March 25, 2025
Explore the Xe Champhone Loop in Savannakhet, a hidden gem filled with ancient temples, sacred wetlands, rare wildlife and Phu Thai culture for an authentic off-the-beaten-path adventure in Laos.
Savannakhet is not famous for iconic landmarks or busy tourist scenes – luckily. But what makes this region special is its quiet countryside, traditional communities, and an authentic way of life that has changed little over generations.
This Savannakhet Homestay Experience & Private Xe Champhone Loop Tour is designed for travelers who want to move beyond sightseeing and step into everyday rural life in Laos. Instead of rushing between attractions, time is spent observing, participating, and connecting with local Lao people in a part of Laos that remains completely untouched by mass tourism.
➡️ If you are looking for something personal and far removed from standard travel routes in Laos, this experience was designed for you. It offers rare insight into life within a local Lao Phu-Thai family, not as an observer, but as a welcomed guest and part of the family.
This is not a transport service with a fixed route and quick photo stops. The experience is personally hosted from start to finish, allowing for flexibility, conversation, and meaningful interaction.
Instead of being dropped off at attractions, you spend time inside a real family home, sharing meals and daily routines. You are welcomed as a guest, not treated as a customer.
There are no tour groups, no staged activities, and no fixed scripts. The experience adapts naturally to the day, the season, and the rhythm of village life. Laos is one of the safest and most welcoming countries in the world, come and convince yourself 🇱🇦
This two-day private experience combines the full Xe Champhone Loop by comfortable 4×4 Pick-Up, Multilingual guide with an overnight stay in a remote Phu-Thai village in remote Savannakhet Province.
On the first day, you explore lesser-known temple sites, lakes, historical landmarks, and quiet countryside along the loop before continuing deeper into rural Laos sleeping in a Savannakhet Homestay.
By late afternoon, the journey leads to a traditional Phu-Thai village, where you stay with a local family and spend the evening immersed in daily life. The second day focuses on village activities, small-scale farming, seasonal work, and cultural exchange before returning to Savannakhet in the late afternoon. Find all details & itinerary below.
Our Laos off-the-beaten-track adventure begins with a relaxed hotel pick-up in Savannakhet around 08:00 AM (flexible and up to you, as this is a private tour). Within a short time, the city fades behind you and the countryside of Savannakhet Province opens up.
The first stop is Wat Phoukor, often referred to as the “Temple of Buddhist Hell,” a unique and lesser-known site that offers insight into traditional Buddhist symbolism. From there, we continue to the Monkey Forest, where wild macaques live freely along the roadside.
Driving along quiet rural roads, we reach Sui Lake, the largest water reservoir in the region. This is an ideal place to pause, enjoy the scenery, and have lunch at a traditional Lao restaurant overlooking the water.
In the afternoon, we visit the historic Hotay Pidok Library, home to over 200-year-old Buddhist scriptures, and continue to Turtle Lake, a protected habitat for rare softshell turtles. Another highlight is the ancient Taleo Temple, one of the few structures in the area that survived the Vietnam War.
Optionally, if time and interest allow, we can visit Huean Hin (Stone House), a mysterious remnant from the Khmer period located directly along the Mekong River. If you want to know more details about the Xe Champhone Loop, please read our full article about it here.
By late afternoon/early evening, we arrive in a traditional Phu-Thai village, where you are welcomed by a local family. After settling into your local-style private room, the evening is spent helping to prepare and enjoy home-cooked Lao food and experiencing the calm rhythm of rural village life. You will gain unique insights into the Phu-Thai community deep in rural Southern Laos.
The second day begins slowly, in the quiet rhythm of rural village life. After a traditional Lao or Western breakfast (your choice) and freshly prepared local coffee, you have time to observe the morning routines that shape everyday life in the village.
We start with a walk through the Phu-Thai village, where you gain insight into traditional wooden houses, family compounds, and community structure of the village. Depending on the day and season, we may visit the local school. Guests are welcome to simply observe, interact respectfully, or if they wish contribute in a meaningful way, for example by preparing food for the children or making a small voluntary donation and interact with the school kids. There is no obligation; participation always remains natural and respectful.
