Laos

Relax

Landlocked Laos is one of the Asia's most enchanting destinations. Stunning natural beauty -- think mist-shrouded mountain peaks flanked by jungle-clad valleys teeming with wildlife -- combine with a fascinating Buddhist culture to make Laos a superb destination for backpackers and independent travellers, while luxury tourists are now also well-catered for.

Communist Laos flung open its doors to tourism in the early 1990s. The last decade has witnessed an explosion in development as businesses -- some Lao, some foreign -- mushroom to cater to the swelling crowds.

Laos is changing fast, but pockets remain well off-the-beaten-track, ready to be explored by adventure travellers willing to forego the usual tourist luxuries. Those who want to experience a real taste of rural Southeast Asian life will be delighted.

Laos attracts many travellers who consider northern Thailand to now be over-developed or "touristed out" and are looking for places less inundated with foreigners.

Ironically, most of these tourists still stick to a now well-trodden path through the Land of a Million Elephants -- though even these destinations retain an allure little diminished by the crowds.

Incredibly romantic Luang Prabang should be considered a must see, with its glittering temples, saffron-robed monks, and sleepy riverine lifestyle. The pace has moved up a notch since the tourists have arrived, as slick cafes jostle for space with chic boutiques showcasing the best Laotian wares: intricate weavings, elaborate silver trinkets and speciality foods.

The bustling capital Vientiane tempts many, as does the thriving tourist centre of Vang Vieng. We'd actually suggest you skip the latter -- a heaving backpacker hub -- but the limestone crags and riverside scenery remain gorgeous despite the mass of travellers.

For the independent traveller, those are just the standard spots to tick off the list, with plenty more to be discovered.

 

The far northern provinces of Phongsali, Luang Nam Tha and Udomxai offer exciting possibilities for independent trekking. The industry is fledgling and infrastructure is still developing, so trips tend to be challenging but infinitely rewarding. In the mysterious northeastern Plain of Jars and north to Hua Phan, you're in the midst of what was Pathet Lao heartland -- an area that the United States tried to bomb back to the stone age and which, 30 years later, is still trying to get back on its feet.

The far south of Laos is also slowly emerging as a trekking centre. Although many shoot straight down to Si Phan Don, hanging out on Don Khong, Don Dhet and Don Khon for a taste of lazy island life and a spot of dolphin watching. There is a lot to see and experience in between for the more intrepid. Tha Khaek and Savannakhet offer nascent trekking and caving, while Attapeu, Pakse, Champasak and Salavan are all worthy spots to while away a few days exploring.

Destinations aside, Lao food also entices. Spicy meat salads, sticky rice, noodles, curries and fish tempt right alongside culinary remnants of French colonial occupation. Crunchy baguettes stuffed with pate and salads are standard market fare, while upper-end French restaurants offer delights at astounding prices. And of course, ice-cold Beerlao -- considered Asia's best by some -- is stocked right across the nation.

 

 

Map of Laos

Our complete Laos map collection.

 

Feature story

Like a SE Asian Goa, Vang Vieng offers the constant debauchery that marks any infamous destination on the now well-worn backpacker/hippie/party-people trail. It just doesn't have a beach, nor, frankly, does it even need one. The famed attraction has become, incorrectly but perhaps appropriately, immortalized on t-shirts and tank tops as: "Tubing In The Vang Vieng Laos." ... Cycle Asia: Tubing in the Vang Vieng -- full story

 

More feature stories

» Cycle Asia: Tubing in the Vang Vieng
» Cycle Asia: Phonsavan and Luang Prabang
» Elephant trekking in Laos
» Travelfish tips for finding a good place to stay in Luang Prabang
» Cheap flights in Asia with the Discovery Airpass
» How do I cross the Cambodia to Laos border?
» Exploring Laos' Bolaven Plateau
» What is a good guesthouse in Luang Prabang?
» The Phonsavan adventure
» Is Lao Airlines safe to fly?
» The Gibbon Experience
» Luang Prabang escape
» Muang Ngoi Escape
» Southern Laos by scooter
» Huay Xai to Pak Tha by slowboat
» All Laos stories

 

 

Recent news from Laos

Courtesy of the BBC
Timeline: Thailand
Published: Tue, 16 Mar 2010
A chronology of key events

Bangladesh v England - 1st Test day two as it happened
Published: Sat, 13 Mar 2010
Bangladesh close day two of the first Test in Chittagong on 154-5, still 445 runs behind England's mammoth total of 599-6 declared.

Country profile: Laos
Published: Tue, 9 Mar 2010
Key facts, figures and dates

Today: Wednesday 17th February
Published: Wed, 17 Feb 2010
Less than a third of juries fully understand a judge's legal directions, a new study has found. And passports belonging to the alleged killers of a top Hamas official in Dubai are fraudulent, the British and Irish governments have said.

Treaty to ban cluster munitions
Published: Wed, 17 Feb 2010
A treaty banning cluster bombs will enter force in August after the 30th country registered their ratification, the UN says.

BBC investigates Mike Ashley's business
Published: Sun, 31 Jan 2010
BBC Inside Out goes undercover to investigate Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley and his sportswear business.

Obama's honeymoon is over
Published: Fri, 29 Jan 2010
The rose-tinted glasses collectively donned when Barack Obama entered the White House have been removed. But, like Lyndon Johnson before him, don't be too quick to write off a president as disappointing, writes Lisa Jardine.

Mekong tigers 'facing extinction'
Published: Wed, 27 Jan 2010
A sub-species of tiger in SE Asia faces extinction by 2022 unless decisive action is taken, environmental group WWF warns.

Laos drug Briton's jail term cut
Published: Wed, 20 Jan 2010
A British woman in jail in the UK after being convicted of drug smuggling in Laos has had her prison sentence cut.

In pictures: Forced expulsion of the Hmong
Published: Thu, 31 Dec 2009
How the forced repatriation by the Thai military of 4,000 ethnic Hmong to Laos unfolded, despite international condemnation.

 

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