Laos

Sabbai Dee and welcome to Laos, the 'land of a million elephants' and one of the last places to see old Indochina. The pace of Laos is slow and its people relaxed and friendly.

Vientiane
Vientiane, capital of Laos is Asia's biggest village. Busy and hectic in comparison to the rest of the country, it is quiet compared with any other city in Asia. Vientiane, as all of Lao's major cities, is situated on the Mekong river which forms the lifeline of the country. Vientiane is the hub for all travel in the country.

Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang is the jewel of Indochina, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. The ancient royal city is surrounded by mountains at the junction of the Mekong and its tributary, the Khan river. In the centre of the city is Mount Phousi with stunning views of the surrounding temples and hills. Luang Prabang is a city where time seems to stand still. As part of the UNESCO plan, new buildings have been limited and development must be in keeping with this magical place.

North of Laos
Bokeo: Located along the three border intersection of Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, form part of the Golden Triangle. It is home to a large number of minorities. Bokeo has five districts: Houixay, Ton Pheung, Muang, Pha Oudom, with 36 townships, more than 450 villages and a total population of 61,000 consisting of many ethnic groups, each with own lifestyles and customs. The most lucrative occupation in Bokeo is gold panning and digging for precious stones, where you can see at Ban Nam Khok (The Lu village), 6 km from the town and Ban Houi Sala (The Hmong village), it's around 18 km far from the town of Houixay.

South of Laos
Saravane province, a Southeastern province situated on the Bolavens Plateau is devoted to agriculture and nature offering idyllic scenery. A prehistoric site exists not far from the cascades where a wonderful scene can be seen.

Within a caven huge stone caskets are piled one on top of the other, providing not only beauty but also much interesting thoughts as to how it originated. Tat Lo Lodge is located on the northern edge of the Bolaven Plateau right beside the Sexet River, it's only 10 metres high. The bungalows are blended into the embankment surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. A tour of the area on elephant back is an exotic attraction, or exploring the ethnic minority villages on the Bolaven Plateau, rich of coffee, tea and fruit plantations, can provide a variety of interests.

Activities and Tours

Khone Phapheng
Khone Phapheng is considered the largest waterfall (by volume) in Southeast Asia and is therefore a boast worthy sight to visit. It's located at the southern end of Si Phan Don, an intricate network of islets where the Mekong fans out. Phan Don is also home to the rare Irrawaddy dolphins, which can be seen at the southern tip of Don Khon. The falls are often included on the itinerary of dolphin-viewing day trips.

Pak Ou Caves
Pak Ou Cave is located about 25 km from Luang Prabang. It can be reached by boat from Luang Prabang. Alternatively you can go by a soonthaew, that will bring you to the opposite bank of the river, where boats will be waiting to take you to the other site. There are two levels. One cave entrance is clearly visible from the river. The higher level can be reached after climbing some stairs. Bring a flashlight with you, if possible. Both caves have lots of small and bigger Buddha images, mostly donated by local people.

Pha That Luang
Pha That Luang is an impressive stupa on the east side of Vientiane.
Its gilded structure reflects marvellously in the midday sunlight.

Plain of Jars
The Plain Of Jars is probably South East Asia’s most enigmatic tourist attraction. Situated in the remote north east of Laos, the mountainous communist country which has only been open to tourists for just over a decade, are hundreds of huge stone jars scattered across several square miles.

Wat Phu Champasak
Considered the most sacred religious site in Southern Laos, the temple site of Wat Phu Champasak dates back to the Chenla Period (6th to 8th centuries) and was later part of the Khmer Angkor Empire (9th to 13th centuries). Although the surviving structures are not as grand as those near Siem Reap, Cambodia, the surrounding countryside makes a visit to Wat Phu well worth a stop for serious temple buffs and casual travelers alike.

Travel Tip and useful information

Climate
Laos has a monsoon climate of a dry and a wet season. The dry season lasts from November to May with the cooler period in December and January. At its coldest, the temperatures can fall to as low as 15 deg C. The cold periods tend to be at night and early morning with colder temperatures at higher altitudes. During the hot period of the dry season, between March and May, temperatures can reach the high 30s. The rainy season is a lot cooler, and rainfall varies according to altitude. Generally speaking, the monsoon season produces severe rain that lasts for short periods of time. The wet months vary according to location, in Vientiane, they are from May to September, in Luang Prabang, August is far wetter than any other month.

Time Zone
Laos is 7 hours ahead of GMT (+7 GMT).

Population
There are 68 official ethnic groups in Laos, belonging to three main groups. Lao Loum - Lao, or Lao Loum consists of about half of the poulation. Lao Theung are the largest hilltribe group, with 45 subgroups. Lao Sung or High Lao live in the high mountains of the north. Main groups are the Hmong and the Mien.

Transport
It is now possible to travel to every province in Laos by some form of public road transport. Regular buses ply Rte 13 between Luang Prabang and Savannakhet. Other routes in the south typically use flat bed trucks mounted with carriages and seats. There are a few taxis in the larger towns, plenty of three wheeled motorcycles and, for shorter distances, pedicabs.

Currency and credit cards
The unit of currency in Laos is the Kip. In major towns, Thai Baht and US Dollars are readily accepted in markets, hotels and restaurants. Many hotels will only accept US dollars. Credit cards can be used in major hotels in Vientiane, but are of little use elsewhere.

Dress Code
Light clothing made from natural fibres is the best clothing for Laos. For the months of December and January, a light jacket is often necessary in the lowlands more warm clothing may be needed if travelling in the highlands. Footwear bring sandals or slip ons to take off easily when entering temples.

Safety and security
When in Laos, try and do as the as the Lao do and remember; don't touch heads, don't loose your cool with people and don't flash your flesh. The rest is about manners, shoes left outside, accepting hosts' greetings and not upsetting religious feelings.