The stuff that dreams are made of…
Step 1: dare to dream
Step 2: procure motorbike
Step 3: hit the gas
Well, something like that.
First off, Pakse is a really cool place to spend some time. The city is down tempo and provides a good deal of delicious food and interesting people to talk to. Second, you can rent dirtbikes. Third, nature is just a short ride away.
For the relatively low price of $30 US one may, if one so chooses, rent a Honda XR 250 or FTR 223 from the Lan Kham hotel in downtown Pakse. This is nothing less than the key to the kingdom. Within easy reach of Pakse are ancient ruins, monkeys, waterfalls, jungles, things to swim in, and elephants.
Great Success!
Starting off from Pakse in the morning, one can expect to experience any or all of these things depending on gas money. Map interpretation skills are helpful, too.
By the end of the 220 kilometer day the tally stood at 1 collision (minivan), 2 waterfalls, the coldest swim ever, an adventure meal, and 2 hours with an elephant. Take a look:
I’ve purposely not given you a detailed account of where all of this was found, because finding it was part of the quest. This was like a “Choose your own adventure” book. The area around Pakse, similar to most of the country of Laos, is simply filled with things to see and experience.
All of this was packed into one day. It was a long, full day. This was due to equal constraints of money and time. If you are here, and you can spring the $30 a day to rent the bike, go for it; take as much time as you can.
The brilliance of this day was as much the countryside and seeing peoples lives unfold as it was the stops to experience some natural wonder. I cannot recommend this highly enough; it was a day I’ll not soon forget.
Wrap up:
Laos is full of wonder. Go find it.
Lan Kham hotel in Pakse rents all kinds of bikes for decent rates. You just have to leave your passport with them while you have the bike.
Get a map and some general directions from the Lan Kham staff. Some people speak more English than others so make sure you talk to the right people.
Elephant rides, monkey farms, and swimming in freezing waterfalls were just part of the magic of the day. If you have the bike for it, follow the dirt roads and trails into the surrounding areas. You might find towns, schools, buffalo, or any number of wonderful people that want to share some laughter with you.