Highlights of Laos

Vientiane is the starting point for our journey through Laos, one of the most laid-back and relaxed capital cities in the world. This sense of tranquility is evident as we wander down the wide dusty streets and along the Mekong River as it meanders through town. Yet beneath the demure façade, Vientiane is a lively place, both culturally and socially, from beautiful temples and stark Soviet architecture to excellent dining venues. We begin our exploration with a visit to the city’s most interesting sites, including Wat Sisaket, the city’s oldest original temple, and the Patuxai Monument, modelled off the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. In the evening we dine in one of Vientiane’s best restaurants; Lao cuisine has much in common with Thai: fish sauce, chili, lemongrass, coriander and lime all play their part in the majority of Lao dishes. Fans of Thai food will not be disappointed, but there’s still plenty of distinguishing factors between the two, and we will enjoy discovering the flavours unique to Vientiane. We stay overnight at the charming Settha Palace, a colonial-era hotel with the grandest swimming pool in the country.

We then fly to the atmospheric riverside town of Luang Prabang and stay at the exquisite La Residence Phou Vao Hotel. Luang Prabang is a UNESCO protected town, nestled along the banks of the Mekong, with a stunning mountain backdrop and over thirty active temples. The former royal capital of the ‘Kingdom of a Million Elephants’, Luang Prabang is the gem of Laos and one of the most inspiring destinations in Indochina. Rise early to witness thousands of monks walking barefoot down the misty streets at dawn collecting alms from the locals. The sea of saffron-robed monks is a photographer’s dream and a true inspiration. Many ethnic hilltribe minority people live in the area around Luang Prabang, and every night the hilltribe population sets up a market on the town’s main street; find incredible deals on beautifully embroidered fabrics, Lao handicrafts, silver jewellery and more. The wonderful silk boutiques dotted throughout town are also great places to shop, and there is free time to enjoy an exquisite spa treatment at one of the superb beauty centres in town. We also climb Mount Phou Si on the outskirts of Luang Prabang to enjoy a remarkable vista. A sunset drink overlooking the river at one of the many excellent cafés or restaurants will go down well, as will the ambience of the restored French-colonial villas that house Luang Prabang’s bars and eateries.

We explore the amazing Cave of a Thousand Buddhas at Pak Ou, just a short, atmospheric boat trip outside of Luang Prabang. The cave is full of thousands of Buddha images and has been a pilgrimage site since the 1500s. We visit a hilltribe village on our return journey to catch a glimpse of local life. We uncover the secrets behind the tasty dishes we’ve been enjoying at an entertaining Lao cooking demonstration in one of Luang Prabang’s wonderful restaurants.

A sense of timelessness pervades Laos, and Indochina’s least-visited country still moves to her own slow, steady rhythm. On our Highlights of Laos Small Group Journey we meet the friendly, welcoming locals, explore the natural beauty of the region and savour the exotic cuisine whilst enjoying the charming luxury of the country’s finest hotels.    

Click here to find out more about our Highlights of Laos Small Group Journey.