The service is provided by a Lao bus company and a Cambodian bus company in rotation basis. Some guesthouses in Kratie may try to sell you the ticket for USD50. The entire hotel has WiFi available for guests to use, and a massage service. The western side of the island is the quieter side. > Check out costs and rooms at Somphamit here. I don't mind roughing it to get the best deal! Don Det is another 30 min away. It's about an hour to the border, but that's only the first stage in what's sure to be a long day of travel. Four Thousand Islands is a laidback, sleepy, charming little gem of a place nestled at the foot of Laos on the Cambodian border, and as the name suggests, consists of lots of tiny islands scattered in the vast Mekong Delta. Book tickets here. Keep in mind the food will be spicy unless say otherwise. Required fields are marked *. She left a successful career in IT security and compliance in both the UK and US to travel the world with husband and partner in adventure, Nigel. Tickets sold on the island, departures are daily at 11:00, are 60,000 kip including both bus and boat. From Cambodia Several minivan companies run transfers between Siem Reap inCambodia to Don Det and the other 4000 islands but after researching online, AsiaVan Transfer (AVT) seem to be the most popular. The 4000 islands of Laos or Si Phan Don in the Laos language are to be found on the Mekong River just north of the Cambodian border. Know more about Khao Pheng Guesthouses rooms and other services offered here. Menu. The Sayyaphone Guesthouse is a fantastic accommodation to stay at on Don Khone. . One of the few properties with air conditioning on Don Det, Moonby Night provides private stone bungalows with a fridge and patio opposite the river. They can be rented everywhere. Four Thousand Islands is only accessed by bus and boat. Source: Wikicommons Foto: Stefan Brending, If you prefer to exercise while you wildlife spot you can take a kayaking tour to see Irrawaddy dolphins and combine it by kayaking to see the largest waterfalls in SE Asia, Khone Phapheng. This amazing hotel is a great place to stay when visiting Don Det as it is filled with various activities guests can enjoy without leaving or going far from the hotel. The tourist bus leaves only at 0800 / 0900 each morning. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Show your ticket in the booth and youll be shown to a long tail boat which willtake you over to the northern point of Don Det Island. The other company, whose tickets are sold everywhere in all the hostels and restaurants on Don Det, takes you with a small van or bus to the border, where you change, after another hour or two waiting in the heat, to another bus or minivan. (You can book a ticket from Pakse to Nakasong online and then buy your ferry ticket in person here) And then you walk a few hundred meters from here to the wharf where you get a ferry. I don't mind roughing it to get the best deal! Don Khong, the northernmost one is the largest, the least western touristed. Get to know more about Golden Hotel Don Det here. There are some minivan busses driving from 4000 islands to the border regularly (in the morning though), so you might want to try it this way. There were hammocks involved. Khonesavath Guesthouse Lebijou also houses a bar, restaurants, and a shared kitchen. If you don't want to take the tourist bus at 0800 you can head to the Pakse Southern Bus Terminalsometimes known as the 8km Bus terminal and take one to either Ban Nakasong or Muong Khong. Prices for this trip are generally USD2 less when booking from the border, but definitely not worth the waiting, changing and discomfort. Required fields are marked *. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Upon reaching the "mainland", one has to wait with a group of other foreigners for transportation going their way, with the boss squeezing as many people as he possibly can. Find travel buddies. The rooms at Mama Leurth Guesthouse are equipped with air-conditioning, cable TV, a mini-bar, a private bathroom, and in some rooms, a balcony/terrace. check here. The rooms at Mama Leurth Guesthouse are equipped with air-conditioning, cable TV, a mini-bar, a private bathroom, and in some rooms, a balcony/terrace. North to Pakseand Wat Phu:Its super easy to book a bus/boat combo ticket on the island forthis, and it costs around 60,000 kip. (Turn right out of the bus station, there are no signs, just follow the shops). The international bus from Pakse to Phnom Penh will take you straight to its destination, without much trouble (departure at Ban Nakasang around 09:45, arrival at 19:30 depending . ASocialNomad is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, and