Laos Cultural Discovery
After flowing thousands of kilometres from the Yunan-Tibet plateau in China, passing through Burma and Northern Laos along the border with Thailand, the mighty Mekong River goes through a sudden transformation just before it enters Cambodia. Hundreds of islands split the river into numerous channels, complete with raging rapids and thundering waterfalls.
The are on the Laos side of the border is known at Si Pan Don - or 4,000 islands. In colonial times, the French attempted to create a cargo route through the islands by building a narrow gauge railway across 2 of the islands. Goods were hoisted from boats sailing up through Cambodia from Vietnam and then reloaded onto new boats above the falls on the Laos side.
Nowadays the tracks have gone and the islands offer visitors a beautifully tranquil view of rural Laos.
On the South side of Si Pan Don in Cambodia, the river spreads out to become a massive wetland with thousands of sand banks that come and go as the water levels rise and fall with the seasons. Low human populations make this a lost, unspoiled wilderness and a haven for bird life. Pods of rare and endangered Irrawaddy freshwater dolphins inhabit deeper pools.
The Mekong Explorer is a sample day 4 adventure tour taking in the Mekong in all its glory, the ancient World heritage site of Wat Phu in Champasak, Si Pan Don, where the Mekong is at it widest, and the Ramsar flooded forests in Stoeung Treng (Stung Treng) Province, Cambodia.
On this adventrure, there are opportunities - depending on the eason and the water levels - raft the rapids of Si Pan Don, to kayak in the flooded forests, moutain bike and
The Mekong Explorer is a sample adventure involving mountain biking, kayaking and rafting along the Mekong in all its glory. It includes a visit to the the ancient, pre-Angkorian World heritage site of Wat Phu in Champasak, Si Pan Don, where the Mekong is at it widest with 4000 Islands all along the river, and the Ramsar flooded forests in Cambodia's Stoeung Treng (Stung Treng) Province.
8am departure from Pakse to the town of Ban Muang where you will cross the Mekong by ferry to Champasak and then drive to Wat Phu, this Natural Heritage Site was built in the 6th century by the Khmer's and was originally used to worship the Hindu God Shiva and other deity's before being converted into a Buddhist temple in later centuries. Wat Phu was considered the centre of the Khmer kingdom until it was moved to Angkor Wat in the 12th century. After exploring this temple return to Champasak where you will have lunch; before crossing back across the Mekong and traveling south to the 4000 Islands.
Stop at Hat Xay Khun opposite the main island in this natural wetlands Don Khong, from here you will take a scenic boat ride through the 4000 Islands passing Don Det and the old ferry before arriving at Don Khone, which is linked to Don Det by the old French railway bridge built to ferry goods across the mighty waterfalls here by train.
Please see the three options below for this each returning to Don Khong from Veun Kham at the end of the day.
Option 2: Rafting - Minimum 4 pax (Available during high water level July – November)
This stretch of water gradually increases its tempo the further we go. In the main run the river flows with great tempo. Once through the rapids we can relax a little as the pace drops off back into the meandering Mekong. We then take out by the side of the river and join up with some locals and a motor boat.
This easy access boat gets us across the river to visit the rare Irrawaddy dolphins. Whilst sitting in Cambodia with no visa hassles we eat a scrumptious lunch and take in the mighty Mekong and its splendour.
Depart from Don Khone after breakfast by bicycle or by tuk tuk and visit Liphi waterfall before heading to the southern tip of Don Khone known as Han Khone here you will take a boat to see the Irrawaddy dolphins where you will have lunch then continue by motorboat to the Lao / Cambodian border at Veun Kham.
The Flooded Forest Kayak trip: A day trip that can be started from Stoeung Treng or from the Laos side of the border just 20mins from where we start kayaking at Oh Svay.
After Immigration procedures drive to Oh Svay from where you will start kayaking through the flooded forests to Veun Sien village, located in the extremely remote Ramsar wetlands. The flooded forest supports a large variety of birds along the river. Enjoy the remoteness of the area feeling completely at one with nature, stop for a picnic lunch on one of the many sandy beaches before continuing to Koh Ky where the car will be waiting for you to take you the last few kilometres to Stroeung Treng (Stung Treng).
