13 Unmissable Things to Do on the
Pakse Loop
13 Unmissable Things to Do on the Pakse Loop
The Pakse Loop is one of those once in a lifetime experiences that you’ll encounter when travelling Laos. The Pakse Loop is a multi day self driven motorbike loop and is a definite must do in my opinion.
It truly is an unique experience giving insight into the unknown regions of the Pakse, the waterfalls of the Bolaven Plateau and a glimpse into the rich diverse culture of Laos.
I was on the Pakse Loop for 3 days and it was action packed. Honestly there’s so much to do and see you’ll always be busy and looking forward to the next destination on the loop. If you are planning on doing the Pakse Loop and want to see how I did the loop, check out my complete Pakse Loop Itinerary & Guide.
If you are planning a trip to Pakse, check out some of my other posts about the Pakse Loop:
There is so much to do and plan for on the Pakse Loop with visits to waterfalls, visiting local tribes and just trying to stick to the trail (or not!). To help somewhat help plan and give insight to what the Pakse Loop is about I’ve compiled a list of things that I think are worth checking out whilst on the Loop.
Now without further ado, here are my 13 Unmissable Things to Do on the Pakse Loop!
Table of Contents
- 1. Try Coffee and Farm Tour at Mr Vieng Coffee
- 2. Stay at Captain Hook Homestay
- 3. Dinner at Captain Hook
- 4. Captain Hook Village Tour
- 5. Mountain Loop
- 6. Tad Soung Waterfall
- 7. Brunch at CC 1971 Cafe
- 8. Explore Paksong Markets
- 9. Enjoy the ruralness
- 10. Try the Local Delicacies
- 11. Visit Tad Gneuang Waterfall
- 12. Ziplining across Tad Fane Waterfall
- 13. Cool Off at Tad Champee Waterfall
- Final Thoughts
1. Try Coffee and Farm Tour at Mr Vieng Coffee
One of the first stops on the loop if you choose to do the loop in a clockwise direction will be Mr Vieng Coffee.
If you are a coffee lover or just keen to understand what local life is like in Pakse, Mr Vieng is definitely a must stop. Mr Vieng owns a farm in the region growing many local produce but is best known for his locally produced Lao coffee.
Mr Vieng also offers tours of his farm and is a great way to understand what local life is like and what sort of crops they produce in the region. Mr Vieng is very thorough with you during the tour and shares with you every aspect about his farm.
If you love coffee he also gives you a complete tour and shows all aspects of his coffee production process from what types of coffee beans he produces all the way from picking coffee beans to processing them. Of course at the end you’ll get a chance to sample his coffee too.
2. Stay at Captain Hook Homestay
Captain Hook Homestay is the type of experience that comes as a complete shock and is totally unexpected but becomes one of the highlights of your whole time on the Pakse Loop.
You’ll be welcomed in by Captain Hook where he’ll give you an opportunity to experience life just like the locals. You’ll get to meet his family and experience Laos life like no other. You’ll get to stay in Captain Hooks home which is a traditional house built on stilts.
The experience here at Captain Hook is truly unique and one you must experience. You get to cook dinner together with the locals, chat to Captain Hook about his culture and do tours around his village to see how people here really live.
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3. Dinner at Captain Hook
If you choose to stay at Captain Hook Homestay for the night, you’ll have the chance to experience what is on offer for dinner at Captain Hook. Honestly, dinner here was one of the most unexpected and best times I’ve had in my whole travels.
Every night for dinner all the village kids gather around and together with everyone including yourself prepare, cook and eat dinner as one big family. It becomes one big party with food, music and lots of dancing. When I rocked up to Captain Hook I had no idea that this was the sort of thing on offer but I’m so glad that I got to experience it.
During the dinner you’ll get a chance to talk to Captain Hook, his family and all the village kids. It was so much fun getting to know each other and sharing our experiences with each other.
I was actually quite surprised that the village children can speak English given that this area is quite rural but I found out that most of the children here learn to speak English but simply interacting with the tourists that come and stay.
Dinner at Captain Hook is full of color, fun and friends! 100% don’t skip it if you’re doing the Pakse Loop.
4. Captain Hook Village Tour
Whether you are staying at Captain Hook for the night or on route going past it on the Pakse Loop, don’t miss out on the village tour on offer at Captain Hook.
If you are interested in local culture and history the tour available here is right for you. Here you get an opportunity to see the local way of life from the ground up and experience their traditions and culture. Along the way Captain Hook will share with you many aspects of his culture and the history of his people.
It’s definitely quite the experience and as for someone who is always interested in learning more about the local culture, a definite must do.
5. Mountain Loop
For those who enjoy the thrill of riding and want to immerse yourself in the pristine nature surrounding Pakse, don’t miss out on the Mountain Loop.
The Mountain Loop is a small loop on the way to Paksong and is one of the most scenic routes along the whole of the Pakse Loop. If you enjoy blissful riding where it’s just you and the road, the Mountain Loop is a must do.
6. Tad Soung Waterfall
The waterfalls of the Bolaven Plateau are the main attractions when it comes to visiting waterfalls on the Pakse Loop. But outside the Bolaven Plateau there are still magnificent waterfalls worth your visit.
