6 DAYS | 5 NIGHTS
Southern Laos is often overlooked in favor of Luang Prabang—wrongly so. Champassak and its Wat Phou temples (UNESCO), the Bolaven Plateau and its coffee plantations, the 4,000 Islands of the Mekong: this region is home to some of the country’s most impressive sites. Asia Safari offers a tailor-made 6-day tour to discover the essentials without rushing.
Key stages of the Southern Laos tour
Pakse, the gateway to Southern Laos
Pakse is the regional capital of the South, with a domestic airport connected to Vientiane and Luang Prabang. Asia Safari organizes your arrival and transfers from Pakse for a stress-free departure.
Champassak and the Wat Phou temples
Wat Phou is a 10th-century Khmer temple complex, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Older than Angkor and less crowded, it offers an archaeological experience of rare intensity in an exceptional natural setting.
The Bolaven Plateau
At 1,000 meters above sea level, the Bolaven Plateau is the coffee basket of Laos. Giant waterfalls (Tad Fane, Tad Yuang), ethnic villages, tea and coffee plantations: a must-stop for nature lovers.
Si Phan Don — The 4,000 Islands
On the Cambodian border, the Mekong splits into thousands of islands. Irrawaddy dolphins (an endangered species) live here. Don Det and Don Khon offer a timeless atmosphere, ideal for unwinding.
Your questions about this tour
How to access Southern Laos from Vientiane?
The fastest way is a domestic flight from Vientiane to Pakse (1h, approx. 50-80 USD). It is also possible to travel by road (10-12h) or take a combined tour that gradually descends. Asia Safari organizes the best option based on your time.
Is Wat Phou really worth the trip?
Absolutely. Wat Phou is often cited as one of the most beautiful archaeological sites in Southeast Asia—more authentic and less crowded than Angkor. The site is particularly magical early in the morning.
Can you see Irrawaddy dolphins in the 4,000 Islands?
Yes, Irrawaddy dolphins are present in the Mekong near Don Khon. A boat excursion at sunset maximizes the chances of observation. The species is highly endangered, with fewer than 100 individuals recorded in this area.
Can this tour be combined with Cambodia?
Yes. The 4,000 Islands are on the Cambodian border. Asia Safari can extend your stay with a crossing to Stung Treng and then Siem Reap (Angkor). A classic for Indochina enthusiasts.
HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR TRIP
Pakse and its colonial quarter
The Bolaven Plateau
Discovery of a tea plantation
Baci Ceremony
Bicycle ride on Don Daeng Island
The Wat Phou temple
The 4,000 Islands and the Khone Phapeng Falls
Meeting the Mekong dolphins
The adventure starts here!
Stop: Pakse
Welcome at Pakse airport by your English-speaking guide who will accompany you throughout this journey. Transfer and check-in at your hotel.
Free time to discover Pakse, a city founded by the French in 1905. Do not miss its old colonial quarter and the banks of the Mekong. In the evening, climb to the top of Mount Salao where you will find a temple and a 30m Buddha, an ideal viewpoint to admire the region. Meals at your leisure and overnight stay at your hotel.
Stop: Bolaven Plateau
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, departure for the Bolaven Plateau. Many families have settled on these fertile lands planted with coffee, introduced during the French colonial era starting in 1920. The plateau offers wild nature with very picturesque falls, among the most impressive in the country. Picnic lunch.
Tea or coffee? Among your discoveries of the day, a tea plantation to taste this popular beverage before having coffee in the village of Ban Phou Oy at Mr. Jhai’s, whose cooperative is a renowned fair trade business.
This evening, a Baci ceremony prepared by the villagers to reunite your 32 souls before dinner and sleeping with a host family in the village.
Stage: Champassak
Breakfast, Lunch
Do not hesitate to wake up early to witness the village waking up and have your breakfast.
Departure for the village of Ban Nong Luang in a protected area of karst formations and forest. Picnic lunch near the waterfalls. Return to the village in the afternoon, then drive to Champassak. Dinner at your leisure and overnight stay at your hotel.
Stage: Champassak
Breakfast
Return to Champassak, an ancient royal city with an architectural heritage of colonial houses and traditional Lao houses. Located 8km away, the magnificent Wat Phou temple, a World Heritage site, reveals a part of the history of the Chenla Kingdom. Smaller but older than the city of Angkor in Cambodia, it exudes a magical atmosphere…
Lunch at your leisure. In the early afternoon, return to Champassak and possibility to visit Don Daeng Island by bicycle and go for a ride on the dirt paths to discover small villages with wooden houses and rice granaries. Dinner at your leisure and overnight stay at your hotel.
Stages: Champassak, 4000 Islands
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Departing from Don Khong Island, sail towards Don Khone for a 2-hour ride on the Mekong of the 4,000 Islands and the Khone Phapeng Falls, where the river breaks over more than 14 meters high. These falls are the largest in Southeast Asia.
Lunch break at Don Khone overlooking the Mekong, then visit the island and its falls known as the Devil’s Falls. Aboard a pirogue, you will go to meet the Mekong dolphins, the only place in the world along with Burma where these freshwater dolphins can be observed.
In the late afternoon, return to Champassak. Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel.
Stop: Pakse
Breakfast
End of your journey. Transfer to Pakse airport.
Our selection of Hotels
Included
- Accommodation in a room for 2 people
- For each participant not sharing a room, add the individual supplement
- All meals mentioned (breakfast and/or lunch and/or dinner)
- All transfers mentioned, in private cars or air-conditioned minibuses
- All excursions mentioned in the program
- All entrance fees to sites
- The service of French-speaking guides for the different stages
- The guide: our quotation includes the salaries and travel expenses of a guide residing in Luang Prabang. If Luang Prabang guides are not available, we bring guides from Vientiane. This incurs an additional cost which will be communicated to you if applicable.
