TheTang Tai - Southern Laos, start + end Bangkok by Stray Limited

Tour Itinerary

Bangkok to Ventiane

Head to the Stray office in Bangkok in the evening to collect your train ticket and information on where to meet the group in Laos. Then you'll take a short tuk tuk ride to the train station to catch an overnight train to Nong Khai. In the morning you'll cross over the Friendship Bridge from Nong Khai and on to Vientiane, the capital of Laos.

Vientiane to Ban Na / Tad Leuk

We give you the morning to explore the capital city and the stalls along the banks of the Mekong before departing for the Phou Khao Khouay NPA. Depending on the season, we'll be staying at Tad Leuk waterfall camp or Ban Na Elephant Observation Tower. There will be time to take in the stunning scenery, swim, and trek in the area.

Ban Na / Tad Leuk to 7km Cave (Kong Lor)

An early departure means we can take our time to check out the Sala Viewpoint, Phu Phu Man limestone forest and have a little shop in Paksan before heading down to the 7km Cave (or Tham Kong Lor to the locals). On arrival we give you the option of staying in a guest house or chilling out with the locals in a home stay and then take you into the abyss of the 7km cave (this is a must do activity where we cruise through the cave in a traditional motorised canoe to see some amazing rock formations).

Kong Lor to Thakhek

Our journey to Thakhek is around the back on the famous motorbike trail 'The Loop' stopping at more incredible caves on the way. Finish the day with a Beerlao watching the sunset over the mighty Mekong.

Thakhaek to Tad Lo (in the Bolaven Plateau)

We cover a lot of ground today but we end up (in the centre of the Bolaven Plateau) at a spectacular waterfall. This is a must-see all year round due to the dam a couple of kilometres upstream. There are a number of sleeping options here and you can also ride elephants and watch them bathe in the waterfall. This place still has the old school dirt road charm of Laos about it.

Tad Lo (Bolaven Plateau) to Pakse

Today we cruise the Plateau stopping in at the coffee and tea plantations that are everywhere around the area. We also get to visit some of the best waterfalls in all of Laos including the 120m high twin waterfalls of Tad Fane. We have time to enjoy the day on the plateau and still end up in Pakse in time for cocktails and a great view from the roof of the Pakse Hotel!

Pakse to Don Det (4000 Islands)

This morning we leave Pakse and head to the 4000 Islands (via a scenic cruise down the Mekong) to experience the idyllic laidback island lifestyle. On our way we will take you to Laos' second World Heritage area, Wat Phou, an ancient Khmer temple (Angkor Wat without the crowds!) In the afternoon you have time to do a sunset bbq tour, a fi shing tour or check out the Li Phi or Khone Phapeng waterfalls.

Don Det to Pakse and Bangkok

We leave Don Det early and drive direct to Pakse. Here you leave the Stray bus behind and cross the Mekong towards Thailand on a (non-Stray) bus. You cross the border, continue on to Ubon Ratchathani and then change to an overnight sleeper train. Your Stray journey finishes when you arrive in Bangkok early the next morning.