Si Phan Don (Four thousand islands)

Why Si Phan Don (Four thousand islands) is special ?

The area’s main attractions are its rural character, the tranquility, the opportunity to watch the rare Irrawaddy dolphin and the Khone Phapheng falls.

The pace of life is slow in the rural area where local people live in small wooden houses on stilts and where cows, goats, pigs and other animals roam around free. The relaxed and natural setting have made the islands near the Cambodian border a major backpacker destination.

The area’s main attractions are its rural character, the tranquility, the opportunity to watch the rare Irrawaddy dolphin and the Khone Phapheng falls.

The pace of life is slow in the rural area where local people live in small wooden houses on stilts and where cows, goats, pigs and other animals roam around free. The relaxed and natural setting have made the islands near the Cambodian border a major backpacker destination.

In the dry season when the water level is lower, hundreds of small and larger islands emerge. The larger islands are permanently inhabited.

The most visited islands are Don Khon, Don Det and Don Khong, which is the largest island. Don Det is a small island that offers the most choice of accommodation. The island attracts a large number of backpackers.

Source: renown-travel.com

What to explore at Si Phan Don (Four thousand islands)?

To do & see in Si Phan Don

To many the area’s main attraction is its tranquility and relaxed rural atmosphere. Besides relaxing in a hammock, activities include kayaking down the Mekong river, swimming and making a bicycle tour around the islands to see local village life, rice paddies, sugar cane and coconut farms.

Si Phan Don houses many impressive cascading waterfalls like the Li Phi falls located on the North West corner of Don Khon and the Khone Phapheng falls found South of Don Khon, which is the largest waterfall in volume of South East Asia. A small group of rare Irrawaddy dolphins live in the waters South of Don Khon island, between Laos and Cambodia. Unfortunately they have become very rare, as many get strangled in fishing nets. A dolphin watching tour by boat costs around 80,000 Kip per person.

In the colonial days the French built a railway and a bridge to go around the falls, which make the river unnavigable at this point. Visitors can follow the 14 kilometer long track and watch an antiquated locomotive.

Source: renown-travel.com

How to get to Si Phan Don (Four thousand islands)?

By bus:

Pakse-Don Khong: From Southern Bus Terminal in Pakse buses or Songthaews leave several times between 10 am and 3 pm. After 120 km (three hours) you arrive by ferry in Muang Khong.

Pakse-Don Khon/Don Det: From Southern Bus Terminal in Pakse buses or Songthaews for Ban Nakasang leave several times between 7.30 am and 3 pm (three to four hours), then you take the longtailboat to Don Khon or Don Det.

Ubon Ratchathani-Pakse-Khon Phapeng Waterfalls: Air-conditioned buses operate on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. The bus leaves Ubon Ratchathani at 0730 and arrives at the waterfall in southern Laos around noon. From Khon Phapeng it departs at 1400 and arrives in Ubon Ratchathani around 1830. The bus stops in Pakse for people who want to overnight there. For more information call Ubon Ratchathani’s bus station (045 314 299) or the Transport Company at 1490.

By car: There is a car ferry from Ban Hat to Ban Na on Don Khong island.

Source: http://treasuresoflaos.blogspot.sg/