Indochina
Laos
Golden temples, slow boats on the Mekong and some of the calmest landscapes in Asia.
About Laos
The Gentle Heart Of Indochina
Laos is the quietest country in Indochina, a land of forested mountains, wide rivers and small villages where life still follows the rhythm of the rice harvest and the temple calendar. It is the perfect place to slow down after the energy of Vietnam.
Luang Prabang, the old royal capital, is a UNESCO World Heritage town of golden temples and French colonial houses on a peninsula between the Mekong and the Nam Khan rivers. Each morning, saffron-robed monks walk the streets to collect alms, and in the afternoon boats drift past on the river.
In the south, the Mekong spreads into the 4000 Islands near the Cambodian border, with waterfalls, rare river dolphins and lazy days on Don Khon. The Bolaven Plateau, a cool highland of coffee farms and waterfalls, and the ancient Khmer temple of Wat Phou complete the picture.
Best time to visit
November to March for dry, cool weather. March to May is hot and hazy; June to October brings rain and lush green landscapes.
Getting there
Flights to Luang Prabang and Pakse from Hanoi, Bangkok and other cities in the region.
How long to stay
2 to 5 days in Luang Prabang, or 5 days in the south.
Good for
Culture, temples, nature, slow travel, families.
Highlights
What We Love About Laos
Luang Prabang
Golden temples, French houses and the morning alms giving.
Kuang Si waterfall
Turquoise pools stepping down through the forest.
Pak Ou caves
Thousands of Buddha statues in a cliff above the Mekong, reached by boat.
The 4000 Islands
River islands, waterfalls and rare Irrawaddy dolphins.
Bolaven Plateau
Coffee farms, waterfalls and cool highland air.
Wat Phou
A mountainside Khmer temple older than Angkor Wat.
Tours
Laos Tours
Luang Prabang trips of two to five days, southern Laos journeys and combinations with Vietnam and Cambodia.
New Across Vietnam
Indochina in 16 Days: Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos
Three countries along the Mekong, from Hanoi to Angkor and Luang Prabang.
New Laos
Luang Prabang In Depth: Villages, Rivers and Crafts
Five slow days in and around the old royal town of Laos.
New Laos
Southern Laos: Bolaven Plateau and the 4000 Islands
Coffee hills, ancient Wat Phou and lazy days on the Mekong islands.
New Laos
Luang Prabang Highlights in Two Days
Temples, the morning alms round, the Mekong and the turquoise pools of Kuang Si.
Plan Your Trip To Laos
Tell us your dates and interests. We will reply within 24 hours with a personal itinerary and a clear quote.