The agricultural town of Champasak, which stretches along the right bank of the Mekong for 4 km, is the nearest town to Wat Phou and with enough comfortable accommodation, is a good base from which to explore the site and the surrounding area. It is about 40 km south of Pakse. The sleepy town is quaint and charming and a fantastic place to spend the night, though the trip can be done in a day. The town itself is dotted with simply stunning colonial buildings. Of these, the former residence of Champasak hereditary Prince Boun Oun and former leader of the right wing opposition, who fled the country in 1975 after the Communist takeover, is quite possibly the most magnificent colonial building in Laos. His daughter-in-law now resides there and although it is not open to tourists it is certainly worth a look from the outside. Champasak is known for its wood handicrafts, and vases, and other carved ornaments are available for sale near the jetty.
Most songthaews run from Pakse’s Southern bus terminal on Route 13 to Ban Lak Sarm Sip (which translates as ‘village 30 km’), where they take a right turn to Ban Muang (2-3 km). Here, people sell tickets for the ferry to Champasak (5000 kip; person and motorbike 8000 kip). The ferry runs from 0600 until 2000. Public boats from Pakse make the journey to Champasak in two hours (60,000 kip). You can also charter a boat from Pakse, which makes sense for a larger group; expect to pay about US$50-60 for boat hire for 15 to 20 people. The boat will probably dock at Ban Wat Muang Kao, 4 km downstream from Champasak; take a bus or tuk-tuk from here. From Champasak there is a public bus to Pakse at 0630, 0730 and 0800, two hours (with a wait for the ferry), 15,000 kip.
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