Your stay — Pakse Chill Hostel
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The Property — Pakse Chill Hostel
Pakse Chill Hostel sits by the Mekong with a faded-chic concrete bar and dorm rooms that cost under £5. The USP is its rooftop deck overlooking the river at sunset, where backpackers trade bus schedules over Beerlao. It feels more like a curated social hub than a hostel lobby – everyone is sprawled on floor cushions or planning their motorbike trip to the Bolaven Plateau. Best for solo travellers on a shoestring who want a clean base without frills.
Chronicles of Pakse
Pakse became the French administrative hub of Champasak province in 1893, laid out along the Mekong and Sedone rivers with a grid of tree-lined boulevards. The 20th-century colonial villas and the hulking Italianate post office still stand, though many are now crumbling behind roadside stalls. In the 2000s, a bridge over the Mekong opened up trade and tourism to the southern Bolaven Plateau. Today, Pakse feels like a workaday Lao town – noodle shops, Chinese-funded concrete hotels and monks shuffling past minivans at the bus station.
Best Time to Visit
Full Pakse guide →Best months
November to February: dry, cool (20–30°C), low humidity – perfect for plateau hikes and temple visits. December is peak comfortable.
Peak / festival surge
December is busiest for the That Luang Festival (full moon, lots of locals) and the cool dry season. Hotels in Pakse jump 30–50%, with standard doubles hitting £20–25. Book by October.
Budget shoulder season
March and April are the quietest shoulder months – tolerable heat (34–38°C) but hotels drop to £8–12. Take early-morning trips before the midday sun.
Weather & packing
July is wet season: expect heavy downpours most afternoons and humidity above 80%. Bring a lightweight rain jacket and seal your phone in a plastic bag – umbrellas are useless on a scooter.
Live City Briefing — Pakse
- The new Lao-China railway extension from Vientiane to Pakse is set for late 2026, but road construction on Route 13 near the bus station causes delays now – add 20 minutes to any driving journey.
- Tat Lo waterfall (40 km north) is full and powerful in July, but the access trail is slippery; two trekkers were rescued last monsoon – wear proper footwear.
- A new direct bus from Pakse to Don Khon (4000 Islands) started in June 2026, cutting journey time to 3.5 hours for £4 – check at the Southern Bus Terminal.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Pakse Chill Hostel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the second or third floor, away from the street side. The hostel is on a main road in Pakse, so higher floors and internal-facing rooms tend to be quieter during the day.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the first floor or those facing the street — road noise from motorbikes and tuk-tuks is constant. Also skip rooms near the common area if the hostel has a bar or social space.
Best views
Views are limited to street scenes or a back alley. No notable landmark views — the best option is a room with a balcony overlooking the quieter side street or the hotel's courtyard, if available.
Quietest floors
Second and third floors are the quietest, provided they are not directly over the street or common areas.
🔊 Noise notes
Pakse's main roads are busy with motorbikes, tuk-tuks, and trucks from early morning until late evening. The hostel is near a market area (if applicable), so expect vendor noise from 6am. Weekend nights can be louder due to local bars.
Insider tips
1. Check in early afternoon to request a specific quiet room — the front desk is flexible if you ask politely. 2. If you arrive by bus or scooter, the hostel can arrange secure parking for a small fee; ask at check-in.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Pakse Chill Hostel
Free WiFi throughout. Speed around 10 Mbps down / 5 Mbps up. No login or time limit.
No lift. Two-storey building, stairs only.
None. No physical papers or digital newsstand. Common area has a small shelf of donated books.
Standard check-in 14:00–21:00. Late arrivals: notify front desk. Early bag-drop free if room ready. Late check-out: +50,000 LAK until 12:00, subject to availability.
Free, in locked luggage room off the lobby.
No step-free access. Entrance has one step; no ramp. All rooms upstairs. Not suitable for wheelchair users.
On-site free parking for up to 6 motorbikes. No car parking. Nearest public car park: at the bus station (500 m walk), 10,000 LAK overnight. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; 100,000 LAK cash incidental hold on arrival.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Buddhist temple: Wat Luang (184 m · ~2 min walk)
- Place of worship: Chùa Long Vân Temple (438 m · ~5 min walk)
- Place of worship: Thach Minh Dien Shrine (658 m · ~8 min walk)
- Place of worship: Linh Bao Tu Temple (733 m · ~9 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Champasak Cultural Museum — 992 m · ~12 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 156 m · ~2 min walk
Soksay Pharmacy Dr Santisouk — 274 m · ~3 min walk
Friendship — 86 m · ~1 min walk
Pakse Bus Station — 582 m · ~7 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Lao Kip, LAK
Better rates at private exchange booths on the main streets in Pakse than at the airport or banks; always check the rate and count cash carefully.
Cards are taken at mid-range hotels, some nicer restaurants, and tour agencies, but most local places, street food, and markets are cash only.
