A sleeping beauty of South East Asia, Laos.
Laos is the sleeping beauty of South East Asia often dominated on travel itineraries by the well trodden tourist path of Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.
Originally, it wasn't really even on my list but I already cannot wait to go back!
Here is a quick little snapshot into three amazing must-see spots!
Kuang Si Falls, Luang Prabang
The natural beauty that Laos has to offer is incredible. The waterfalls are some of the most beautiful sights that I have ever seen, and even the popular tourist spots are nowhere near as busy as places like Thailand. Visiting Kuang Si Falls is a must when you are in Luang Prabang. The surroundings are so pretty it almost doesn’t look real.
One thing you must do is climb to the top. It’s a little tiring and there isn’t a clear walkway for most of the way but it is totally worth it. The views are stunning and there are gorgeous turquoise blue pools, we even saw a man in a canoe floating around the top.
It was as if we were in a dream!
Aside from the beautiful waterfalls, Luang Prabang has much more to offer. The town has such charm and the buildings are beautifully designed, especially the temples. The Mekong River is another beautiful sight to see. Whether you are unwinding along the river-front watching the sunset or you are on a boat ride along the river itself, it’s hard not to feel incredibly relaxed as you take in the beautiful scenery.
VANG VIENG
Vang Vieng was definitely my favourite part of Laos. Its notoriously known as the part of Laos that backpackers go and get a little crazy, but to me it was so much more than that. The landscape is amazing, as soon as you arrive you notice these giant mountains everywhere you look. You can take a hot air balloon ride and witness the beautiful scenery from above, unfortunately I didn’t get the chance to do it while I was there but it is definitely on my list for the next visit.
River tubing is one of the best things ever and a great way to meet new people to explore this amazing country!
TIP: There is no better way to get around Vang Vieng than to rent a bike for the day. You get to explore places so much more and end up finding places you weren’t even looking for. We found a few cool caves and lagoons that were completely empty! A travellers dream.
VIENTIANE
Vientiane was the perfect place to finish off our time in Laos. Like most of Laos, it still has the French influence, the food is lovely and they have some cute little vintage shops. Like Luang Prabang, it’s lovely to sit down by the river at sunset.It was actually nice to have no expectations of a place because that way it couldn't disappoint, and it certainly didn’t. We only had a small amount of time in Laos but are looking forward to when we can return and do some more exploring of the beautiful country, I couldn’t recommend it more!
Lauren Baxter is a thisworldexists adventure ambassador.
Follow more of her adventures through South East Asia and abroad via Instagram @laurenbaxter2