Thakek
In Thakek itself there is not really much to do. Most people come here to do the Loop, an off-the-beaten-track circuit through some of the more remote parts of the Khammuan and Bolikhamsai Provinces. I did consider doing The Loop but I think I was still a bit scared of riding a motorbike myself 
Writing this blog made me once more reading about the places I visited. And it appeared that there are some sites around Thakek that were worth a look. There are eg. several caves, an abandoned railway line and some natural swimming pools. A pity that I haven’t read my guide book properly when I was there 
That’s why I don’t have much pictures made in this town. The most exciting thing I did in Thakek was going to a local karaoke bar!
Pakse
Because I went to the wrong busstation in Thakek for the bus to Pakse, I left 2,5h later than I planned. :-p The bus that I took here was for sure the WORST bus I’ve ever sit in. The bus itself was almost falling apart and it was loaded with people and goods up to the brim! Everytime the bus stopped it had problems restarting. It took him 4 hours more to reach Pakse
At first sight Pakse seems deserted, as most places I’ve been to in Laos but in reality most of the locals just live outside the town center.
I didn’t do much in Pakse, but did quite a lot around Pakse. I first booked a daytrip to the Bolaven Plateau. I try to avoid organized tours but if you can’t or don’t want to ride a motorbike, I guess you’ll have to. This daytrip was not terrible…We sipped some of the well-known Lao coffee at a local coffee and tea plantation, visited ‘only’ 3 of the many watherfalls and payed a visit to a couple of minority weaving villages.
It was also around Pakse that I did my very first (little) trekking and homestay!
I have so many beautiful pictures to share about this trekking that I decided to make a whole separate post for that. Check it out here!
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