Statues at Wat Xieng Khuan Buddha park.

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Laos

Vivid nature, voluptuous landscapes and a vibrant culture collide with a painful past and optimistic future to make Laos an enigmatic experience for the adventurous.

Best Places to Visit

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Vat Phou or Wat Phu in Champasak, Southern Laos.

    Wat Phu Champasak

    Southern Laos

    Bucolic Wat Phu sits in graceful decrepitude, and while it lacks the arresting enormity of Angkor in Cambodia, given its few visitors and more dramatic…

  • Sunset view over the city from Mount Phousi, a sacred mountain located in the heart of the former capital of Laos.

    Phu Si

    Luang Prabang

    Dominating the old city centre and a favourite with sunset junkies, the 100m-tall Phu Si (prepare your legs for a steep 329-step ascent) is crowned by a…

  • Tat Kuang Si Waterfalls

    Tat Kuang Si

    Laos

    Thirty kilometres southwest of Luang Prabang, Tat Kuang Si is a many-tiered waterfall tumbling over limestone formations into a series of cool, swimmable…

  • VIENTIANE, LAOS - NOVEMBER 05: A collection of artificial lower legs at COPE, the documentation and rehabilitation centre for the victims of landmines and cluster munitions, on November 05, 2012 in Vientiane, Laos. (Photo by Thomas Imo/Photothek via Getty Images)

    COPE Visitor Centre

    Vientiane

    Laos has the dubious distinction of being the most bombed country on earth, and although the American War in neighbouring Vietnam ended more than 40 years…

  • Wat Xieng thong temple at twilight time in Luang Pra bang, Laos. 358251350 ancient, antique, architecture, art, asia, asian, beautiful, believe, bright, buddhism, buddhist, building, chiang, city, culture, faith, famous, gold, heritage, historical, landmark, lao, luang, luangprabang, mekong, monk, night, old, palace, prabang, religion, spirituality, temple, thong, tour, tradition, traditional, travel, trip, twilight, unesco, urban, vientiane, wat, world, xieng, xiengthong

    Wat Xieng Thong

    Luang Prabang

    Luang Prabang's best-known monastery is centred on a 1560 sǐm (ordination hall). Its roofs sweep low to the ground and there's a stunning 'tree of life'…

  • Pha That Luang Stupa National Monument

    Pha That Luang

    Vientiane

    Svelte and golden Pha That Luang, located about 4km northeast of the city centre, is the most important national monument in Laos – a symbol of Buddhist…

  • Statues at Wat Xieng Khuan Buddha park.

    Xieng Khuan

    Vientiane

    Located 25km southeast of central Vientiane, eccentric Xieng Khuan, aka Buddha Park, thrills with other-worldly Buddhist and Hindu sculptures, and was…

  • Kaysone Phomvihane Memorial

    Kaysone Phomvihane Memorial

    Vientiane

    The former home of Kaysone Phomvihane, the first leader of an independent Laos, has been made into this quirky but worthwhile museum.

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View of the Mekong River and many golden and wooden Buddha statues and religious offerings inside the Tham Ting Cave at the famous Pak Ou Caves near Luang Prabang in Laos. 956152240 View of the Mekong River and many golden and wooden Buddha statues and religious offerings inside the Tham Ting Cave at the famous Pak Ou Caves near Luang Prabang in Laos.

Water Sports

10 of the best places to visit in Laos

Aug 20, 2024 • 13 min read

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