Days traveling: | |
Average per day: | |
excluding
and
Flights
:
Luxury activities
|
There is a bridge connecting Don Det with Don Khon, another island on the south. These islands are perfect to be explored by bicycle. You'll meet plenty of friendly locals, waving kids, and water buffalos along the way. Pick one of the bars at the East side of the island to catch an awesome sunset.
Food
|
Breakfast at "Vishay Restaurant" |
₭15,000.00
$0.69
|
Urban transport
|
Bicycle rental |
₭10,000.00
$0.46
|
Food
|
Lunch at "The Garden Restaurant" |
₭35,000.00
$1.61
|
Others
|
ATM fee |
₭30,000.00
$1.38
|
Food
|
Dinner at "Vishay Restaurant" |
₭40,000.00
$1.84
|
Alcohol
|
Beers |
₭33,000.00
$1.52
|
Groceries
|
Water refill |
₭2,000.00
$0.09
|
Accomodation
|
Ning Ning Hostel |
₭30,000.00
$1.38
|
TOTAL | ₭195,000.00 |
TOTAL (USD) | $8.98 |
The Mekong Irrawaddy dolphin is an endangered species, with less than 100 individuals remaining. From those, only 3 can be found in the southern Laos. When I learned this, I decided to do the full-day waterfall tour. It consisted of kayaking in the Mekong river, going to two massive waterfall, and the highlight of the tour, seeing the dolphins. Quite an intense but awesome day.
Tourist attractions
|
Full-day tour (breakfast/lunch incl.) |
₭180,000.00
$8.29
|
Groceries
|
Water refill |
₭2,000.00
$0.09
|
Food
|
Dinner at "Oi's Place" |
₭15,000.00
$0.69
|
Alcohol
|
Beer |
₭12,000.00
$0.55
|
Others
|
Cash withdrawal fee |
₭6,000.00
$0.28
|
Groceries
|
Snack |
₭3,000.00
$0.14
|
Groceries
|
Bottled water |
₭5,000.00
$0.23
|
Accomodation
|
Ning Ning Hostel |
₭30,000.00
$1.38
|
TOTAL | ₭253,000.00 |
TOTAL (USD) | $11.65 |
Traveling in low season has its pros and cons. Obviously the pros are that places aren't flooded with tourists and prices are usually cheaper. However that comes with a price: most boats, buses, tours, etc. require a minimum of people to be profitable. So in low season they just aren't available, or you have to pay full price. That's what happened today: the ferry from Don Khong to Don Det wasn't available, so I had to pay an "expensive" motorcycle ride instead.
Food
|
Breakfast |
₭15,000.00
$0.69
|
Intercity transport
|
Moto taxi to Nakasong |
₭60,000.00
$2.76
|
Intercity transport
|
Boat ride to Don Det |
₭15,000.00
$0.69
|
Others
|
Laundry |
₭18,000.00
$0.83
|
Food
|
Lunch at "Oi's Place" |
₭20,000.00
$0.92
|
Alcohol
|
Beer |
₭12,000.00
$0.55
|
Groceries
|
Water refill |
₭2,000.00
$0.09
|
Food
|
Dinner at "Jasmin Indian Restaurant" |
₭50,000.00
$2.30
|
Accomodation
|
Ning Ning Hostel |
₭30,000.00
$1.38
|
TOTAL | ₭222,000.00 |
TOTAL (USD) | $10.22 |
Today was quite an adventure! I traveled more than 400km to the very south of Laos. I started the day with an early bus to Pakse, then a very precarious passenger truck got me to Hat Xai Khun. At this point it's already pitch black, and I had to walk around a small village where no one spoke English to find a way to cross the Mekong river. Eventually some one woke up the boat driver that took me to Don Khong.
Food
|
Breakfast |
₭15,000.00
$0.69
|
Urban transport
|
Shuttle to bus station |
₭15,000.00
$0.69
|
Intercity transport
|
Bus to Pakse |
₭70,000.00
$3.22
|
Groceries
|
Snacks |
₭18,000.00
$0.83
|
Urban transport
|
Tuk tuk to Pakse Southern Bus Station |
₭20,000.00
$0.92
|
Groceries
|
More snacks |
₭5,000.00
$0.23
|
Groceries
|
Water (x2) |
₭10,000.00
$0.46
|
Intercity transport
|
Passenger truck to Hat Xai Khun |
₭40,000.00
$1.84
|
Intercity transport
|
Boat to Don Khong |
₭20,000.00
$0.92
|
Food
|
Dinner at "Pon River Restaurant" |
₭40,000.00
$1.84
|
Accomodation
|
Don Khong Guesthouse |
₭50,000.00
$2.30
|
TOTAL | ₭303,000.00 |
TOTAL (USD) | $13.95 |
Thakhek is mostly known as the start and end of "The Laos Loop", a 400km loop that goes through beautiful caves and landscape. However, from the beginning of this trip, I said to myself I wouldn't ride a motorcycle. I was warned by several friends about how dangerous it is, and all the injured tourists I keep seeing in hostels confirmed this. But where there's a will, there's a way. So I rented a bicycle today and biked about 50km to visit 2 of the closest caves of the loop. It was amazing, and quite a good workout!
