The small town of Pakse is located in southern Laos in picturesque Champasak Province. It is the main starting point for trips to the fertile Bolaven Plateau, the stunning pre-Angkorian, Khmer ruins at Wat Phou and the 4000 Islands. The town itself has a laidback feel to it with a few colonial-era buildings worth a visit and about 20 wats the oldest of which is Wat Luang which also houses the largest monastic school in the south of the country.