More about hotels in Salavan
About Salavan accommodation
Salavan is a quiet, green province in southern Laos, better known as the jumping off point for Tad Lo waterfall than as a destination in its own right. Forest, rice paddies and small villages fill most of the map, and the northern edge of the Bolaven Plateau's coffee country climbs up along the province's western side.
Accommodation here is simple and cheap rather than flashy. Most travellers stay a night in Salavan town for the transport links, or bunk down closer to the falls at Tad Lo, and either way a comfortable room can cost less than a counter meal back in Oz.
Where to stay in Salavan
- Salavan town: the province's transport hub, with the bus station and market at its centre, handy if you're heading further into the province by road.
- Near Tad Lo: the riverside village of Ban Saenvang, an easy overnight stop where guesthouses sit close enough to hear the falls at night.
How much is Salavan accommodation?
- Budget: AU$25-50 per night, a simple fan or air-con room with an ensuite in a family run guesthouse, the standard rate across Salavan town and Tad Lo alike.
What Salavan is known for
- Tad Lo waterfall: Three linked falls, Tad Lo, Tad Hang and Tad Soung, sit around Ban Saenvang village on the edge of the Bolaven Plateau. Tad Hang's calmer pool is the easiest of the three for a swim.
- Bolaven Plateau coffee: Salavan's north western corner rises onto the Bolaven Plateau, where volcanic soil and cooler air have supported Arabica and Robusta coffee farms for generations. It's a common day trip from Salavan town.
Top-rated hotels in Salavan
- Phonexay Hotel: A modern, Vietnamese style property in Salavan town, regularly rated the cleanest and most secure option in the area, with both fan and air-con rooms.
- Sokmixay Guesthouse: Set right next to Phonexay, with an on-site restaurant and free Wi-Fi, a solid backup if the first choice is booked out.
- Tad Lo Lodge: The best known lodge in Ban Saenvang, right by the falls, and the pick for travellers who want to fall asleep to the sound of the river.
Travel tips for Salavan
- Salavan town is spread out, with real distance between the bus station, market and guesthouses, so a tuk-tuk saves a lot of walking.
- Buses connect Salavan with Pakse, about 85km away, and it's the easiest way in and out of the province.
- Pack a rain jacket if you're travelling between May and October, and bring a light layer for cooler evenings up on the plateau.
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