Pakse Travel Guide

Pakse is the capital of Champasak province, situated at the confluence of two rivers, the Mekong river and Se-Done river.

Currently its population is approximately 70,000 people and is one of the biggest town in southern of Laos. For century this town has been the commercial centre for the people in the south. Apart from poor and unreliable roads the Mekong river provide an excellence transportation route from north to south linking this city by boats.

Since opening the bridge in 2002 across the Mekong river and the improvement of road infrastructure, Pakse had changed rapidly. As the traffic begin to flow from Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand the city become more commercial and ideal place for travel and tourism. From here you can continue to explore the Boleven Plateau, Wat Phu and Si Phan Done

Pakse has a wide range of hotels and guest houses for you to choose from. If you are looking for nice accommodation, good view with air-conditioning Champasak Palace hotel may be the right one for you. To compare price and booking visit Pakse Hotels

Pakse International Airport:

Pakse International Airport is 3km north of town and offers scheduled flights to Vientiane, Bangkok and Siem Reap.

Domestic Flight

Laos Airlines flies between Pakse and Vientiane daily (one way US$95, 70 minutes flight), and to Luang Prabang twice per week (one way US$135, 1 hour 40 minutes flight).

International Fight

Laos Ailines flies to Phnom Penh twice per week (US$95 one way, 70 minutes flight and three timesper week to Siem Reap (US$85, 45 minutes flight).

Bangkok Airways and Siem Reap Airways also fly between Pakse-Bangkok and Pakse-Siem Reap a couple of services per week.

Pakse Tourist Information

Provincial Tourist Office
business hours:
Morning: 8.00am to 12.00 Noon
After-noon: 1.30pm to 4.00pm
Tel: 212021
Adress: Sedone River (near Laos Airlines Office)

Hospital: 212018
Police: 212145

Internet Access

Laos is now have internet cafes. The prices are cheap, connection is fast and reliable and internet shops are widely available in the main cities. Many of the shops are also offer international phones services too. Here are some popular internet shops available in Pakse:

The currency of Laos is "Kip". There are no coins in circulation.Notes of Kip are ranging from 50kip to 20,000kip.

Us dollars and Thai Bath are widely accepted in most shops, restaurants and hotels. Major currencies and traveller's cheques in US dollars and pounds sterling can be exchanged at most leading banks.

• BCEL
  Open hour: 8.30am-3.30pm (Moday-Friday)
  Saturday: 8.30-10.00am
  Tel: 212770
  

• Lao development Bank
  Open hour: 8am-4pm (Monday-Friday)
  Sat & Sun: 8am-3pm
  Tel: 212168
  

• Lao Viet Bank
  Open hour: 9.30am-4pm
  Tel: 251470
  

Sightseeing and Activities

Pakse is more like a center in the south for travellers to continue their journey to Boliven Plateau or Si Phan Don (Khong Islands) in the south. But once you are at Pakse you better of visiting:

• Champasak Historical Heritage Museum
  Address: Km2 Route 13 South
  Ban PhoneSa-Ath, Pakse
  Tel: 856 (0) 212501
  Business hours:
  Morning: 8.30am-11.30am
  After-noon: 1.00pm-4.00pm
  

Buses And Others Transportation

Pakse provides esily and convenient transportation for you to travel. There are several bus terminals you need to know where you want to go.

Northern Bus Terminal
Situated on route 13 at 7Km north of town also known in Lao language as Khiu lot lak jet. This bus terminal operates the bus from Pakse to Vientiane between 6.30am to 4.30pm. You also can go to Savannakhet and Thakek using this terminal. Most of the bus do not have air conditioning and normally slow and very crowded as the fare is very cheap. If you have plenty time and like to experience the real life travel of Lao people maybe this option is for you.

Southern Bus Terminal
Situated on route 13 at 8Km south of town also known in Lao language as Khiu lot lak pet. This bus terminal operates the bus from Pakse to Si Phan Don (Khong Island), Boliven Plateu (Paksong) and many others destinations as below:

• Pakse to Si Phan Don
  Bus or SongTheo leave from this terminal between 10am-3.00pm several times per day.
  Fare to Muong Khong including ferry (US$3.50). Three hours journey of 120km.
  

• Pakse to Nakasang for Don det and Ban Don Khon
  Bus or SongTheo leave from this terminal between 7.30am-3.00pm several times per day.
  Fare to Nakasang (US$3.50) three to four hours ride. Some of the buses go all the way to Veun Kham on the Cambodia border.
  

• Pakse to Paksong
  Bus or Songtheo leave for Paksong five times per day stoping at tat Fan on your resquest. Fare (US$2.00) travel time 1.30 minutes.
  

• Pakse to Salavan
  It takes between three to four hours to travel to Salavan. Fare (US$2.50) distance 115Km. Bus or Songtheo leave this terminal several times per day via route 20, stopping at Tat Lo on your requestr>
  

• Pakse to Sekong
  Buses to Sekong (US$3.00, three to four hours ride, 135Km) leaving this terminal three times a day at 7.30am, 9.30am and 2.00pm
  

• Parkse to Attapeu
  Buses to Atteu also stop at Paksong, Tha-Teng and Sekong.Leaving this terminal at 6.30am, 8.00am, 10.30am and sometimes at 1.00pm. Fare (US$4.00), 212Km travel time five to six hours.
  

VIP Bus Station

• Pakse to Vientiane
  Also known as the Evening Market Bus Station or Km2 Bus Station operates VIP buses to Vientiane. Fare (US$13.00) travel time eight to ten hours, distance 677km. It's possible to take this buses to Savannakhet or Thakek.
  

• Thai-Lao Internatinal buses
  Pakse to Ubon Ratchatani
  Buses leave Pakse at 7am, 8.30am, 2.00pm and 3.30pm. Fare 200B, travel time around 3 hours, 126Km.
  

Buses From Talat Dao Heung (Dao Heuang Market)

• Pakse to Thai boder at Vang Tao and Chong Mek
  Songtheo leave from Talat Dao Heuang to Vang Tao regulary, fare (Us$0.80) take about 75 minutes to get there, distance 44km.
  Taxi about US$2.00 per person about 45 minutes.
  

• Pakse to Champasak (wat-Phu)
  Buses and SongTheo leave from Dao Heuang market to Champasak regulary. Fare (US$1.50) for one to two hours ride.
  

• Pakse to Ban Saphai
  Buses and SongTheo leave from this terminal too between 7.00am to 4.00pm daily. Fare (US$0.50) for 40 minutes travel.
  

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