Pha That Luang Stupa looks imposing on a sunny day in Vientiane, Laos

It's time to turn your ideas into a tailor-made trip to Laos

While its bigger, bolder neighbors draw the crowds with their roster of famous sites, we get the sense that Laos is content to be overlooked – secure in the knowledge that it’s a little slice of chilled-out, tropical heaven.

It doesn’t have the jungle-strangled temples of Cambodia. It doesn’t have the fascinating history of China. It doesn’t have the world-class cuisine of Vietnam, or the white sandy beaches of Thailand. Surrounded by famous neighbors, it has slipped under the tourist’s radar for decades. So why on Earth should you bother with Laos?

Only because it's one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Landlocked and mountainous, Laos's scenery is amazingly varied. It encompasses lush farmland, rustic river islands, thundering waterfalls, cloud forests, wide-open grassy plateaus, and magnificent karst scenery cut through with wide rivers. For outdoor adventuring, nowhere beats it.

But it’s not just the landscapes. It may sound counterintuitive, but we love Laos as much for what it doesn’t have as for what it does. It’s something about the totally unhurried pace of life – about the complete absence of stress or pushiness. Nothing is well-oiled or slick: it’s raw, rough, and totally, indescribably stunning. Like the lazy Mekong, life in Laos just takes its time, and it's quite happy to carry you along for the ride.

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It's time to turn your ideas into a tailor-made trip to Laos

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Trip ideas

Laos along the Mekong

From £2,780 per person

Wind your way overland through southern Laos, a land of soaring karst mountains, wide fertile plains and pretty riverside villages.

Northern Laos Explorer

From £4,200 per person

Discover languid rivers and ethnic minority villages in the forests and farmland of little-visited northern Laos.

Treetops, Mountains & Elephants

From £3,575 per person

Take the kids on a family adventure to Laos and discover a land of rivers, jungles and hidden caves.

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5 of the best events and festivals in Laos

Gilded temples, Kuang Si Falls, Mount Phousi at sunset.... tick, tick, tick. While we're all for seeing the sights, timing your trip to Laos with a festival or event gives you the opportunity to meet local people, get involved with traditional activities and even take inspiration for your hobbies at home.

The best ways to explore the Mekong River

If you’re heading to Southeast Asia, don’t miss the chance to explore the mighty Mekong River spanning 2,700 miles from the Tibetan Plateau, through China, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Top 5 outdoor adventures in Laos

Compared to well-established, tourist-heavy areas of Southeast Asia (and despite prolific delicious food, beautiful temples and lush green rice paddies flanked by limestone mountains), Laos remains relatively under the radar, leaving plenty of quiet corners perfect for outdoor adventurers.