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With his alien, Avatar-like nature, hospitable locals and affordable island getaways: Southeast Asia is that back on our travel radarespecially now that new Trans-Pacific flight routes are being launched, making it easier for Americans to get there.
While Thailand, Bali and Vietnam get all the attention, landlocked Laos is usually completely ignored.
After all, it has no coast, the flight connections are worse than those of are neighbors, and it’s not your typical resort destination.
Either way, this is a hugely underrated cultural gem with the potential to become the region’s next travel hotspot, and here are 5 reasons why:
No beach, but instead a beautiful natural landscape
Laos is not one of the largest countries in Southeast Asia and is not located on the ocean like its competitors. It has an area of 236,800 square kilometers (Thailand, for example, is roughly 2.2 times larger), but whatever it lacks in land mass and beach access, it makes up for it in beauty:
Large parts of Laos are forested, from the north, bordered by the Luang Prabang mountains and rice terraces, to the village-studded Bolaven Plateau in the south, inhabited by elephants, Asian tigers and whatnot, it’s a dreamland of nature created miracles.
You could spend a lifetime in Laos and… still can’t see everythingbut if you want to have your mind blown, be sure to visit Tad Fan Waterfall: the highest in the country, falling from a height of 100 meters, is one of the main attractions on the Bolaven Plateau.
In the southern half of Luang Prabang province, the Kuang Si Falls are equally impressive, flowing into a natural pool of crystal clear water.
For the occasional enthusiastic hiker who does not shy away from challenging peaks, conquering nearby Mount Phousi is a must-do.
It is home to the scenic Thakhek loop
Speaking of adventurous spirits, if you come all the way to Laos and you like to get off the beaten track, you’ll probably want to do the Thakhek Loop: a scenic road trip of 3-4 days Traversing the Laotian countryside is one of the most incredible tourist experiences in Southeast Asia.
Tourists normally use scooters to complete the 475.7-mile loop, which visits imposing karst formations, vast plantations, postcard-perfect waterfalls such as Tad Song Souk, and Indiana Jones-esque temples, including the pilgrimage site ‘Buddha Cave’ , a Buddhist shrine housed in an isolated cave.
There are countless sights along the extensive route, be it traditional villages yet to experience the spoils of globalization beautiful natural areas virtually untouched by humansbut one of the most unique stops is at Tha Bak.
It is a sleepy village on the waterfront and has a number of abandoned, rocket-shaped ‘bomb boats’, used during the Vietnam War, which still line the riverfront: although it was largely fought between socialist forces in Vietnam and the United States, it saw Laos also came under heavy attack for nine years.
However, if you rent a scooter or bike for your Thakhek Loop, make sure you take out insurance if available and that you bring a lock to keep it safe, to be sure.
Laos is generally safe for tourists and crime rates are low, but according to one Reddit userBicycle thefts are quite common here, and if the bike is stolen, tourists have to pay the full cost, which is estimated to be between $1,000 and $1,500.
To give you a more balanced overview, according to the US Department of State: Bicycle theft is not specifically mentioned in the official travel advice.
Picturesque villages untouched by globalization trends
Laos isn’t exactly the place you go for vibrant city breaks and nightlife: the country’s largest city, with over 948,000 inhabitants, is the national capital Vientiane, and while it’s quite large, it’s nowhere near that of Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City. cosmopolitanism.
There are many who love it mix of French colonial and Indochina architectureand others who aren’t fans because it’s reportedly less lively than its counterparts: definitely don’t expect as exciting a social scene here as you would in a sprawling Thai metropolis.
The true charm of Laos lies in its quaint towns, such as Vang Vieng, sandwiched between imposing limestone peaks and the historic Nam Song River, Pakse, in southern Laos, where the Mekong and Xe Don rivers meet, and a religious center for Buddhists and former capital Luang Prabang:
The municipality of 56,000 inhabitants, named after the province, is located at the bottom of a valley. flanked by green mountain rangesand it’s something of a cultural center, with the 16th-century Wat Xieng Thong temple and Wat Mai, once the residence of the head of Lao Buddhism.
If you like Northern Thailand, with its remote temples, dense jungle and elephant reserves, then Laos is for you: it is even less developed, with frozen rural hinterlands in stark contrast to a fast-growing continent, and the kind of idyllic charm you can’t find anywhere else.
Laos wants More Tourists to visit
For a country with a recent history as complex, if not sad, as Laos, the locals are surprisingly warm and hospitable, and the country itself has long since overcome its suspicion of foreign guests. welcome guests with open arms.
As long as you respect their culture, they won’t have a problem with you: for women, that means dressing conservatively – tank tops and short skirts aren’t considered appropriate in most settings – and for the lovebirds out there, softening your show of affection in the public.
Laotians are a very simple people, and as long as you do not cross their borders, they are happy to receive you, as is the Laotian government: in recent days Laos has further eased the situation extremely strict visa policy.
This brings it in line with Thailand and Vietnam, which have also recently relaxed visa requirements.
The Laotian authorities have the visas for visits of up to 15 days for a handful of European nationals, including Austrians, Belgians, Danes, Spaniards and Swedes, and as for Americans, they can now apply for Laotian visas with a validity period 60 days instead of just 30.
We don’t know why American passport holders have not been included in the visa-free scheme, as certain Europeans have, but they can stay in Laos longer than their fellow visa-exempt Westerners, and obtain a Laotian visa online through the official platform is an incredibly simple process.
Laos is still perfectly affordable for Westerners
In addition to the relaxed visa policy, there is another factor that makes Laos so attractive incredibly attractive destination in 2024, affordability is high: again, this is not one of the Western-dominated resort destinations in Southeast Asia, so consumer prices are quite low.
There’s certainly a range here, as luxury travelers likely prefer eating at high-end restaurants, booking private tours and other exceptional experiences, and staying in five-star accommodations, but the average traveler is likely to spend average $250 for the week.
That’s according to Budget your trip estimatesthat’s based on member reports and not peer-reviewed work, so you should take that with a grain of salt.
That said, looking at the range of room rates Booking.comand local food prices as shown Numbeo, there don’t seem to be any at far away:
For example, you can book a relatively comfortable three-star room in a centrally located hotel in Phnom Penh for as little as $17 per night, while a meal at a local restaurant frequented by Laotians themselves can cost a dirt cheap $2.22, or the equivalent in local currency.
More extensive dinners in mid-range restaurants cost an average of €13 Budget your tripand that’s typical generous portions and multi-course presentations in a western style eatery, possibly with AC and English speaking staff.
In short, Laos is an absolute bargain if you are in dollars, and you are usually conscious of how you will spend your hard-earned money.
If you’re planning to explore Laos on your next trip to Southeast Asia, you’ll be happy to hear that it’s never been easier to travel to this unusual country with the nnew passenger train traveling from BangkokThailand to Vientiane.
More information about the scenic trip and how much tickets cost can be found here.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
