Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
5
tobacco, plastic ware and live chickens,
specialities available at the market include
tea, coffee and a variety of fruit and
vegetables, many of which are from the
bountiful Bolaven Plateau.
Khamese Guesthouse Up a narrow track off No. 21
Rd, north of the school T 030 5712963. The cheapest
double rooms in town can be found at this very basic
riverside guesthouse, which has lovely views over the
Xe Don. For 30,000K you get a mattress on the floor of
a box room, plus access to a shared (cold) shower.
More ex pensive e n-suite rooms (60,000K) are available.
Double 30,000K
Lao Cha Leun No. 10 Rd, opposite the Salachampa
T 031 251333. The large rooms in this hotel are a touch on
the overpriced side, offering just a little more comfort than
other budget options. Light sleep ers should a sk for a room
away from the main road. Double 135,000K
Phonsavanh Guesthouse No. 12 Rd T 031 212842.
A concrete block without much charm, but comfortable
and relatively good value nonetheless. All rooms are en
suite, and the more expensiv e ones (10 0,000K) come with
a/c, hot water and TV. Double 80,000K
Sabaidy Guesthouse 2 No. 24 Rd T 031 212992.
All budget travellers seem to head straight to this guest-
house, sited in an old residential area and hence quieter
than those in the middle of town. Rooms (with shared
bathroom) a re clean i f spartan , and the dorm is the best in
town. Dorm 40,000K , double 80,000K
Salachampa No. 10 Rd, near Champasak Plaza T 031
212273. An elegant restored French villa, with teak floors,
breezy verandas and a sitting room filled with antique
furniture. All rooms have bathrooms and a/c, but those in
the old building ar e the most spacious, with high ceilings.
Double 150,000K
Thaluang Hotel At the northern end of No.24 Rd T 031
251399. Set around a compound full of leafy plants, rooms
here are a little cramped and full of cobwebs, especially at
the cheaper end, and beds are quite ha rd, so it's worth
splashing out if you can. Double 70,000K
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By air The airport lies 2km northwest of the city on Route
13, and is served by tuk-tuks (20,000-30,000K). The Lao
Airlines o ce is on No. 11 Rd, near the BCEL Bank (Mon-
Fri 8-11.30am & 1.30-4.30pm; T 031 212152).
Destinations Luang Prabang (daily; 1hr 40min); Ho Chi
Minh City, Vietnam (3 weekly; 1hr 25min); Savannakhet
(daily; 30min); Siem Reap, Cambodia (2 daily; 1hr);
Vientiane (2 daily; 50min).
By boat Tourist boats (60,000K each way) run between
Pakse and Champasak when demand is strong enough.
To book, contact Sabaidy Guesthouse 2 (see below).
By bus Long-distance buses pull in at stations around the
city. Generally speaking, services to and from the north
use the Northern Bus Station, 7km north of the city on
Route 13, while those to and from the south and east pull
up at the Southern Bus Station, 8km southeast of town on
Route 13 at the big T-junction; tuk-tuks from either bus
station into town cost around 20,000K. The VIP Bus
Station, just south of the tourist o ce on No. 11 Rd, is for
buses to Vientiane, Cambodia and Thailand - tour agents
(see opposite) in town can book tickets for these services.
Destinations Attapeu (10 daily; 4-5hr); Bangkok, Thailand
(daily; 15hr); Phnom Penh, Cambodia (daily; 16hr);
Savannakhet (5 daily; 5hr); Siem Reap, Cambodia (daily;
16hr); Tad Lo (4 daily; 3hr); Thakhek (5 daily; 8hr); Ubon
Ratchathani, Thailand (2 daily; 3hr); Vientiane (at least 15
daily; 10-16hr); Xekong (10 daily; 2-4hr).
By sawngthaew The busy sawngthaew lot on the
eastern side of the New Market (around 2km southeast of
the centre) serves local destinations, including Champasak
(2hr; 20,000K) and Vang Tao, where you can cross to the
Thai town of Chong Mek. Daily sawngthaews to the three
main islands of Si Phan Don (3hr; 50,000K) also leave the
southern bus station 9am-3.30pm; the trip to Si Phan Don
includes a boat transfer to the island of your choice.
INTO THAILAND: CHONG MEK
The easiest way to cross the border at
Vang Tao/Chong Mek (daily 5am-8pm)
is to board one of the VIP buses bound
for Ubon Ratchathani (80,000K), which
leave Pakse twice a day. A cheaper, slower
and more complex option is to take a
sawngthaew from the New Market to
the border (20,000K). After you've crossed
into Thailand, local sawngthaews will be
waiting to shuttle you to the town of
Phibun Mangsahan, where you can
transfer to buses to Ubon Ratchathani,
which has an airport and plentiful road
and rail links. Whichever way you're
crossing, Lao and Thai visas are available
on arrival at the border.
INFORMATION
Tourist o ce The Provincial Tourism O ce is on No. 11
Rd, near the Xe Don River (Mon-Fri 8am-noon & 1.30-
4pm; T 031 212021), and has bus timetables displayed
on a touchscreen computer, as well as information on
trekking in the region.
ACCOMMODATION
Despite the number of travellers who stop in Pakse, the
town has a rather disappointing (and largely overpriced)
array of accommodation options.
 
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