Bolaven Plateau one day motorbike trip is a long and challenging day and so worth the effort.
In this trip you will ride through a land full of terific waterfalls, ethnic villages and coffee plantations, stunning nature and even rainforest trekking options.
For me the best way to see Bolaven Plateau is renting a motorbike and riding around, spending as much time as you want in each place.
If you want to stay in a small village or love one spot most to swim longer by waterfall just go for it. With organized tour with bunch of people you are on the clock, the guide gives you 15 minutes and that’s it… well it’s up to you which way is better.
Renting a motorbike
I didn’t like that I have to leave my passport under a company that rents bikes, but there were no other option.
Check your motorbike for tires, brakes, fuel, lights, mirror – a normal maintenance before getting on any bike… If you go alone it’s better to pay more and get newer, better bike, than be sorry on the road. I chose 250cc automatic, which could go over 100km/h.
The trip
Starting and finishing in Pakse in Champassak region the Bolaven Plateau one day motorbike trip takes the whole day. The Plateau’s elevation ranges from 1000 to 1500 metres above sea level and the weather in general is milder than the rest of the country.
It’s about 180-200km distance. Don’t forget to take a swimming suit with you.
Most guesthouses or motorbike renting companies will provide you with some kind of map to be more comfortable with not missing something interesting on the way.
The waterfall area
If you take the loop counter clockwise head towards Paksong and after maybe 37km you will reach the waterfalls area.
Tad Champi
A very tranquil place for a refreshing swim. Turn left from main road going to Paksong direction.
Tad Fan
Close to Champi waterfall Tad Fan (Tad Fane) is the most popular, because easy to access and the view is magnificent. Fan waterfall is nearly 120m high.
Tad Yuang
Yuang waterfall is magnificent. You can walk in mist up to a viewpoit, just be carefull beacause it’s very slippery. It’s also possible to have a swim 🙂 so wonderful…
The Ethnic villages
It’s a very superficial way to meet and know about their life because they mostly don’t speak French or English. I don’t like to visit people if I have limited communication I don’t feel comfortable enough. Fortuanatelly for me some young villagers spoke French and English, so I could talk to them and they told me about living here. You can see that they live from the land.
The worst way for travellers is to give money to villagers. Handout is wrong. If you feel like helping them in some way buy fruit or coffee from them.
My impression of people in Laos was so good. Everyone was helpful and open-hearted and in ethnic villages in Bolaven Plateau one day motorbike trip was no other.
Tad Lo
For me it was the most beautiful waterfall, because it was nearly sunset and I arrived there when locals were washing elephants in the river 🙂
Such a wonderful experience seeing this majestic animals humble and peaceful washed by their keepers.
I came back to Pakse after dark.
