During your stay in the south of Laos, don't miss the chance to take a few days to experience the exquisite natural setting of the Bolaven plateau. Personally, I appreciated wandering the roads of this rural region of Laos, regularly stopping off to enjoy the many viewpoints.
I particularly enjoyed the beauty of the rivers and the many waterfalls, such as the dizzying Tad Fan Waterfalls, the impressive Tad Yuang Waterfalls or the wilder E-Tu Waterfalls further on.
The memory of this feeling of peace and escape and the many natural sites that offer real moments of calm in the midst of a beautiful lush environment will stay with me for the years to come. Walkers will appreciate the beautiful hiking trails of the Bolaven plateau.
I also recommend that you take a map of the region because several trails are possible depending on whether you leave for one or several days.
You have to choose which waterfalls you are going to see because there are so many that you can't do them all in one day! There are dozens of waterfalls on the Bolaven Plateau. I chose to only visit the two highest, Tad Fan and Tat Lo, so that I could concentrate of seeing other things.
I spent the afternoon on the summit of the plateau, about 1,000 metres above sea level, walking in the tea and coffee plantations with their wonderful snapshots of every day life.
It's a region where you really should spend some time exploring all the activities. I suggest you stay in one of the hotels on the plateau and spend at least two days in the villages on stilts and the rice paddies to make the most of this unique, peaceful region.