| The Irrawaddy dolphin is a not quite a River dolphin as | | | | To see the dolphins you actually cross onto the |
| its normal habitat lies near the coast and delta areas, it | | | | Cambodian side of the river. The Cambodian |
| is found in river such as the Ganges, the Mekong and | | | | immigration has even set up a nice dolphin spotting |
| the Ayeyarwady River (Irrawaddy River) from where | | | | area where you can buy drinks and sit in the shade. |
| it gets its name. The Irrawaddy Dolphin has a lifespan | | | | They do however charge a dollar for the privilege of |
| of about 30 years and can reach about 130kg in | | | | dolphin spotting on their side of the border, but no visa |
| weight and about 2.5m in length. It has a rounded head | | | | is necessary. |
| and a flat nose and is classified as a critically | | | | Whilst sitting in Cambodia lunch is arranged and you |
| endangered species with only about 100 left in total. | | | | can take a short break to relax and take in this mighty |
| There are a few clusters of dolphins around the Laos | | | | river. The dolphins don't seem to mind the kayak's and |
| Cambodian border on the Lower Mekong, which can | | | | swim about normally. There are about 10 dolphins left in |
| be seen by taking a kayaking tour. | | | | this area and a few more further down stream in |
| A great way to see the dolphis is a one day kayaking | | | | Kratie (Cambodia). The best time to see them is in the |
| trip through the wetlands of Si Pan Don in Laos, around | | | | morning or afternoon due to the heat and they seem |
| the Mekong Fault Line. It is possible to spot a few | | | | to surface more in cooler temperatures. |
| dolphins whilst on the trip as they reside just below the | | | | After lunch continue kayaking back across the river to |
| waterfalls on the Cambodian side of the river. The trip | | | | the Laos side and from there it is another 4km further |
| starts from Don Det or Don Khone and you kayak to | | | | to the Laos village of Veun Kham; a border town. |
| the old French railway bridge, before leaving your | | | | Whilst kayaking you will see the Laos Island of Don |
| kayaks and walking to see Liphi waterfall. | | | | Khone the southern tip of this Island is known as Han |
| The waterfalls in this region are all part of the Mekong | | | | Khone. At Han Khone the French built a ferry terminal |
| Fault line and are were formed due to the different | | | | to receive goods carried past the waterfall by train, |
| types of rock beds that exist. The upper basin is | | | | they also built a ferry dock on Don Det and the idea |
| made of harder limestone where as the lower basin is | | | | was that the boats would dock above the waterfall |
| a softer sandstone formation. This results in erosion of | | | | and the goods would be transported below the |
| the basin downstream, creating some magnificent | | | | waterfall by train where another ferry would pick them |
| waterfalls to see. Some are small rapids but others | | | | up. This way the French could have a river route all |
| are extremely powerful, with Khon Pha Peng waterfall | | | | the way to China, the idea was good in theory but |
| being the largest and is sometimes referred to as the | | | | didn't work for very long. |
| Niagara of South East Asia. The waterfalls span the | | | | On arrival in Veun Kham, transportation will be waiting |
| entire width of the Mekong which in the rainy season | | | | to tack you back to Mekong's largest waterfall, Khon |
| could be as much as 13km wide. | | | | Pha Pheng, after seeing this waterfall travel by car |
| After visiting the Liphi waterfall walk a little further | | | | and then a short boat trip back to the Islands or on |
| downstream to where the put in is and start kayaking | | | | request you can continue into Cambodia. |
| in the calmer water towards the Cambodian border. | | | | |