Si Phan Don - the 4000 Islands

Si Phan Don, with its 4000 islands on the Mekong River, is a small and chill backpacker paradise, the perfect place to relax. From Pakse, I went to the small island of Don Det with Tilly from England. Here, there are several guesthouses and restaurants with a magnificent view of the Mekong.

Given the heat, a kayaking tour was the obvious choice, besides lounging in a hammock. As part of the truly amazing tour, we paddled across the Mekong and were lucky enough to see dolphins (Irrawaddy), water buffaloes, and waterfalls, including the largest waterfall in the world, Khone Phapheng, which is over 10km wide. I shared a kayak with a stoned and somewhat crazy Italian guy, and I have no idea how we managed to navigate the mild rapids without capsizing or crashing into a tree (unlike some others in our group).

The border between Laos and Cambodia partially runs through the middle of the Mekong. During the tour, we suddenly got really thirsty and stopped at a kiosk on a small island. It was only then that we realized we had basically illegally entered Cambodia when we were sold beer from Cambodia. But what wouldn't we do for a cold beer? Needless to say, I was sore all over from all the paddling after the tour.

You can easily explore the island by bicycle, although the 'road' is bumpy and dusty, but still manageable. And that's the easiest way to get your hands on a delicious ice cream.

Otherwise, life on Don Det is just laid-back, in a hammock, with a view of the Mekong and passing fishing boats.