Take the road less traveled to a tranquil land of lush rain forests and colorful mosaics of ethnic culture. Discover a nation beautiful in its simplicity and rich with traditions passed down from the ancient Lan Xang Kingdom - Land of A Million Elephants.
Explore the meditative stillness of Muang La, the rugged riverside mountains of Nong Khiaw, and the mixed Laotian and French aromas and architecture of Luang Prabang.This frequently forgotten country sandwiched between the more popular destinations of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam only reopened for tourism in 1988. After a tumultuous twentieth century which saw it transitioning from French protectorate to independence and experiencing a civil war and communist coup, Laos has emerged as a peaceful and impoverished country. Statistically, it is known as the land of a million elephants, the most bombed country per capita in history, and home to approximately 140 ethnic groups.
From Jinghong, cross the border into Laos ● Stop by Namdeng Nua village, home to the Lanten minority whose distinctive indigo clothes are lined with a pink trim ● View the 400 year old statue of Buddha in Pra Singkham Temple, which is believed to have supernatural powers ● Arrive in the calm natural surroundings of Muang La ● Unwind at the end of the day by enjoying a traditional Lao massage or soaking in Muang La's famous hot springs
Option 1: trek from Pak Khai through rice terraces and small villages, meeting local farmers along the way ● Stop to rest at the hilltop village of Ban Phavie, home to the animist Khmu minority ● End your trek at a local waterfall ● Option 2: Visit an isolated village home to the Akha minority, known for their elaborate headdresses and occasionally blackened teeth ● Visit the village of Ban Tauser to learn more about the Hmong minority's way of life and enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding area
Embark on a tranquil river cruise from Muang Khua down the Nam Ou ● Pass by forested slopes and remote villages only accessible by boat ● Explore Ban Sob Jaem, a Khmu and Hmong village whose residents hand make brightly colored scarves ● Relax with a beach barbeque ● If interested, bike to the nearby limestone caves after arriving in Nong Khiaw ● Catch a performance from the 'Moustache Brothers', a comic duo famous in the region for their political satire, screwball comedy and classic Burmese Dance
Drive along the Nam Ou to the Pak Ou caves, which are crammed with hundreds of Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes ● Arrive in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Luang Prabang ● In the evening, you will be honored in an elaborate Baci ceremony in a local family's home, a special Lao ritual that involves calling parts of your soul back to you
Rise early in the morning to partake in the daily ritual of tak bat, almsgiving to monks (optional) ● Learn about Laotian history at the Royal Palace Museum, which blends Lao andFrench Beaux Arts style ● Admire Wat Xiengthong, the Golden City Temple, whose dramatically sloping roofs nearly hit the ground ● Enrich your knowledge at Ock PopTock, a social enterprise devoted to Lao textiles ● Visit Luang Prabang's oldest temple,Wat Visoun, nicknamed "the watermelon stupa" for its rotundity ● Stop by the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, a private museum devoted to the country's myriad ethnicities ● From the top of Mount Phousi, enjoy a commanding view of Luang Prabang and the Mekong while the sun sinks slowly into the horizon (this day can be either a bicycle or walking tour)
At the Living Lands Organic Farm, learn about harvesting and making food from rice ● Picnic by the glassy waters of the three tiered Kuang Si Falls ● Meet the Asiatic black bear at the Bear Rescue Center ● Float along the Mekong to the village of Ban Chan, famous for its pottery ● Option 1: Depart Laos, trip ends ● Option 2: Fly to Pakse Visit Tad Fane Waterfall in the Bolaven Plateau, the tallest waterfall in Laos ● Enjoy a cup of locally grown coffee at a coffee plantation
Explore the Si Phan Don (4000 Islands) archipelago, a serene smattering of islands spread out on the Mekong ● Bike around the island of Don Khon and admire its old French buildings and the roaring waters of Liphi Waterfall ● View the gushing waters of the Khone Phapheng Falls, the largest waterfall in Southeast Asia ● Try to catch a rare glimpse of freshwater dolphins near the Cambodian border
Watch the sunrise at the ruins of UNESCO World Heritage Site Wat Phou, an ancient Khmer Hindu complex ● Spend the rest of the day at your leisure in Champasak
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