3 / 5 - 4 reviews
How to get there
30 minutes from Champassak by boat
When to go
All year round
Minimum stay
1 to 2 days
Done Khong (Laos)
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Bettina Zourli
Practical information on Done Khong
Reviews of Done Khong
Don Khong is the biggest island in the 4,000 Islands region, which is in the south of Laos, on the frontier with Cambodia. It's a very well known destination among backpackers, but it's also a very calm place during the dry season and perfect for relaxing!
My suggestion:
After Don Khong, go to Don Det and Don Khône, two smaller islands which are very charming.
My review
I think Don Khong island is an excellent example of Laotian life: life is ordered according to the rhythm of the water, no watches and nothing is compulsory. In fact the few days I spent in the 4,000 Islands felt like a time outside time.
On Don Khong you can cycle through the rice paddies and admire the sun set, which I think is one of the most beautiful in the country, or just lie around on the beaches and do nothing. It's an essential break during a trip to Laos.
However, it would be a shame to just stay on this island - there are so many of them! So I went first to Don Det, just a short way away, and then to Don Khône. There you can spend some time at the Khone Phapheng waterfalls, which are very impressive.
©
Bettina Zourli
Don Khong is the biggest island in the 4,000 Islands region, which is in the south of Laos, on the frontier with Cambodia. It's a very well known destination among backpackers, but it's also a very calm place during the dry season and perfect for relaxing!
My suggestion:
After Don Khong, go to Don Det and Don Khône, two smaller islands which are very charming.
My review
I think Don Khong island is an excellent example of Laotian life: life is ordered according to the rhythm of the water, no watches and nothing is compulsory. In fact the few days I spent in the 4,000 Islands felt like a time outside time.
On Don Khong you can cycle through the rice paddies and admire the sun set, which I think is one of the most beautiful in the country, or just lie around on the beaches and do nothing. It's an essential break during a trip to Laos.
However, it would be a shame to just stay on this island - there are so many of them! So I went first to Don Det, just a short way away, and then to Don Khône. There you can spend some time at the Khone Phapheng waterfalls, which are very impressive.
©
Bettina Zourli
Don Khong is the biggest of the Si Phan Don, the 4,000 Islands, in the south of Laos. It is about 18 kilometres long and 8 kilometres wide and shouldn't be confused with Don Khone, a little further to the south.
My suggestion:
Hiring a bike is the best way to explore Don Khong, but avoid the hottest hours of the day as the heat is suffocating. It's better to go in the morning or at the end of the afternoon.
My review
Don Khong is a bit more "developed" than its neighbours, Don Khone and Don Det. It has some tarmacked roads and the electricity is less random. The explanation for this is that Khamtay Siphandone, the ex-president of Laos, came from here, which obviously helps... The tranquil atmosphere of Don Khong island makes it a particularly good place to go for those who like a relaxing trip.
Although it is mostly flat, the island does have a few hills and the highest point is at 240 metres above sea level. I especially liked the cycle rides which took me through the small villages of farmers and herders, crossing the rice paddies towards small temples, under the peaceful gaze of the buffaloes grazing in the countryside - a pleasant immersion in rural Laos!
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Hoffmann Simon
Don Khong is the biggest of the Si Phan Don, the 4,000 Islands, in the south of Laos. It is about 18 kilometres long and 8 kilometres wide and shouldn't be confused with Don Khone, a little further to the south.
My suggestion:
Hiring a bike is the best way to explore Don Khong, but avoid the hottest hours of the day as the heat is suffocating. It's better to go in the morning or at the end of the afternoon.
My review
Don Khong is a bit more "developed" than its neighbours, Don Khone and Don Det. It has some tarmacked roads and the electricity is less random. The explanation for this is that Khamtay Siphandone, the ex-president of Laos, came from here, which obviously helps... The tranquil atmosphere of Don Khong island makes it a particularly good place to go for those who like a relaxing trip.
Although it is mostly flat, the island does have a few hills and the highest point is at 240 metres above sea level. I especially liked the cycle rides which took me through the small villages of farmers and herders, crossing the rice paddies towards small temples, under the peaceful gaze of the buffaloes grazing in the countryside - a pleasant immersion in rural Laos!
©
Hoffmann Simon
100 travelers' photos
