Laos

Description

Laos

Squeezed in between Thailand and Vietnam is the landlocked country of Laos. Main feature of Laos is the Mekong River. The Mekong enters Laos from China in the north, forms most of its western border with Burma and Thailand, and then leaves Laos in the south to enter Cambodia. Away from the Mekong, Laos is a largely mountaineous country of steep hills, rugged ranges and narrow valleys covered in jungle. No easy terrain to travel around, even on foot, so transportation by boat of goods and people on the Mekong and its tributaries has always been very important to the Laotians. Still today, roads into the interior are few and often in a bad state during the rainy season. As a result the hills and mountains of Laos are by definition remote and sparsely populated by a myriad of hill tribes displaying astounding ethnolinguistic diversity. Highest mountains are found in the northern half of Laos, and in the Annamite Mountain Range running north-south to form the eastern border with Vietnam.

In recent years, numerous community-based trekking possibilities have sprung up across Laos, focusing on experiencing nature and meeting ethnic minorities. Local guides will lead you across the fields into the tropical jungles and mountains from one village to the next, sometimes camping out, wading through rivers and involving an occasional steep climb. Popular starting point for 2- and 3-day treks are the northern towns of Luang Namtha, Udomxay and Phongsali. Hiking is possible in Xiengkhouang province, including the mysterious ancient Plain of Jars. Further south there are some nice trekking options in National Protected Areas (NPA's) in the province of Savannakhet, and in Champasak and Attapeu, both on the border with Cambodia. To get started, just take a look at the Ecotourism Laos website for inspiration and details.

Best time to go hiking is during the dry season, roughly from November till April, although it can get stiflingly hot in March and April in the lower regions. During the monsoon rains, getting around is a muddy affair or even impossible.