Food
|
Breakfast |
₭15,000.00
$0.69
|
Groceries
|
Bottled water (x3) |
₭15,000.00
$0.69
|
Urban transport
|
Bicycle rental |
₭20,000.00
$0.92
|
Tourist attractions
|
Entrance fee to "Tham Nang Aen Cave" |
₭30,000.00
$1.38
|
Tourist attractions
|
Entrance fee to "Phaya In Cave" |
₭5,000.00
$0.23
|
Groceries
|
Snack |
₭5,000.00
$0.23
|
Food
|
Lunch at "Sabaidee Thakhek" |
₭20,000.00
$0.92
|
Tourist attractions
|
Entrance fee to "Wat That Sikhottabong" |
₭5,000.00
$0.23
|
Food
|
Coffee and pastry at "Le Parisian Cafe" |
₭28,000.00
$1.29
|
Alcohol
|
Beer |
₭12,000.00
$0.55
|
Food
|
Dinner at "Six Friends" |
₭10,000.00
$0.46
|
Accomodation
|
Smile Guesthouse |
₭50,000.00
$2.30
|
TOTAL | ₭215,000.00 |
TOTAL (USD) | $9.90 |
Another day spent almost entirely on a bus. I made the rookie mistake of taking a local bus, which stopped in every single village on the road. A couple extra dollars would have saved me two hours, or even more. Lesson learned. I made it to Thakhek by the end of the day.
Food
|
Breakfast (incl. in hostel) |
₭0.00
$0.00
|
Urban transport
|
Tuk tuk to Bus Station |
₭30,000.00
$1.38
|
Groceries
|
Snacks for ride |
₭15,000.00
$0.69
|
Intercity transport
|
Bus to Thakhek |
₭60,000.00
$2.76
|
Urban transport
|
Tuk tuk to hostel |
₭20,000.00
$0.92
|
Food
|
Local sweets |
₭4,000.00
$0.18
|
Groceries
|
Bottled water |
₭5,000.00
$0.23
|
Food
|
Dinner at "Six Friends" |
₭10,000.00
$0.46
|
Accomodation
|
Smile Guesthouse |
₭50,000.00
$2.30
|
TOTAL | ₭194,000.00 |
TOTAL (USD) | $8.93 |
Today I visited Buddha Park, a park with dozens statues of Buddha, mixing Buddhism and Hinduism. Quite an odd place, especially for the complete lack of explanation. I changed hostels today as well. I rarely do so, but as it was written in the vandalized bathroom of my previous hostel: "If you don't like where you are, move. You're not a tree". Wisest words I've read in a bathroom stall.
Groceries
|
Bottled water (x2) |
₭13,500.00
$0.62
|
Urban transport
|
Tuk tuk to "Pha That Luang" |
₭20,000.00
$0.92
|
Tourist attractions
|
Entrance fee to "Pha That Luang" |
₭10,000.00
$0.46
|
Food
|
Lunch at "Quan Ngon Sai Gon" |
₭20,000.00
$0.92
|
Health
|
Band-aid |
₭1,000.00
$0.05
|
Food
|
Coconut bread |
₭5,000.00
$0.23
|
Urban transport
|
Local bus to "Buddha Park" |
₭8,000.00
$0.37
|
Tourist attractions
|
Entrance fee to "Buddha Park" |
₭15,000.00
$0.69
|
Food
|
Ice cream |
₭8,000.00
$0.37
|
Urban transport
|
Local bus back to the city |
₭8,000.00
$0.37
|
Food
|
Dinner at "Vientiane Night Market" |
₭29,000.00
$1.33
|
Accomodation
|
Barn1920s Hostel |
₭65,000.00
$2.99
|
TOTAL | ₭202,500.00 |
TOTAL (USD) | $9.32 |