Laos, Pakse Loop – Waterfall Paradise

There are a total of two circuits. It depends on how much time you have. A small circuit can be completed in 3 days, a large one will take you one day longer. The Bolaven Plateau is famous for its waterfalls. If you drive clockwise, one of the first waterfalls will be Tad Pha Suam Waterfall. It is not very charming in itself, but the walk around it is very pleasant. A beautiful suspension bridge rises across the river! The most famous is the forty meters high waterfall of Tad Yuang. Just on the way to it, you will feel like in the jungle. But beware, the road can be very slippery. A rarity of this natural phenomenon is the possibility to walk directly under a stream of falling water, but if you do not want to take a "shower", I recommend that you pack a raincoat and hide your phone in a waterproof case.

Coffee Plantation

A frequent stop on the circuit is a visit to Mr. Vieng's coffee plantation. The tours do not have a set time, so just come and Mr. Vieng will tell you everything about coffee in person - from its collection to drying coffee beans to selecting the best beans. On the plantation you will find three types of given beans; Arabica, Robusta and Leberica, with Arabica being the smallest and tastiest and Leberica being among the cheapest. There will certainly be a tasting of a cup of excellent coffee during the tour!

Visiting Captain Hook Village

A visit to the village of Captain Hook is an unforgettable experience, during which you will not believe your ears. You will experience a culture shock, I guarantee you that. During a visit to the village, you will learn about the ethnic village of Katu, in which all current residents still observe ancient culture and traditions. This tradition is that children start smoking tobacco at the incredible age of three, because they believe that smoking drives away evil spirits. Knocking on any door in the village is not allowed! The girls get married at a very early age, at just eight years old. The moment a woman's husband dies, he immediately marries some of his brothers. Villagers live with their parents all their lives, dozens of people live in one house. That is here is completely normal. However, the whole village shares only one motorbike. The woman is expelled from the house during pregnancy. The child's name is given only at the first full moon, and only on the basis of good dreams of the previous night. In the case of bad dreams, the baby may be unnamed for several months. After the tour, you can taste a cup of coffee served in a traditional bamboo coffee filter or try strong tobacco from a bamboo pipe.

GPS: 15°10'54.5"N 106°08'18.1"E

Text and photos: Adrea Meluzínová