La Folie Lodge

“Relaxing Retreat & Base for Adventure”

We (couple in our early 30s, from the US) would highly recommend La Folie to anyone traveling to southern Laos! The arrival alone is a memorable experience - crossing the mile-wide Mekong on the lodge’s beautiful wooden ferry is quite special - and then it gets even better once you are there. The c… more

We (couple in our early 30s, from the US) would highly recommend La Folie to anyone traveling to southern Laos! The arrival alone is a memorable experience - crossing the mile-wide Mekong on the lodge’s beautiful wooden ferry is quite special - and then it gets even better once you are there. The centerpiece of the property is a gorgeous, open-air wooden lodge which was perfect for watching the sunset across the mountains, enjoying our meals and relaxing during a rainstorm. The pool shares a similar view. The island is large enough that you can easily spend a full day or more exploring, and it has a diverse mix of villages, forest and agriculture to see on bike or foot. There is also a lot to explore on the mainland nearby, including the country’s oldest temple, Vat Phou, local artisan workshops, and more. During our four nights at the property, we truly felt like VIPs. Hotel staff, especially the manager Alom, were so attentive and helpful. The staff kindly arranged all the travel and logistics we needed, which included finding a family from which to rent a scooter from in Champasaak, off-road transport to Kingfisher Ecolodge and a taxi across the border for our flight from Ubon Ratchathani. The hotel also has excellent WhatsApp communication, which we found very helpful planning for the trip and arranging ferry rides to and from the property. We were treated to multiple massages and would highly recommend their spa services (especially the Four Hand). The menu at the restaurant is well curated, with many tasty Lao dishes, as well as some more western-friendly options. The rooms are well appointed, and like the lodge, feature solid, dark wood and high ceilings, along with covered decks from which to enjoy the view rain or shine. The beds are comfy, and the rooms have AC and ceiling fans (we found the ceiling fan alone was sufficient most of the time). In the room is a thoughtful guidebook about experiences on- and off- the island, as well as an explainer of how La Folie impacts the island economy, including hiring almost exclusively from the island. We loved staying here in the green season, and would love to comeback again!

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“Unique experience in Laos”

Our most unique experience in Laos. From check-in to departure, the service, the rooms, the gardens, the VIEWS on the Mekong, the food and most importantly, the experience of being completely absorbed in the peaceful purely rural life of the Island, where time seems to have stopped , were among the… more

Our most unique experience in Laos. From check-in to departure, the service, the rooms, the gardens, the VIEWS on the Mekong, the food and most importantly, the experience of being completely absorbed in the peaceful purely rural life of the Island, where time seems to have stopped , were among the best we’ve had in all our travels In terms of location, a much better option than Pakse. The experience of living on a tiny island completely cut off from the rest of the world, taking part in the everyday life of fisherman, rural life, enjoying the most beautiful views on the Mekiong and the mountains behind, is very special. The hotel provides for boat trips whenever needed to go to Champasak (10 minutes boat ride and the views are amazing), and from there, you can drive wherever you wish to very easily. The hotel is simply amazing: the people are extremely welcoming, helpful, efficient and very thoughtful. The rooms are ever so comfortable and luxurious without being too much. Simply elegant, just like the gardens and the restaurant. The food is absolutely delicious, all in finesse. They support many inhabitants as well as various projects on the Island.

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“What a gem!”

What a fab hotel! The whole experience was amazing, from being collected in the hotel boat to transportation over the sandy beach by local vehicle to the door of the hotel. The staff are exceptional, from Sam and his co front of house colleague (sorry I forget his name) to the restaurant staff and … more

What a fab hotel! The whole experience was amazing, from being collected in the hotel boat to transportation over the sandy beach by local vehicle to the door of the hotel. The staff are exceptional, from Sam and his co front of house colleague (sorry I forget his name) to the restaurant staff and cleaners, who quietly and efficiently kept our room and the hotel in pristine order. The staff are warm, friendly and professional and genuinely care about their hotel guests. Our room overlooked the Mekong and we watched the wildlife and water buffalo parading close by, from sunrise to sunset. The pool and lounging deck were a haven but if relaxing isn't your thing, no matter the hotel bikes are great fun to explore the island. We also walked and ran around the island to get a feel for the beauty of the place. The spa was also excellent and recommended for the ultimate relaxation. The food was delicious and although the wine list was limiting (typical for Laos) the cold local BeerLao did the trick after a thirsty day exploring the island or on one of the organised tours on the mainland, booked through the helpful and obliging hotel staff. We have travelled all over Laos and its neighbouring countries and this was a real gem to stay at. I can't recommend it highly enough

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“Great sunset view”

We stayed at this really nice resort on the island. It was a great place to come back to after sightseeing in Southern Laos, especially the swimming pool which had a great view across the Mekong and the sunset. The meals were a mix of Lao and French influence and really enjoyable. The island is als… more

We stayed at this really nice resort on the island. It was a great place to come back to after sightseeing in Southern Laos, especially the swimming pool which had a great view across the Mekong and the sunset. The meals were a mix of Lao and French influence and really enjoyable. The island is also something you may wish to explore using the bicycles provided by the (you get the chance to see the local villages and also do some exercise). there was a family with two children who spent a few days exploring the island and just relaxing. To get there you travel in a long boat on the Mekong River. Highly recommend.

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