Excluded
- Domestic and international flights
- Drinks during meals and personal expenses
- Services not mentioned above
- Meals not mentioned above
- Bank or exchange fees related to payment for the trip
- Laotian visa fees (30 USD/person plus one passport photo). As a precaution, plan for 35 USD/person plus two passport photos)
- Your passport must be valid for 6 months after the exit date from the country
- Cancellation / assistance / repatriation and luggage insurance
- Tips
Personalized follow-up
Each client receives personalized follow-up:
- Your French-speaking Asia Safari advisor informs and assists you in your choices, targets your expectations before designing your trip
- From your arrival until your departure day, you benefit from Asia Safari assistance throughout the trip
- We are regularly in the field to ensure the reliability of our partners
- We invest in research and development to integrate novelty and originality into our offer
- We only employ experienced guides
Important
- The services, flights, and hotels offered are subject to availability at the time of booking
- Domestic or international flight schedules may be delayed or changed without prior notice
- Our prices are guaranteed by the payment of a 30% deposit of the total amount of your trip
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Why choose Asia Safari for your trip to Laos?
Asia Safari is not a generalist tour operator based in France. We have been on site, in Vientiane, for over 25 years. Our guides are Lao, our accommodations are hand-picked, and each itinerary is tailor-made. The result: a vibrant, fair trip, without unnecessary frills.
- Local French-speaking agency: we speak your language and know the country from the inside
- Zero intermediaries: you deal directly with the local team
- Truly tailor-made: no fixed catalog — each trip is unique
- 25+ years of experience: founded in 2002, Asia Safari assists hundreds of French-speaking travelers every year
How does our tailor-made service work?
1. You send us your request (dates, budget, desires, profile)
2. We build a proposal within 48 hours — day-by-day itinerary, accommodations, all-inclusive price
3. You refine it with us until the trip is perfect
4. We manage everything on site: guides, transport, hotels, activities
When to visit Laos?
The best period is October to April — dry season, pleasant temperatures. The rainy season (May to September) is also possible: lush landscapes and fewer tourists, but some roads can be difficult. Asia Safari advises you according to the region and type of trip.
Laos, the heart of your Indochina tour
Laos is often the surprise of a trip: uncrowded, authentic, with a quiet beauty. Asia Safari makes Laos much more than a stopover — we make it the central experience of your stay, before or after Vietnam, Cambodia, or Thailand.
Our most requested Indochina combinations
Laos + Cambodia: A classic — temples of Luang Prabang and Angkor Wat, Mekong and Tonlé Sap. 15 days minimum recommended.
Laos + Vietnam: Two contrasting countries — the calm of Laos and the energy of Vietnam. From Hanoi to Vientiane or vice versa.
Northern Laos + Yunnan: For travelers seeking originality — travel from Yunnan to Laos via the Laos-China railway (inaugurated 2021).
Grand Indochina Tour (40 days): Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand — a memorable trip for life.
Tips for preparing your multi-country tour
Visas: each country has its own rules — Asia Safari guides you through all procedures.
Ideal duration: allow a minimum of 12 to 15 days for a 2-country combination.
Seasons: seasons vary by country — we help you choose the best window.
Budget: prices vary greatly by country. Laos is cheaper than Vietnam or Thailand.
Our Story
Jean-Paul Duvergé arrived in Laos at the turn of the 2000s, fell in love with the country, and decided to stay. In 2002, he founded Asia Safari with a simple idea: to offer French-speaking travelers direct access to authentic Lao life, without the filter of large Parisian agencies. Since then, the agency has assisted thousands of travelers, built a network of trusted guides and partners, and refined its philosophy: rigorous tailor-made travel, serving authenticity.
What sets us apart
We are on site: Our team works from Vientiane. We know the roads, seasons, accommodations, guides — and what changed last week. No outdated brochures.
We speak your language: Asia Safari is a 100% French-speaking agency. All our communications, proposals, and guides speak French.
Zero intermediaries: You work directly with us. No central purchasing, no Parisian subcontractors. Fairer prices and higher service quality.
Tailor-made as our only model: We do not have standardized tours. Each trip is designed from scratch, according to your dates, budget, desires, and traveler profile.
Our commitment
Asia Safari actively supports responsible tourism in Laos: prioritizing local accommodations, tours that benefit village communities, respect for cultural and natural sites.
Laos in figures
Area: 236,800 km² | Population: approximately 7.5 million inhabitants | Capital: Vientiane | Official language: Lao | Religion: Theravada Buddhism (65% of the population) | Currency: Lao Kip (LAK) | Time zone: UTC+7
Laos must-sees
Luang Prabang: Former royal capital, a UNESCO World Heritage site, its golden temples, French colonial houses, and gentle way of life make it an undeniable favorite.
Vientiane: The human-sized capital — That Luang, Patuxai, and the banks of the Mekong are worth a visit.
Vang Vieng: Surrounded by limestone karsts, ideal for kayaking, caving, and hiking.
Southern Laos and 4000 Islands: Champassak, the Vat Phou temples (UNESCO), the Bolaven Plateau, and the Mekong islands.
Lao culture
Theravada Buddhism permeates all of Lao life. The alms giving (offerings to monks at dawn) in Luang Prabang is a daily ritual of great beauty. Lao festivals — Boun Pi Mai (Lao New Year in April), Boun Ok Phansa (Festival of Lights) — are exceptional times to travel.
Nature and biodiversity
Laos is 70% covered by forests. Its protected areas are home to rare species: Asian elephants, gibbons, sun bears. The rivers and plateaus offer natural settings of rare purity in Asia.
