RegionOutline guide

Si Phan Don

Archipelago in the Mekong River, in Laos

Photo: Tango7174, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Si Phan Don (Four Thousand Islands, Lao: ສີພັນດອນ) is a group of islands in the Mekong River in Southern Laos.

Getting there and around

Getting there

From Cambodia
Take a van from Kratie (US$15) or Stung Treng (US$12) which includes the boat trip to Don Det or Don Khong. Some guesthouses in Kratie may try to sell you the ticket for US$50.

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Getting around

It's mostly people power. The islands are small enough that you can walk, although to get to some of the more far-flung destinations a bicycle will be nice. They can be rented everywhere.

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Airports and nearby hotels

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Pakse International Airport

Pakse · International · PKZ

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Read before you go to Si Phan Don

Articles and travel topics about Si Phan Don and Laos.

Nature & adventure

Best Places to Visit in Laos for Nature Lovers

Guide to the top natural destinations in Laos covering Kuang Si Falls, the limestone peaks of Vang Vieng, Nong Khiaw gorges, and Si Phan Don.

Oct 17, 20267 min read

Culture & history

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Travel tips

Laos Travel Budget: A Complete Cost and Daily Expense Guide

Complete Laos travel budget covering Lao Kip currency dynamics, train fares on the Laos-China Railway, hotel price tiers, food costs, and daily breakdowns.

Oct 17, 20266 min read

Itineraries

Laos–China Railway

Before 2021, Laos had no domestic railways. The French never built any colonial railways in the country beyond a mere few kilometres in Si Phan Don, and that was never for widespread use.

Wikivoyage

Full travel guide

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IslandsWhile si phan don literally means "four thousand islands", there are in fact only a few hundred, and half of them are submerged when the Mekong is in flood. The four largest islands are:

UnderstandThe Four Thousand Islands have three main destinations for travellers: Don Khong (ດອນໂຂງ) is the biggest, but there's nothing great to do there.

Get inTake a bus going down Rte 13 towards the Cambodian Border, for example from Pakse to Ban Nakasang, and take the river ferry at Ban Nakasang that crosses over to Don Khong and Don Det.

Get aroundIt's mostly people power. The islands are small enough that you can walk, although to get to some of the more far-flung destinations a bicycle will be nice. They can be rented everywhere.

SeeA beautiful set of islands, set against a lazy and winding section of the Mekong. Be sure to check out the largest waterfall in Southeast Asia, and have conversations with the friendly locals.

DoThere isn't much to do in Si Phan Don, but that's the point. The islands are laid back, with small huts mixing in with guest houses along the banks of the Mekong. But, if you get a bit restless, try these:

BuyNot too much. Stock up in Pakse or if you forgot something, look around in Ban Nakasang before boarding the boat to the islands. That is your last chance for forgotten items or to use an ATM.

EatA standard menu of Laotian food and backpacker favourites (banana pancakes, garlic bread, pad thai) are on top at most places. Some try to get fancy with special pizzas and exotic smoothies.

DrinkBeerlao on the Mekong. Available about every 200 m on the island, big bottles for 10,000 kip. Head toward the west part of the island (where there are only a few guesthouses) for a great view of the sunset.

SleepGuesthouses galore, at prices that are dirt cheap even by Southeast Asian standards. Most of these guesthouses have bungalows by the river, and include a mosquito net, double bed and porch.

Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Si Phan Don" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Si Phan Don", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: Tango7174, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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