# Pakse Bus Tickets: Getting There, and the Bolaven Loop

> The overnight bus from Vientiane, which of Pakse's three bus stations you need, and how to reach Wat Phou, the 4000 Islands and the Bolaven Plateau from here.

**Source:** https://laosbustickets.com/pakse-bus-tickets/  
**Language:** en  
**Last verified:** 23 September 2026  
**Written by:** Laos Bus Tickets, Vientiane, Laos
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## Quick answer

The overnight sleeper bus from Vientiane to Pakse takes about 10 hours, from roughly 613,000 kip, and leaves from the VIP bus station near the Champasak Shopping Centre in town. Pakse itself runs on three separate bus stations depending on direction: the VIP station in town for Vientiane and Phnom Penh, the Northern Bus Station about 10 km out on Route 13 for Savannakhet, Thakhek and the Vietnam border at Dansavanh, and the Southern ("Km 8") Bus Station about 8 km south on Route 13 for the Bolaven Plateau towns and the 4000 Islands. Pakse International Airport is about 5 km northwest of town, a short tuk tuk ride. From Pakse, Wat Phou is about 43 km south near Champasak town, public buses run from Dao Huang market in the morning. The 4000 Islands (Si Phan Don) are about 150 km south, 3 to 4 hours by bus or minivan to Nakasong then a boat across. The Bolaven Plateau loop by motorbike, the Pakse Loop, runs 200 km over a minimum of 2 days on the small loop through Tad Lo, Thateng and Paksong, or over 300 km and at least 4 days on the big loop, which adds Sekong and Houay Kong. Green SM ride-hailing operates in Pakse with a fixed fare shown up front; InDrive does not work anywhere in Laos, blocked since May 2025.

## How do I actually get to Pakse, and onward from there?
The overnight sleeper bus from **Vientiane to Pakse** takes about **10 hours**, from roughly **613,000 kip**. Pakse itself runs on three separate bus stations depending on direction, and is the gateway to **Wat Phou**, the **4000 Islands** and the **Bolaven Plateau**.

## Getting to Pakse

An overnight sleeper bus runs **Vientiane to Pakse**, about **10 hours**, departing from the VIP bus station in town, near the Champasak Shopping Centre.

**Pakse's three bus stations, and what each one is for.**

| Station | Distance | Serves |
|---|---|---|
| VIP station | In town, near the Champasak Shopping Centre | Vientiane, and the Cambodia border at Nongnokkhene |
| Northern Station | approx 10 km out, on Route 13 | Savannakhet, Thakhek, and the Vietnam border at Dansavanh |
| Southern ("Km 8") Station | approx 8 km south, on Route 13 | The Bolaven Plateau towns (Paksong, Saravan) and the 4000 Islands |

Pakse International Airport is about **5 km northwest** of town, roughly US$3 to 5 by tuk tuk. **Green SM** ride-hailing also operates in Pakse, with a fixed fare shown before you book, for any of the three stations or the airport. InDrive does not work anywhere in Laos: it has been blocked since May 2025.

## Onward to Wat Phou and Champasak

**Wat Phou**, the pre-Angkorian Khmer temple complex and a UNESCO World Heritage site, sits about **43 km south** of Pakse near **Champasak** town, on the opposite bank of the Mekong. Public buses run there from **Dao Huang market** in Pakse, departing in the morning. Most travellers go by rented motorbike, a day tour booked in Pakse, or a bus to Champasak town followed by a tuk tuk or bicycle for the last stretch.

## Onward to the 4000 Islands

The **4000 Islands (Si Phan Don)** are about **150 km** south of Pakse. Buses and minivans from the Southern (Km 8) station run to Nakasong, about **3 to 4 hours**, followed by a short boat crossing to Don Det or Don Khon.

## The Bolaven Plateau: the Pakse Loop

The **Bolaven Plateau** begins a short distance southeast of Pakse and is best explored by motorbike on the **Pakse Loop**. The small loop runs about **200 km**, a minimum of **2 days**, through Tad Lo, Thateng and Paksong. The big loop adds Sekong and Houay Kong, over **300 km** and at least **4 days**. Waterfalls along the way include Tad Yuang, Tad Fane, Tad Phasouam and Tad Katamtok, and the plateau's coffee plantations line much of the route. Not keen on riding it yourself? [Bolaven Tours](https://bolaventours.com/) runs guided motorbike and van trips around the loop.

## Routes

| Route | Border crossing | Duration | Bookable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vientiane to Pakse | Domestic | approx 10 hrs, usually overnight | Yes |

## Common questions

### Is there a direct bus from Vientiane to Pakse?

Yes, an overnight sleeper, about 10 hours, from roughly 613,000 kip. It departs from the VIP bus station in town, near the Champasak Shopping Centre, not from either of the two out-of-town stations.

### Which bus station do I need in Pakse?

Depends on direction. The VIP station in town handles Vientiane and Phnom Penh. The Northern Station, about 10 km out on Route 13, handles Savannakhet, Thakhek and the Vietnam border crossing at Dansavanh. The Southern ("Km 8") Station, about 8 km south, handles the Bolaven Plateau towns and the 4000 Islands.

### How do I get to Wat Phou from Pakse?

Public buses leave from Dao Huang market in Pakse, in the morning. Wat Phou is about 43 km south, near Champasak town on the opposite bank of the Mekong. Most travellers go by rented motorbike, a day tour arranged in Pakse, or a bus to Champasak followed by a tuk tuk or bicycle for the last stretch.

### How do I get to the 4000 Islands from Pakse?

From the Southern (Km 8) bus station, about 150 km, 3 to 4 hours by bus or minivan to Nakasong, then a short boat crossing to Don Det or Don Khon.

### What is the Pakse Loop?

A motorbike loop onto the Bolaven Plateau. The small loop is about 200 km, a minimum of 2 days, through Tad Lo, Thateng and Paksong. The big loop adds Sekong and Houay Kong, over 300 km and at least 4 days. Waterfalls along the way include Tad Yuang, Tad Fane, Tad Phasouam and Tad Katamtok.

### How far is Pakse International Airport from town?

About 5 km northwest, a short tuk tuk ride, roughly US$3 to 5.

### Can I use a ride-hailing app in Pakse?

Green SM operates here with a fixed fare shown before you book. InDrive does not work anywhere in Laos, blocked since May 2025.

## Sources

- [Lao Department of Immigration](https://immigration.gov.la): checkpoint list, opening hours and visa status
- [Wikivoyage: Pakse](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Pakse): bus station locations, the airport transfer, and distances to Wat Phou and the Bolaven Plateau
- [Radio Free Asia](https://www.rfa.org): Laos's block on the InDrive ride-hailing app

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_Written and maintained from Vientiane. The people behind this site have lived in Laos for two decades and cross these borders themselves. Routes and visa rules get rechecked whenever something changes, not on a fixed schedule that lets stale information sit for months._