Thakhek Loop or Pakse Loop
Which to Choose?
Thakhek Loop vs Pakse Loop? Which to Choose?
Laos, located in the heart of South East Asia is often an overlooked destination for many travellers, left behind to its more popular surrounding neighbours of Thailand and Vietnam. But within this mountainous landlocked country, some of the greatest adventures you can experience lie.
Out of all the unique and adventurous activities you can do, by far the best and most adventurous of them all are the Thakhek Loop and Pakse Loop located in the central part of Laos. These are both popular motorbike loops you can do for those seeking something fun and special.
A question that is often asked is if you only have time to do one or the other which one should you do? Or simply, which one is better?
When I travelled through Laos I had the opportunity to do both and here I’ll share with you the differences between both, things to consider and ultimately my opinion on which of the two is more worth doing.
Motorcycle loop, Any easy rider options?
Many people may look into options of an easy rider like that of the world famous Ha Giang Loop but the short answer is no…
Laos, especially the central region of the country, is relatively underdeveloped in terms of tourism (which I think is also a positive point) hence there are no easy rider options around. However, given the growing popularity of the country and the growing number of visitors I wouldn’t be surprised in the near future if easy rider options will start to exist.
Nevertheless I highly recommend that you do both the Thakhek loop and Pakse loop by riding a motorbike yourself. I can’t even describe the amount of fun and adventure it is driving into a general direction not exactly knowing what to expect! The roads and traffic is generally not bad on these roads.
If you are a beginner or a less experienced rider I would suggest at least get comfortable on a motorbike before attempting any activity on a motorbike.
Similarities between the Thakhek and Pakse Loop
Both the Pakse and Thakhek Loop are vastly different in terms of their experiences but they do share some similarities. Before I delve into the comparison, here are some of the similarities between these two activities.
Things the Thakhek and Pakse Loop both share:
- Best things to do in Laos
- 3-5 day Motorbike Loop
- Amazing Nature and Culture
- Adventures of a Lifetime
Best things to do in Laos!
First things first, both the Thakhek and Pakse Loop are the top 2 most amazing things to do in Laos (in my opinion of course). They are often overlooked by visitors and are a considerable distance away from the more popular places like Luang Prabang and Vientiane.
Thakhek is a day’s bus ride from Vientiane the capital and Pakse is another day’s ride from Thakhek. It’s a long ride but I would say it is definitely worth the effort to travel down to.
3-5 day motorbike loop
Generally speaking, both the Thakhek loop and Pakse loop take a minimum of 3 days to complete with most travellers spending at least 4 or 5 days. Of course, the longer you plan for it the better as you don’t need to rush through anything and take turns at your own pace.
Some places and towns are truly mesmerising and worth staying another night at. It’s honestly up to you how many days you want to spend, the best way to do it in my opinion is if you have the flexibility, not to worry about how many days to spend and just do it. Spend as many days as you’d like but a general rule of thumb is give yourself a bare minimum of 3 days.
Amazing Nature and Culture
Both the Thakhek Loop and Pakse Loop are surrounded by beautiful nature. They each have their strong points but both have endless golden rice fields, mountains and diverse farm land to explore.
Thakhek loop is more about majestic limestone mountains and surreal caves whilst the Pakse loop focuses on some of the most magical waterfalls that I’ve ever seen. In my opinion these areas offer some of if not the best nature in the whole of Laos and arguably competes with the best in South East Asia.
Both loops traverse through small towns and villages and give visitors a chance to see untouched life in Laos. Since they see little to no tourists, it offers a glimpse into the true authentic life of the local people. There aren’t any specific activities you can do but you can simply walk through the shops and markets and immerse yourself into how the locals live day to day.
Both are an Adventure of a Lifetime!
Whether you choose to do the Pakse Loop or the Thakhek Loop both offer the adventure of a lifetime! You will meet so many people, build tight bonds with your fellow travellers and experience travel in such an adventurous and free way that you can never come back from!
In my time in Laos, the most fun I had was in Thakhek and Pakse and some of the bonds and friendships I made with my fellow travellers is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.
The adventure, the culture and the laughs is a priceless unforgettable experience. If I had the opportunity I would love to experience both the Thakhek Loop and Pakse Loop for the first time again!
Thakhek Loop is more about…
Quick summary, compared to the Pakse Loop, the Thakhek loop is more about:
> Epic sceneries and landscapes
> More diverse nature and terrains
> Outdoor adventure activities and exploration
> Unbelievable caves
If you are interested in the Thakhek Loop, check out some of my other posts:
Check out my complete guide on doing the Thakhek Loop:
Epic sceneries and landscapes
Thakhek offers some of the most incredible and unforgettable sceneries in the whole of Laos. It has everything ranging from mega limestone mountains to endless rice fields. There are even some parts where you even question whether you’re still in Laos and not like the countryside of France because of the vast greenery and mountains.
There are also huge lakes and rivers inhabiting dead trees and forests which are amazing to witness as well. In all, the vast array of epic sceneries and landscapes is quite astonishing and will leave you in awe.
