Champasak and the 4000 Islands Tours & Holidays

Champasak is a small town in southern Laos, on the west bank of the Mekong River. Once the seat of the Kingdom of Champasak, an independent Lao state which was abolished by the French in 1945, the town now stands at the heart of the Champasak province, home to the stunning Si Phan Don, also known as the 4000 Islands. The islands are a maze of watery passages, full of fishermen in small crafts hoping for a full net. Don Khong, the largest of these islands was the birth place of the current president of Laos. Muang Khong is the main village on the island and a sensational base to discover the surrounding area from. During the French era the islands of Don Det and Don Khong were vital in their supply link between Saigon and Laos. A short journey across the Mekong lies Don Daeng Island, with it's tranquil environment and sandy beaches. Today it is sleepy settlement, consisting mostly of guesthouses along the riverbank, catering to travellers visiting the Wat Phou temple ruins some 10km away. Wat Phou, a ruined Khmer temple complex and World Heritage Site, is located at the base of mount Phu Kaoa and there was a temple on the site as early as the 5th century. The smallest of the three inhabited islands in the magnificent 4000 Islands, Khone Island is just 7km long and 3km wide. Reputed for its coconut grove which the French explorer Francis Garnier called "The Fluvial Lao Tahiti", this tiny island has a friendly village vibe. Best explored by bicycle, you can experience rural life, visit typical Buddhist temples and discover the remnants left by the French troops, including a decayed railway bridge and a number of colonial villas. There are also a number of lovely waterfalls including the raging "Devil Corridor" Li Phi Waterfalls.