Located just a short drive from Mr Vieng Coffee is Tad Soung Waterfall. We accessed Tad Soung Waterfall from the top which gave an amazing panoramic view of the region of Pakse.
It’s a quiet waterfall with its own unique charm. On the route along the Pakse Loop make sure to have a quick visit.
7. Brunch at CC 1971 Cafe
Located in Paksong along the Pakse Loop is CC 1971 Cafe. This cafe is unique in the sense that it’s built within a surviving building from the Vietnam War era. What most people don’t know is that Laos is the most bombed country in history with the US trying to bomb the Ho Chi Minh trail which spanned throughout Laos during the Vietnam War.
CC 1971 Cafe highlights this often forgotten history of Laos and uniquely displays its history through the Cafe. The building itself is riddled with bullet holes and damages and decorated throughout the building are reminiscents from its war time history including bullet shells, bombs and dismantled engines.
It’s an interesting place to visit and a great stop for some brunch and coffee.
8. Explore Paksong Markets
When I was in the town of Paksong during the Pakse Loop, I unexpectedly came across the local Paksong Markets.
Visiting Paksong Markets was a fun experience as it is truly an unfiltered local market. Many markets you’ll come across in South East Asia are somewhat accommodated for tourists to explore however this one is just for the locals.
Basically no tourists really come to these markets and a visit to Paksong Markets is a real glimpse into the local life of the people here. You’ll see all sorts of things for sale from local hand made tools all the way to livestock and fresh (even alive) fish.
Street food is also available with stalls selling freshly baked goods, fresh fruits, smoothies and lots of small bites to eat. It’s a great way to taste and sample some amazing local dishes.
9. Enjoy the ruralness
What’s often overlooked when going on these big adventures is just simply for a lack of better words, enjoying the ruralness.
For me it’s an indescribable feeling of pure adventure, knowing you are pretty much in the middle of nowhere in lands that are foreign to you. Take your time just appreciating your surroundings and make sure to take things in one at a time.
One of my favourite parts of the Pakse Loop was simply cruising around on our motorbikes and exploring areas wherever we wanted. Taking roads that peaked our curiosity and simply wondering around seeing what’ll come up next.
10. Try the Local Delicacies
Laos is a country filled with delicious and unique cuisines and as you travel further across the country, you’ll notice different things pop up and go. The Pakse Loop covers regions of Laos that are home to many ethnicities all with their own cuisines and local delicacies.
On the loop, wherever you go you’ll find local foods and I definitely recommend you try them out! I think one of the best ways to experience a culture is through taste and Pakse especially is full of culture.
Along stops and local markets you’ll come across local baked goods, locally sourced coffee and much more. If you visit places like Captain Hook Homestay or Mr Vieng Coffee, you’ll be able to try many local dishes, all of which were delicious.
If you are a bit more adventurous, you can definitely find stuff way out of the norm and things that I would say would be quite hard to stomach! Without giving too much away you can expect local delicacies such as bugs and other creepy crawlings as well as try rice wine with unimaginably things mixed with it (for medicinal purposes ofcourse).
Visit the Waterfalls on the Bolaven Plateau
Definitely the main attraction and why most people come to Pakse in the first place is to visit the waterfalls on the Bolaven Plateau. The waterfalls here are some of the most grand and spectacular I’ve ever seen and a must see when travelling Laos. The 3 main waterfalls on the Bolaven Plateau are Tad Gneuang, Tad Champee and the iconic twin waterfalls of Tad Fane.
Each waterfall is unique in its own way and each an unmissable stop along the Pakse Loop.
11. Visit Tad Gneuang Waterfall
Tad Gneuang is such an incredible waterfall and one which you can feel the grandness of. After following a short trail you can head to the base of the waterfall and from here you can really feel how enormous and powerful the waterfall is. It’s loud, you’ll get wet and you definitely don’t want to miss it!
12. Ziplining across Tad Fane Waterfall
Tad Fane is the most iconic of all the waterfalls on the Bolaven Plateau with its twin waterfalls being unmistakeable. You get an amazing view from the viewing platform however if you want the best unparalleled viewing experience, try ziplining across the waterfall.
Prices start from $25 USD and it’ll take you right across Tad Fane waterfall giving an immersive panoramic experience of the Waterfall. It’s definitely a unique way to view one of Laos most impressive natural wonders.
13. Cool Off at Tad Champee Waterfall
Tad Champee Waterfall in my opinion is the most peaceful amongst all the waterfalls in the Bolaven Plateau hence making it a great place to just relax and enjoy the day. The base of Tad Champee is a large pool of water making it a perfect spot to cool off after a long day on the Pakse Loop.
Relax, meet some new people and enjoy the time so far on the Pakse Loop!
Final Thoughts
There is so much to do and so many places to explore on the Pakse Loop that it’s hard to list them all. If you do choose to embark on the Pakse Loop I can assure you that there is something for everyone whether you are fascinated by Laos untouched nature or wanting a more cultural experience.
I hope my post on the 13 Unmissable Things to Do on the Pakse Loop has been helpful. If you want to read more about travelling the Pakse Loop and Laos in general check out my other posts here.
So what are you waiting for? Get out there!