Why do I like travelling in the rainy season in the southern islands of Laos in Champassak province? Well because it’s much less crowded than high season, the natural scenery is verdant and green, the fishermen are out on the water and the guesthouses are cheaper as well.

Oh but of course there is the small risk of rain which could make travel to some tourist sites more difficult but if you are well prepared and equipped with a rain coat and an umbrella then there should be no problem really.
In the rainy season, the south is not crowded with tourists seeking to v isit the two peaceful islands of Done Det and Done Khone but tourists who do travel in this season can certainly enjoy the greenery of nature while eating and sleeping will also set you back a little less.
It is three hours by bus from Pakxe, the capital of Champassak, to Done Khone to reach Nakhasang village before you have to pay 20,000 kip for a boat ticket to reach either of the two islands.
The rainy season in Laos runs from June until October, during which time the water level in the Mekong is much higher and you can see local people in Done Det and Done Khone especially during this season you can see utilising boats as their exclusive form of transportation.
Now is an especially good time for tourists to enjoy watching the lifestyles on the river and how the fishermen go about making their living.
The villagers depend on fishing for their livelihoods, with much of the fish caught being sold to provide income. Currently, people living on the two islands are also entering into business to serve tourists since the area became known to the international travelling community in the early 2000s.
Done Det and Done Khone are well known islands to relax with the slow pace of life, and touch the simple lives of the people, who live in tune with and depend on the surrounding natural environment.
However, you may be disappointed if you have heard about sunbathing on the beach with buffalo on Done Det, as the river is up and the beaches have disappeared. But the buffalo remain and you still can see them wallowing in the muddy shallows of the Mekong at the end of the day.
Done Khone and Done Det offer beautiful sunsets made more entrancing because you can experience them while walking along the islands, often seeing the local children swimming in the river.
Getting up early to watch the spectacular sunrises will let you see the local fishermen standing in their boats and hauling in the nets they set out the night before.
The islands also offer visitors the opportunity for tourists to learn how to be farmers, planting vegetables and rice, or traditional methods of fishing.
As the two islands are developed as tourist sites, visitors will not be concerned if they need to connect with the world, as restaurants, bars, bungalow and guesthouses now offe r visitors with free Wifi.
If you love peace and tranquility and want to escape from technology, you should try to ensure that you sleep in a bungalow close to the river, and then pick up your favorite book to read while relaxing in one of the many hammocks in the breeze.
A gentle breeze will also be your companion all night, the fresh air helping you to relax into a deep sleep.
The sound of the speedboats that the locals use to take their produce to the market as well as their children to school in the morning may act as an alarm clock, but by far the best way is to rise early so you can see these activities for yourself.
Travelling to the islands in the low season, you can take advantage of sleeping cheaper as guesthouses and bungalows lower their prices by almost 40-50 percent, at 40,000-50,000 kip per night, while the air is fresh and the surrounding greenery cools the air.
There are still the same activities available during the high season, it is just different as tourists can’t sunbathe on the beach, which is a well-known activity on Done Det.
Visitors can spend two or three days to rent a bicycle or walk the four kilometres to visit Lyphi waterfall at Done Khone. At this time the waterfall will be much more beautiful with the large volume of water but it might be a muddy shade of brown.
Riding by bicycle through the island communities will help you to learn how locals’ lives pass, while on the road to the waterfall, you will fall in love with the rice paddies where local farmers are planting and the big shady trees will invite you to take a rest from pedaling.
Next to Lyphi waterfall, only around 2km away, you can hire a boat man at 15,000 kip per ticket to look out for Irrawaddy dolphins ( Pha ka), which are often sighted near the Cambodian border.
Tourists will spend one hour at the Cambodian side, before the boat man will glide in with the motor off so you can get closer to the pha ka pool without disturbing them. Of course, it is a great thrill for those who get to see the dolphins break the water.
Following healthy pursuits, tourists can enjoy swimming in the river or jogging around the islands, but if y ou love relaxing with drinks, Beer Lao or Lao khao (sticky rice alcohol) they are also available here, before you go to sleep with the sound of the cool breeze, insects chirping and the wind in the trees.
Most of all, finding real happiness lies in staying with the hospitable and friendly villagers of the laidback southern islands.

By Ounkham Pimmata