A large, mostly pristine forested reserve in central Laos sheltering rare primates, big cats, and dry dipterocarp landscapes.
Phou Xang He National Protected Area
Phou Xang He National Protected Area is a national protected area in Savannakhet Province in central Laos. It lies roughly 100 kilometres east of the provincial capital of Savannakhet and spans parts of several districts, including Assaphone, Thaphalanxay, Phin, Xepon, and Viraboury. The reserve covers a decree area of about 1,060 square kilometres, with current estimates placing its effective extent closer to 1,180 square kilometres, placing it among the larger forest-based protected areas in the country.
The park protects a broad mosaic of forested landscapes, dominated by mixed deciduous forest, evergreen forest, and dry dipterocarp woodlands. Its large size and relatively undisturbed character make it an important refuge for threatened wildlife, including Asian elephant, Indochinese tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, gibbons, langurs, and several other rare mammals and birds.
Beyond its ecological role, the area is home to the Phu Tai and Katang ethnic communities and has been positioned as an ecotourism destination, reflecting the park's combined value for biodiversity conservation, cultural heritage, and low-impact regional visitation.