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In 1353, Laos was unified as Lan Xang, the Kingdom of a Million Elephants and the White Parasol.During my visit, I only saw one elephant, in a sleepy village on the way to the Kwan Sy waterfalls near Luang Prabang.The falls themselves were hardly worth mentioning, but the drive and the villages along the way are captivating.
The road between Luang Prabang and Vientiane is all in hills and curves (and, occasionally, bandits, I hear).It is a fantastic landscape, but an uncomfortable ride.You should break it in half by staying the night in Van Vieng, a "Wild West" sort of place in the Far East.No temples here, no colonial houses. Just palms and cinder blocks, but you feel as if in a beehive of mysterious activity.Step out of town, and the scenery is absolutely gorgeous.
The village of Pak Au would be totally off the beaten path if it were not for the famous cave across the river. So, there are some souvenir stands of sorts near the dock. That said, there are not all that many tourists, especially when there is not a boat in from Luang Prabang. So, a nice way to visit a relatively unspoiled village is to take a jumbo there from Luang Prabang. At 40,000 KIP (5 bucks) each way, it is not the cheapest alternative but it is close to an hour away and the ride there is quite scenic. From there, a buck will get you across to the caves and wandering around the village itself will get you lots of strange looks for free.
Follow a backpacker's journeys to Laos, the serene country with thousands of monks. See the new year's parade and play with children along the river side.> View photo gallery34 pictures
The Tad Lo falls are the perfect place to relax after the long and strenuous bus trips from Vientiane to Southern Laos.It's just a nice spot to chill out and swim.To get there, take a Salavan bound bus from Pakse and tell the driver to let you off at Tad Lo. From the main road it's a 20 min walk to the falls.(also see accommodation tips)
The second largest town in Laos is a very charming, sleepy provincial town with crumbling French colonial houses under palm trees.It's a convenient stop-over on the way to Southern Laos, 7 hours by bus south of Vientiane and 6 hours north of Pakse. I don't think there are any outstanding sights in town, but it's such a wonderful, peaceful place on the mighty Mekong, just perfect for a relaxed afternoon.
Champasak is a sleepy village on the shores of the Mekong. The place itself is very nice and it kind of felt like being in an old French colonial movie.The main attraction, however, Wat Phu Champasak, is 8 km out of town.See travelogue!
Most people head to the N of Laos for their vacation. Wat Phou Champasak in the South is a very cool Khmer ruin site to visit. Not as elaborate as Angkor Wat but still a charm to lovers of ruins. Located in Champasak which is around 35km S of Pakse and on the opposite side of the Mekong. Can be visited in half day from Pakse or you can stay in Chamapasak. The ruins are set rising up a hill. The lower library areas are mostly in ruins. The main stairs lead up to many terrace levels with trees in full bloom hovering the walkway. At the very top a small structure still stands with some nice Shiva carvings. There is a spring running out of the mtn in a cave near the back of the top level .Also a Buddha footprint and crococile carving nearby. 30,000K or $3US to enter.
Muang Sing lies in a wide plain near the Chinese border.It's a small place that is quite popular with travelers due to the many hilltribe villages in the region.Muang Sing's market is very busy and interesting.In order to harmonize the small tourist boom here with the environment and the hill tribes, there are only a limited amount of treks available, each trek takes place only once a week (one each day) with a limited number of persons. I think this is a very good concept and hopefully prevents this region from becoming a second Chiang Mai.
This is a remote and not very exciting provincial town. It's the first stop for travelers coming from Huay Xay on their way to Muang Sing.I rented a bicycle for the day to explore the surrounding area. There's supposed to be a waterfall near town but i didn't find it.However, cycling through the villages is pleasant enough and there's also a mildly interesting ruined stupa to visit.
La Residence Phou Vao Luang Prabang
4 Reviews and 281 Opinions TOUGH MANAGEMENT While this facility may be nice, I know the management is tough and does not have...
Settha Palace Hotel Vientiane
5 Reviews and 132 Opinions Settha Palace is a small luxury family owned hotel.It has its importance as a historical example of...
Ban Sabai Riverside Bungalow Vang Vieng
84 Opinions
Reviews and photos of Laos attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Laos sightseeing.
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Q: do any VT have any experience with the VIP overnight sleeper bus from Vientiane to Luang Prabang??? is it reasonably...
A: I took the VIP bus from Luang Prabang to Vientienne in 2010. There is a toilet on the bus. I was on the upper deck and the airconditioner was very weak. So it was a VHB...
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