We offer a simple room with comfortable mattress, private bathroom and hot shower, fan, terrace with river view and hammock. Wifi but please no loudspeakers. Restaurants within walking distance. We are near Vat Phou Temple. Don Daeng Island is in front of us for a pleasant 12km walk. Easy access from Pakse in taxi or local bus. This is the slow life of Laos at an affordable price.
The space
At Souchitra Riverside we offer 6 riverside rooms with no air-con to keep the riverside area peaceful. If you feel too hot (summer is from March to May) we also have 5 A/C room on the yard side with an hammock garden and tables along the river. The prices are the same, you can check my profile if you wish a different room.
Guest access
Your room includes :
- free water refill at the fountain in the corridor (we provide glasses and pitcher at check-in)
- kettle next to the fountain for hot water
- large parking space with CCTV and gate that we lock at night after 10pm.
- cleaning twice a week for long-term stay (soap/shampoo and towels provided)
- Laundry service available at 1,5$/kg
- guide of Champasak available at the lobby and we have a complete website too
- smoking area on your terrace
- mosquito net on windows
About Champasak :
- Vat Phou Temple (Unesco World Heritage) is at 10km, easy access by tuk-tuk
- Hong Nang Sida is an other ancient temple at 2km on the left of Vat Phou
- Vat Muang Kang Temple is along the Mekong river at 7km, beautiful river path and basketry handicraft.
- The rice fields trail, 15km loop by foot with mountain view
- Don Daeng Island is in front of us, you can either do a 12km loop around the island by walk, or/and get a drink at sunset at La Folie Resort with river and mountain view
- Handicraft "Chez Maman" at 150m with many textiles from different Lao ethnies
- Cooking class at Homemade at 200m
- Learn how to make a Lao scarf (half a day or full day training) 600m on our right
- Massage at 500m
- Bus tickets at 200m to leave Champasak
- Atm and bank within 300m
- Convenient shops nearby
Other things to note
How to come to Souchitra in Champasak :
- 3$/p from Dao Heuang Market in central Pakse with a Songthaew (local shared tuk-tuk) from 9am to 2pm. No booking required, departure every hour, 50min drive (no boat crossing needed). The market is at 10min from the airport in taxi.
- 10$/p with a modern mini-van Green Paradise from your hotel in Pakse (8:30am) or the 4000 Islands (11am). Ask them to include the boat crossing in Champasak. Book a day before with your hotel or at the Green Paradise office. Tuk-tuk in Champasak at the top of the pier for the last 2km to Souchitra.
- 20$ for a private taxi from Pakse. Good road in-between mountains and river. You can book one with the Xanh SM app.
- From Bangkok in Thailand you can fly to Ubon Ratchathani (50$/1h) then take a van to the border (5$, departure every 30min) to make your Lao visa, and then a mini-van to Pakse (5$) or a taxi straight to Champasak from the border (35$)
- From Vientiane the capital of Laos you can take a plane to Pakse (around 60$/1h)
Cost of life in Champasak :
Lao food : from 3$ for fried noodles to 5$ for a steam fish.
Wood-fired pizza from 7$.
Smoothie or cappuccino 2$.
Transportation :
The village is small and can be discovered by foot. For the rest :
- 15$ return in tuk-tuk to go to Vat Phou or 20$ for the 3 ancient temples
- 10$ return to go to Don Daeng Island
How to leave Champasak ?
- To Pakse : Songthaew at 6:30am, 3$, 50min drive. Or a tuk-tuk for 20$.
- To the 4000 Islands : Package including tuk-tuk, 2 boats and modern mini-van for around 15$, departure at 8:30am. Booking the evening before 200m to our right.
The 3 seasons of Laos :
- November to February (dry season 19°C - 32°C) : this is the high season as almost no rain and relatively cool weather. All Laos becomes busy with tourism.
- March to May (summer 24°C - 38°C) : It's better to visit monuments the morning as the weather gets very hot mid-day from 11am to 3pm. The riverside is the best place to be as you often get a cool breeze from the Mekong. If you feel too hot we have 5 rooms with a/c on the yard side. April is a month of festivities and it may get louder the evening.
- June to October (rainy season 24°C - 32°C) : Good to slow down with less tourism. The rain makes everything green, the weather is unpredictable and not fitted for people with tight schedules, we could have a week of blue sky or some rain each day.
