4,000 Islands
A laid-back, charming little group of islands along the Laos/Cambodia border, 4,000 Islands is a perfect place to relax for a few days after the hustle and bustle of bigger tourist destinations like Vang Vieng, Vientiane or Luang Prabang.
How to get to 4,000 Islands?
We took a bus from Pakse, after we finished the Bolaven Plateau Bike Loop. The journey was about 3 hours, and cost 35,000 kip (US$4.30). After the 3 hours, you get off the bus and walk to the harbor, where you purchase a separate boat ticket which takes you from the mainland to one of the islands. Two of the most popular islands to stay on in 4,000 Islands are either Don Khong or Don Det.
Where to stay in 4,000 Islands?
We chose to stay on Don Det, which has a good variety of hotels, homestays, and hostels for every budget. When we were visiting, it was October, and super hot, so a place with a pool was a must. We stayed at Golden Hotel Don Det, which had private rooms for about US$20/night, and a big swimming pool which overlooked the river and made for an amazing place to watch the sunset.
Budget: Tavendang Guesthouse
Luxury: Little Eden
Where to eat in 4,000 Islands?
We found great food (vegetarian/vegan friendly) and smoothie bowls at Mama Tanon’s that was affordable and delicious. Jasmine Restaurant or Hathim Indian Restaurant both have decent Indian cuisine for a cheap price.
A few of our favorite things to do at 4,000 Islands
Kayaking Tour to see Irrawaddy Dolphins: Our favorite thing we did while in the 4,000 Islands! This was basically a 5-hour kayaking tour – to be honest it sounds long, and we were shattered after it, but its SO worth it! You spend the first 2 hours kayaking through small waterways of the Mekong, have lunch on a private island, go Irrawaddy Dolphin watching near the Cambodian/Laos border, and even visit Khone Phapheng Waterfalls, which are the largest in Southeast Asia! The kayaking day tour, including lunch, was about US$20/person.
Exploring the Island by Bike: Renting a bicycle and exploring the Islands is a must. You can rent a bike at any hotel, homestay, and even some restaurants. Generally a day rental is about 10,000 kip (US$1) for the entire day.
Boat Races: We were there during the end of October and got to witness the annual Boat Races which happen during Buddhist Lent. The night before the boat races, there is a huge party on the island where they have live music, games, and lots of alcohol. The most ironic thing is all the rowers drink laolao (local whiskey) the night before, and row hungover. Definitely a cool experience to see the whole island coming together for this festival.
Relaxing by the river front: There are plenty of chilled bars along the river which are a perfect spot to bring a book/laptop/nothing and lie in a hammock and relax. There’s plenty of restaurants which have hammocks overlooking the river which make for a perfect spot to watch the sunset or have a few drinks.