Trails

Regions

Mountains

Books

Stanfords
United Kingdom
De Zwerver
Netherlands
2017
  • Reisgids Insight Guide Laos en Cambodja | Uitgeverij Cambium
  • Dé gids als het gaat om achtergrondinformatie en prachtige foto’s. Kwalitatief van een hoog niveau, zeer informatief. Nederlands Beide landen hebben de moderne ontdekkingsreiziger veel te bieden, waaronder een verbluffend mooie natuur, een rijke cultuur en een vriendelijke en gastvrije bevolking, die sterk afhankelijkheid is van de machtige... Read more
Bol.com
Netherlands
  • Backpacker Business
  • Written on chicken buses, trains, boats and in beach bars all across Southeast Asia, this is the story of how a 23-year old English backpacker set up the first print magazine for independent travellers in Southeast Asia.From inexperienced backpacker in Nepal to established publisher in Thailand, via business deals in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos,... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Bol.com, Belgium
» Click to open
Bol.com
Belgium
  • Backpacker Business
  • Written on chicken buses, trains, boats and in beach bars all across Southeast Asia, this is the story of how a 23-year old English backpacker set up the first print magazine for independent travellers in Southeast Asia.From inexperienced backpacker in Nepal to established publisher in Thailand, via business deals in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos,... Read more
» Click to close
Bol.com
Netherlands
2014
  • Insight Guides
  • Southeast Asia is a firm favorite on the long-haul travel trail, thanks to its unrivaled range of amazing experiences and unforgettable sights – from the northern hills of Thailand to the dragons of Komodo, frenetic Manila to laid-back Vientiane, the sands of Ko Samui to Balinese temples and the ruins of Angkor. And traveling around the region... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Bol.com, Belgium
» Click to open
Bol.com
Belgium
2014
  • Insight Guides
  • Southeast Asia is a firm favorite on the long-haul travel trail, thanks to its unrivaled range of amazing experiences and unforgettable sights – from the northern hills of Thailand to the dragons of Komodo, frenetic Manila to laid-back Vientiane, the sands of Ko Samui to Balinese temples and the ruins of Angkor. And traveling around the region... Read more
» Click to close
Bol.com
Netherlands
  • Cambodia
  • • Waterproof • Tear-Resistant • Travel MapNational Geographic's Cambodia Adventure Map is designed to meet the needs of adventure travelers with its durability and detailed, accurate information. This map includes the locations of cities and towns with a user-friendly index, a clearly marked road network complete with distances and designations... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Bol.com, Belgium
  • De Zwerver, Netherlands
» Click to open
Bol.com
Belgium
  • Cambodia
  • • Waterproof • Tear-Resistant • Travel MapNational Geographic's Cambodia Adventure Map is designed to meet the needs of adventure travelers with its durability and detailed, accurate information. This map includes the locations of cities and towns with a user-friendly index, a clearly marked road network complete with distances and designations... Read more
De Zwerver
Netherlands
» Click to close
Bol.com
Netherlands
2014
  • A Short Ride in the Jungle
  • The Ho Chi Minh Trail is one of the greatest feats of military engineering in history. But since the end of the Vietnam War much of this vast transport network has been reclaimed by jungle, while remaining sections are littered with a deadly legacy of unexploded bombs. For Antonia, a veteran of ridiculous adventures in unfeasible vehicles, the... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Bol.com, Belgium
» Click to open
Bol.com
Belgium
2014
  • A Short Ride in the Jungle
  • The Ho Chi Minh Trail is one of the greatest feats of military engineering in history. But since the end of the Vietnam War much of this vast transport network has been reclaimed by jungle, while remaining sections are littered with a deadly legacy of unexploded bombs. For Antonia, a veteran of ridiculous adventures in unfeasible vehicles, the... Read more
» Click to close
De Zwerver
Netherlands
2013
  • Reisgids Kunstreiseführer Vietnam, Kambodscha und Laos | Dumont
  • Man sieht nur, was man weiß - wer nach dieser Devise reist, braucht einen Reiseführer mit Tiefgang und mit profunden Informationen. Der Kunst-Reiseführer Vietnam, Kambodscha und Laos beinhaltet all das, was man als kulturinteressierter Reisender gerne lesen und wissen möchte - insbesondere eine Einführung in die vielfältigen Kulturen der Länder... Read more
Bol.com
Netherlands
  • The Last Unicorn
  • An award-winning author's quest to find and understand a creature as rare and enigmatic as any on EarthIn 1992, in a remote mountain range, a team of scientists discovered the remains of an unusual animal with exquisite long horns. It turned out to be a living species new to Western science--a saola, the first large land mammal discovered in... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Bol.com, Belgium
» Click to open
Bol.com
Belgium
  • The Last Unicorn
  • An award-winning author's quest to find and understand a creature as rare and enigmatic as any on EarthIn 1992, in a remote mountain range, a team of scientists discovered the remains of an unusual animal with exquisite long horns. It turned out to be a living species new to Western science--a saola, the first large land mammal discovered in... Read more
» Click to close
Bol.com
Netherlands
  • Sheila's Guide to Fast & Easy Chiang Mai
  • Have you ever visited Chiang Mai in the far north of Thailand? Located in “The Golden Triangle,” where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet? Chiang Mai is world’s apart from big sister, Bangkok. This area in the Himalayan foothills is known for its mountainous beauty, jungle trekking (try elephant riding), ruins, hill tribes, and “Wats,” (the Thai... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Bol.com, Belgium
» Click to open
Bol.com
Belgium
  • Sheila's Guide to Fast & Easy Chiang Mai
  • Have you ever visited Chiang Mai in the far north of Thailand? Located in “The Golden Triangle,” where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet? Chiang Mai is world’s apart from big sister, Bangkok. This area in the Himalayan foothills is known for its mountainous beauty, jungle trekking (try elephant riding), ruins, hill tribes, and “Wats,” (the Thai... Read more
» Click to close
De Zwerver
Netherlands
2011
  • Reisgids Culture Shock! Laos | Marshall Cavendish
  • The CultureShock! series is a dynamic and indispensable range of guides for those travellers who are looking to truly understand the countries they are visiting. Each title explains the customs, traditions, social and business etiquette in a lively and informative style. CultureShock! authors, all of whom have experienced the joys and pitfalls... Read more
Bol.com
Netherlands
  • Lonely Planet Laos
  • Discover Laos Weave your own path through the temple-lined streets of World Heritage-listed Luang Prabang.Find out why Katang villagers sleep with their heads pointed towards an outside wall.Explore the ancient Khmer's 'imitation of heaven' at mystical Wat Phu Champasak.Join locals for a riverside Beerlao as the sun sets over the Mekong in... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Bol.com, Belgium
» Click to open
Bol.com
Belgium
  • Lonely Planet Laos
  • Discover Laos Weave your own path through the temple-lined streets of World Heritage-listed Luang Prabang.Find out why Katang villagers sleep with their heads pointed towards an outside wall.Explore the ancient Khmer's 'imitation of heaven' at mystical Wat Phu Champasak.Join locals for a riverside Beerlao as the sun sets over the Mekong in... Read more
» Click to close
Bol.com
Netherlands
  • The Last Unicorn
  • In 1992, in a remote mountain range, a team of scientists discovered the remains of an unusual animal with beautiful long horns. It turned out to be a living species new to western science -- a saola, the first large land mammal discovered in 50 years.Rare then and rarer now, no westerner had glimpsed a live saola before Pulitzer Prize finalist... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Bol.com, Belgium
» Click to open
Bol.com
Belgium
  • The Last Unicorn
  • In 1992, in a remote mountain range, a team of scientists discovered the remains of an unusual animal with beautiful long horns. It turned out to be a living species new to western science -- a saola, the first large land mammal discovered in 50 years.Rare then and rarer now, no westerner had glimpsed a live saola before Pulitzer Prize finalist... Read more
» Click to close
De Zwerver
Netherlands
2020
More books…

Maps

Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Laos Periplus Travel Map
  • Laos at 1:2,000,000 from Periplus with more detailed enlargements of several most visited areas, plus indexed street plans of the country’s main cities: Vientiane Luang Prabang, Savannakhet, Vang Vieng and Pakxe.On one side is a general map of the whole country showing its road and rail networks. Local airports are marked and numerous places of... Read more
De Zwerver
Netherlands
De Zwerver
Netherlands
De Zwerver
Netherlands
More maps…

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