Bolaven Plateau – The Proud of Champasak
Being the gem of southern Laos, Bolaven Plateau is famous for its great scenery, ethnic villages, and unexplored corners. It cannot deny that Bolaven Plateau is the best known for being home to some Southeast Asea’s most spectacular waterfalls.
The cooler temperatures and the higher altitude of the Bolaven Plateau will bring you blessed relief from the heat of Laos. Combine that with a plethora of waterfalls in the region and the fact that this is Lao’s main coffee region and you have a great place to explore. Aside from waterfalls and coffee plantations, you’ll find small villages teeming with local life, fresh food, and lush jungle. Depending on the time of year, the additional altitude will give you a definite chill too! While using a motorbike as transport brings freedom, flexibility, and a welcome breeze, it’s also possible to explore this area by public transport and also by organized tour.
Where is the Bolaven Plateau Laos?
The Bolaven Plateau is an elevated region in central Laos. It’s about 85km from Pakse. While the majority of the Bolaven Plateau is located in the Champasak province of southern Laos, there are also areas of it within other provinces.
This famous plateau in Laos sits at between 1,000m and 1,350m above sea level and is located between the Mekong River and the Annamite Mountains. It’s most famous for its waterfalls, jungle, and coffee.
The Bolaven Plateau History
The area of the Bolaven Plateau was named after an ethnic group who lived here, the “laven”. Back in 1893, the French annexed this area. It was after this time that the French planted coffee. Roll forward some 70 years and the Plateau suffered greatly during the Vietnam War. It was one of the most heavily-bombed areas as it was strategically vital to both the Americans and the North Vietnamese.
Now it’s a favored route for those going a little off the beaten track, in a kind of organized sort of a way.
Things to do on the Bolaven Plateau
Ride a Motorbike around the Bolaven Plateau Loops
I do think that this is the best way to see the Bolaven Plateau. You’ll have the freedom to explore at your own pace and stop a little longer if you like somewhere. The roads are quiet here, and while there are some unpaved roads, most of them are in reasonable condition.
Pakse Motorbike rentals can be made from any guesthouse or there are also shops on the main street to enquire with. Most bikes will take two people.
Visit the Waterfalls of the Bolaven Plateau
It is the waterfalls of the Bolaven Plateau that are famous. A 2-day itinerary to the Bolaven Plateau will take you easily to the most impressive and famous of the Bolaven plateau waterfalls. The major waterfalls of the Bolaven Plateau are:
Tad Lo (sometimes Tat Lo)
Tad Suong
Tad Hang (good for swimming in the pools)
Tad Alang
Tad Tayicseua
Tad Fane (sometimes Ta Fan)
Tad Phasouam (sometimes Tad Pha Suam)
Tad Katamtok
Tad Gneuang
Swim in the Waterfall Pools of the Bolaven Plateau
While it is important that you observe and pay attention to any safety signs it’s possible to swim in the pools of Tad Hang and Tad Lo waterfalls. Be aware of your surroundings and any local sensibilities.
Shop in Markets or Along the Roadside of the Bolaven Plateau Loops
There are roadside stalls everywhere. Selling everything from vegetables to machetes. You’ll also find markets in the villages and towns of the Bolaven Plateau. You’ll find traditional crafts such as weaving being sold along your routes too.
Visit Wat Phou
Technically Wat Phou or Vat Phou isn’t on the Bolaven Plateau, but if you’ve taken the longer loop, you’ll pass not far from it. Vat Phu is a UNESCO World Heritage site, inscribed onto the list in 2001.
The site of Vat Phou was originally part of the city of Shrestapura, but by the end of the 5th century, it was the capital of a kingdom that was connected with Champa, now in modern-day southern Vietnam. At the top of the mountain was a phallic-shaped object (a lingam) which meant that the mountain was associated with the Hindu God Shiva thus the early temples here were dedicated to Shiva and the spring behind the temple was considered sacred.
Vat Phou was part of the Khmer Empire focused around Angkor in Cambodia in the early 10th century. The remains of the temple that can be seen now date from the 11th century, although there has been a little restoration been done, the site is more in an arrested state of decay.
Taste Coffee of the Bolaven Plateau
While it was the French who introduced the concept of coffee to the BOlaven Plateau most of the coffee plantations here are now locally owned and managed. There are several that you can visit while traveling around the Bolaven plateau. You can even taste Luwak coffee here.
You’ll even spot coffee growing along the side of the road and small coffee stops along the way, generally around the area of Paksong.