5 reasons you absolutely need to visit Laos now
Laos. The land of a million elephants, and a traditional way of life unaffected by modern perils. Or at least it was.
Here's why you must visit Laos now.
Ahh Laos.
The land of a million elephants, home to lush surroundings and a traditional way of life unaffected by modern perils. Or at least… it was.
While this pretty little land-locked country does still retain some of the charm and authenticity that's already disappeared with the Golden Arches and flashy cars found throughout its more modern neighbours - Laos certainly hasn't escaped the enormous change and fast development sweeping through the region.
As is the case in almost all of South East Asia, Foreign investment, particularly from China, is altering the economy and landscape. Towns that used to be sleepy rural villages, such as evolving Vang Vieng, are morphing into thriving tourist hubs.
The times they are a-changing, and the relaxed way of life and calm Buddhist feel that is so charming to visitors is gradually evolving.
Take our word for it; now the time to visit Laos!
5 REASONS TO VISIT LAOS NOW
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#1 LAOS IS STILL AUTHENTIC (KIND OF)
If you’re prepared to travel a little deeper off beyond the normal tourist tracks, you’ll find yourself totally absorbed by the traditional lifestyles all around you.
Vientiane, potentially the sleepiest capital city in the whole of Southeast Asia has a great deal of small town charm going for it. Vang Vieng might still have the infamous party town reputation of years past, and Luang Prabang has grown as ‘must-see’ tourist spot in SE Asia, the reality is that life away from the main drag in both of these places is still pretty traditional.
In rural areas, the tractor of choice is still the trusty water buffalo, and thatched houses are a common sight across the country.
All it takes is a bike ride to some nearby villages or a stroll down some back streets and you’ll find many things haven’t changed in the daily lives of residents.
You might even bump into the friendly locals who invited us over for a chat and made sure our cups runneth over with Beerlao in Luang Prabang.
There’s no doubt that Laos’ star will only continue to rise amongst the backpacker tribes and gradually, tourism will ebb away some of that realness.
How long it retains what’s left of it is anyone’s guess… Are you willing to wait and find out?
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#2 LAOS IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL
From Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng, steamy Jungles to the mighty Mekong; Laos is just so dang naturally beautiful from every angle.
The jungle-clad limestone karsts of Vang Vieng and the picturesque Nam Song river are reason enough to get here ASAP, while the dense, beautiful jungles of the north and west are home to a vast array of animals including tiger and elephants (though their numbers are sadly diminishing).
Then there’s the Mekong River, which winds its way through some pretty exotic and fascinating areas, like the 4000 Islands and Don Det. Oh, and there are also literally thousands of caves to explore, including Kong Lor Cave near Pakse.
This natural beauty could all change soon though, with large tracts of land being rented to Chinese developers, and reports of huge-scale illegal logging on the rise. Basically, Laos’ beauty and natural resources are being plundered at a rapid rate, so how long all this beauty will remain is anyone’s guess.
Get here now, and witness this special scenery before it’s just a distant memory.
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#3 LAOS IS CHEAP (KIND OF)
When we say Laos is cheap, we mean it packs far less of a hit to the hip pocket compared to your travels through Europe, America, South America and Australia - though by SE Asia standards of cheap, it’s a bit more expensive than its neighbours.
Importantly though, Beerlao is cheap; like $1 per 500ml cheap.
As tourism starts really driving costs up throughout the country, are you willing to chance those prices increasing when you decide to visit in a few years?
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#4 LAOS HAS TIGERS, ELEPHANTS, AND THE GIBBON EXPERIENCE
So, Laos has tigers in the wild and they’re kind of a big deal. So are Asian Elephants and Laos has them too, which is all the reason you need to visit Laos and explore deep into the jungles of Nam Ha National Park, near Luang Prabang in the north.
If you venture further south near the border of Thailand, there’s also the Gibbon Experience, a community-based ecotourism project where you can zip-line through the rainforest canopy and sleep in the world's highest tree-houses deep in the jungle.
It’s the perfect place to be at one with nature, and extend your appreciation for those lovely green oxygen-makers we rely on.
