Laos Highlights

Laos invites travellers to slow down. In Luang Prabang, the day begins in silence as lines of saffron-robed monks walk barefoot through the old town to collect morning alms. Golden temples such as Wat Xieng Thong stand between French colonial villas and riverside cafes, and from the top of Mount Phousi the sun sets over the meeting of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. Just outside town, the turquoise pools of Kuang Si waterfall tumble through the forest.

The Mekong is the lifeline of the country. A slow boat from the Thai border passes limestone cliffs, riverside villages and the sacred Pak Ou caves, filled with thousands of Buddha statues left by pilgrims over centuries.

Vientiane is one of Asia's most relaxed capitals, with the golden stupa of Pha That Luang, quiet monasteries and sunset walks along the river promenade. North of the capital, Vang Vieng's green karst landscapes offer caves, lagoons and gentle adventure, while in the far south Pakse leads to the coffee plantations and waterfalls of the Bolaven Plateau and the 4,000 Islands, where the river spreads out and life slows to the pace of a hammock.