If you're planning to visit Pakse in Southern Laos and want to cross the border from Thailand, this travel guide has everything you need. I've done this crossing several times and have compiled all the tips and information I wish I had beforehand.
In this guide, I'll walk you through how to get from either Bangkok or Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand to Pakse in Southern Laos, and vice versa, without the hassle of figuring out the logistics yourself. Everything below is based on my firsthand experience crossing the Chong Mek border. So without further ado, here’s how to travel from Thailand to Pakse, Laos.
The Best Ways to Get from Bangkok/Ubon Ratchathani to Pakse, Laos
By Overnight Bus + International Bus
The main border crossing between Thailand and Southern Laos is at Chong Mek, located in Ubon Ratchathani province in the Isaan region (Northeastern Thailand). The border is about an hour’s drive from Ubon Ratchathani City, and to get there, you’ll first need to make your way to the Ubon Ratchathani Bus Terminal.
If you’re not already in Isaan, your journey will have to start in Bangkok. From your accommodation in Bangkok, make your way to Morchit Bus Terminal and catch an overnight bus to Ubon Ratchathani.
There are multiple departures throughout the day, but I recommend taking the overnight bus that leaves at 8:15 PM. The trip takes around 9.5 hours, so you’ll arrive in Ubon Ratchathani at approximately 5:50 AM, just in time to catch the morning international bus to Pakse, Laos.
Conveniently, the overnight bus drops you off at the same terminal where the bus to Pakse departs, so there’s no need to change stations. Be sure to book your ticket here a few days in advance.
If you’re traveling during public holidays, it’s best to book a few weeks in advance, as this route is especially popular with Lao people heading home. It can get pretty hectic during major holidays like Songkran or New Year, so I recommend avoiding those dates if possible. Trust me, I traveled during Songkran once, and it wasn’t worth the headaches.
Once you arrive at Ubon Ratchathani Bus Terminal, you will have to go to an international bus kiosk operated by the official bus company Bor-Kor-Sor. They will have a sign in both Thai and English that will give you the bus schedule and price. You can buy the ticket from there or you can buy the ticket online here.
The bus from Ubon Ratchathani to Pakse usually runs twice a day, between 8:00–9:30 AM and again at 3:00 PM, and costs around 200 THB. Occasionally, additional buses may be added if there is high demand. The ride to Chong Mek, the border town, takes about an hour, where you will begin the border-crossing process. After you cross into Laos, the bus will take you straight to Pakse. The whole journey should take about 3 - 4 hours before you arrive in Pakse, Laos.
Depending on the bus operator, you may be dropped off at either the 8 KM Bus Terminal or the Kiangkai Bus Terminal. Either way, you’ll need to take a sam-lor (motorcycle taxi) to reach the city center. Prices vary depending on your negotiation skills but typically range from 30,000 to 70,000 LAK. Don’t pay more than that, and try to hail one from the street instead of taking those waiting at the terminal, as it’s usually cheaper!
By Flight + International Bus
If you are not so keen on sleeping on overnight buses, you can also fly from Bangkok (DMK) to Ubon Ratchathani (UBP) via AirAsia. They fly between Donmuang Airport and Ubon Ratchathani Airport 4 times a day starting at 6:55 AM until 5:55 PM every day. The journey will take about 1 hour and cost around 31 USD. You can book the flight here.
Once you arrive at Ubon Ratchathani Airport, you will then have to make your way to the bus terminal to catch the bus to Pakse. At the airport, there should be a taxi stand where you can take to get to the bus terminal. It should cost between 50 - 100 THB and take about 11 minutes. You might want to try hailing a taxi with Grab for a better deal.
Even if you take the earliest flight, you won't get there in time for the morning international bus, so you will have to take the 3 PM bus to Pakse instead. The trip is the same from here on out with the journey taking about 3 - 4 hours to get to Pakse, Laos, and it should cost about 200 THB. You can buy the ticket online here
By Overnight Train + International Bus
You can also take an overnight train from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani, as the city has an active railway station. That said, the train takes a bit longer than the bus, around 10 hours, and costs more, with a first-class sleeper ticket (with AC) priced at around $32 USD. On the plus side, you can actually get some decent sleep, relatively speaking 😅, on the sleeper train.
