Undiscovered Laos & Cambodia

$0 per person

12 Days

Discover the hidden treasures of southern Laos and northeastern Cambodia on this 12-day journey off the beaten path. From the peaceful Bolaven Plateau’s coffee plantations and waterfalls to the mystical 4000 Islands’ mighty Mekong waterfalls and rare Irrawaddy dolphins, you’ll immerse yourself in natural wonders and ancient cultures. Cross into Cambodia’s remote Ratanakiri province to explore pristine Virachey National Park, meet ethnic minorities with unique traditions, and witness gemstone mining. Finish with serene riverside life in Kratie, where elusive pink dolphins swim, before ending in the vibrant Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. This trip offers an authentic, less-visited experience with a mix of nature, culture, and history.

Highlights:

Explore Pakse’s colonial charm and trek through lush Bolaven Plateau plantations and waterfalls
Visit the ancient Khmer temple ruins of Wat Phou, a UNESCO World Heritage site older than Angkor Wat
Cruise the 4000 Islands, witnessing the spectacular Khone Phapeng and Li Phi waterfalls and spotting rare Irrawaddy dolphins
Cross into Cambodia’s Ratanakiri province to experience Virachey National Park’s wildlife and swim in the volcanic Yeak Laom Lake
Visit ethnic minority villages, including the Jarai people with their unique cemeteries and handicrafts
See gemstone mining in Bokheo and enjoy elephant rides through handicraft villages near Katieng Waterfall
Cycle around Koh Trong Island to experience rural Cambodian life and potentially spot Mekong mud turtles
Walk Phnom Penh’s riverside promenade and explore its rich cultural heritage before departure

Excerpt:

Explore Laos & Cambodia in 12 days: Pakse, Bolaven Plateau, Wat Phou, 4000 Islands, Khone Phapheng Falls, Irrawaddy dolphins, Ratanakiri, Virachey National Park, Yeak Laom Lake, Jarai villages, gemstone mines, Katieng Waterfall, Koh Trong, Kratie, and Phnom Penh.

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Departure/Return Location

Pakse (start) – Phnom Penh (finish)
Departure Time

Flexible, depending on your flight schedule
Return Time

Flexible, depending on your flight schedule

Tour Plan

Day 1: Pakse

You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Pakse is the sleepy provincial capital of Champasak and a former French colonial outpost. Take a walk around the town and look out for traces of French architecture that still remain.

Day 2: Pakse

Spend your day in the great outdoors. Begin with an easy trek through coffee plantations, villages and forest to reach the plains of the Bolaven Plateau. See waterfalls and ancient temples ruins, and enjoy the refreshingly cool climate – a rarity in Southeast Asia!

Day 3: 4000 Islands

Travel to the ancient ruins of Wat Phou temple complex that pre-dates Cambodia’s famous Angkor Wat by a couple of hundred years. Take an elephant trek to the archaeological site of Phou Asa to peek at more ancient ruins and go by ferry to Khong Island, a riverine archipelago in the Mekong River and the gateway to the 4000 Islands.

Day 4: 4000 Islands

Cruise past the tiny islands dotted throughout this tropical paradise to Khone Phapeng and Li Phi Falls, the largest waterfalls in Asia. If you’re lucky, you might see some of the rare and elusive pink Irrawaddy dolphins that call the 4000 Islands home!

Day 5: Ratanakiri

Cross the border into Cambodia at Rattanakiri and travel to the remote provincial capital of Ban Lung. This little visited province boasts some of the more striking landscapes of the area and is home to several ethnic minority groups and natural attractions. Over the next few days you will venture out to discover this remote area.

Day 6: Ban Lung – Virachey National Park – Voen Sai – Yeak Loam Lake

Explore the Virachey National Park a wilderness of jungle and grasslands that are home to a large variety of rare and endangered wildlife. Keep an eye out and you might spot a clouded leopard, elephants or a tiger. Visit Voen Sai village where the inhabitants are considered the true indigenous Khmer and later this afternoon swim in the crystal clear waters of Yeak Laom, a volcanic lake.