amazon.ca. Take a boat tour around the area. There are 4 ways to get from Don Khong - 4000 islands to Phnom Penh by bus, car or plane Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. Some are just large enough for a single person to stand on while others like Don Det and Don Khon are home to local populations. Phnom Penh. Near the Lao border, an employee of the bus will ask for passports and the fee for the Laos visa. The guesthouse also offers plenty of different activities which can be done either within the guesthouse or outside such as canoeing, hiking, fishing, and snorkeling. Angkor Wat is massive. Phnom Penh Tourism Phnom Penh Hotels Phnom Penh Bed and Breakfast Phnom Penh Holiday Rentals Phnom Penh Packages Flights to Phnom Penh Phnom Penh . This is best seen from a swinging hammock. If youre staying on Don Det youll have much more access to western-style food, but head over to Don Khone for Laos food. Motorcycle taxis run about R3000 . Locals get the first choice of seats while the surly ticket office staff wont tell you which bus is the one for Pakse until the locals are seated. Cheap and cheerful, Easy Go Backpackers has a bar,beach and BBQ area. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Disaster risk could soon outpace resilience in Asia and the Pacific. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The Sayyaphone Guesthouses rooms have balconies, private bathrooms with showers and toiletries, and air-conditioning systems. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The groups of islands that make up Laos 4,000 islands are mainly uninhabited, with three main islands where you can stay and chill out. Instead, I wake up one morning convinced that someone outside is mowing their lawn with an old petrol lawnmower. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. A smallroom cost around 5/$6/55,000 kip a night, while a king room is around 9/$11.50/100,000 kip a night. Take a walk. The grim tally of disaster-related deaths would inevitably rise, as would the annual cost of disaster-related losses, forecast to increase to almost $1 trillion, or 3 per cent of regional GDP, under 2C warming up from $924 billion . If you want to know more about us:We are Cindy and Eddie from SQUEEZEtheDAY!!! Each room is on the riverside and has abalcony the perfect place relax in a hammock for the day. This is one of the most popular things to do in the 4000islands and with good reason. Most of these guesthouses have bungalows by the river, and include a mosquito net, double bed and porch. Rent from your guesthouse, restaurant, or shop on either island and ride around the rice fields, to the waterfalls or go to the beaches on Don Khone. The international bus from Pakse to Phnom Penh will take you straight to its destination, without much trouble (departure at Ban Nakasang around 09:45, arrival at 19:30 depending on the weather, costs about USD14), for Siem Reap you change into a less comfortable looking bus somewhere 70 km north of Phnom Penh (arrival around 21:30). Youcan even cycle over the iconic bridge to the neighbouring island of Don Khone,where there are several waterfalls to be explored or you can catch a boat to see the famousIrrawaddy Dolphins near the Cambodian border. The friendly ladieswho run this restaurant serve pumpkin burgers, papaya salads, rice dishes, curriesand mango shakes which are to die for! We left Vang Vieng and headed to the Laos capital Vientiane on a morning minibus; a relatively short (4 hour) journey. Its just nice to not get up to an alarm or a rooster or the incessant whine of motorbike engines. Our guest house, theSomphamithas about 6 rooms and, we paid 100,000 kip a night for a room with a private bathroom with a hot shower, air conditioning, and WiFi that never really worked. Vientiane itself is quite small for a capital city and, after undertaking a short 'Crump Tours' walking tour, we . Many tourists have been made to pay around USD50 after the border for transportation to Four Thousand Islands. Don Det is the main traveller hang out where you can bag yourself a bungalow overlooking glorious sunsets on the river for next to nothing. THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS MORE INFORMATION INOUR DISCLAIMER. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Here is a chart of the average ticket prices and transportation options available from Vientiane to 4000 Islands Naga Travel: Depending on your choice of transportation, the number of daily trips varies. This 7-kilometer (4.3 miles) track was built by the French so that they could create a trade route up the Mekong from Cambodia to Laos and then to China. Like most accommodation on Don Det, ChampaMekong Bungalows boasts riverfront rooms with balconies and hammocks towhile away the hours with a good book. The Best Things to do in 4000 Islands [Si Phan Don - ASocialNomad Heading South from Vientiane: Thakhek, 4000 Islands and the journey to Phnom Penh Posted on November 21, 2014. