Wat Phou  is a ruined Khmer Hindu temple complex in southern Laos. It is at the base of mount Phou Khao, some 6 kilometres from the Mekong in Champasak Province

Bucolic Wat Phu sits in graceful decrepitude, and while it lacks the arresting enormity of Angkor in Cambodia, given its few visitors and more dramatic natural setting, these small Khmer ruins evoke a more soulful response. While some buildings are more than 1000 years old, most date from the 11th to 13th centuries.

Wat Phu is the most important monumental complex inside the Champasak Archaeological Park, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003 and covering an area of 400 square kilometers. A maze of temples, shrines, and other monuments, Wat Phu is an emblem of the enduring genius of the human spirit.