Bolaven Plateau

A volcanic plateau in southern Laos at elevations of 1,000 to 1,350 metres, the Bolaven Plateau is the most productive agricultural zone in Laos, supporting coffee, tea, and cardamom cultivation in a cool, mist-prone climate. Several of the country's most dramatic waterfalls — including Tad Fane, a twin-fall dropping around 120 metres into a forested gorge, and Tad Yuang — are fed by the plateau's highland streams. Motorbike circuits of three to four days allow exploration of ethnic minority villages, coffee farms where beans can be tasted and purchased directly, and the plateau's waterfall system.