The sleeper train departs daily at 9:05 PM from the Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station and arrives at the Ubon Ratchathani Train Station around 6:40 AM. From there, you can take a sam-lor (motorcycle taxi), a regular taxi, or use the Grab app to reach the bus terminal. Expect to pay around 50–100 THB. Using Grab to hail a motorbike taxi is usually the best deal.
With the overnight train, you should arrive at the bus terminal just in time for the morning bus to Pakse at 8 - 9:30 AM. You can buy the bus ticket online here to reserve the spot. The trip is the same from here on out with the journey taking about 3 - 4 hours to get to Pakse, Laos, and it should cost about 200 THB.
By Car + International Bus
If you're driving from Bangkok and want to leave your car in Thailand before crossing the border to Pakse, Laos, you have a few options. One option is to drive to the Ubon Ratchathani Bus Terminal and park there before catching the international bus to Pakse.
There are plenty of parking spots behind the terminal, and you can park there for free for several nights. Just be sure not to leave any valuables in the car. I’ve done this myself, and everything was perfectly fine.
Another option is to drive directly to Chong Mek and leave your car there before crossing the border, but you won't have the luxury of a local Thai bus that runs straight to Pakse and you will have to find a local van to get to Pakse yourself. There are several places you can leave your car safely at Chong Mek like Kook Kik Resort Hotel and Non Ploen Inn. It usually costs about 100 THB per day.
Once you leave your car, you can cross the border on foot, and after you are through, you will have to find a minivan or a taxi to take you to Pakse City. A minivan should cost around 200 THB or 130,000 LAK and take about 45 minutes until you arrive in Pakse City Center.
Traveling from Pakse to Ubon Ratchathani/Bangkok
If you’re traveling from Pakse to Ubon Ratchathani and onward to Bangkok, here’s what to expect. I highly recommend booking your bus ticket from Pakse to Ubon Ratchathani in advance, either through your accommodation or via 12Go. Travel with Kiangkai Express, as they are the most reputable and reliable operator on this route. The bus should cost about 10 USD, a little more expensive than from the Thai side, and it should take about 3 - 4 hours.
Once you have your ticket, you can catch a sam-lor (motorcycle taxi) from the street to take you to the Kiangkai Bus Terminal. The sam-lor ride should cost around 30,000 LAK (about $1.50 USD) and take about 20 minutes from the city center. There should be 2 buses per day, one at 8:30 AM and another at 3 PM.
Once on the bus, the journey is pretty straightforward. You’ll arrive at the border crossing and need to walk through both Laos and Thailand immigration. You might be asked to pay a random surcharge by Lao immigration on your way out, or you might not. It seems quite random and can cost between 100 and 200 THB. After that, you can board the same bus, which will take you directly to the Ubon Ratchathani Bus Terminal. From there, you can continue your trip back to Bangkok by bus, train, or plane. You can book the tickets here.
Things to Know Before Traveling from Bangkok/Ubon Ratchathani to Pakse, Laos
- Take the overnight bus or train from Bangkok to Ubon: Departing around 8–9 PM, both options get you to Ubon early morning, perfect for catching the 8–9:30 AM bus to Pakse.
- You might get charged at Laos immigration: Occasionally when crossing into Laos, you’ll be asked for an extra “stamp” or service fee of around 100–200 THB. It seems random, I didn’t pay the first time, but the second time they charged me 100 THB. This happens to both Laos nationals and foreigners, so keep at least a 100 THB note on hand before crossing.
- Book transport early: Reserve your bus or train 2–3 days in advance, especially around public holidays like Songkran or New Year. During these times, the route fills up fast with Lao travelers heading home, so seats can sell out quickly.
- ATM at the border: You'll find ATMs on both sides of the Chong Mek–Vang Tao crossing, so you can withdraw local currency if needed. Just be aware that the machines may charge withdrawal fees, and on rare occasion the Laotian side ATMs may run out of cash, so having some spare Thai baht in cash as backup is a smart idea.