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. We sank a few Beerlaos and tried the local firewater, laolao. IHG Hotels & Resorts' Vignette Collection to debut in Phnom Penh The 9 Best Day Trips from Medellin You Should Experience, The Fire Boat Festival of Luang Prabang [Boun Lai Heua Fai]. Don Det is the cheapest island to visit in terms of accommodation, food, and drink. Golden Hotel Dondet, Don Det: The luxurious Golden Hotel Don Det provides air-conditioned rooms, with cable TV, a balcony, fridge, coffee/tea maker, a seating area, a private bathroom along with a hairdryer and toiletries. The Sayyaphone Guesthouse also has accessible WiFi throughout the area and a continental or a la carte breakfast available for guests to enjoy. Recently cheap accommodation has given way to the needs of more well heeled travelers . We traveled from Pakse to Don Khone, having returned from a few days exploring the Bolaven Plateau on motorbikes and leaving our backpacks in our guesthouse in Pakse. Youll have to pay 55,000 kip to enter the falls as a foreigner, and youll get shuttled around, but these are the largest waterfalls in SE Asia. The tourist bus can be booked online here, with your hotel or hostel, or with the bus company themselves. Seizing the moment for a more resilient Asia and the Pacific | Phnom You can get water refills here for 1000 2000 kip. Transports & Getting Around - Phnom Penh Travel Guides | Tourism Cambodia Why Visit Don Khone in the Four Thousand Islands? Don Det - 4000 islands, Laos | Transportation These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. You wont find any crazy parties here, just the relaxing sound of chatter and guitar playing. Golden Hotel Dondet, Don Det: The luxurious Golden Hotel Don Det provides air-conditioned rooms, with cable TV, a balcony, fridge, coffee/tea maker, a seating area, a private bathroom along with a hairdryer and toiletries. From the usual Asian fare to western food and fresh fish, we ate well. Mama Leurth Sunset Guesthouse, Don Det: The Mama Leurth Sunset Guesthouse is located at Sunset just 1.3 km away from central Don Det. The restaurant is cute, welcoming andcomfortable, and if you buy something there youre able to use the private beachopposite and take a dip in the river for free. Reviews say the wifi isnt as some would like, however ifyou want to get away from it all, Don Det is certainly the place. Recommended Bus Take the bus from Phnom Penh to Stung Treng 7h 23m $22 - $24 Drive Drive from Phnom Penh to Don Khon - 4000 islands 7h 1m Check room availability. The border crossing is in the middle of forest and there is pretty much nothing else there than a few customs officials and a bad road on the Lao side. We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using our affiliate links. Go a little further out from the backpacker area and its quiet and very rural. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Youll pay around 10,000 kips per day, but the islands are pretty flat. Heading South from Vientiane: Thakhek, 4000 Islands and the journey to Most people head to Don Det () or Don Khon/Don Khone (), where accommodation is cheaper, you can walk to one of the big Mekong-Falls by yourself, and biking and walking and swimming in the river is just the same as in Don Khong. Phnom Penh Tourism Phnom Penh Hotels Phnom Penh Guest House Phnom Penh Holiday Homes Phnom Penh Holiday Packages Phnom Penh Flights Phnom Penh Restaurants Phnom . Spacious wooden bungalows with a private bathroom cost13-16/$16-$20.50/145,000-178,000 kip a night. Relaxing on deck with a beer (BYO) and a full belly of fresh fish is a satisfying end to the day. Breakfast and bicycle rental are both available at the property, and reviews praisethe owner and staff. Eat Laos Food and Drink Laos Beer. Travel Guides Siem Reap How-to-get-there Transportation - Siem Reap, Cambodia General Transport See & Do Eat & Drink Sleep Shopping Map Transportation The majority of visitors to Siem Reap arrive by air from Phnom Penh and Bangkok. Beerlao on the Mekong. You can rent motorbikes and bicycles to ride around the island, which is 24 kilometers (15 miles) long and 8 kilometers (5 miles) wide. Sengahloune Resort, Don Khone: The Sengahloune Resort is located on Don Khone, near attractions to visit and food options to try out. Then you walk from the wharf to the bus station at Nakasong. Find the travel option that best suits you. