DESTINATION
LAOS
# Luang Prabang
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, Luang Prabang is the tourist beacon of Laos. The town is now an essential stopover in Southeast Asia thanks to its small size, its limited capacity, its timeless charm in its hypercenter, its nonchalance, its art of living that gives pride of place to the omnipresent Buddhism, and its slow pace of life.
It now enjoys an international reputation as one of the most relaxing cities to enjoy a stay immersed in the daily life of its residents. Luang Prabang is located at the convergence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers in the north of the country.
Reaching Luang Prabang can be done via the Mekong River with navigation possibilities mainly upstream. For a change of scenery along the water for at least 2 days, to/from the Golden Triangle with Thailand and Myanmar.
Luang Prabang is connected to the world by its International Airport (LPQ). Direct air access to Hanoi, Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Siem Reap makes it a destination that will leave no one indifferent. And since December 2021, Luang Prabang has had a train station that connects it to Vientiane and Vang Vieng in the south, but also to the northern territories of the country. And beyond that, China with the possibility of crossing borders with the province of Yunnan and its regional capital Kunming.
The city is surrounded by lush forests and mountains. It stands out for some of the most beautiful and luxurious hotels in the area. But it also has a wide range of accommodations that can suit different expectations, including a homestay, accommodation blended in nature, or even boutique hotels with an ancient and marked history. Hotels of international standard continue to spring up regularly and add to the cultural capital of Laos the necessary elements to welcome the most demanding visitors in comfort and style.
Laos Mood Travel designs unforgettable trips thanks to a multitude of attentions and memorable experiences. A non-exhaustive list of must-sees includes caring for elephants along the Nam Khan River (non-riding), kayaking, participating in field work on a community organic farm, getting your hands dirty during a Lao cooking class at a local's home, enjoying the refinement of elegant romantic dinners, swimming in tropical waterfalls or resurgences of turquoise waters, playing pétanque while mingling with the locals, enjoying gourmet picnics, hand-shaping all kinds of handcrafts that reflect the centuries-old local culture, cycling through the countryside and suburbs in search of Laotian culinary specialties, visiting art galleries and exhibitions, exchanging with monks and novices, sipping cocktails during the sunset along the Mekong during a private cruise, getting involved in the habits and customs of ethnic minority peoples, etc.
Contact us for even more creative and detailed ideas to make the most of your time in the former royal capital of Laos
# Far North
For those looking for more reasons to experience a change of scenery away from the hotels available in more urban centres, we have something for you. Get off the beaten path, go green, and do outdoor activities like river cruising, mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, quad biking, paddle boarding, hot air ballooning, ziplining, monkey bridges, etc. The far north of Laos is the perfect place for those looking for adrenaline. In a preserved natural environment and with sincere and touching encounters.
The northern regions of the country, including the Nam Ha protected area around Luang Namtha, are ideal for hiking, jungle stays, and homestays with ethnic minorities such as the Khamu, Akha and Hmong, to name but a few.
Take a trip that will benefit the populations of pachyderms rescued from exploitation, or even poaching, with an immersion in the daily life of veterinarians, mahouts and caregivers who take care of this animal, symbol of a country that was once called the Land of a Million Elephants. In the province of Xayabouly or in Pakbeng in particular.
The localities along the Nam Ou River, with Muang La, Muang Khua, Muang Ngoi and Nong Khiaw are also worth a visit. For the stunning mountain scenery that borders a major tributary of the Mekong. The area is full of caves with a glorious historical past for Laotians, breathtaking viewpoints from the summits of rocky peaks, spend time volunteering with a local NGO, lend a hand to the farmers of a welcoming organic farm that welcomes volunteers on short stays, go fishing with local residents, and immerse yourself in the daily life of minorities who will share their way of life with you with spinning/weaving activities, in particular.
The Plain of Jars region in Xieng Khuang province, with its regional capital Phonsavan, is an alternative destination. It is relatively difficult to access from the north due to a poor road network. It is a destination that "has to be earned". It takes an above-average degree of openness and tolerance to appreciate it at its true value. Of course, the main attraction remains the sites of erect megaliths, with the famous "jars". The site has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2019. But little budget is dedicated to development. It is also interesting to better understand the history of the country from the 1960s to the present day with the highlight of the country's independence, acquired on December 2, 1975 by the revolutionary forces and the Communist Party. The area is a prime agricultural area in Laos. Many crops, market gardening and orchards are flourishing. Coffee, plum, citrus, etc. Many types of trees are starting to grow there. Stop by the side of the road, be curious, ask your guide questions to the local peasants. Observe the rice papers and noodles producers who still work in an artisanal way.
