The Bolaven Plateau is a lofty region of Champasak Province in southern Laos and perhaps the most beautiful area in the country. It is an area of plunging waterfalls, a verdant landscape, coffee plantations and a cool climate.
Also known as Bolovens and Phu Phieng Bolaven, the Bolaven Plateau stretches into Salavan, Attapeu, and Sekong provinces and also has the unfortunate distinction of being heavily bombed in the Second Indochina War. The plateau lies at an altitude of around 4,000 feet and is located between the Mekong River and the Vietnam border.
The region is criss-crossed by many rivers and is highly fertile. When the French were colonizing Laos, they discovered that the Bolaven Plateau was high enough for the production of coffee and to produce good quality arabica and robusta strains.
Most tourists visiting the Bolaven Plateau do so for the walking and the waterfalls, of which there are many to visit. The Tad Lo Waterfalls are one of the main highlights of the Bolaven Plateau, yet lie a fair way north of Pakse. Although the falls don’t drop all that far, the area is supremely beautiful and you can also swim here.
Other falls worth seeing in the Bolaven Plateau include the Taat Fang Waterfalls. Also known as Dong Hua Sao, they are the highest waterfalls in Laos, plunging around 400 feet and featuring established trails running for four miles to the falls. You can of course also go elephant trekking in the region.
As to the peoples living here, Bolaven translates as ‘home of the Laven’, which refers to the main ethnic group that resides in the region. There are several other ethnic minorities in the Bolaven Plateau also, including the Alak, Katu, and Suay, and you can visit their villages, check out their culture and shop at their markets.
Getting There & Away
The Bolaven Plateau is just north and east of Pakse, making Pakse the gateway town for visits here. The easiest and fastest way to Pakse is to fly as it has an international airport with flights from Vientiane and other Southeast Asian cities. Getting around the Bolaven Plateau proper is best done on a tour or independently on a motorbike.