Si Phan Don (Four Thousand Islands in Laotian language) is a scenic stretch of about
50 km along the Mekong River located southern part of Champasack and north of the
Cambodian border. During the rainy season, Mekong River reaches a breadth of 14
km, the widest width of the Mekong along its 4.350 km journey from China to Vietnam.
During the dry season the waters recede and leave behind hundreds if not thousand
of islands and islets.
What to do?
There isn't much to do in Si Phan Don, but that's the point. The islands are laid
back, with small huts mixing in with guest houses along the banks of the Mekong.
You can walk, although to get to some of the more far-flung destinations a bike
will be nice.
The biggest islands of this area is Don Khong with around 55.000 inhabitants
most of them located in two villages on either side of the island. As in all the
Si Phan Don islands the best way to visit Don Khong is by hiring a bicycle and roaming
around the small villages spread throughout the territory. On Don Khong it is possible
to find a wide range of accommodations from the simplest guesthouse to more sophisticated
hotels.
The most impressive waterfall that can be seen in this area is Khon Phapheng
located around 20 km south of Don Khong, here a wooden sala offers a good view of
the biggest cascade of the Mekong River. Toilets and refreshments are available
close to the sala.
Especially, from Don Det and Don Khong, it is possible to reach
the Lee Pi Waterfalls or to hire a boat in order to visit the surrounding areas
where it is possible to observe (with some luck) the endangered Irrawady Dolphin
(best viewed late afternoons, during the dry season as during the rainy season the
water is too muddy).
To reach Si Phan Don area (Don Khong generally), it is possible
to get a public bus/truck leaving from the "Lak Pet" bus station (there are usually
two morning departures daily) or a much slower boat from the Pakse boat landing
(during the late dry season those boats cannot completely reach Don Khong so you
will have to hire a smaller boat for the final stretch). Private transport services
(small buses) are now available at reasonable prices.