Travel the roads to the sites of ancient kingdoms and testimonies of a built heritage that is falling into ruins from the French colonial presence.
Venture into the markets, meet local residents in their occupations, relax in hot springs, take part in workshops related to silkworm culture, explore the remains of the "Secret War", get acquainted with the work of mine clearance and explore caves with unique stories.
The quality of accommodation on site is lower than in the rest of the country, it should be noted. Winters can be a bit cold, especially at night. It's nice to improvise stops along the roads and in villages that celebrate the Hmong New Year, usually in December/January when the country's main ethnic group celebrates the change of calendar year. The area is, however, connected to Vientiane by daily flights.
Contact us for ideas for tours that will take you around the country!
# Vientiane
Vientiane is the capital and largest city of the country. Vientiane has long been referred to as a "sleepy city". The Laotian capital is now wide awake. It would be a shame if your next visit to Laos made you miss the capital. Certainly less aesthetically appealing than Luang Prabang, it is obvious that it reflects the development and vibe of the Laos of today and tomorrow.
Come and see for yourself this rapidly changing city, thanks to its young people going to university and through regional investments bringing new wealth and better living conditions for generations to come.
Some of the most notable landmarks include:
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Patuxay ("Arc de Triomphe", also locally called Anousavari) which crowns Lane Xang Avenue, the Champs Elysées of the Laotian capital; ;
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That Luang with its golden stupa, the symbol of a nation ;
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Vat Sisaket with its thousands of Buddha statuettes ;
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The Ho Pra Keo Museum of Sacred Buddhist Arts with its collection of antiquities.
All located almost within walking distance of each other.
Vientiane is a MUST. Don't skip it.
It is necessary to spend at least 2 nights on it, if not more to better understand it.
Vientiane is a city that stretches along the Mekong across the river from Thailand.
Vientiane will reveal itself to visitors who take their time.
The people of Vientiane are the attraction: try your hand at Muay Lao boxing in a room frequented by locals, relax in a sauna with traditional herbs, quench your thirst for a BeerLao with a spicy papaya salad in a boui-boui frequented by students after their classes, stroll through the alleys of local markets before engaging in a cooking class in a local's home, explore the outskirts of the city in a Tuk-Tuk and immerse yourself in the daily lives of its ordinary people who will enlighten you on the contemporary lifestyles of a population that lives in a one-party regime.
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Go hiking in a national park on the trails in search of endemic orchid species, tease the jack on a hidden pétanque field, spend time with disabled ladies who are learning skills in a centre that teaches them courses in accounting, cooking, weaving, sewing, various manual activities, participate in the work in an animal centre that comes to the rescue of poached animals, discover the daily life of the middle class and the elite by improvising a moment shared with a "local friend", take part in a Laotian coffee roasting and tasting workshop, take part in a natural indigo dyeing workshop, and so much more that we will reveal to you individually and personally.
Vientiane is directly connected by air to Bangkok, Singapore, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Kunming, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Seoul, among others.
Contact us to see together how and when to include Vientiane in your next itinerary.
# Central & Southern Laos
Southern Laos can be reached by air via Savannakhet and Pakse International Airports. Otherwise, how about driving across the country in a private vehicle? The growing success that central and southern Laos has experienced in recent years is due to the recent addition of quality accommodations and a growing supply of authentic experiences.
The central region is home to the largest forest of limestone formations in Southeast Asia. Kayaking, overnight stays, hiking, CSR activities: the region is clearly a first choice for those who are actually looking for experiences off the beaten track. Next to the Bolaven Plateau (also spelled Boloven, or Bolovens), famous for its generous waterfalls and coffee and tea plantations, the pre-Angkorian site of the Vat Phou temple and the "4,000 Islands" are the other great must-sees.
Southern Laos is an unexpected alternative to any beach holiday in the region. With small resorts and lodges on a human scale, enjoy the calm, the landscapes, the service, the gastronomy far from the crowds to perk up before returning home. Enjoy unlimited relaxation for everyone!
The south of the country is also about staying with locals, far from everything, a way of life along the water with fishing as one of the main activities, fine sandy beaches on flat islands in the middle of the Mekong, an architectural heritage that reflects the different regional influences with Laotian and French styles, Vietnamese and Chinese here and there, ethnic minority people and breathtaking sunsets.
Contact us to make the most of your time by seamlessly linking the varied interests of the southern regions of the country.
