Laos forum

Getting to Wat Phu (Champasak)

Intrepid82

flashpacker
Posts: 33

Hi - I am planning on going to Wat Phu following a trip to Siem Reap.

Can anybody tell me how far the airport at Pakse is from Wat Phu or the town of Champasak, and how easy/hard it is to get transport?!

Cheers :)

#1 Posted: 24/4/2009 - 11:20
chrispyrolls

tuk tuk driver
Posts: 198
Located in:

Private message

hi,

it's pretty straight forward to get to Champasak, about 1 - 1.5 hours from Pakse. The cost from the airport was $50 in Feb - so i would head into town to get a cheaper price, as that is loads!... it should be easy enough from the Southern Bus Terminal (approx 12000 kip i reckon)

#2 Posted: 24/4/2009 - 14:30

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seagypsy

tuk tuk driver
Posts: 136

You mean you're flying from Siem Reap to Pakse-Laos just to visit Wat Phu. Hmm, I don't know if you'll be disappointed after seeing Angkor. Anyways, I noticed some of your other postings and think a trip to Tha Khaek to visit Tham Lo would be more worthwhile.
It's not that Wat Phu isn't intersting but rather it's quite diminutive compared to the grandeur of Angkor's temples. I revisited the area in mid-Dec. with my wife and we went by motorbike from pakse.

Anyways, the airport is on the northside of the river so it's still a bit out of town. I think it'd cost close around U$3-5 to get from the airport to Pakse's South Bus Station where you can catch songthaews heading south to Pakse. Some go all the way to the town of Champasak and others drop off at the junction at Kilometer 30, in which case you'll have to hop a tuk tuk to the boat ferry landing. If there's a roaming moto-bike taxi, then you don't have to wait for the auto ferry since there are small catamarans/ferry that are designed just to ferry motorbikes and passengers. Cost is only U$1. It'd be great if the same motorbike driver takes you all the way to Wat Phu which is another 10Ks south of Champasak town. If you need a place to stay in Champasak, I can recommend Anouxa GH which is at the northside of Chamapsak town.
Anyways, have a great trip!

#3 Posted: 24/4/2009 - 15:47
CunningMcFar

tuk tuk driver
Posts: 161

true that Wat Phu may not be architecturally as interesting as some of the grand temples around Angkor, but we found the setting beneath the cliffs of Phu Kao to be stunning and totally worthwhile. Rode bicycles out from Champasak (a good ride, but go early), and stayed for hours just soaking up the sublime atmosphere. Anouxa is indeed a good place to stay, friendly and relaxing.

#4 Posted: 25/4/2009 - 00:05

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