sell you a ticket for 150.000Kip including the pick-up from your hotel) and offers a very comfortable bus with beds 175cm long, and it is clean, tidy , the bathroom is fine and you can really get some sleep 🙂 How would you know if someone sends you the right tickets for the right bus? You should get a characteristic yellow ticket (picture below). The only drawback is that if you travel alone there is a risk that you will sleep with a stranger! If you want to avoid this, then unfortunately you have to pay for the double bed as a whole…

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