Champasak Trips & Tours

A bundle of adventure-inducing sights, dynasty ruins and gorgeous scenery in Laos' sleepy south.

Home to UNESCO-listed wonders, glorious jungle, and soaring waterfalls, Champasak is more than enough reason to head south in Laos. The name Champasak refers to both the town (sleepy, riverside, small) and the province, the capital of which is Pakse. For 200 years (c.1713 to 1904), Champasak town was the seat of an independent kingdom in Laos, and the faded grandeur of a once royal city is still evident. But the star of the show down here is the graceful ruin of Wat Phu Champasak. Often thought to be the blueprint for Angkor Wat, the temple was built at the zenith of the Khmer Empire, and dedicated to the Hindu God, Shiva. Framed by the Phou Khao Mountains and much of it covered in fragrant frangipani, the temple perhaps isn’t as large or gasp-worthy as Angkor Wat, but it’s soulful, fascinating and hugely worthy of a trip. Otherwise, there’s plenty more to do ‘down south’, from boat trips around the magical 4,000 Islands archipelago to kayaking on the Mekong (eyes peeled for the endangered freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins).

What to do in Champasak

Sitting pretty on the banks of the Mekong River, Champasak is a nature-lover's dream. Set out on a boat trip round the 4,000 Islands archipelago to spy incredible numbers of birdlife, tiny villages, ancient ruins and a collection of beautiful beaches. Or meander down the Mekong on a kayak with your eyes peeled for endangered Irrawaddy dolphins. Bank on land, Champasak town was once an independent royal capital, which is reflected in the ornate architecture. One of its greatest sights is the Wat Phou ruins, which are believed to have been a blueprint for Angkor Wat. Get to know the local customs with a visit to bamboo basket makers, silk weavers and nearby markets overflowing with handicrafts.