Si Phan Don: A Visitor Guide to Laos' Four Thousand Islands
Contents
Si Phan Don, the Four Thousand Islands, is where the Mekong fans out into islands, sandbanks and channels in the far south of Laos, in Champasak Province close to the Cambodian border.[1] Life moves at river pace here: you walk or cycle between villages, watch fishing boats from a hammock and chase waterfalls in the rapids.
Choose a base that fits your trip
Decide first which water you want to see. Som Pha Mit, also called Li Phi, is reached from Don Lai island, 1 km from Don Khon, so Don Khon is a natural base if the rapids are on your list.[1] Khone Phapheng lies east of Don Khon, 13 km from the Cambodian border and about 6 km south of Don Det.[1] Li Phi properly names the whole 20 km stretch of falls and rapids that includes both.[1]
Compare guesthouses on location and view, and ask which island your host is on before you book a transfer.
Things to Do
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Plan the arrival and river legs
From Pakse, Route 13 runs south for about 150 km to the turn-off for Khone Phapheng.[1] Island guesthouses sit beyond the road, so ask your host to arrange the final boat leg and agree the last return departure before you set off.
Keep wildlife plans realistic
Do not build an itinerary around Irrawaddy dolphins. The last known river dolphin in the Laos-Cambodia transboundary pool was found dead on 15 February 2022, which WWF says most likely means national-level extinction for Laos.[2] Dolphins survive on the Cambodian side of the Mekong, where surveys in 2020 estimated 89.[2] Be wary of any tour in Laos that promises a sighting.
For the separate waterfall stop, see our Khone Phapheng guide. For a wider route through the country, see our Laos travel guides.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] Lao National Tourism Administration (Tourism Laos): Champasak Province. Retrieved October 20, 2026.
- [2] WWF-Laos: WWF-Laos is saddened by the death of the last known river dolphin in the transboundary pool in the Mekong between Laos and Cambodia. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Si Phan Don, or the Four Thousand Islands, is a group of islands and channels in the Mekong in southern Champasak Province, close to the Cambodian border. It is a slow, rural river region of villages, waterfalls and guesthouses.
Choose by what you want to see. Don Khon is closest to the Som Pha Mit rapids, while Khone Phapheng lies east of Don Khon, about 6 km south of Don Det. Ask your guesthouse which island it is on before you book a transfer.
Som Pha Mit, also called Li Phi, is reached from Don Lai island, 1 km from Don Khon. If the rapids are a priority, base yourself on that side of the region.
They are separate waterfall stops. Som Pha Mit is near Don Khon, and Khone Phapheng lies east of Don Khon, 13 km from the Cambodian border. Agree the route and your return transport in advance.
Take Route 13 south for about 150 km to the turn-off for Khone Phapheng. For an island stay, ask your guesthouse to arrange the final boat leg and confirm the last return departure.
No. The last known river dolphin in the transboundary pool died in February 2022, which WWF says most likely means national-level extinction for Laos. Dolphins remain on the Cambodian side of the Mekong.