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Reviews frequently mention the helpfulness and friendliness of the owner(Darren), who makes a stay at Moon by Night hassle free and memorable. The route from Pakse to Si Phan Don starts with a bus from Pakse to Nakasong. This amazing hotel is a great place to stay when visiting Don Det as it is filled with various activities guests can enjoy without leaving or going far from the hotel. Don Khon - 4000 islands to Cambodia - 2 ways to travel via - Rome2rio If youre looking to get away from the main hub (not that its incredibly busy but the north of Don Det is mainly known for its bars and tour agencies), then River Garden Guesthouse is the place to come. How to Go From Pakse to 4000 Islands [Pakse to Si Phan Don] - ASocialNomad We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Available about every 200 m on the island, big bottles for 10,000 kip. check out where to stay in Don Khong, Don Det is much smaller and the favorite on the backpacker route. Up-scale bungalows are available with hot water showers and air-conditioning, which of course cost much more. (Pictured below). Then you get stuffed again into an overfilled bus where there will be no space left. Sunset is gloriousin a murky off-season way. You take this route regardless of which island you are visiting, so this covers going to Don Det from Pakse, Don Khone from Pakse, and Don Khong from Pakse. The cosysurroundings with beautiful views of the Mekong river make this the perfect place tohave a break from exploring the island. Si Phan Don, or 4,000 Islands, is a collection of islands in the Mekong River just north of the Laos-Cambodia border (in Laos). Sengahloune Resort, Don Khone: The Sengahloune Resort is located on Don Khone, near attractions to visit and food options to try out. You'd be hard pressed to spend more than USD3 on a meal here. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Rooms and dorm beds are basic (and sometimes lackingcleanliness), but this is reflected in the prices: 5/$6/55,000 kip for a private doublewooden bungalow with fan or as little as 2/$2.50/22,000 kip for a dorm bed withfan and mosquito net. Tip Try to get a river-facing room, as the sunsets here are amazing theres nothing quite like relaxing in a hammock watching the sun disappear leaving a beautiful pink coloured sky. The hotel also offers line and laundry services. So when your batteries have recharged, there are some interesting things to do in the four thousand islands. Wandering through the main street, you realise just how chilled out this place is. There are two primary ways to get from Pakse to 4,000 islands. Its like time has just begun to go a little slower and your pace starts to match. Bus from PP to 4000 islands - Phnom Penh Forum - Tripadvisor If you are arriving in Phnom Penh, there are always motor taxis and car taxis waiting for fares. Some visitors take candles, guitars and drums to the north beach (boat landing) on Don Det for a beach parties. Pakse is an ideal base with its relaxing . This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance. No need to step out of the bus to immigration, the worker takes care of everything. While you can book this from any agency you find in Si Phan Don (again just ask), you can also book online here. The islands that we heard about the most as options to visit are Don Khong, which apparently has real "towns," temples, and development, Don Det, where all the backpackers flock, and Don Khon (or Don Khone), which . When people refer to the area of Si Phan Don or four thousand islands they are generally referring to three islands. You can book your tickets for this route now. Does anybody have a tipp for one ore. The food was great, we found somewhere local each day to eat the Laos food that weve become seriously fond of. If you're feeling super-lazy, you might convince a local to take you on the back of their bike for a small fee. Fruit shakes on every menu. After Kratie the ride in the regular buses gets worse as they make several stops in the middle of nowhere and drinks and food are very expensive at those stops. All the boats go from the same place. The Sengahloune Resort also sports an outdoor pool and an on-site restaurant and caf where you can enjoy a hot cup of coffee along with a filling breakfast in the morning. But you know, to be honest, WiFi isnt why you come to 4000 islands. This hotel also offers plenty of other services such as laundry, ironing, dry cleaning, and daily cleaning. Khao Pheng Guesthouse, Don Khone: The Khao Pheng Guesthouse is situated near the Mekong River. 