8 Days Cycling in Pakse

An 8-day Pakse cycling tour is the ultimate way to experience the raw beauty of Southern Laos. This definitive itinerary balances the steep, mist-shrouded waterfalls and coffee plantations of the Bolaven Plateau with the flat, sun-drenched paths of the Mekong River valley, the ancient Vat Phou Khmer ruins, and the peaceful island-hopping paradise of the 4,000 Islands (Si Phan Don). An 8-day Pakse and Southern Laos cycling tour typically covers the lush lowlands of the Mekong, the ancient ruins of Wat Phou, the 4000 Islands archipelago, and the towering coffee plantations of the Bolaven Plateau. Cyclists can cover around 337 km across 6 active riding days. Mix of challenging mountain climbs (on the plateau) and flat tarmac/dirt paths (along the Mekong).

Tour Itinerary
Dates & Prices
Inclusions
Photos Gallery

Day 1: Arrival in Pakse & Warm-Up Ride ( D )

Route: Pakse City Exploration & Don Kho Island.
Distance: ~25 km.
Details: Arrive in Pakse airport, pur driver and tour guide will pick up and check into your hotel, and pick up your gear at our hub like Mountain Bike Pakse. Take an afternoon warm-up ride to Ban Saphai weaving village. Board a small boat across the Mekong to Don Kho Island to cycle past local stilt houses and watch traditional silk weaving. Catch the sunset over the Mekong from the Vat Phou Salao golden Buddha viewpoint.
Stay: Pakse hotel

Day 2: Pakse to the Bolaven Plateau (Tad Fane) ( B, L, D )

Route: Pakse to Paksong / Tad Fane.
Distance: ~50 km (heavy uphill climb).
Details: Begin your ascent onto the fertile Bolaven Plateau. The road climbs steadily, transitioning from lowland heat to crisp mountain air. Cycle past sprawling coffee plantations before pulling into the Dong Hua Sao National Protected Area. Your reward is Tad Fane Waterfall, twin torrents plunging 120 meters down a jungle gorge.
Stay: Tad Fane Resort or a nearby highland eco-lodge.

Day 3: Waterfall Hopping & Coffee Estates ( B, L, D )

Route: Tad Fane to Tad Lo via Paksong.
Distance: ~65 km.
Details: Cycle deeper into the heart of Lao coffee country. Stop at Tad Yuang Waterfall for a refreshing swim, followed by an organic coffee roasting workshop at an ethnic minority village farm. From there, enjoy a rolling, mostly downhill ride north toward the peaceful riverside village of Tad Lo.
Stay: Tad Lo riverside guesthouse.

Day 4: Tad Lo to Champasak ( B, L, D )

Route: Tad Lo to Champasak via Pakse.
Distance: ~85 km (mostly downhill and flat).
Details: Coast down the western edge of the plateau back into the Mekong lowlands. Skirt past Pakse and cross the Nippon Bridge to ride south along the quiet, shady dirt and tarmac roads hugging the western bank of the Mekong River. Arrive in the sleepy, French-colonial town of Champasak by mid-afternoon.
Stay: Champasak riverside hotel.

Day 5: Wat Phou Khmer Ruins to Don Khong Island (B, L, D )

Route: Champasak to Don Khong (4,000 Islands).
Distance: ~60 km.
Details: Cycle an early 8 km to Vat Phou, an ancient Khmer Hindu temple complex that predates Angkor Wat. Spend the morning exploring its mystical, mountain-backed sanctuaries. Jump back on your bike and ride south along Route 13, crossing by local ferry onto Don Khong, the largest and quietest island of the Si Phan Don (4,000 Islands) archipelago.
Stay: Don Khong Island.

Day 6: Island Hopping in Si Phan Don ( B, L, D)

Route: Don Khong to Don Som, Don Det, and Don Khone.
Distance: ~35 km (flat dirt paths).
Details: Ditch the main highways for a day of pure island-hopping. Cycle through local villages where families make palm sugar. Take a sequence of small rustic ferries across the river channels to Don Som, Don Det, and over the old French railway bridge onto Don Khone.
Stay: Don Khone Island.

Day 7: Thundering Waterfalls & Irrawaddy Dolphins( B, L, D)

Route: Don Khone Loops & Khone Phapheng Exploration.
Distance: ~25 km.
Details: Spend the morning cycling the dirt trails of Don Khone to Li Phi Falls (Somphamit), a roaring stretch of wild river rapids. Ride down to the southern tip of the island (Hang Khone), where you can charter a small boat to spot the rare, endangered Irrawaddy river dolphins. In the afternoon, cross back to the mainland to witness Khone Phapheng, Southeast Asia's largest waterfall by water volume.
Stay: Don Khone or mainland Nakasong.

Day 8: Nakasong to Pakse & Departure ( B )

Route: Return Transfer to Pakse.
Distance: No cycling (rest day / packing).
Details: Pack up your gear and take a comfortable air-conditioned support vehicle transfer from Nakasong back up to Pakse. Spend your final hours picking up souvenirs at the Daomuang Market before heading to the Pakse Airport or the Thai border checkpoint for your onward journey. End The Tour .
Please consider the environment before printing