My best friend and I were lucky enough to be able to travel to Southeast Asia, and one of our favourite destinations was Laos. I would definitely say that it is underrated and if I were you, I would add it to your must-see list ASAP!
Of course, is it quite a bit of a distance from Newcastle, but it is very accessible from surrounding countries and sits in the middle of the typical ‘gap year’ route between Thailand and Vietnam. When we visited, we took a long boat over from the North of Thailand and, despite it being very early morning, still with sleep in our eyes, we were greeted by the kindest people ever and some of the most gorgeous scenery I’ve ever seen. I for one was blown away by the mountains, especially at sunset, the way they peaked and descended so dramatically, they almost didn’t look real. One of the most surreal experiences of my trip was taking a hot air balloon ride over the mountains at sunset; you’ll feel like you’re in the Wizard of Oz! But there are plenty more things to do there, such as visiting the museums in the capital, walking around the night markets or renting motorbikes to drive up and swim in the waterfalls.
[It] gives the whole place such a tranquil atmosphere that just can’t be matched elsewhere.
The capital of Laos, Vientiane, is situated in the north and, due to its beautiful architecture and museums, is one of the more tourist hot spots of the country, along with Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng because of their busy nightlife and many waterfalls. As you make your way a little further down south you’ll find a small town called Thakhek, which is where you will start the ‘Thakhek loop’, a 5 day motorbike loop around the villages near Thakhek, which I would say is one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve ever had, meeting the most amazing people and seeing the most incredible views. The 4-5 days you spend driving are filled with many stops along the way where you will explore caves on foot and in a kayak, swim in waterfalls, try some amazing new foods, hike to see the sunset and meet the kindest people, before returning to the town after the most fulfilling trip.
Despite Laos being a land locked country there is still a place called ‘4000 Islands’ a province found along the Mekong River, just on the boarder of Cambodia. Each island is only accessible by boat and the only ways to get around the island are by bike or motorbike, which gives the whole place such a tranquil atmosphere that just can’t be matched elsewhere.
The food, the accommodation, the transport and even the beer is more than affordable, and with the loveliest people, and the most beautiful landscape ever, I would say that Laos is just one of those places that can’t be missed, it just has everything - I would go back in a heartbeat!
