Major city · Laos
Don Det
Spend 2 days on Don Det: bike the 7 km (4.3 mi) island loop on day 1, then kayak or visit Don Khon on day 2; longer stays are for slow‑travel lovers.Spend 2 days on Don Det: bike the 4.3 mi (7 km) island loop on day 1, then kayak or visit Don Khon on day 2; longer stays are for slow‑travel lovers.
Don Det is a small Mekong island in Si Phan Don, popular with backpackers for its relaxed vibe, cheap guesthouses and easy bike routes. A two‑day stay lets you see the whole island, try tubing, and take a short trip across the historic bridge to Don Khon.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- LAK
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- avoid May–Oct (rainy season)
- Airport
- PKS
- Nights
- 2
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Laos ↗Get the visa only from the official government e-visa portal or at the airport or border desk; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Laos ↗Carry Lao kip in small notes; small shops, tuk-tuks and markets are cash-only, and Thai baht or US dollars are only accepted at some tourist businesses.
- Laos ↗At dawn alms-giving, watch from across the street, keep quiet, never use flash and never touch a monk.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Don Det191 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Don Det, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Lao kip (LAK) in small notes for markets, tuk-tuks and food stalls.Laos-wide
- SIM or eSIMUnitel, Lao Telecom and ETL sell SIMs at airports and shops; passport registration required.Laos-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap; bottled and refill water everywhere.Laos-wide
- TippingRestaurants: Round up or leave LAK 10,000–20,000.Laos-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B/C/E/F. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Laos-wide
- SafetyGenerally safe for tourists; keep valuables secure, respect the 23:00 curfew and watch river currents.Generally safe for tourists; keep valuables secure, respect the 11:00 PM curfew and watch river currents.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop at bus stops and markets.Laos-wide
- Emergency numbers191 police · 190 fire · 195 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidayscheckGovernment offices close on all holidays; many shops shut for Pi Mai; Luang Prabang has a late-night curfew for bars (about 23:30 — check).Government offices close on all holidays; many shops shut for Pi Mai; Luang Prabang has a late-night curfew for bars (about 11:30 PM — check).Laos-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportPKS Pakse Airport (Boat from Ban Nakasang (2½ h bus) then 30‑min boat to Don Det).
- Getting aroundThe island’s paved sunrise side and dirt sunset side are walkable; the 7.2 km (4.5 mi) loop takes ~2 h on foot.The island’s paved sunrise side and dirt sunset side are walkable; the 4.5 mi (7.2 km) loop takes ~2 h on foot.
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- PKS Pakse Airport (Boat from Ban Nakasang (2½ h bus) then 30‑min boat to Don Det)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Feb
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Mar
not flagged
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Apr
not flagged
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
May
Avoid
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
Jun
Avoid
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Jul
Avoid
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Aug
Avoid
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Sep
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Oct
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Nov
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Dec
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Best: Nov–Feb. Avoid: May–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest May (36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)), coolest Jan (15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C) low), wettest Jul (15 rain days), driest Jan (2). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Don Det: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
2 rd
Feb
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
2 rd
Mar
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
3 rd
Apr
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
5 rd
May
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
8 rd
Jun
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
12 rd
Jul
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
15 rd
Aug
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
14 rd
Sep
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
12 rd
Oct
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
8 rd
Nov
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
4 rd
Dec
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
3 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The island’s paved sunrise side and dirt sunset side are walkable; the 7.2 km loop takes ~2 h on foot. Rent a bike for 10,000 kip (mountain bike ~20,000 kip) to cut travel time. Bridge crossing to Don Khon costs 20,000 kip per day.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Don Khon
goDoor to door: ≈30 min each way
Bike across the historic French bridge (20,000 kip day pass)
Visit the small waterfall and temple on Don Khon.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
The Smiling Lao
Sunrise side, basic bungalow, double bed, porch, ~50,000 kip per night
Mr B’s Guesthouse
Sunset side, simple bungalow, fan/air‑con, 30,000 kip per night
Paradise Guesthouse
Sunrise side, hammock‑bungalow, 20,000 kip low season, 50,000 kip high season
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- 15,000–25,000 LAK excl. bed
- Mid
- 25,000–45,000 LAK excl. bed
- High
- 45,000+ LAK excl. bed
Trip budget
Prices of common things
| Bike rentalcheck | 10,000 kip per day (mountain bike ~20,000 kip) |
| Bridge day pass (Don Det ↔ Don Khon)check | 20,000 kip |
| Tubing rental | 10,000 kip |
| Beer Lao | 10,000–15,000 kip |
| Guesthouse night (basic bungalow)low vs high season | 20,000–50,000 kip |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- No ATMs on the island (use Ban Nakasang mainland ATMs, 08:30‑15:00).No ATMs on the island (use Ban Nakasang mainland ATMs, 8:30 AM‑3:00 PM).
- River currents can be strong; swim only if confident.
- National curfew: bars close by 23:00.National curfew: bars close by 11:00 PM.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 191
- Fire
- 190
- Ambulance
- 195
Pocket card
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Don DetDon Det
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ກະລຸນາເອົາທີ່ຢູ່ນີ້To this address, please
Emergency
- Police191
- Fire190
- Ambulance195
Embassy
US consular services are in Vientiane; check the US Embassy website for details.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Boat Ban Nakasang → Don Det: 40,000 kip solo; 20,000 kip per person if 2+ (check after 17:30 +5,000 kip, no boats after 20:00)40,000 kip solo; 20,000 kip per person if 2+ (check after 5:30 PM +5,000 kip, no boats after 8:00 PM)
- Bike rental: 10,000 kip per day (mountain bike ~20,000 kip)
Say or show
- ເງິນບໍ? — How much is this? (ngern baw?)
- ມີຫ້ອງສອງຄົນບໍ? — Do you have a room for 2? (mee hong song khon baw?)
- ATM ຢູ່ໃສ? — Where is the ATM? (ATM yuu sai?)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Don Det. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Feb · avoid May–Oct (rainy season) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 1 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
- secondaryWikidata – Don Det
- secondaryWikivoyage: Don Det, revision 5240633 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Ask about Don Det
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