- Address: Champasak, Laos
- Height: 1300-1350 m
In the south of Laos, near the town of Pakse, lies the picturesque Bolaven Plateau, which is characterized by a unique climate.
What is a plateau?
The valley lies between the Annamite mountain range and the Mekong river at an altitude of 1,300 to 1,350 meters above sea level. The plateau is located in the Champasak province and is famous for its stunning nature.
Plateau Bolaven plays an important both daily and historical role in the life of the country. Events such as the Fumbiban uprising, the war in Vietnam and the French colonization strongly influenced the formation of the valley. Invaders, for example, focused on agriculture: engaged in cattle breeding, extracted rubber and planted commercial crops, and planted coffee plantations.
During the fighting, the Bolaven Plateau in Laos was bombed and heavily damaged. The plateau was a strategic target for the warring parties, so fighting was constantly fought for. At present, the destruction has been restored and practically not noticeable, but so far unexploded ordnance has been found.
Local residents today are engaged in tourism, breeding and sale of vegetables, spices and fruit trees: bananas, papaya, passion fruit, etc. In the valley area, heavy precipitation often falls, and the temperature here is lower than in other regions. These are ideal conditions for growing coffee of two varieties: robusta and arabica. The annual harvest ranges from 15,000 to 20,000 tons.
Tourism in the valley
The Bolaven Plateau attracts travelers in such places as:
- Hindu Buddhist temple Wat Phu , which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site;
- National Dong Hua Sao Nature Reserve;
- extensive forests where you can listen to the singing of birds;
- endless pastures on which cows graze;
- small tea plantations;
- lush vegetation in meadows and fields;
- numerous rivers;
- various mammals, for example, elephants that come to the watering place.
Very popular attractions on the Bolaven Plateau are waterfalls and ethnic settlements. The first attract tourists with its picturesqueness and abundance. Here the streams of water surprise with a special versatility: they fall from a huge height (about 100 m), then smoothly flow cascade.
The most famous waterfalls on the plateau are Katamtok, Taat Fan, Tat Lo, Khon-papeng and others. Here you can swim in cool and clear water, listen to its sound, find an island among the noisy stream or get a picnic. Visiting some objects is paid and amounts to approximately $ 1 (5000 kip).
Many waterfalls located on the Bolaven Plateau are not indicated on the map, and to find them, you should follow the signs with the inscription Lakе. Also during the tour, you can visit the village, where tourists will get acquainted with local life, give a taste of traditional dishes and provide a place to stay overnight.
Features of visit
Waterfalls are a part of various excursions, the price of which is about $ 25 per person. If you decide to go on the Bolaven Plateau on your own, then keep in mind that it is most convenient to travel by motorbike.
Throughout the route there are places for fueling and for parking. Parking, by the way, is paid and equals about half a dollar (3000 kip). With them on the road should take raincoats, comfortable sports clothing and shoes, hats and drinking water.
How to get there?
From the city of Pakse to the Bolaven Plateau you can reach by car or motorbike on the road number 13, the journey takes up to 2 hours. This is not always a smooth asphalt track, there is also a primer.