We all know the current situation with deforestation and the shrinking natural habitats of some of our favourite animals. As time goes on, the chance to witness these great wild creatures in their natural homes could be lost.
Do you need any more encouragement to get here before it’s too late?
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#5 IN LAOS, ADVENTURE ABOUNDS
Like your adventure? Love that adrenalin kicking in? Well, Laos offers adventure-fuelled experiences in abundance.
Embrace your inner adrenalin junkie and zip-line, rock-climb, trek, cave, kayak, tube, and hot air balloon to your heart’s content.
But don’t wait - increasing tourist numbers, land buy-ups, and changing landscapes mean that the appeal of these activities may be short lived.
Visit Laos now!
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EXPERIENCE LAOS WITH THESE TOURS
Laos can be a tough and uncompromising place to travel, so if you’d prefer the ease of all your travels organised (we don’t blame you!), then these tours might take your fancy!
7-day Laos: Sunrises and Street Food tour | A 7-day tour of Laos’ best things to do with G Adventures. Includes visits to Vietiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang
Real Laos with Intrepid Travel | This 14-day tour takes in Vientiane Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang, as well as a slow boat along the Mekong. A truly authentic experience.
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ACCOMMODATION IN LAOS
Accommodation to suit any budget can be found in Luang Prabang, from luxury hotels right through to dorms in budget backpackers.
HOTELS
We recommend using HotelsCombined to find the best deal on your Laos hotel accommodation
HOSTELS
Laos is a firm favourite on the backpacker trail through Laos, and for that reason, great hostel accommodation can be found throughout the city.
BOOK | Check Hostelworld for available hostels in Luang Prabang now
AIRBNB
Airbnb is definitely growing in popularity in Laos, so we’d recommend checking them out for any hidden gems.
BOOK | Use our Airbnb code to get £25 off your next booking!
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TRAVEL INSURANCE
Whatever you do, don’t travel through Laos without travel insurance. Whether it be a sprained ankle hiking in the jungles (or worse), stomach issues (we had many in Laos!), theft, or lost baggage, things can go wrong in Laos, and insurance is your only way of mitigating the issues!
BUY | Click here to get the best travel insurance deals with World Nomads
READ | Our ultimate guide to travel insurance
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LAOS BACKPACKING ESSENTIALS
Travelling through Laos comes with a unique set of needs.
To help you have a comfortable, happy journey, we recommend bringing the following items with you:
Reusable water bottle | THE BEST INVESTMENT WE’VE EVER MADE! We use the Grayl water purification bottles, which allows us to fill up from any water source, anywhere in the world (including train taps!).
Biodegradable Wet Wipes | Keep clean without destroying the planet!
Hand sanitiser | not something we’d actually recommend normally, but in Sri Lanka it can be a bloody great investment.
A spork | to cut down on unnecessary plastic usage at meal times
Power bank | power does drop out… often! Don’t get caught out without power for your devices buy purchasing this power bank
READ | check out our eco-friendly packing guide to travel through Nepal consciously and comfortably
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EXPERIENCE MORE OF LAOS WITH THESE ESSENTIAL POSTS
THE BEST OF LAOS | 11 amazing things to do in Laos
LUANG PRABANG | Discover the best things to do in Luang Prabang
KUANG SI WATERFALL | Our complete guide to Laos’ best attraction
VIENTIANE | City guide and best things to do in Vientiane
DON DET + 4000 ISLANDS | Our complete guide to the 4000 islands of Laos (the best place to visit in Laos!)
TRAVEL INSURANCE | Don’t leave home without travel insurance (seriously, don’t!). Click here to get the best deals with World Nomads, our trusted travel insurance provider
PHOTOGRAPHY | Love our photography? Wondering what gear we use to get all of our photos around the world?
Click here to view our detailed photography gear guide, as well as our top travel photography tips!
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL | Responsible travel is important. REALLY IMPORTANT.
Learn our top responsible travel tips to help you, your family and friends travel more consciously around the globe
ECO FRIENDLY PACKING ESSENTIALS | Don’t leave home without our favourite eco-friendly travel essentials
Think we've missed another reason? Let us know in the comments below!
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