7 Spots You Must Visit in Laos

Here's your itinerary!
by Tommy Walker | March 15, 2017

We think Laos is the place for everyone who loves real experiences of a new country and culture, and a bit of the weird and wonderful. Forget the big shopping malls of Bangkok or the glorious beaches of Cambodia. This is Laos, we love it and you will too.

Check out some spots to add to your Laos itinerary:

Plain of Jars

Shrouded in myth and mystery, these giant jars are based in Phonsavan that means hills of paradise. Despite their obvious existence, no one categorically knows which civilization created them. The stone jars themselves are in numbers totaling over 3,000 and are up to three meters high.

It has been suggested due to excavations that they were used for the disposal of human remains, wood and building craft and also for cooking. Often named as one of the weirdest places in the world to visit, Plain of Jars should definitely be in your list of places to see in the world.

Buddha Park

Located in Vientiane, Buddha Park is a odd but fantastic place for to wander slowly. Not only that, but taking some photos here is key, with many unorthodox shaped sculptures from reclining Buddha’s to wide-mouthed Gods. With over 200 sculptures to peruse, this isn’t your everyday travel attraction. These include Buddhist and Hindu forms, as well as demons and animals stone shapes.

Tubing

Nam Song River in Vang Vieng has had some action over the years. Tubing here once was a crazy spot for backpackers and travelers. People would jump into its shallow waters while drinking alcohol from countless riverside pop-up bars and commuting down river via rubber tubes.

Roam down the river to a lush watercolor grey river, taking in the dreamy views that are propped up by the limestone mountains that you may have witnessed in northern Vietnam once before. Tubing is a friendly way to get about your day, as you ooze and drift down the river, like the infancy of a white water rafting trip but without the drops and bumps.

Utopia

Utopia is situated by the Nam Khan river and is a yoga studio in the morning, Zen by day and a hedonistic lounge bar by night. Despite an early curfew that affects the whole of Luang Prabang, Utopia is the most popular spot in the city, and probably one of the most unique bars in the whole of Southeast Asia. Perfect your downward dog just after sunrise, or smoke some shisha at night, Utopia is a real chill spot to visit!

Kuang Si Falls

Three tiers of waterfalls, sky blue water and an idyllic natural setting, Kuang Si Falls isn’t short of visitors. Yet, despite it’s natural appearance, part of the lower swimming holes at the base are man-made. If you’re in Luang Prabang, take a tuk-tuk journey around 20 kilometers away and you’ll end up here.

Take your swimming gear and have a paddle around. Kuang Si falls is one of the most photographed and visited waterfalls in Southeast Asia.

Gibbon Experience

We’d all love to be Tarzan one day right? Swinging from tree to tree hundreds of meters above the jungle floor. Well, this isn’t quite tree rope swinging; it’s more zip lining from tree house to tree house for a few days. Named after Gibbons, who freely roam these parts of Asia, you’ll be trailing from one house to another and enjoying one of northern Lao’s most prominent tourist attractions. If you love the jungle, and want to get away from cars, roads and cities then get on this. Check out the official website here.

Tham Poukham Cave and the Blue Lagoon

Vang Vieng isn’t just about tubing. If you get the chance and want another fun day out, you can kill two birds with one stone here. What we mean by that is, visiting Blue Lagoon and Tham Poukham Cave — in the same spot!

So, trail up the narrow jagged steps to Poukham Cave, and clamber in and around its corners first. Take a flashlight and enjoy exploring the depths of this eerie cave. Then, after you’ve finished that head down and enjoy a cooling off period in the Blue Lagoon, with a couple of jumping spots to try.

What are your favorite spots in Laos? Let’s talk about them in the comments!