Wat Phu Champasak
is a site that dates back to the 5th century.  The original temple was built by the Khmer Hindus at the top of a hill at the site of a fresh water spring.  The peak of the hill is said to   resemble a lingum or Shiva Phallus.  The exact history of Wat Phu is unclear, but was certainly the site of a temple of the Khmer empire that eventually made Ankor Wat its capital.

To get to the temple complex from Pakse, the most pleasant way is by chartering a boat down the Mekong.  The journey to the town of  Champassak takes about one and a half hours.  From Champassak, a tuk tuk can be taken to the temple, about 8km away.The temple is stunning, and very remote, with superb views of the Mekong valley.  At the top of the temple site are a number of carved rocks, resembling a crocodile, a naga and an elephant.  It is believed that these rocks were used for human sacrifice.