Champasack is considered as the center of the economy, arts, culture and history in the southern part of Laos, and is home to world famous natural tourist attractions.
There are many local tribes in Champasack, such as Lao Loom, Khmer and Mon-Khmer. Champasak also preserves its unique arts and culture that differs from Luang Prabang and Vientiane, making a long drive worthwhile.
There are many famous attractions such as Wat Phu Palace, featuring Cambodian architecture built in the same area as Angkor Wat and Nakhon Thom. It has been awarded as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001, Lao's second after Luang prabang city.
The famous natural attraction is the Khonpa peng waterfall, which is the largest waterfall in Laos and nick name as the "Niagara of Asia". There is also Li Phi that has swift current and is located on Don Det with as many as 4,000 small islands that bring the name "Si Phandon".
Once in Champasak, one must not miss the chance to go and see the Pa Kha fresh water dolphin. To get there, you take high way No.13 south to approximately Km.154(5 km further down from the Khon Pa Peng waterfall). Then turn right and drive another 6 km into Ban Wern Kham port. You need to leave the vehicles there and here and rent a boat to the Lao-Cambodia border for 10 minutes. Here's the area Pa Kha lives, and you may have to pay 10,000 kips entry fee to see the dolphins closely.
Champasak district is located in the southern part of Laos and is 600 km away from Vientiane. The road is quite good and there are not as many mountain roads as in the northern part of the country.
