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Si Phan Don - 4000 Islands
Code: LOT01 - Duration: 4 DaysStart: Pakse | Finish: Pakse
Start the tour in Pakse – the largest city in Southern Laos situated at the confluence of the Xedone and Mekong River. From here, we will savor the exquisite coffee and tea in the fertile Bolaven Plateau while taking in the stunning view of cascading waterfalls in Tad Lo and Tad Fane Waterfalls. At Wat Phou, you will explore the ancient temple ruins at Wat Phou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is beautifully well preserved Continue your trip further in the south part of Laos to visit amazing Khong Island with the 4000 Islands: The old French Colonial buildings, the beautiful Liphi Waterfall and famous waterfall of Khone Phapeng where the tranquil Mekong River give way to the seething. Here, you will have chance to spot the rare Irrawaddy dolphins which are believed to bring you tremendous luck for the future.
Highlights:
- Immerse yourself into the pure and fresh atmosphere of the Bolaven Plateau known for its cooler temperature and beautiful villages
- End your trip by visit the fascinating pre-Angkorian ruins of Wat Phu, one of Southeast Asia's most dramatically situated temples.
- Discover the Si Phan Done - 4000 islands - with the possible observation of freshwater dolphins
- Charming hotels in great locations
- Comfortable & spacious vehicle for transfers
Itinerary in brief:
Day 1: Pakse arrival - Bolaven Plateau - Pakse (-/-/-)
Day 2: Pakse - Wat Phou - Khong Island (B/L/-)
Day 3: Khong Island - Si Phan Don - Pakse (B/L/-)
Day 4: Pakse - Departure (B/-/-)- Ability to change the direction of the program
- Possibility of an extension in Vietnam & Cambodia
Notes:
- We specialize in “tailor-made” tours for groups of two or more. We carefully inspect each step of your journey from the accommodation to the perfect guide to suit your needs
- The itinerary is open to modification to fit your personal travel needs
- Modifications to the itinerary may increase the price of the package
- For the price of this trip, just ask for a quote by clicking on "TOUR PRICE"
- If you are looking for a trip modified to your requirements, please send us your needs by filling out the form in “Customize your trip”
- We will contact and send you a quote, excluding holiday period, within 48 hours of receiving your request.- Immerse yourself into the pure and fresh atmosphere of the Bolaven Plateau known for its cooler temperature and beautiful villages
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Day 1: Pakse arrival - Bolaven Plateau – Pakse (-/-/-)
Pakse - Bolaven Plateau: 38km, ~45min drive
Upon arrival at Pakse airport, you will be met and transferred to hotel by our guide and driver. After making sure of your successful hotel check-in, they will be pleased to leave you free time for your own lunch and leisure to recover after the long flight.This afternoon is spent to enjoy a short tour of Pakse town. On the confluence of the Mekong and the Sedone River, Pakse is the most important town in Southern Laos. Pakse is the home a very important Vietnamese community and if you visit this town during Tet Holiday or Vietnamese New Year, do not be surprised if many shops are closed. Pakse is an interesting small town with some colonial and Chinese buildings and a huge local market selling fresh food. Pakse is close to most of the main attractions in Southern Laos including: the prestigious pre-Angkorian temples of Wat Phou, the Bolaven Plateau and its coffee plantations and waterfalls as well as the quiet and relaxing 4000 islands.
Then depart for the Bolaven Plateau, a mountainous region home to dozens of hill tribes, waterfalls and coffee and tea plantations. The first stops are at Tad Fane and Tad Yuang waterfalls. Tad Fane is a set of twin 120-meter-high waterfalls formed by the merging waters of the Champy and Pak Koot rivers. These impressive falls are situated on the edge of Dong Hua Sao protected area, 38km from Paksé (Note: water levels may vary accordingly to the previous rainy season). Make a short stop in Paksong, the small capital of coffee. Then, continue east to reach the Sinouk Coffee Resort. An expert in coffee will guide you through the coffee plantation and you will learn more about how the coffee trees are grown and the difference processing stages. After the visit, enjoy a delicious lunch. Most of the vegetables supplied to the cuisine come from our home-grown organic garden. Following lunch, you will of course have the chance to taste different types of coffee. On the drive back to Pakse, two stops will be made. The first stop is the visit of Tad Lo waterfalls, a beautiful formation of three separate falls. From the bridge you will first see Tad Hang and then Tad Lo in the distance. The most impressive of the three, Tad Suong, is located a further 10km upriver. The second stop is the small village of Ban Houay Houn, famous for his Katu textiles. Here, you will have the chance to observe the women weaving without a traditional loom but using their legs to stretch the fabric. Return to Pakse in the late afternoon and transfer to the hotel.