Day 7: Ban Lung - Borkeo – Andong Meas

Travel to the small town of Bokheo known for its gem mines and watch the precarious way the locals mine for amethyst and zircon. You can buy these precious gems but be prepared to bargain! Continue to Andong Meas and meet the fascinating Jarai people. Gain insight to this ethnic minority and witness the elaborate cemeteries for their dead, which include carved effigies of the deceased.

Day 8: Katieng

Located a short distance from Ban Lung is the Katieng Waterfall that cascades 10m into a pool below. This impressive waterfall is a popular swimming hole for the locals in the hotter months. Then climb atop an elephant for a ride through the surrounding villages that are known for their handicrafts.

Day 9: Ratanakiri - Kratie

Depart from Ban Lung and travel to the sleepy riverside town of Kratie with its faded French architecture to see the rare and elusive pink river dolphins. Just across the water from Kratie is the sandy peninsula of Koh Trong, hop on a boat and make the short journey across and watch the sunset over the river.

Day 10: Kratie

This morning grab a bike and cycle around Koh Trong for a peek into village life. You might get the chance to see the rare Mekong mud turtles that inhabit the western shore, or the shy pink river dolphins.

Day 11: Kratie - Phnom Penh

Journey to Phnom Penh via Kampong Cham, a town that’s steeped in myths and legends. Take a quick look at the 12th century Wat Nokor before arriving in the capital of Phnom Penh, late afternoon. Take a walk along the riverside promenade, filled with food stalls, people exercising and courting couples.

Day 12: Depart Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is a city with an interesting history. Explore the city at your leisure before your transfer to the airport and onward flight.

Tour Location

Pakse – Bolaven Plateau – Wat Phou – 4000 Islands – Ratanakiri – Virachey National Park – Yeak Laom – Bokheo – Andong Meas – Katieng – Kratie – Koh Trong – Phnom Penh

The Undiscovered Laos & Cambodia – 12 Days tour explores remote landscapes, ancient treasures, minority cultures, wildlife habitats, and slow river life across two of Indochina’s least-visited regions.

LAOS

Pakse

• Colonial remnants from the French era
• Walk through riverside streets
• Easy trek through coffee plantations on the Bolaven Plateau
• Tad Lo and Tad Fane waterfalls
• Cool mountain climate

Wat Phou → Phou Asa → 4000 Islands

• Wat Phou, a pre-Angkor Khmer temple older than Angkor Wat
• Elephant trek to Phou Asa ruins
• Ferry to Khong Island — the gateway to Si Phan Don (4000 Islands)
• Khone Phapheng & Li Phi Falls — largest waterfalls in Southeast Asia
• Look for rare Irrawaddy dolphins

CAMBODIA

Ratanakiri (Ban Lung)

• Cross border into Cambodia
• Remote highland province
• Ethnic minority cultures
• Visit Virachey National Park — clouded leopards, elephants, rare jungle wildlife
• Explore Voen Sai village (indigenous Khmer Lao)
• Swim in Yeak Laom Lake (volcanic crater lake)

Bokheo → Andong Meas → Jarai Communities

• Witness gemstone mining (amethyst, zircon)
• Bargaining at gem stalls
• Visit Jarai villages and their distinctive ancestor cemeteries
• Wood-carved effigies & funerary art

Katieng Waterfall

• 10-meter cascading jungle waterfall
• Local swimming spot
• Elephant ride through surrounding handicraft villages

Kratie → Koh Trong

• Peaceful Mekong riverside town with French architecture
• Spot Irrawaddy dolphins near Kampi
• Cross by boat to Koh Trong Island
• Sunset on the Mekong
• Cycle around the island’s 9km loop
• Possibility to see Mekong mud turtles

Kratie → Kompong Cham → Phnom Penh

• Stop at Wat Nokor, a 12th-century laterite and sandstone temple
• Arrival in Phnom Penh
• Walk riverside promenade, evening street food stalls & local life

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+ 84 4 3 732 7645

Undiscovered Laos & Cambodia

A 12-day expedition through southern Laos and northeastern Cambodia — waterfalls, coffee plateaus, ancient Khmer temples, 4000 Islands, rare river dolphins, volcanic lakes, gem mines, ethnic minority cultures, and the vibrant capital of Phnom Penh.