20 PHOTOS TO GET YOU PACKING FOR LAOS

Join us on a visual journey to the land of the big chill. Enjoy our collection of travel photography from Laos to get a preview of this laid-back South East Asian beauty. Then go pack your bags

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When we think back to Laos we don’t recall any jaw-dropping sights. Truth be told, this landlocked Southeast Asian country lacks what is so often described as “must-sees”. ( Honestly though: MUST see??!! A bit of a bully, are you? What will happen if we miss one of your must-sees? Are you going to hit me over the head with your Lonely Planet?) Anyway…we don’t remember Laos for her sights.

Laos seduced and won us over in a different way.  From the moment we stepped into the arrival hall at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, she nonchalantly made her acquaintance. The magic is in her happy-go-lucky personality, best seen in the people living within her communist boundaries. Observing the Lao people, the first thing we noticed was how their conversations sounded like poetry on our ears.

Vientiane

Situated on a bend on the Mekong River, Vientiane wins the prize for the sleepiest capital city on Earth.
A visit to Wat Sok Pa Luang is a  great way to get with the programme and slip into the mellowness of Laos.

This temple (Wat) is not a “must-see”, but rather a MUST FEEL.  In fact, we didn’t even see the temple. Instead, we headed straight to the massage area situated next to a gurgling stream under the trees.

The masseurs started working on me slowly, kneading me systematically from head to toe while I listened to their hushed, poetry-like words. Within an hour they pulled, bent, kneaded and rolled me into a perfect, placid pretzel. Then I got baked in the herbal sauna into a zen-like state.

At night stalls are set up on the riverfront along the Mekong which is a delicious spot for dinner. Sandwiched between Vietnam and Thailand and being a former French colony, Lao food is a wonderful mix and match of everything that’s awesome. From crusty baguettes to noodle soups and curries to grilled Mekong fish. Attempting our best to try all the food and swigging Beer Lao while staring across the Mekong River into Thailand sure was a great way to end our day.

Vang Vieng

Four hours by bus north of the capital brought us to Vang Vieng, (in)famous for its party/tubing scene. People of all ages come here to float down the Nam Song River on tubes and get drunk going from one riverside bar to the next.  Partied too hard on the river? Then you can watch a season of Friends or Family Guy back to back at one of the bars around town.

Both of these  “must-do” options are like our versions of hell. So we chose to rent a scooter to explore the countryside.  Aimlessly driving around and getting lost on the dirt roads we discovered swimming holes, caves and waving kids chasing the bike.

We found a shack brewing the best iced coffee we’ve ever had. Lao coffee is really thick and black, not unlike tar, with a smooth chocolaty taste. Mixed with a generous dollop of condensed milk, its caffeine-sugar combo kick was probably the biggest rush I got while in this laid-back country.

Check out Riverside Boutique Resort where we stayed

Luang Prabang

When we thought we couldn’t gear down anymore, sleepy Luang Prabang proved us wrong. Situated on a peninsula at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers it felt like we were on a river island. With a mix of friendly people, swaying palm trees and handsome old buildings we couldn’t help but surrender and take it easy.  

Luang Prabang was the Indochina we pictured before coming here.  Old temples, golden buddhas, pastel French colonial buildings, saffron-robed monks, and crusty baguettes mixed together with an air of sophistication created a very special place. A place where we walked a little slower, lingered a little longer and laughed a little more. 

There is a saying that goes: The Vietnamese plant the rice. The Cambodians watch it grow. The Laotians listen to it grow. Luang Prabang is indeed an excellent place to take it slow, relax and listen to the rice grow.

For a few days, we wandered between the temples, watched the sun set over the Mekong from Phousi Hill, went swimming in the pale blue pools of Kuang Si waterfalls and tried our best to sample everything at the night market.

Tak Bat

Every morning at sunrise all the monks from the monasteries scattered around town line up in single file for Tak Bat, or alms collecting. The orange line silently shuffles through town to collect their only meal of the day. People who have lost faith in the Tim Noakes / LCHF diet should perhaps try the Monk Diet. You are only allowed to eat one meal of rice (which should be donated to you) a day. Needless to say, we didn’t see a single plus-size monk.

At around 5:30, the monks leave their monastery and the orange line starts walking a set route through town, with the oldest in front and the youngest at the back.

Each barefoot monk carries a lidded bowl which is attached to a shoulder strap. Waiting for them in the streets are locals (and tourists) kneeling on the sidewalks who had prepared sticky rice; each monk gets a scoopful when they open their lid. Tak Bat is perhaps the best place in Laos for travel photography, but please be respectful.

Check out the stunning Villa Mahasok in Luang Prabang

One day I might forget the silent orange line of monks and blue swimming holes and view over the Mekong and just how crunchy those baguettes were, but I will never forget the beautiful, calm smiles of the people as they say saibadee (Hello. How are you?) or the poetic rhythm of cop chai lai lai (thank you very much). Most of all, we will never the sound of rice growing.

We hope you enjoyed our collection of travel photography from Laos. No go and take your own. Let us know where your favourite place in Laos is.