Meals Included: None
Accommodation: Hotel in PakseDay 2: Pakse - Wat Phou - Khong Island (B/L/-)
Pakse - Champasak: 30km, ~50min drive
After breakfast at hotel, we travel by road to Wat Phou. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Wat Phou is a spectacular pre-Angkorian temple that sits amidst the rice fields and waterways of southern Laos. The temple was constructed in three levels: the bottom level is focused on the baray (water reservoir) and promenade, the second level features quadrangular pavilions and galleries of carvings, and the top level is the sanctuary itself. The temple was built by the rulers of the Khmer empire before the construction of Angkor Wat. The temple served as the most important economic and political centre of the region and still is one of the Lao people’s most revered temples. Pass through Champassak, driving through streets lined with French colonial buildings, and stop for lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch, continue on to Khong Island, the biggest island in Southern Laos and the start of the 4000 Islands Region. Called “Siphandon in Lao language, this area is where the Mekong stretches over 14km wide and has thousands of islands between those the river flows and runs between cascades and rapids.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Khong IslandDay 3: Khong Island - Si Phan Don – Pakse (B/L/-)
Khong Island - Pakse: 130km, ~1h40min drive
Breakfast is served at hotel. 08:00a.m, we depart for a full day exploring the area known locally as Siphandon (‘4000 Islands’). In this beautiful area the Mekong River spreads 14 kilometers wide, creating thousands of small islands. Travel first by car for around two hours to the village of Ban Nakasan. From here, you will take a local boat to the peaceful island of Done Khone, which is home to plantations and simple villages. Bicycles are the best way to explore, but a tuk-tuk can be arranged if you prefer. Visit the impressive Lippi falls, which are on the west of Don Khone, very close to the Cambodian border. Their original name, Tad Somphamit, means “trap spirit” and the locals revere these falls as they believe they act as a trap for bad spirits. The islands played an important role during the French colonial rule as they linked Laos to Cambodia and southern Vietnam. To cross the waterfalls, a railway bridge was built and it now provides the perfect place for guests to take their time and soak up the view. You will then make a short boat trip, which will give guests the chance to spot the rare Irrawaddy dolphin. Please note that sightings are never guaranteed. Continue the exploration and ease in to the slow pace of life, observing locals, before lunch is served at a local restaurant. Return to Pakse by boat and then transfer to hotel by car, arriving back in time for sunset.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in PakseDay 4: Pakse - Departure (B/-/-)
Breakfast is served at hotel. Depending on your departing flight, you may have time at leisure before your transfer to the airport for departure. End of our services!
Meals Included: Breakfast
Prices
This trip is private and therefore can be altered to suit your needs, date of commencement and budget requirements.
Prices vary due to a number of specifics:
- Seasonal: during high season (October-April), the prices of services are generally higher when compared to the low season (May-September).
- The number of participants: the more of you that travel together the less you will pay!
- The choice of hotels: Fairly obvious one here; a 5-star hotel can cost ten times as much as a 2 star hotel.
- The activities during the trip: Two trips on the same itinerary and of the same length can have two different prices depending on the number and nature of activities included.
- The booking date: In some cases, booking your trip late can drastically affect prices due to their low availability.
Inclusion:
- Accommodation as recommended or similar category according to availability.
- Transfers according to program by private air-conditioned vehicle with driver except free day
- English-speaking guide’s assistance at every stage
- Meals as indicated in program (B: Breakfast /L: Lunch / D: Dinner)
- Entrance fees for attractions included in the program
- All activities and cruises clearly mentioned in the program
- Water and cool tissues
- Government taxes & service charge
Exclusion:
- Other drinks and meals not clearly mentioned
- Early check-in, late check-out
- Personal expenditures, tips
- Personal insurance (compulsory)
- Any service not clearly mentioned in the program
- International air transfers associated with airport taxes
- Visa and visa arrangement (available upon request)
Booking
Here are 2 steps to book your trip with Tonkin-Travel:
Step 1. Focus on your travel program:
You can choose this trip as is or customize it to your specific desires. Just click on the “Customize this trip” tab and fill in the form. One of our travel consultants will contact you within 48 hours to develop the travel program based on your specifications.
Step 2. Booking:
- Following the first step, tour program is selected and we access the rates.
- Upon confirmation of the trip, the registration must be accompanied by a deposit up to 25% of the total estimate.
- For programs with private junk (cruise) and/or 5 star hotels, the deposit is represented by 30% of the total estimate.
- Tonkin-Travel carries out the booking process upon receipt of the deposit. Confirmation of these reservations is sent to customer within 10 days via email
Nature of travel
This trip is private. That implies:
- You will be escorted by a private guide and driver. This approach guarantees a smooth trip with fewer organizational constraints.
- You will be the master of your trip. We guarantee flexibility in organizing visits at your request.
- Our services will be personalized according to your desires. Thus the proposals in this package are not fixed and you can bring suggest all the desired changes.
- You receive individualized care: ample food, organizing small events (anniversary, honeymoon, etc.), targeted information, followed necessary modifications, etc.
Accommodation
- Accommodation is an important expenditure of your trip. When you choose a luxury trip for example, the accommodation can represent three quarters of the price. Thus, your choice of hotels is closely related to your budget.
- Tonkin-Travel has negotiated rates with a wide range of hotels from 2 to 5 stars.
- In some places you will have the option to choose ‘home-stay’. Although this provides less comfort that a hotel it is a truly authentic experience and highly recommended for at least one night of your journey.
Transport
All transfers during your trip are covered by private vehicle with driver, unless otherwise indicated in our offer. We ensure that our vehicles are new and comfortable. Fuel, tolls, accommodation, compensation and the driver are included in our offer. Only gratuities are not included and are at your discretion.
The size of the selected vehicle is based on the number of tour participants according to the following quality standards:
No. of participants
2 pax
3 pax
From 4 to 7 pax
From 8 to 14 pax
From 15 to 20 pax
Vehicle size
Car 4-7 seats
Car 7 or minivan
16 seatsMinivan 16 seats
Bus 24 seats
Bus 35 or 45 seats
Domestic flights
If your trip includes domestic flights if any, they will be operated by Vietnam Airlines, the largest airline in Vietnam. The fleet consists mainly of Airbus and Boeing. On some short trips, the company operates 72 ATR and some Fokker.
Rail transport
Train travel can be offered (particularly between Hanoi-Lao Cai and Hanoi-Hue). Travelling at a speed of 60km/h on average it is not necessarily the fastest but an interesting experience nonetheless.
This form allows us to establish a tour proposal suitable for your needs. It is free and without obligation-
This form allows us to establish a tour proposal suitable for your needs. It is free and without obligation
