Champassak Province
Supported by the LNTA-ADB Mekong Tourism Development Project

Description

The landscape of Khong Mountain is characterized by unusual rocky outcroppings and cliffs, an abundance of wild orchids, and sweeping views of the surrounding forests of the Phou Xieng Thong National Protected Area. It is also known for its cultural and historical landmarks, including a Buddhist nun hermitage, artifacts from an ancient Khmer civilization, and giant rocks shrouded in local folklore. The hike, which starts from Ban Mai Singsamphan Village located on the Mekong River in northern Champassak Province across from Kong Jiem in Thailand, is a full day of walking (5-6 hours).

Ban Mai Singsamphan, a Lao Loum trading and fishing village regularly visited by Thai tourists on weekends for purchasing local Lao products, is located in a peaceful and secluded location accessible by boat ride only . The village currently has homestay facilities with bathrooms, and can provide food to visitors, which consists mainly of fresh local fish, sticky rice and fresh vegetables. For more details download a brochure here: Khong Mountain Brochure

Itinerary

Day 1 (Boat Trip-Homestay)
Depart Pakse by local transport traveling north. Take a 1.5-hour boat ride on this undeveloped stretch of the Mekong . Arrive at Ban Mai Singsamphan Village in the afternoon. Take a walk around the village, visit the nearby forest, or relax on beach along the Mekong River. Watch the sunset from this peaceful, remote location and enjoy fresh Mekong fish prepared by the villagers. Stay overnight with homestay families.

Day 2 (Kong Mountain)
After waking up early for breakfast, begin your hike of Khong Mountain with local guides. Explore the mountain’s rich flora and landscape, including orchids, wild mushrooms, unique rock outcroppings, dense forests, archeological remains of a former civilization, and sweeping views of Thailand/Laos. Have a local style picnic on the trail. Return in the afternoon, taking a boat back down the river and local transport back to Pakse, arriving in late afternoon.

Optional: Day 3 (Don Ko Island)
Instead of returning to Pakse on Day 2, continue two hours down the Mekong to Don Ko Island , the original location of French Colonial Administration in Champassak. Stay overnight with local families. Day 3 tour the island and relax on its beaches before returning to Pakse in afternoon by local transportation.

Booking

• Tours to Khong Mountain can be made through Green Discovery Laos
• Alternatively, contact the Provincial Tourism Information Office at (+856-31-212-021) for local guides and transport.
• You can also go directly to Ban Mai Singsamphan Village on your own and arrange for a village guide from their to take you on the trek. (Village Guides do not speak much English, however.) Follow these directions to get to Ban Mai Singsamphan: You can hire a private tuk tuk to take you to/from the boat landing at Ban Boungkha, located approximately 34km north of Pakse, from where you can get a boat north to Ban Mai Singsamphan. There is also a public truck (cheap option) that leaves for from the night bus terminal in the center of Pakse (at the new market) to Ban Boungkha everyday at about 10am. To return to Pakse, the villagers at Ban Mai Singsamphan can send you back either to Ban Boungkha, Ban Nakeo, or Don Kho Island. Public trucks leaving from Ban Boungkha or Ban Nakeo to Pakse depart once per day at 6am, so you must have the villagers at Ban Mai Singsamphan take you there very early in the morning. If you ride the boat all the way down to Don Kho Island you can get a tuk tuk to Pakse any time of day.

Accommodation & Food

• Family homestay. Bathroom facilities available at each homestay home.
• Local Lao cuisine. Typical meal includes fish, soup, sticky rice, vegetables and chili paste.
• “Phoe” (traditional noodle soup), soft drinks and other snacks are available.
• Vegetarian food is available on request.
  

Level of Difficulty & Safety

Moderate-Easy: The hike to Pu Kong is moderately difficult. River trip to and from the
village is easy and safe. The area does not have UXO and is very safe.

What to Bring

One change of clothes, sandals for village, good shoes for hiking, sarong for bathing (required for women), mosquito repellent, flashlight, sunscreen/hat, camera, money to purchase handicrafts; life jackets for those who cannot swim in case of emergency.

Includes

Local meals, water, homestay accommodation, boat transport to/from village, local guide(s), permits for Pu Kong. Does not include transport to/from Pakse the boat port.