Lovely Laos

It’s been a while since we’ve managed to make our way back to Laos.  It’s always a treat to be able to return to Luang Prabang, a true favourite of mine, but this time we were able to explore a bit further.  Laos has long been known as an “add-on” destination to trips in Vietnam, Cambodia or Thailand. Just because its beautiful destinations are unknown doesn’t mean they aren’t worth visiting – indeed really it’s precisely the opposite.  We explored up north in the cool highland area of Muang La, the “big city,” with a few days in Vientiane and the far south including the Bolaven Plateau, Champasak and Pakse.  

While these aren’t destinations for ultimate luxury seekers (that doesn’t exist outside of Luang Prabang), they are perfect options to explore some of the lesser known corners of Indochina and head down the road less travelled.  It’s a great choice for a return trip to Indochina, or for someone looking to avoid the tourist trail.

Here are some highlights:

Luang Prabang – Always a winner, this is the centre of calm and relaxation.  With its sleepy streets and relaxed dining scene, you always leave relaxed and refreshed.  Visit beautiful temples, learn about traditional textiles, see beautiful waterfalls and take a trip up the Mekong to visit a retirement cave for Buddhas.  Luang Prabang also has the best hotels in the country, crowned with Amantaka, Satri House and Residence Phou Vao.  We’re also pumped for the opening of the Rosewood at the end of next year. 

Muang La – Located about a four hour drive north of Luang Prabang, Muang La  makes for a gateway into some beautiful countryside and captivating hill tribe villages.  Within a one hour drive of the hotel, you have three different hill tribe villages located on a beautiful highland plateau.  You can hike, bike, visit salt fields, hot springs and more.  Muang La, while being more basic in facility, has spectacular food, with nightly tasting menus that would be more at home in Bangkok than here, but delight nonetheless. We were truly surprised by the thought put into the menu and the quality of all the local ingredients used.  

Southern Laos – Here’s where things get really interesting.  Not at all intended for the luxury seeker, this part of the country is for those thirsting for some adventure. You have options of staying on a  coffee plantation, a beautiful traditional lodge on an island in the Mekong, or for something truly bizarre, a floating bungalow (we’re still not sure how we feel about that one..). Here we got to visit huge waterfalls, (especially in the wet season), drink delicious co-operative produced coffee, visit Angkorian Hindu hillside temples and more.  Check out Sinouk Coffee Resort,La Folie Lodge andMekong River View Resort for some of our southern favourites. 

So, if you want some adventure, give Laos a try, and let us help.

Mike Poppe is our man all over Asia – currently on a 6-month research trek around the continent he’s leaving few stones unturned, few fluffy pillows unslept on, and even fewer street food stands untested.