- Don’t take a taxi after crossing the Chong Mek border back into Thailand: If you’re coming from Laos and have just crossed into Thailand via Chong Mek, you’ll likely be approached by songthaew (shared taxi) drivers offering to take you to the bus terminal for around 120 THB per car. While that’s not a terrible price, the Chong Mek Bus Terminal is only about a 10-minute walk away. Unless you’re carrying a lot of luggage or traveling in a group, the taxi really isn’t necessary, you can easily walk there yourself.
My Experiences Getting From Bangkok to Pakse, Laos
From Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani Bus Terminal
Here's my latest personal experience crossing the Chong Mek border from Thailand to Southern Laos this year. I was driving my car from Bangkok and I spent a few days exploring the wonderful attractions in Ubon Ratchathani before I decided to hop over the border to explore Pakse for a few days. Seriously, if you have the time to spare, I highly recommend you spend at least a day or 2 in Ubon Ratchathani. There's so much to see in this border province!
It was the eve of Songkran, one of Thailand’s longest holiday periods, and undoubtedly the worst time to travel, as many Lao people living in Thailand head back home for the holidays. I was already in Chong Mek when I decided to visit Pakse, but instead of leaving my car at the border and paying 100 THB per day to keep it safe, I chose to drive back to Ubon Ratchathani and park at the free parking lot behind the bus terminal.
From Ubon Ratchathani Bus Terminal to Chong Mek
From Ubon Ratchathani Bus Terminal, I caught the international bus directly to Pakse. This made the trip a bit more straightforward since I didn’t have to figure out how to get from the border to Pakse myself, and I saved a few hundred THB by parking at the free parking spot.
I arrived at 7 AM hoping to catch the 8:30 AM bus, but as expected, the bus terminal was full of people and the morning bus was already filled up. Thankfully, the bus company decided to add a few more buses to match the Songkran demand, with additional buses at 9 AM and 10 AM. I was able to get a spot on the 10 AM bus, which goes to show how important it is to book the bus prior to your arrival.
After waiting for about two hours, I boarded the 10 AM bus, but it was completely packed. A few people who didn’t have tickets for that bus tried to sneak on and take seats, causing confusion and leaving some paying passengers without a place to sit. Fortunately, the driver wasn’t having any of it. They stepped in, sorted things out, and made sure everyone had their proper seat. After that, the journey continued smoothly.
We arrived at Chong Mek around 11 AM and got off the bus to have our passports stamped out of Thailand. After that, we walked through a tunnel that crosses the border into Laos. Once I arrived on the Lao side, I noticed a small line just outside the tunnel. If you see it, feel free to skip it and head straight to the immigration building to get stamped into Laos. That line is mostly for local day-trippers without passports, or so I assume.
At immigration, I got my passport stamped without any issues or random surcharges, though you might not be as lucky. These fees seem completely unpredictable and can happen to both Lao nationals and foreigners. They typically range from free to 200 THB, so I recommend keeping a few 100-baht bills handy just in case when crossing the border.
After getting my passport stamped without having to pay anything, I exited the immigration building and found the bus waiting for me. The whole border-crossing process took about 30 minutes with no significant delays, which was a welcome surprise. While waiting for the other passengers, I took the opportunity to withdraw some LAK from an ATM here, so I’d have cash ready to pay for a sam-lor to my accommodation upon arrival.
From Chong Mek to Pakse
Once everyone was back on board, the bus took us to the 8 KM Bus Terminal, located on the far eastern edge of Pakse, definitely not the most convenient spot. The entire journey from Ubon Ratchathani to the terminal took about four hours.
I arrived around 2 PM and wandered around looking for a sam-lor to take me into town. After some back-and-forth, I couldn’t find anyone willing to go for 50,000 LAK, so I eventually settled on 70,000 LAK for the 20-minute ride. Not ideal, but with the heat of summer bearing down, I just wanted to get to my accommodation as quickly as possible.
I got into Pakse proper at around 2:30 PM. In total, I paid 200 THB (6.11 USD) and spent 4.5 hours to get from Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand to Pakse, Southern Laos.
Getting Back from Pakse to Ubon Ratchathani
Although the journey from Ubon Ratchathani to Pakse was smooth sailing, I wish I could say the same about the return trip. It was right in the middle of the Songkran celebrations, so I knew traveling during this time would be challenging. Still, I made the mistake of trusting an online listing in Laos that showed a morning bus from Pakse to Ubon Ratchathani departing at 8:30 AM.
