Champasak between the Mekong, handicrafts and rice fields

In Champasak, guided activities on the Mekong, traditional handicrafts and a wetland used for agriculture come together. This offers a variety of ways to shape your stay: take a kayaking trip, get an insight into local craft techniques or attend a cooking class. Ferry services across the river are also part of getting around locally.

Wetlands and rice cultivation

Behind the village of Champasak, a reservoir at the foot of Phou Kao created a wetland in the 1990s. Rice can be grown there all year round. The landscape is therefore not only a natural area, but also a place of agricultural activity. As you explore Champasak, alongside activities on the river you will also encounter an environment where rice can be cultivated throughout the year.

Kayaking, handicrafts and local cuisine

On guided kayaking trips, you can set off upstream from Champasak and paddle down the Mekong, or cross from Champasak to the island of Don Daeng. Another named option is the half-day kayaking trips offered by Anouxa Kayaking, which start at Anouxa Guest House in Ban Phoxai. Check the current availability of the trips before you travel. The different descriptions can help with planning: one option focuses on the river journey or crossing to the island, while the other specifies a half-day duration.

On foot, you can meet basket weavers, weavers and potters along the Trail of Initiatives. Some of the craftspeople offer introductory classes. Ms Khamdeng also teaches weaving in her shop. She weaves traditionally, combining patterns from Northern Laos, the region she comes from, with those from Southern Laos, her adopted home. If you are interested in textiles, comparing these patterns offers a tangible insight into different regional influences. Check before visiting whether a class or meeting is currently available.

At a cooking class in Champasak, you can learn about local recipes. Check dates with local providers. For another active perspective, Mr Khemphet offers mountain bikes for hire and cycling trips with a local guide; here too, it is advisable to check current availability in advance. This gives you a choice of different ways to plan your day: get out on the water, learn about handicrafts, cook together or take a guided cycling trip.

Ferries on the Mekong

Ferries run between Champasak and Ban Muang from the renovated Ban Phaphin Pier, from sunrise to sunset. The pier is accessible by car, minivan and bus. If you plan to use this ferry connection, check the schedules locally, as the stated operating hours may change. The kayaking trips and the ferry differ clearly in both type of travel and destination: the kayaking trips are described as going on the Mekong or to Don Daeng, while the ferry runs between Champasak and Ban Muang.

Cultural landscape in the wider Champasak destination

In the wider Champasak destination, the cultural landscape, including the Wat Phou temple complex, offers another cultural point of interest. It is a planned landscape, more than 1,000 years old, that developed from the 5th to the 15th century. Temples, shrines and waterworks stretch for about 10 kilometres along an axis from the mountain summit to the riverbank. Wat Phou is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Champasak Province.

The right base for your stay

If you want to focus on guided kayaking trips, handicrafts, cooking or cycling in Champasak, take these interests into account when choosing your accommodation. For a planned crossing, the relevant considerations are the ferry route between Champasak and Ban Muang, the Ban Phaphin Pier and schedules to be checked locally. If you would also like to explore the cultural landscape in the wider Champasak destination, you can treat it as a cultural highlight in its own right.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Nakasong, Muang Khong, Pakse, Khinak, Ban Gnik, Pakxong.

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Champasak.