Mountainous Laos is an underrated sleeper hit in our books. We simply had no idea how spellbound we’d become by its lush raw natural beauty, its friendly people and its serenity during our four weeks in the northern part of the country. Below is our personal list of highlights and statistics, as well as upsides and downsides for the country. If…
The Adventure from Nong Khiaw to Luang Namtha As alluded to in a previous post, the next phase of our journey in Laos from Nong Khiaw to Luang Namtha would involve the most bone-shaking bus ride we’ve had in several years with road conditions that made us have flashbacks of Ethiopia or Nepal. The good news is, this time one…
Traveling to Nong Khiaw from Luang Prabang After six nights in Vang Vieng, we choo-chooed back north through Luang Prabang where we snagged three more days in its alluring wonder. It was here we both started showing signs of nasty head colds that would continue to inject misery on our systems for the next 7-10 days. Oh no…fast travel was catching…
From Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng From Luang Prabang, we first headed south to the “adventure capital of Laos”—Vang Vieng. Fortunately(?), thanks to the China-made rail system, this 1.5-hour journey is now a breeze. The thing we’re realizing about China-made systems is, they are reasonably organized. You can also count on them for good security measures, like confiscating your newly bought…
Staying at Fasay Gardens One of the most stunning waterfalls and popular attractions in Laos sits at the foot of a tiny village a mere 50 minutes from Luang Prabang. Because of this, it is typically thronged with hundreds and hundreds of tourists. So, how to see it without the crowds? Stay there of course! Unfortunately there’s not a lot of…
To the Thai/Laos Border From Chiang Rai, we made our way to another Chiang…this one combined with a Khong…on the Thai/Laos border. This approximately two hour journey can be made by local bus for about $5/person or, in our case because the parents were in tow, far more on a private shuttle. 🤣 We chose to stay overnight at the border…
The Charm of Luang Prabang Thanks to its cultural heritage, distinct spiritual vibe, culinary wonders and rich French colonial architecture, the UNESCO World Heritage jewel of Luang Prabang is a place that oozes culture, history, class, and charm at every turn. Therefore, it’s easy to understand why it has become an undeniable hit along the Southeast Asian traveler trail. Unfortunately,…