Major city · Laos
Pakseປາກເຊ
Use Pakse only as the gateway to the Bolaven Plateau, Wat Phou and Si Phan Don: one night in, one night out, and spend your days in the countryside instead of in town.
Pakse is the main city of southern Laos, at the junction of the Mekong and Xe Don rivers. It is a practical hub for the Bolaven Plateau's waterfalls and coffee farms and for the Wat Phou temple complex near Champasak. The city itself is small, quiet and has few sights of its own.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- LAK
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (dry, cooler on the plateau)
- avoid Jun–Sep (heavy rain, muddy plateau roads, flooded fords)
- Airport
- PKZ
- Nights
- 1–2
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.
What is in this basic guide8 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
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Pakse191 ▾
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 Pakse, 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
- SafetySafe town; the real risks are on the road — rural driving, river currents at waterfalls, and unlit routes after dark.
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.
- AirportPKZ Pakse International (About 3 km (1.9 mi) north of the centre; tuk-tuk or hotel transfer 10 min).PKZ Pakse International (About 1.9 mi (3 km) north of the centre; tuk-tuk or hotel transfer 10 min).
- Getting aroundThe town itself is small and walkable.
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
- PKZ Pakse International (About 3 km (1.9 mi) north of the centre; tuk-tuk or hotel transfer 10 min)PKZ Pakse International (About 1.9 mi (3 km) north of the centre; tuk-tuk or hotel transfer 10 min)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
Feb
Best
Mar
not flagged
Apr
not flagged
May
not flagged
Jun
Avoid
Jul
Avoid
Aug
Avoid
Sep
Avoid
Oct
not flagged
Nov
Best
Dec
Best
Best: Nov–Feb. Avoid: Jun–Sep. Month by month →
Weather and climate
Pakse: 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.
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 town itself is small and walkable. Tuk-tuks and shared songthaews cover short trips and the bus station. The Bolaven Plateau is best done with a hired driver or an organised loop tour; a rented motorbike works only if you're confident on unpaved roads.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Bolaven Plateau waterfalls (Tad Fane, Tad Yuang, Tad Lo)
goDoor to door: Full day or overnight loop
Hired driver or rented motorbike, 1–2 h to the loop
Wat Phou (Champasak)
goDoor to door: Half day
Car or bus, about 40 km (25 mi) / 1 hCar or bus, about 25 mi (40 km) / 1 h
Si Phan Don (Four Thousand Islands)
overnightDoor to door: Onward
Bus or minivan, about 3 h
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.
Central Pakse near the Mekong
Walkable to restaurants, the market and bus/songthaew stations.
Near the Lao-Nippon Bridge riverside road
Quieter than the centre, still a short ride to everything.
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
- ₭150,000–300,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- ₭300,000–600,000 excl. bed
Trip budget
Prices of common things
| Lao coffee (Bolaven-grown), café | ₭15,000–30,000 |
| Waterfall entrance fee (Tad Fane / Tad Yuang) | ₭15,000–30,000 (confirm locally) |
| Motorbike rental per day | ₭100,000–150,000 |
| Tuk-tuk short ride | ₭20,000–40,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Rainy-season plateau roads can be muddy, slippery or washed out: confirm conditions before a self-drive loop.
- Rent a motorbike only with a valid licence and check the insurance actually covers you; many rental bikes carry none.
- Waterfall pools have had drowning incidents after rain raises the current: ask locals before swimming.
- Fuel stations and ATMs are scarce once off the main plateau loop: fill up and carry cash from Pakse.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 191
- Fire
- 190
- Ambulance
- 195
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 Pakse. 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 (dry, cooler on the plateau) · avoid Jun–Sep (heavy rain, muddy plateau roads, flooded fords) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast
- Cost per day in 2 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Overnight on the Bolaven loop instead of a rushed day trip
- Coffee farm tour and tasting
- Wat Phou at opening to beat the heat and the tour groups
Sources
- officialLao National Tourism
- secondaryWikivoyage — Pakse