Wat Phu - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

The Bolaven Plateau is one of the little-known highlights of southern Laos. It’s a region filled with tribal villages, traditional coffee farms, and some of Laos’ most spectacular waterfalls. The beauty of this place is so interesting and also the climate and the views from here are a treat for your eyes. The plateau's elevation ranges approximately from 1,000 to 1,350 metres above sea level. The plateau is crossed by several rivers and has many scenic waterfalls.

Champasak Palace, in Pakse, Laos, was intended to be a residence of the Prince of Champasak, Chao Boun Oum. However, he had to abandon it in 1974 before it was finished, as the Royal Lao government was overthrown by the communist Pathet Lao. After the revolution, the building was completed and served as a venue for the communist party congresses and accommodation for visiting dignitaries. The palace was converted into a hotel in 1995.

Si Phan Don (4,000 Islands) is an archipelago in the Mekong River containing a large number of islands of varying shapes and sizes, some of which are often submerged during the monsoon season. The southern islands of Don Dhet and Don Khong are the most visited, while the rest are uninhabited due to their minute size.

Phou Xieng Thong National Protected Area is a national protected area in Salavan and Champasak provinces of southern Laos. This park, the country's only park on the Mekong river, is home to a wide variety of animal and plant species, some endangered. The park is an ecotourism destination. This park has a large variety of flora and fauna and is also a center for a large variety of wildlife.

Dong Hua Sao covers an area of 1,100 sq km. This protected area is located in the province of Champasak within the districts of Bachieng . The lowland plains comprise over half of the protective area with the elevation ranging from 100 to 1000 m. The area’s vegetation consists mainly of evergreen forest in the lowlands and the uplands with dry dipterocarp forest and mixed deciduous forest. It is one of the conservative area of a wide range of wildlife.

Don Det is an island in the Mekong River in the Si Phan Don archipelago in Champasak Province of southern Laos. Don Det features a tropical wet and dry climate. The Khone Phapheng Falls, a succession of impassable rapids that gave rise to the construction of the railway, are among the main features accessible from Don Det. Freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins, an endangered species, can be viewed by boat.