Waterfalls, Wildlife and Unique Tribes
Southern Laos, Laos
The 1200m high Bolaven Plateau is fertile farmland where coffee, tea, cardamom and fruit are grown. The area holds much for the traveller with around a dozen ethnic minorities and with waterfalls aplenty and opportunities for trekking and elephant rides there much to detail those on a southern sojourn.
Background
The Bolaven Plateau spreads over parts of Salavan, Attapeu and Sekong provinces and is renowned for its cool climate and abundant rains, a product of its average altitude of 1200m. The French were first to spot its potential and coffee and rubber plantations along with fields of fruit were planted.
The plateau is home to around a dozen mainly animist ethnic minorities, including Laven (who give the plateau its name), Alak, Katou, Ta-Oy, Houne, Ngai and Suk communities. The Laven in are known for their hand-woven cloth, complete with beads woven into the fabric.