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Voykit pocket guide · Laos
Champasak
ຈຳປາສັກ
Spend a half‑day at Wat Phu, stay one night in a riverside guesthouse; otherwise skip if on a tight schedule.
Champasak is a small Mekong river town in southern Laos, best known for the Wat Phu temple complex 8 km away. A half‑day visit covers the main ruins; one night lets you explore the town market and catch a sunset on the river.
- Country
- Laos
- Local name
- ຈຳປາສັກ
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Avoid
- May–Oct (heavy rain)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- LAK
- Money
- Lao kip (LAK) in small notes for markets, tuk-tuks and food stalls.
- Daily spend
- Budget LAK 150,000–250,000 excl. bed · Mid LAK 250,000–400,000 excl. bed · High LAK 400,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Unitel, Lao Telecom and ETL sell SIMs at airports and shops; passport registration required.
- Emergency
- Police 191 · Fire 190 · Ambulance 195
- Plugs
- Types A, B, C, E, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Most sockets take flat US and round European pins.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: Round up or leave LAK 10,000–20,000.; Guides and drivers: LAK 50,000–100,000 a day.; Massage: LAK 20,000–30,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; bottled and refill water everywhere.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop at bus stops and markets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | LAK 5,000–8,000 |
| Bowl of noodle soup | LAK 8,000–12,000 |
| Beer (bottle) | LAK 12,000–15,000 |
| Motorbike rental (day) | LAK 30,000–45,000 |
| Longtail boat (Pakse → Champasak) | LAK 150,000–200,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PKS · Pakse Airport
- Longtail boat from Pakse takes 2½ h; minibus <1 h to Champasak
Typical fares
- Longtail boat Pakse → Champasak
- ≈ LAK 170,000, 2½ h (check)
- Tuk‑tuk to Wat Phu (round trip)
- ≈ LAK 30,000 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk or hire a bicycle in town; hire a tuk‑tuk or motorbike for Wat Phu (8 km (5 mi), ~15 min). Longtail boats run 2½ h from Pakse; minibuses from Pakse take <1 h.Walk or hire a bicycle in town; hire a tuk‑tuk or motorbike for Wat Phu (5 mi (8 km), ~15 min). Longtail boats run 2½ h from Pakse; minibuses from Pakse take <1 h.
See and do
Known for
- Wat Phu ruins
- Mekong riverfront
- French colonial architecture
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Wat Phu | Tuk‑tuk or motorbike 8 km (5 mi), ~15 min; or organized tour from townTuk‑tuk or motorbike 5 mi (8 km), ~15 min; or organized tour from town | ≈30 min total |
| Pakse | Longtail boat 2½ h from Pakse dock or minibus <1 h from Pakse bus station | ≈3 h |
Sleep
- Residence Bassac
- Boutique riverside hotel, 14 rooms, check‑in 14:00, checkout 12:00Boutique riverside hotel, 14 rooms, check‑in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | ສະບາຍດີsabaidee |
| Thank you | ຂອບໃຈkhop jai |
| How much? | ຈ່າຍບໍ່?ja bai? |
| Where is the bathroom? | ຫ້ອງນ້ຳຢູ່ໃສ?hong nam yu sai? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Nop (palms together) and 'sabaidee'; avoid: Loud greetings and hugs
- Temples: Covered shoulders and knees, shoes off; avoid: Pointing feet at images; women touching monks
- Keeping calm: Stay relaxed; 'bor pen nyang'; avoid: Anger in public
- Baci ceremony: Keep the white strings on your wrist for three days; avoid: Cutting them off
- Head and feet: Keep feet down; avoid: Touching heads
Scams and watch-outs
- Longtail boat schedules vary; confirm departure times in Pakse.
- Wat Phu entry fee is 50,000 kip; bring exact change.
- Nightlife ends early; plan shows at the shadow‑puppet theatre before 22:00.
Champasak is generally safe; watch for traffic on the main road and keep valuables hidden on boats.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Champasak yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Wat Phu ruins
- Mekong riverfront
- French colonial architecture
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Champasak: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Champasak (city), revision 5302142 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5302142
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/champasak-city). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.