Packs - the capital of the province of Champasak (or Timpasak), the most populous city of the province, the third population of the country, the city's unofficial capital of Southern Laos and one of the most "Thai" cities of the country. As you can see, about the city you can tell a lot of interesting things and, like many of the cities of Laos, it has an exciting story.
This city was founded by the French as an administrative outpost in 1905, and he was the capital of the Kingdom of Treympasak until 1946 (the Kingdom of Laos was formed). During the Franco-Thai war, the French gave way to Thailand. The city served as the main place of residence of Prince Boon's mind NA Champassak, an important figure in the history of the Lao Civil War. By the way, it was on his order that the Champasak Palace was built, although the prince ran from the country in 1974 before the construction was completed. Since 1975, the pacas has gained economically important for the area, and the construction of a bridge over Mekong (built with the help of the Japanese) to the city of Uconcepthani made it possible to contact Thailand, which greatly strengthened the relationship between neighboring countries.
The population of the city is small - about 88,000 people, and it is mostly ethnic Chinese and Vietnamese, mainly Buddhists, although there is a Catholic church in the pacas.
Until recently, most travelers and backpeckers arrived in the pacas solely on a day or even for a couple of hours, as the city was more transported hub: there is international Airport (built in 2009), from where flights to Vientiane, Siemreap and Bangkok are made. It must be recognized that the tourist infrastructure here is really so far a little less developed than in the cities in the most popular north of the country, which to some extent it makes it difficult to study the beauty of the city and the surrounding area, but still, Timpassak can offer a lot of interesting things, but the pace is An ideal base for starting.
The pacas does not boast of restrained luxury of Luang Prabang, but, nevertheless, in the city, it is a certain charm in the city, besides, there are several pretty temples and two magnificent rivers - small KSE DON. And full-breeding Mekong (By the way, this is the largest river at the Indochinese Peninsula), on the shores of which you can with great pleasure to have dinner and admire the sunset falling in the distant forests and mountains.
It should not be noted that, thanks to the developing tourism in Laos, the pacas has recently passed the path from the exclusively transit point to the place that the truth goes to visit intentionally. The Laos government makes a lot of effort and conducts painstaking work in order to grow up a new, friendly, interesting and environmentally friendly tourist destination, which combined the spirit of adventures and exotics with a reliable service. That is, today you can easily spend in this city a week or more - Hotels and Guest Houses Here, of course, there are, although not so much (about 70) - and then go to other cities of Laos. Yes, even a one-day visit to the Packs can be interesting, and now sufficiently comfortable. If in numbers, then since 2006, the number of tourists, annually arriving in the pacas, has increased by 4 times!
What can I see, in this mysterious pacas, about which few people heard? Well, the province is known by the amazing ruins of Khmer Temple Wat Phu - This is the main attraction of the region. It is located 40 km south of Pakse and is rightfully considered one of the most worthy places to visit in the country.
The second popular place among tourists is a stunning group of islands in the Cambodian border area, known as Si Phan Don. (In total there are about 4,000 islands). By the way, many tourists heading in Trepassak are immediately followed by Si Phan Don to pass for several days in a hammock on the village of Nature - so to speak, relax to the tips of the hair.
But in fact, Champasak and Packs are much more than a lazy rest and a superficial look. In the province there is, for example, and stunning Waterfalls cutting in the area of Plateau Bolaven, in the city itself - Campasaka Museum where historical documents and artifacts related to the provincial history are exhibited. And, in the end, you will have a great opportunity to look into authentic, real, amazing Lao world on the island Don Daeng. near Champasak Town. In short, beautiful and interesting here are a lot - stockday and forces!
Travelers must prepare for the fact that in this province want to spend more time than planned and expected. At least, so happens to many tourists. In addition, the hospitality of local residents is impressive - it is always nice. Another reason to stay in the town is caused by no desires and gusts of the tourist, but by transport capabilities. The fact is that in these parts is very slow public transport. Despite the fact that in the Champasaka for the most part there are quite good roads, as in most of the provinces of Laos, the transport is not suitable for anywhere.
But besides, in addition to slow buses filled with people and all sorts of trash, and barely dismissed on the roads under their weight, the locals are increasingly preferring motorbikes, which have become a popular alternative to move around the city and surroundings. In addition, the tourist is quite easy Rent Motobike In the pacas.It is on this type of transport that the main places of the province are easiest to explore, without spending their precious time to expect buses in the terminals and tortured traffic on the roads. And also, traveling to the motorbike, it is much easier to stop where it wanted, and not the main roads for movement, but small country paths, rapidly running along the streams and canals, through rice fields - and all this amazing picturesque mountains ! Without a good camera, do not do - too good kinds here!
I hope you realized that the pacase is a very decent direction for the tourist interested, which has time and desire to study not only the generally accepted and ultra-popular points of SUV.