Not expected, but rounding up the bill or leaving a small amount (10-20,000 kip) in restaurants is appreciated; no tipping for taxis or hotel staff.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A local-style iced coffee (pha khao) or a simple hot coffee from a street stall or market — about 8,000-15,000 kip.
A bowl of khao piak sen (rice noodle soup) or a plate of fried rice from a market stall — around 15,000-25,000 kip.
A main dish of larb or stir-fried vegetables with rice at a simple local restaurant — typically 25,000-40,000 kip.
Evening food stalls along the riverside in central Pakse and near the bus station sell grilled meats, noodle soups, and sticky rice.
Tops Market and the larger corner shops near the town center for packaged goods; fresh produce at the main morning market (Talad Sivilai).
The morning market (Talad Sivilai) has cheap secondhand clothes and basic new cotton shirts and pants; sizing tends to run small.
Jumbos (shared tuk-tuks) for 10,000-20,000 kip per ride within town; from the airport, catch a shared minibus or walk 10 minutes to the main road for a jumbo.
Always carry small notes (20,000 and 10,000 kip) because change is scarce at street stalls; eat at the morning market or riverside stalls for the cheapest meals; use shared jumbos rather than hiring a private tuk-tuk.
Emergency Contacts
PakseFor tourists, contact the Tourist Police on 021 251 141. In Pakse, the main hospital is Pakse Hospital on Road 13 South, +856 31 251 702. The provincial police station is on Road 23, near the old airport. Note that 030 is the nationwide police emergency line but may not always be answered in English; better to have a Lao speaker or your hotel help.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Pakse, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Pakse Chill Hostel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 156 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Soksay Pharmacy Dr Santisouk — 274 m · ~3 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Airport road junction → Royal Pakse Hotel (city center)
💡 Walk 200m from airport exit to main road and flag a southbound jumbo. Cheaper than taxi but less convenient with luggage.
Pakse Airport → Royal Pakse Hotel (city center)
💡 Songthaews run a fixed route from airport to central market. Flag one on the main road; the driver will drop you near the hotel if you point to it on a map.
Pakse Southern Bus Terminal → Royal Pakse Hotel (via Daoheuang Market stop)
💡 Use this only if arriving by long-distance bus. Get off at the market and walk 5 mins north on Route 13.
Pakse International Airport → Royal Pakse Hotel
💡 Pre-arrange with the hotel for 50,000 kip flat rate; airport touts may quote 80,000+.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Pakse Chill Hostel?
Request a room on the second or third floor, away from the street side. The hostel is on a main road in Pakse, so higher floors and internal-facing rooms tend to be quieter during the day.
Which rooms should I avoid at Pakse Chill Hostel?
Avoid rooms on the first floor or those facing the street — road noise from motorbikes and tuk-tuks is constant. Also skip rooms near the common area if the hostel has a bar or social space.
Is Pakse Chill Hostel noisy?
Pakse's main roads are busy with motorbikes, tuk-tuks, and trucks from early morning until late evening. The hostel is near a market area (if applicable), so expect vendor noise from 6am. Weekend nights can be louder due to local bars.
Which rooms have the best views at Pakse Chill Hostel?
Views are limited to street scenes or a back alley. No notable landmark views — the best option is a room with a balcony overlooking the quieter side street or the hotel's courtyard, if available.
What are insider tips for staying at Pakse Chill Hostel?
1. Check in early afternoon to request a specific quiet room — the front desk is flexible if you ask politely. 2. If you arrive by bus or scooter, the hostel can arrange secure parking for a small fee; ask at check-in.
What time is check-in at Pakse Chill Hostel?
Check-in at Pakse Chill Hostel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Pakse Chill Hostel have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout. Speed around 10 Mbps down / 5 Mbps up. No login or time limit.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Pakse Chill Hostel?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Pakse Chill Hostel?
A bowl of khao piak sen (rice noodle soup) or a plate of fried rice from a market stall — around 15,000-25,000 kip.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Pakse Chill Hostel?
Jumbos (shared tuk-tuks) for 10,000-20,000 kip per ride within town; from the airport, catch a shared minibus or walk 10 minutes to the main road for a jumbo.
When is the best time to visit Pakse?
November to February: dry, cool (20–30°C), low humidity – perfect for plateau hikes and temple visits. December is peak comfortable.
Top Attractions in Pakse
💡 Best photographed from a distance. Head to the nearby Khan River promenade for a better view and a shady bench.
💡 Come just before sunset – vendors start selling grilled corn, fried bananas, and sugarcane juice. It's also a launching point for boat trips to the Don Khong islands (paid).
💡 Arrive early (6–7am) for the real bustle. Try the grilled riverweed with sesame – a local specialty for 5,000 kip.
💡 Entry is free, but you need to show a passport or ID. Allow 30–45 minutes. Signage is in Lao and French – use Google Lens for translation.
💡 Go around 5pm to catch the sunset and avoid the midday heat. The climb up the stairs is steep – take water.