The morning continues with a visit to the family’s farm, where you learn about small-scale agriculture and daily work in rural Laos. Activities vary depending on the season and available time. In some periods, it may be possible to go fishing, help prepare ingredients for lunch, or simply enjoy conversations while experiencing the unfiltered pace of village life. If the season allows, you may join in planting or harvesting rice and observe how crops like cassava and rubber are cultivated in the surrounding fields.
Nothing here is staged. The experience adapts naturally to the day, the season, and the family’s routine. After a final shared meal, we leave the village in the early afternoon and return to Savannakhet, usually arriving around 17:00 – 18:00.
For those who wish to deepen the experience, an optional third day can be added in the village, centered around life along the nearby Champhone River.
The morning begins easy again with a breakfast. Together with members of the family, you head to the nearby Champhone River for a traditional local-style fishing experience. Depending on the season, water levels, and daily conditions, this may involve simple nets, hand lines, spear fishing, or other traditional techniques used in the region.
Fishing here is not a staged activity, but a genuine part of everyday life and a practical way local families provide food for themselves.
The catch is prepared directly by the river. A simple local-style barbecue (BBQ) is set up along the riverbank, where freshly grilled fish is enjoyed in a relaxed and informal setting. There is time for swimming, resting in the shade, and experiencing rural Laos at its most natural.
Depending on weather, season, and available time, we may also take a jungle trek into Phou Xang He Nationalpark to a viewpoint, offering a quiet perspective over the surrounding area.
In the afternoon, we return to Savannakhet at a relaxed pace.
After completing the Xe Champhone Loop, the journey continues deeper into Savannakhet Province. After approximately 1.5 hours of driving through rural districts and small communities, we reach the village where you will spend the night. This Savannakhet homestay experience takes place in a Lao Phu-Thai community, one of Laos’ recognized ethnic groups traditionally living in lowland river areas. Wooden houses, agricultural routines, and strong family networks shape daily life here.
Accommodation is simple yet comfortable, with a private local-style room inside the family home. Evenings are often spent outdoors, and meals are prepared using mostly locally sourced ingredients. The focus is not on sightseeing, but on experiencing everyday life in a part of Laos that remains completely untouched by tourism infrastructure.
The village itself feels far away from the outside world. The Phu-Thai families are largely self-sufficient. They grow their own rice and gather or catch food primarily to provide for their households, not for commercial purposes. Cooking is done over an open fire, and most meals are prepared directly from what is grown or sourced locally.
The Phu-Thai community includes a small school, one temple, and two simple shops selling basic supplies such as water, snacks, and tools. There are no guesthouses, hospitals or pharmacies nearby, and you are only surrounded by nature and open skies. With no light pollution, the stars are clearly visible at night. Unlike homestays in more touristic destinations such as Luang Prabang, this part of Savannakhet rarely sees any visitors. Access to the village is based on personal connections rather than organized tourism.
➡️ A rare opportunity to step inside a way of life few travelers ever truly experience.
Basically, everything essential is included in this Savannakhet homestay experience, so you don’t have to worry about additional arrangements and can focus entirely on the journey itself. Please bring any personal medication with you if needed, as the village is approximately one hour away from the nearest pharmacy. Kindly let us know in advance if you have any dietary requirements, such as vegetarian, vegan, pescetarian, no spicy food, halal, or other preferences. We are happy to accommodate your needs.
This authentic Lao homestay experience & private Xe Champhone Loop tour, far away from mass tourism, is intentionally limited to a maximum of three guests and personally hosted from start to finish. It is not a mass tour, but a carefully curated, all-inclusive journey designed for travelers who value privacy, authenticity, and meaningful cultural immersion into Laos.
Availability is naturally limited, as we host each experience ourselves to ensure depth, flexibility, and genuine connection. All prices below are total prices in USD and fully all-inclusive, with no hidden additional costs and reflect the private nature of this unique experience.
