LAOS - Pakse - Champasak

Wat Phu temple

Pakse was formerly the capital of the Lao Kingdom of Champasak and residence of the King of Champasak at Champasak Palace, which was then abolished in 1946 when the Kingdom of Laos was formed.

Champasak was once, 1400 years ago, the centre of power in the lower Mekong basin, later a revered outpost of the Khmer Angkor empire and later still one of the three kingdoms to rule over the remains of Lane Xang.

Wat Phu, the magnificent Angkorian temple complex was recently made a UNESCO heritage site and is considered one of the finest Angkor-inspired edifices outside of Cambodia.