Champasak Tourist Attractions

A sleepy little town in southern Laos, Champasak is located just a bit south of Pakse. It’s not particularly a highlight on the tourist trail, and many travellers who come here do so as a day trip from Pakse. Although there's not a lot to see and do here, if you do decide to stay a night or two, you’ll find Champasak to be a relaxing, quiet place to soak in the peacefulness of Laos.

Wat Phu – the Khmer temple

The main tourist attraction in Champasak is Wat Phu (you may also see it spelled as Wat Phou or Vat Phou). The age of the various buildings and ruins varies, with some of the oldest ruins dating back to the 5th century, but with the majority of the architecture being built around the 12th century. This Khmer/Hindu temple is now marked as an UNESCO World Heritage Site and is used as an active Buddhist temple. The architectural style of Wat Phu, though a bit older than Angkor Wat, is similar to the Angkor temple complexes in Siem Reap, Cambodia, but Wat Phu is much smaller in size than the grandiose temples of Angkor. The temple sits on a hilltop (in fact, the name itself means “mountain temple”), offering beautiful views over the Mekong River and surrounding scenery, something you won't experience at Angkor. Whether you’re interested in seeing more Khmer architecture either before or after a trip to Angkor or even if you’d just like to add Champasak to part of a Laos itinerary, a trip to Wat Phu is well worth the time.

The temple is located about 10 km south of town, and is best reached either by a tuk-tuk ride or on your own via motorbike. The entry fee for the temple and accompanying museum is LAK50,000, and the temple grounds open at 6am while the museum opens at 8am.

There are a few other temples and ruins in town that are worth seeing; Wat Nang Sida and Thao-Tao are more ruins that are located near Wat Phu. Wat Muang Kao is another one of Champasak’s oldest temples, located along the road back to the Mekong River.

A boat trip to Don Daeng

Another popular activity in Champasak is to take a trip over to Don Daeng, a nearby island in the Mekong River (a ferry ride with your motorbike should cost about LAK25,000, but will be about LAK50,000 on the way back). There’s not a lot to do here, but most travellers enjoy spending 1-2 hours driving around the island and taking in the scenery.

Ban Nong Bueng – woodcarving village

On the eastern side of the Mekong River (the opposite side of Champasak), Ban Nong Bueng is a small village known for its woodcarving. Browsing through the woodwork shops or watching the wood carvers at work makes the village an interesting little stop. Especially if you’re traveling on a motorbike, you might enjoy the stop; otherwise, it may be a bit inconvenient for many travellers as there is no direct public transportation to the village.

Champasak massage and spa

If you’ve got the extra time, Champasak Spa is a great place to relax and unwind with a massage or a facial, followed up with a cup of tea and some fruit on the riverside deck. The cost for the services ranges from about LAK90,000 for a facial, to LAK130,000 for a full-body oil massage. This lovely little spa does get busy, so you may want to stop in and book an appointment a bit in advance.

It's not a place for thrill seekers, but if you're looking for a quiet and relaxing spot to take in a little bit of Lao culture and history, Champasak is a lovely little interlude for your travels.