Beautiful Laos is one of the beautiful countries in Southeast Asia, but it is also one of the least visited. This is a real shame as Load has just as much to offer travelers as other big-hitter nations like Vietnam or Thailand. This country is small and is landlocked, so it does not have any coastline but is popular for its stunning limestone mountains which provide you great opportunities to go trekking and explore creepy structures and caves. If you are planning to visit Laos but confused about where to go, then here is a list of beautiful places to visit in Laos.
Along with mountains, Laos is popular for its forest and its waterfalls and you can try the tasty local food which has Indian and Thai influences. If you want a real adventure in Southeast Asia, then Load is the right place to be.
Beautiful Places to Visit in Laos
1. Vientiane
Vientiane is known as the charming capital of Laos and even though this is technically called a capital city, it still feels like a small town rather than anything else. Vientiane used to a former French trading post during the colonial era, and as a result, it has a delightful old French quarter than you can discover. As you walk around, you will see a plethora of French-inspired architecture like the Laotian version of the popular Arc de Triomphe in Paris known as Patuxai.
There are other attractions that are worth a visit like sprawling local markets and temples like Wat Si Saket which is the oldest of its type in Vientiane.
2. Tham Kong Lo
Tham Kong Lo is a beautiful underground karst limestone cave tucked away inside Phou Hin Bun National Park in Central Laos. Popularly known as Konglor Cave, which means “beauty in the dark”, this cave is accessible only using a longtail boat. You can see the longest river cave system in the world with your way lit up by a magical miner’s lamp.
The boats will stop at a few points, where you will be able to explore the cave completely barefoot. Recently added colorful lights create a charming and theatrical light show to what was earlier a pitch-dark caving adventure.
Tham Kong Lo is not a destination in the country that can be easily reached: it takes eight hours in a bus on a pothole-ridden road. Yet travelers still travel from different parts of the world to see its secret caverns, strange stalactites, and ethereal limestone formations.
3. Wat Phu
This place is a must in the bucket list of every traveler. Wat Phu Champasak, popularly known as Vat Phou Champasak, is an old Khmer Hindu temple complex. It spreads across six terraces and three levels. Situated at the base of Mount Phou Khao, Wat Phu- which means “Mountain Temple” has buildings that are more than a thousand years old.
Over the years, many more structures have been constructed. It is these more modern ruins from the 11th to 13th centuries that can be witnessed at Wat Phu Champasak presently. The highlight of the city is Wat Phou itself, an old shrine that is dedicated to Lord Shiva, one of the Hindu gods. It boasts elaborate carvings, a sacred spring, and a set of Buddhist icons. The sanctuary was turned into a Buddhist monastery during the 13th century- which is till today functional.
If you would like to stay longer and explore the surrounding landscape in Champasak, you can stay in the nearby villages with French colonial palaces and Buddhist temples. When you are there don’t miss the evening shadow puppet show in the theater.
4. Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng is located between Vientiane and Luang Prabang and is one of the best backpacker locations in Laos. Earlier, this part of Laos has a wild reputation and a remarkably vibrant nightlife scene, although now it has become a little dull. All thanks to the action the local government took to clean its image.
One of the main reasons to visit Van Vieng is to enjoy the tubing down the Nam Song River and you can enjoy the lush green jungle at the same time. There are many other spots like the Tham Phu Kham Cave which is popular for the statue of Buddha made of Bronze and its lagoon.
5. Bokeo Nature Reserve
The Bokeo Nature Reserve lies away from the hustle-bustle of the town of Huay Xai and is a famous nature reserve that is popular for its conservation work to safeguard black-cheeked gibbons which were rediscovered in 1997 after it was thought that they were extinct.
This park lets you stay in tree houses which give you a bird’s eye view of the forest canopy and you can partake in fun jingle activities like swinging on a zip line. You can also see bears, elephants, buffalo, and tigers in the park. If you are a keen bird watcher, then you can check out different species of colorful avians.
6. Tham Kong Lo
Tham Kong Lo is one of the beautiful places to visit in Laos. Its other name is Kong Lo Cave which is a part of the wider Phu Hin Bun National Park. Both the park and cave is situated along the Phu Hin Bun River. The central chamber is known as one of the most stunning in all of Southeast Asia.
The cave is about 6.5 kilometers long and is about 300 feet high. It is known for its beautiful jade-hued pools which are said to be of the same color as the skin of the Hindu god, Indra.
One of the best ways to check out the cave is to enjoy a boat trip along with the beautiful chamber and appreciate the rock crystals and pillars here.
7. Phonsavan
This is the capital city of the Xieng Khouang Province in Central Laos, and the gateway to the Plain of Jars. Constructed in 1970 to replicate the old town that was destroyed during the Second Indo-China War, this town is characterized by brightly colored wooden houses and cattle fields managed by Hmong cowboys.
Bordered by undulating hills and pine forests, the scenic town of Phonsavan has a great climate all through the year. The main attraction is the megalithic archaeological landscape in Laos that is constructed of thousands of stones, jar-like structures dotted about the valleys. Believed to have been utilized as graves or to store rice wine, the remains of these stone jars are one of the most renowned prehistoric sites in Southeast Asia.
But there is more to Phonsavan than the Plain of Jars, mainly if you love traveling outdoors. The suburbs of this town also provide some immense scenery to be found on a trekking adventure- from cascading waterfalls to secluded pools to secret caves.
8. Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang
Wat Xieng Thong is also one of the beautiful places to visit in Laos. Basically, it is a Buddhist temple situated at the northern tip of Luang Phrabang, Laos’s peninsula. This is among those most significant Lao monasteries and stands out as a significant monument. There are over twenty structures including the shrines, a sin, the residences, and the pavilions, along with gardens of shrubs, flowers, and several other trees. There is a “tree of life” set on the exterior wall at the west. Inside, a gold stencil work shows the dharma wheels on the ceiling and adventures from King Chanthaphanit’s life.