Laos casts a seductive spell over its visitors that cannot easily be explained unless you’ve experienced it yourself. Although this landlocked Buddhist nation is no longer as undiscovered as it once was, tourists remain relatively thin on the ground, and a traditional way of life prevails throughout the country. The people are genuinely some of the friendliest you’ll meet anywhere in the world, and the laid back Laotian approach to life is infectious. So kick off your shoes, grab a chilled bottle of Beerlao and say sabai dee to your new favourite country...
Most travellers head straight for Luang Prabang, a friendly and easy-going town of saffron-robed monks, bamboo bridges and beautiful gilded temples. Follow the Mekong south through a landscape of lush limestone karsts and you’ll reach the tranquil capital, Vientiane, which sits right on the border with Thailand. Many visitors restrict themselves to this small snapshot of the country, but there is so much more on offer for the more intrepid traveller, including the enigmatic Plain of Jars and the watery wonderland of the Four Thousand Islands in the far south.