Attapeu province
Overflowing with attractions, yet still left off most travellers' itineraries, Attapeu is one of Laos' true hidden gems.
Set in a valley, on the river bank, wedged between Sekong Province to the North, Champasak Province to the west, Vietnam to the east, and Cambodia to the south, languid Attapeu has a lot to offer the intrepid visitor, although very little in the way of tourist infrastructure has been developed to take advantage of this.
The province has abundant waterways, a portion of the famed Ho Chi Minh trail and is home to a range of ethnic groups.
Two national biodiversity areas, Dong Ampham Forest and Xepian Forest, are among the last bastions of Southeast Asia's wilderness, while stunning lakes and waterfalls also dot the province.