More diverse nature and terrains
Continuing from the first point, the Thakhek Loop has such a vast array of unique landscapes like mentioned limestone mountains, lakes and endless rice fields. Comparing this to the Pakse Loop, the Pakse Loop just doesn’t have the same variety in scenery as the Thakhek Loop. Still amazing but you won’t find the same limestone formations and vast landscapes instead it will be more jungle greenery and other agricultural land.
Outdoor adventure activities and exploration
Out of the two loops, the Thakhek Loop definitely has more adventurous and outdoor activities you can do than the Pakse Loop.
Whilst on the loop there are many jaw dropping viewpoints you can hike to, caves to explore, places to swim, boats to ride and in general just letting your wild side loose. Meet a group of fellow travellers and you’ll have a true adventure.
Grand caves
Definitely one of the highlights of the Thakhek Loop are its caves. On route there are a number of smaller caves including Dragon Cave and but by far the most grand is the Konglor Cave.
Konglor cave is the largest and by far the grandest cave in Laos and it’s an unforgettable experience to tour through the cave. I won’t tell you much of it so you can experience it yourself, but the caves on the Thakhek Loop are definitely one of its major highlights.
If you are interested on what some of the must visit caves are on the Thakhek Loop, check out my post on the 3 Must Visit Caves on the Thakhek Loop.
Pakse Loop is more about…
Quick summary, compared to the Thakhek Loop, the Pakse loop is more about:
> Bolaven Plateau and waterfalls
> Deep dive into the local way of life and culture
> Coffee, farms and agriculture
If you are considering doing the Pakse Loop, check of some of my other posts:
Planning on doing the Pakse Loop? Heres my complete guide:
Bolaven Plateau and Waterfalls
The Pakse loop is home to the Bolaven Plateau and home to some of the most incredible and majestic waterfalls in the world.
The waterfalls here will leave you speechless and is definitely a site worth witnessing. Other activities you can do at some of these waterfalls are swimming and ziplining. The major waterfalls on the Bolaven Plateau that are worth visiting are Tad Fane, Tad Huang, Tad E-tou and Tad Champee.
The waterfalls in Thakhek do not even compare to the waterfalls in Pakse so if waterfalls are more your thing, I highly recommend Pakse Loop.
Deep Dive into Local Culture and Way of Life
Another unique and interesting experience that is available for travellers doing the Pakse Loop is getting a deep dive into the local way of life and culture. Here there are opportunities to stay and learn more about the local people of the region and even be able to stay in the villages for accommodation.
When I did the Pakse Loop I stayed with Captain Hook for one night where we learned about his culture and way of life. From what I’ve heard, the people in this region are not ethnically Lao people, rather they are ethnic minorities who settled in the area long ago. Many are farmers and earn a living through agriculture of rice, coffee and beans.
If you choose to stay at Captain Hook’s Homestay or any other similar place you will get the opportunity to learn more about their culture, their traditions and food. You’ll meet and have a chance to interact with the local children who are always enthusiastic to talk with travellers.
For people who are interested about learning more about the locals and truly living like a local I highly recommend looking into doing the Pakse Loop. But be warned, some of their traditions and way of life may be a culture shock to you. Always keep in mind to respect other people’s cultures and appreciate the generosity and hospitality they are showing you.
Coffee, Farms and Agriculture
An often overlooked part of the Pakse Loop is its rich agriculture.
Due to its higher elevation and often cooler weather, there are many fields of crop in the area. Along the way you will be a whole heap of farms growing all sorts of plants (which I can’t really name because I don’t know what they are ahaha).
One of the spots I stopped at was Mr Vieng’s Coffee farm.
The coffee in this area is quite renowned so I wanted to try some Lao grown coffee. At these coffee farms you can opt to do a tour which will take you around the whole coffee making process and see other parts of the farm. And of course, you will taste an array of locally produced coffee as well. It’s a wonderful experience to be able to see the agricultural side of Laos and the processes involved in producing their crop.
Which to choose? My Recommendation
Of course if you have the time for both most definitely do both. If you are planning on staying in Laos for about a month you definitely have time to explore all options.
Both experiences offer something totally different and honestly if you had to choose between the two it more comes down to who you are and what you’re interested in doing.
The Thakhek Loop is more about grand views and amazing landscape filled with adventerous activities and cave exploration. It’s action packed and will keep you on your toes.
The Pakse Loop also has some spectacular views with some of the most magnificent waterfalls I have ever seen. It also involves interacting more with the locals and getting an understanding of the local way of life.
I would say if you’re more about limestone mountains, caves and landscapes the Thakhek Loop is more worth it for you. If you’re more keen on hanging with the locals and getting to know their traditions and way of life and of course some of the best waterfalls, then I would say the Pakse Loop is more suited for you.
Whether you pick one or the other or both, I can guarantee you that it would be an unforgettable experience!
Final Thoughts
The Thakhek Loop and Pakse Loop are some of the biggest adventures you can do when in Laos. If you are comfortable riding a motorbike and looking for something different, I highly recommend doing these loops. Whether you’re doing one or both just make sure you do it!