Don Det, home to the 4000 islands. A lazy island in the South of Laos close to the border of Cambodia and Thailand. This is our guide to Don Det.
If you have ever been to Pai in Thailand, then you’ll instantly feel familiar vibes. A relaxed hippy town found on the Mekong river. Here you can take a kayak ride down the river to visit the famous snubbed nose dolphins, or relax and enjoy the most beautiful sunsets found in Southeast Asia.
Traveling to Don Det is relativity easy. If you’re traveling from the North, Pakse, then you’re looking at a 4 hour bus ride. It is also possible to travel to Don Det from Cambodia and Thailand, however, those travel times will vary depending on where you’re coming from and how the border crossing goes. In our experience Don Det to Siem Reap took around 7 hours.
A Guide to Don Det
WHAT TO DO
Kayaking
As Don Det is located right on the Mekong river, there are plenty of Kayaking tours. Generally costing $10-$15, you’ll have the opportunity to kayak down the very impressive Mekong river. If you’re lucky you might even get to see the rare snubbed nose dolphin.
Bike Ride
As the island doesn’t have any roads, the best way to travel is by bike. Biking around the Island is something we would both certainly recommend. Riding round the whole island can take around 40 minutes and you can even visit the neighbouring island. It was definitely a fun day out exploring!
Reggae bar, chill and happy shakes
Don Det is a very hippy town and this is reflected in the abundance of ‘happy’ menus in many of the restaurants. If you’re into making free love and smoking some weed, then you’ll haven no trouble find that in Don Det.
A Guide to Don Det
WHERE TO EAT
Jasmin Indian Restaurant
This was our favourite restaurant in Don Det! This small, family run restaurant can be found near the dock. We frequently ate here and indulged in chicken tikka masala and various other Indian cuisines. If you’re in Don Det do not let up the chance to eat here! The family is also super sweet!
WHERE TO STAY
Mama Leurth Sunset Guest House
This has to be by far, one of the best places to stay on Don Det. The rooms are large and very spacious with incredibly comfy beds. The owners are warm and welcoming, helping out wherever they can. We probably couldn’t recommend his place enough, costing around $14 a night, it will definitely make the difference when staying in Don Det.
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