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Laos: Trip in the Bolovens
Highlights of tour:
This 5 days circuit through the Bolovens Plateau, will afford you to meet local ethnic groups through authentic and sincere encounters. Seated into strong and solid 4WD vehicle, you will pass through villages, in front of waterfalls et through coffee & tea plantations. You will spend your nights in few attended villages while Mr Khamsone will always be with you to share informations about communities, the Plateau, the coffee and the History of the region.
Day 1: Arrival in Paksé – Bolovens Plateau- Thatheng (L,D)
Once in Paksé, collection of your luggage and welcome by your guide to discover the South of the country. Then, transfer to the town to enjoy your lunch at La Terrasse, a new comer in Pakse. Then, we will head to the Bolovens Plateau to discover, if timing allows us, some amazing waterfalls within a beautiful natural environment.
Just imagine a 120m twin waterfalls in the middle of the jungle in Tad Fane or the smaller waterfalls of Tad Yuang. Dinner and overnight in the Bolovens.
Day 2: Thatheng- Paksong- Tad Moun- Phou Sanark (B,L,D)
Breakfast at the hotel before going to Paksong (around 9am, about 30 minutes’ drive), the capital of Coffee in Laos. ). Once in this little town, you will change your vehicle to jump into an old but really strong 4WD Russian and/ or Chinese Jeeps (not really comfortable, but reliable cars.
A unique & memorable experience) to head towards Tad Moun waterfalls. The driver will stop just near and a short walk will drop you to the waterfalls. Possibility to spend a bit of time for swimming and to chill out before starting an easy 4km walk towards Khamsone’s farm. During your walk, you will pass long a former airfield used by the American during the Second Indochina war.
Around noon, we will arrive at Khamsone’s farm where you will be awaited for your lunch. In the afternoon, we will walk through the coffee trees plantations to better understand the natural environment needed to grow them : altitude, relief, soils, exposure, etc… This session will be ended by a 45 minutes’ walk to a cave used as a shelter during the war. From there, you will enjoy a beautiful sunset from the top of Phou Sanark Mountain before returning to the farm to be involved into the preparation of the dinner. Dinner at the farm.
After dinner, it will be time to learn more on the coffee beans through explanations, a roasting session and a degustation in order to discover the differences between a Robusta, an Arabica or even a Typica.
Overnight at the farm.
Day 3: Khamsone’s farm – Tad Kador- Tad Maihear- Ban Mongsoun (B,L,D)
Breakfast at the farm around an excellent cup of homemade coffee.
Then, we will hop in the jeeps to drive to an ethnic Suay village. Along our way we will stop at a cooperative which gathers several small local producers. Another stop will be done at Tad Kador waterfalls before reaching the Suay village of Ban Kha Nyon Khet Niay (subject to change depending on running events in the area). After, we will follow our itinerary to Tad Maihear waterfalls where you will enjoy a nice picnic. Then, we will pursue our trip to the Lavens village of Ban Mongsoun (subject to change) and where you will spend your overnight.
Installation before starting a short walk around the village and its vicinity and you could as well participate to the daily duties of the village, help to prepare the dinner. Dinner and overnight in the village.
Day 4 : Ban Mongsoun- Paksong- Champassak- Don Daeng (B)
Breakfast in the village before returning back to Paksong where we will catch our minivan for a 2 hours’ drive towards the charming town of Champassak. Once in Champassak, we will embark on a boat to cross the Mekong and reach your lodge for the night.
Your lodge is a really nice property build around several bungalows settled in a tropical garden on Don Daeng Island. Don Daeng Island is the first island we can meet on the Mekong and is announcing the famous 4000 islands and is located just opposite of Champassak town and the pre -angkorian temple of Vat Phou.
Once on the island, free time at leisure and take your time to discover the island and the surrounding of your resort (bikes at disposal). Enjoy as well the facilities of the property. Overnight on the island.
Day 5 : Don Daeng – Champassak – Vat Phou (B,L)
Breakfast at your hotel and then we will head to Vat Phou a pre-angkorian temple registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site since December 2001. Visit of the site and of the town of Champassak, former capital of the eponym kingdom and where there are still some building of the French period.
Once the visits are done, the lunch will be served at Inthira Restaurant before continuing towards your next destination.
