Two options to get to us from Pakse:

MINIVAN (recommended)
We recommend buying a ticket from Miss Noy Motorbike Rental in Pakse. The minivan will bring you to the main road (route 13) close to the evening market. From there to the easiest boat landing it is about 1.5 km. Sometimes there are samlors (motorbikes with sidecar). We can (most of the time) also arrange one to pick you up for 65.000 Kip per person. For that please call us or send a Whatsapp message (we’re not online all of the time so if we don’t reply please call) before you arrive or when you have arrived. That way we can send someone to come and pick you up. That person will show you a sign or our guesthouse. Please only go with him.

The ferry landing is north of the morning market of Khinak and a small bridge. Turn left after the bridge. The ferry landing is next to a pink house. Opposite from the pink house there is a telephone shop with a big commercial sign. It’s just a sandy area. There is no time schedule for the ferry. It might take 5 minutes or 2 hours for the ferry to arrive. The price to cross is 25.000 Kip at the moment (Feb. 2026) but might change. After reaching our island (Don Som) turn left just after exiting the ferry landing area and follow the small path until the small sandy bridge. You will see 2 houses (a pink and a blue one) on your left side when you’re walking towards the small bridge. Cross the small bridge and turn right. Follow the path for another +/- 300 meters until you see a sign of Don Som Riverside Guesthouse to turn left. Another 200 meters and you’ve made it to us! From the ferry landing on Don Som (north from us) it’s about 1 km to us. All paths are bumpy and dusty or muddy (depending on the season).   

EASIEST WAY FROM THE FERRY LANDING:
If you want it easier, ask us to get a direct boat to our place. The boat brings you right in front of our guesthouse. It’s is not always possible (especially last-minute, after dark and when it's raining) but most of the times it is possible. It’s a scenic and nice way of reaching us.

Prices for the direct boat (prices are for all of the boat) from Ban Khinak to us:
1 or 2 persons:        €8
3-4 persons:          €10
5-8 persons:          €12
After 18.00 in the evening the price goes up with €3 for the boat

LOCAL TRANSPORT
Go to the southern bus station ( km 8 ) and ask for the songhtaew (that is the local name for small trucks with 2 or 3 rows of benches in the back) to Ban Khinak (pronounce: Baan Kee naak). Make sure the songthaew will go to the morning market of Ban Khinak ('talaat sao' in Lao language) as that’s easiest. The price for the songthaew from Pakse to Ban Khinak is 200.000 Kip (10 April 2026, prices might change). The trip takes between 2,5 and 4 hours. On arrival in Khinak follow the instructions given above in the minivan section. If you want to save money, the local transport is not really a big safer as it will turn out to be about the same (or slightly more expensive) as the minivan option because you have to go to the bus station as well.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. With urgent matters it is best to call. Have a safe and nice trip! Welcome again! See you soon!

Telephone: +856 20 920 44 5 33 (not for Whatsapp)
WhatsApp: +856 20 9792 109

For peace of mind, we provide our guests with additional information regarding your travel to us. Please read it carefully. Getting to us is your own responsibility. If you've booked but don't come (part of your booking or all nights), full payment is required as agreed. All information is given with our best intentions, but we don’t take responsibility for any mistakes, issues or problems during your trip. Contact us well in advance for a smooth trip! Urgent questions during your travel day? Please call us.

IN CAMBODIA: Buy a ticket to Nakasong or Don Det. WARNING: don’t go to Don Det as that will make things more complicated and expensive. Anyway, no bus goes to Don Det as there is no bridge from the mainland to Don Det.

IN LAOS: Your bus will probably arrive between 16:00 and 19:00 in Ban Nakasong. Go to the ATM in Ban Nakasong (coordinates: 14.0036219, 105.9220383 or GOOGLE MAPS LINK TO ATM LOCATION) for transport to us and cash withdrawal if you need. Take out enough cash for your stay on Don Som. We only accept cash payment (in Kip, USD, Euro, Riel, Baht, GBP, and CHF) and via the Loca app. No ATM on Don Som (there are two on the mainland town of Khinak, opposite from us). From Ban Nakasong you have three options to get to our place: 

1. A tuktuk to Ban Khinak and direct boat from Ban Khinak to Don Som Riverside Guesthouse (recommended)
2. A tuktuk to Ban Khinak and the local ferry from Ban Khinak to Don Som (walk to the guesthouse)
3. A direct boat from Nakasong to us.

DO take the tuktuk we recommend because the driver knows us and knows where to drop you off. If he is not available let another driver call us before departing so we can talk with him or her to be sure he or she will bring you to the right place.

1. Tuktuk from Nakasong to Khinak and a direct boat from Khinak to us

We can (usually, but not always) arrange a tuktuk from Nakasong and private boat from Ban Khinak to pick you up and bring you to us. The tuktuk will pick you up at the ATM in Nakasong. You will be dropped off directly at our Guesthouse by boat. You pay for the tuktuk and the boat at our guesthouse. If you go for this option, please call or text us via Whatsapp (we are not always online so calling to our phone number is best when it is more urgent) after your arrival in Nakasong.

Prices of a direct boat from Ban Khinak to us (for the entire boat):
Prices for the direct boat (prices are for all of the boat) from Ban Khinak to us:
1 or 2 persons:                €8
3-4 persons:                     €10
5-8 persons:                     €12
After 18.00 in the evening the price goes up with €3 for the boat

2. Tuktuk from Nakasong and local ferry from Ban Khinak to Don Som (walk to the Guesthouse)

If you take the local ferry, you will sometimes have to wait for a long time - especially in the afternoon as the ferry doesn’t cross often. You can contact us to arrange a tuktuk to the ferry for you. Please be aware that you have to walk from the ferry to our guesthouse. Warning: The local ferry from Ban Khinak to our part of Don Som stops before it gets dark (it stops operating somewhere between 16:30 and 18:00 most days), so it might already have stopped before you reach Ban Khinak.

3. Direct boat from Nakasong to Don Som Riverside Guesthouse

This is possible if you arrive at 16:30 or before. The costs are €19 for the entire boat and 20.000 Kip per person to pay to the people at the ferry landing in Nakasong. It takes between 45 minutes and 1 hour to reach our guesthouse from Nakasong. Very scenic and nice trip.

• DO NOT take a boat from Nakasong to Don Som (other than the direct boat (option 3) arranged by us) because they likely will drop you off on the far south of Don Som, 8 km from us. This might end up being more difficult and expensive for you.
• DO Buy a SIM card or E-SIM and contact us by phone (+85620 920 44 5 33) or WhatsApp (+8562097921099) prior to arrival in Nakasong or upon arrival. Urgent: phone us (+85620 920 44 5 33) because we’re not on WhatsApp/ online all the time.

Yes, no problem. 

We are happy to assist you with a private boat to our location. Naturally, we are subject to weather conditions, as the boatman (we do not own a boat ourselves) will not set sail if there is a storm, thunderstorm, or very heavy rain. This is, of course, for your safety and his.

We can assist you with private boat transport from the ferry landing in Khinak, from Don Det and Don Khone (door-to-door service, including a tuk-tuk pick-up service if necessary), Don Khong (the largest island of the 4000 Islands), and Ban Nakasong (also spelled Nagassang).

For more information, please contact us at donsomlaos@gmail.com 

Yes, no problem. We sell tickets for the bus that can take you to: Siem Reap, Stung Treng, Kratie, and other destinations in our neighboring country Cambodia.