Exclusive private hosting for solo-travelers with full flexibility and personal attention.
Private cultural experience for couples or friends. Shared moments and authentic encounters.
Small private group experience (maximum 3 guests). All-inclusive journey with personal hosting.
*Optional Day 3 extension to deepen the experience (additional night in the village, traditional river fishing & local BBQ, swimming in the river, jungle hike to a viewpoint in the national park): +200 USD per group (1, 2 or 3 people).
Let us know your preferred travel dates and number of guests via email or WhatsApp.
We confirm availability of your preferred dates within 24 hours and send you all booking details.
A 50% deposit secures your booking. The remaining balance is paid at the start of the tour.
Payments are accepted in USD, EUR, GBP, LAK or THB. A bank transfer to a EUR, USD, THB, LAK or GBP account is also possible prior to arrival. Prices are in USD and exchange rates are based on the current daily rate. We also accept Wise or Revolut. All prices are clearly defined and fully all-inclusive, with no hidden costs. We are flexible with payments, just let us know what’s your preferred method.
The homestay is simple but comfortable for local standards. You will have your own local style private room within the family house and access to a western-style toilet. While this is not a luxury hotel, it offers a clean and authentic rural setting that reflects everyday village life in Laos. It is a wooden lao house on stilts and you will hear mostly the sounds of nature. Million-star-view homestay.
Yes. The experience is privately hosted and ideal for solo travelers who value cultural exchange and personal interaction. As the tour is limited to a maximum of three guests, it always remains intimate and relaxed.
The tour can be done in English or German, with additional support in Lao and Thai to ensure smooth communication with the local community. This allows for clear guidance throughout the journey while maintaining natural interaction within the village.
No. This is not a luxury resort experience, but a carefully hosted cultural journey into rural Laos. Comfort is provided, but the focus is on authenticity, meaningful encounters, and genuine village life rather than luxury amenities.
This experience is best suited for travelers who appreciate slow travel, cultural immersion, and the opportunity to experience authentic Lao village life far off the beaten track. It is personally hosted and designed for those who value depth, connection, and privacy over convenience.
It is not intended as a budget or backpacker-style tour, but as a carefully curated private experience with limited availability. We aim to ensure that everyone joining the trip feels comfortable. The price reflects, that our individual rural Laos journey is not a standard tour.
Cancellations made 7 days or more before the tour start date are eligible for a full refund of the deposit. For cancellations made within 7 days of departure, the deposit becomes non-refundable, as village preparations and local arrangements will already be in place.
If possible, we are happy to offer a complimentary rescheduling option, subject to availability.
In case of severe weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances that make the tour impossible, we will offer either a rescheduled date or a full refund.
Yes, certain adjustments are possible depending on availability and timing. The standard experience combines the Xe Champhone Loop with an overnight stay in a Phu-Thai village. However, it is also possible to arrange only the village homestay or only the Xe Champhone Loop as a private tour.
The Xe Champhone Loop can be organized as a one-day trip with return to Savannakhet, or as a two-day option with one overnight stay in the loop area, depending on your schedule.
If you have specific preferences or time constraints, feel free to get in touch. As this is a privately hosted experience, a reasonable level of flexibility is possible while maintaining the overall character and quality of the journey.
That said, this tour is intentionally designed at a relaxed pace. The goal is not to rush from sight to sight, but to allow time for meaningful encounters and a deeper understanding of Lao culture. In Laos, slowing down is often part of the experience itself.
Explore the Xe Champhone Loop in Savannakhet, a hidden gem filled with ancient temples, sacred wetlands, rare wildlife and Phu Thai culture for an authentic off-the-beaten-path adventure in Laos.
Savannakhet, Laos’ second-largest city, is a hidden gem with colonial charm, local markets, and rich history. From the Mekong River promenade to That Ing Hang Stupa, it’s a perfect stop for an authentic Lao experience.