4000 Islands Naga Travel Sat, Jun 17 One Way 2 Passengers Update Wed, Jun 14 Thu, Jun 15 Fri, Jun 16 Sat, Jun 17 Sun, Jun 18 Mon, Jun 19 Tue, Jun 20 Pick Date Best Options 08:00 Siem Reap AVT 8h 15m bus ride with Asia Van Transfer in Regional 14pax 4.2 16:15 Don Det, Champassak $42 per adult Book now 08:00 Siem Reap AVT For more about Don Det and the Four Thousand Islands read our article Been there, Don Det. It takes around 3.5 hours toget to Don Det from Pakse or 3 hours to get to Don Khlong (island to the north). Four Thousand Islands is the place to relax without feeling guilty its designed for it. We do not represent World Nomads. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. Well, not quite nothing. The bus leaves Nakasong at 1200 noon (so long boats leave Don Khone around 1030. The second IHG Hotels & Resorts property to open in Cambodia - following Six Senses Krabey Island - Vignette Collection Phnom Penh Odom joins one of the world's largest Luxury & Lifestyle portfolios, with more than 450 open hotels and over 100,000 rooms. Nothing. The Sayyaphone Guesthouse is a fantastic accommodation to stay at on Don Khone. Note that this bus terminal is 8 kilometers (5 miles) to the east of Pakse city center, so you have to factor in the cost of getting here as well. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Weve included recommendations for both islands. Skip to content. Get to know more about Golden Hotel Don Det here. The critically endangered Irrawaddy Dolphins live to the south of the island of Don Khon. Vientiane to Phnom Penh Route Information. A "jumbo" from Pakse to Ban Nakasang cost 70,000 kip, and a ferry from Ban Nakasang to Don Det is 15,000 kip per person if there are multiple people going, or 30,000 kip for just a single ticket. . They either head from 4000 islands to Pakse, or they head over the border to Cambodia. The departures always start at 8am from the island, and the prices turn around 35 USD in 2023. From Don Det, once settled in, many backpackers rent a bicycle (for about a dollar) and take a trip over the rusty French railway bridge and spend a day exploring nearby island of Don Khong. Source: Jakub Haun [CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]. Those going to Cambodia can buy bus tickets on all of the islands. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 4000 Islands Ferry tickets from Nakasong to Don Khone cost 20,000 kips, again this is a fixed price and youll receive a ticket for it, the same rules about numbers of passengers apply. How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Vientiane to 4000 Islands Naga Travel? Check room availability here. You will be switching buses again at approximately 22:00 after waiting for another hour. Stock up in Pakse or if you forgot something, look around in Nakasang before boarding the boat to the islands. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. She loves hiking, sailing, skiing and exploring the world through food. Bus from PP to 4000 islands - Phnom Penh Forum - Tripadvisor Both ofthese little places do similar dishes and are cheap. If hot waters what youre after, along with air-conditioning, spotless rooms and such frivolities as a fridge/minibar, consider splashing out $30 USD for a room here! The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. ASocialNomad is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, and amazon.ca. The Sengahloune Resort is a great place to take a breather when visiting Don Khone. Its glorious. There is a bus from Phnom Penh that leaves in the morning to Don Det. Answer 1 of 5: Hi, we are planning a trip through Cambodia in december. To get here we booked a bus and ferry combo from the Nang Noi Guesthouse in Pakse for 65,000 kips. You can also take a kayaking trip to see the waterfalls. After about 6 hours it didnt phase us at all. Home; About; 4000 Islands Week 20 - A week in Phnom Penh. It's not bad, and usually includes a stop at a nearby waterfall to round off the afternoon. Our guide on how to get around Laos and Laos Transportation is here. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Check room prices at Mama Leurth Sunset Guesthouse here. https://en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?title=Si_Phan_Don&oldid=4482330, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Licensed, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. For around USD10, you get taken by bus and boat to a small patch of sand, which is in Cambodia. It might look busy from the main street, but it was seriously quiet. Bus from Laos (4,000 Islands) to Cambodia (Phnom Penh) Eat the Lao food. Your email address will not be published. Arrival is scheduled to be back in Pakse by 1430. The bus takes you from Pakse to Nakasong bus station. Vientiane to 4000 Islands Naga Travel - 12Go