Quick Overview
Don Det is growing in popularity amongst travellers. It has a peaceful vibe and is known as a great place to chill. If you’re looking forward to some downtime, this is the destination in Laos that is not to be missed.
The easiest way to get to from Pakse to Don Det is by booking a combined bus and ferry ticket. Note that these combined trips only leave from Pakse in the early morning between 07:30-08:00.
| Transport mode | Duration | Costs | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
 Bus + Ferry | 3,5 hours | $6 + $2 | No online tickets |
| Combined bus ticket | 3,5 hours | $15 | Check bus tickets |
Option #1: Bus + Ferry
Cheapest option
More flexible than combined tickets
Unreliable ferry schedule
Can cost more time when bus and ferry schedule doesn’t match
Route: Pakse Don Det
Duration: 3h 30min
Costs: $6 + $2
Most of the bus tickets for trips leaving at 7:30-8:00 already include a ferry ride. However, if the departure time doesn’t work for you then you can catch a ride on a local bus from Pakse’s Southern Bus Terminal or otherwise known as the 8KM Bus Terminal. Take note that the bus terminal is 8km east of the city center, hence, the name.
There are buses leaving for Nakasang from the bus terminal at 8:00, 9:30, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00. The bus ticket costs $6.
Once you arrive at Nakasang Bus Station, head straight to the boat pier to purchase your boat ticket. The ticket price is fixed at $2 per person. It’s important to note that most of the boats are busy from morning until noon. Boat activities start to dwindle by mid-afternoon. Also, boats require a minimum of 2 passengers to depart. Otherwise, you may have to pay a higher price of $4. The boat ride from Nakasang to Don Det only takes about 10-15 minutes.
Option #2: Combined ticket
The bus company will arrange the boat transfer
You can book your tickets online
More expensive
Route: Pakse Don Det
Duration: 3h 30min
Costs: $15
Both Green Paradise Tours and Naga Travel offer one trip a day to Don Det. The total journey takes about 3,5 hours and tickets cost about $15.
Buses or vans will go from Pakse to Nakasong Ferry Boat Station. From there the staff will transfer you to a ferry to Don Det Island.
| Bus company | Departure/Arrival | Duration | Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Paradise Tours | 08:00-11:30 | 3h 30m | $15 |
| Naga Travel (not available) | 07:30-10:15 | 2h 45m | $19 |
Green Paradise Tours
- Departs from Green Paradise Agency Pakse Office in the city center, near the Vietnamese Consulate
- Arrives at Green Paradise Travel Office, Don Det Island
Green Paradise Tours gets mixed reviews. Some travelers are satisfied with their service, while others things think it could improve.
Naga Travel
- Departs from Naga Travel Pakse Office in the city center, near Alisa Guesthouse
- Arrives at the Naga Travel 4000 Islands Office
Naga Travel bus fares tend to be higher than other bus companies, but they provide very comfortable vans for this route.
Did you travel this route or visit this place? Share your experience in a comment below.