In Thailand, if a bus is listed and available to book online, there’s a good chance it actually exists and will be there waiting. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case in Laos. I had booked the 8:30 AM bus and arrived at Kiangkai Bus Station at 8:00 AM by sam-lor, which only cost me 30,000 LAK. But when I got there, I was simply told to wait. When the time came, the bus never showed up. Apparently, due to the holiday, the company had canceled the morning service and was only running one departure at 3 PM.
Not wanting to wait around for five hours, I teamed up with a few new Swiss friends who were in the same situation. We asked a local taxi driver at the station to help us find a way to the border. He offered to take us to Chong Mek on the Thai side for 200 THB per person. From there, we would have to figure out how to get back to Ubon Ratchathani Bus Terminal on our own.
The driver took us around town and found a minivan to take us all the way to the border. We just had to pay the driver 200 THB, who would then share the fare among the others. The minivan was cramped, with two people in the front, a crowd packed into the back, and all our backpacks loaded on top. It was a slow ride, but we eventually arrived at Chong Mek around 10 AM.
Once we reached the border, we passed through Laos immigration, and this time I had to pay a 100 THB surcharge, for God knows what. Within about 30 minutes, I was back in Thailand again, finally. Right out of the gate, a Song-Taew driver approached us, offering a ride to the Chong Mek Bus Terminal for 120 THB per car.
I quickly checked the map and realized that the terminal was only a 10-minute walk away, so I declined and walked instead. If you come across these Song-Taews, don’t take them, the Chong Mek Bus Terminal is easily walkable and not worth the 120 THB unless you have a lot of luggage or are traveling with a group.
Once I arrived at Chong Mek Bus Terminal, I went to the ticket kiosk and bought a ticket to Ubon Ratchathani. Buses run every hour from 6:30 AM to 6 PM daily, even during the holidays. The journey took about an hour and cost 100 THB. We waited for the 12 PM bus, which dropped us off at the Ubon Ratchathani Bus Terminal around 1:30 PM, just in time to celebrate Songkran in Thailand 😁.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Laos
Looking for more information for your trip to Laos? Here is a selection of articles that might help you with your trip planning:
- Have more days to spend in Laos and want to thoroughly explore the country from north to south? Check out: 2 Weeks Backpacking Laos Itinerary.
- For a complete Laos backpacking itinerary, check out: 7 Days Backpacking Laos Itinerary By Train.
- Looking for a complete travel guide to Southeast Asia? You should check out our 3-Month Backpacking Itinerary for Southeast Asia.
- Looking to spend some time in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos? Be sure to check out: 10 Best Things to Do in Vientiane.
- Vang Vieng, the adventure hub of Laos, has much to offer to those seeking adrenaline-rush activities. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Vang Vieng.
- Luang Prabang is my favorite city in Laos and is a place not to be missed. Here are the 12 Best Things to Do in Luang Prabang.
- Want to visit Southern Laos? Pakse is a great base for exploring the natural and historical wonders of Champasak Province. For a complete guide to Pakse, check out: Exploring Pakse: 10 Best Things to Do and More.
- Want to go off the beaten path in Laos? How about visiting Savannakhet, a city in Southern Laos full of beautiful french colonial buildings and more. Here's a complete travel guide: Explore Savannakhet: 10 Best Things to Do & More.
- Want to travel from Thailand to Vientiane, Laos? Check this guide out: How to Get From Thailand to Vientiane, Laos & Vice Versa.
- Want to cross the border from Mukdahan to Savannakhet in Laos and vice versa? Check out: How to Get From Bangkok/Mukdahan to Savannakhet, Laos & Vice Versa.
- Packing for a trip to visit a place as big as Southeast Asia is extremely daunting. Here's a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Southeast Asia - The Essential Packing List.
- Not convinced by my words about Southeast Asia? Here are 64 photos that will inspire you to visit Southeast Asia now.
- You can also watch my travel video about Southeast Asia here: Watch the "Asia Alive" travel video.
- You can see all my Laos-related articles on my Laos Travel Guide page.
- For more Southeast Asia-related articles, check out my Southeast Asia Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
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