~ Top 10 Travel Destinations in Laos ~

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Top 10 Travel Destinations in Laos


1. Wat Xieng Thong   



An exotic place filled with ancient history of Laos, Wat Xieng Thong is truly an amazing attraction. Set at the Northern tip of the peninsula cut by the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, Wat Xieng Thong is a Buddhist temple of Luang Prabang, one of the most significant of the area. The temple was built back in 1560 by king Setthathirath during the royal patronage of the kingdom of Laos. At the same time the construction of the temple took place there was also erected rare reclining Buddha statue set in the temples centre. After thirty years the image was placed back in the temple when it was removed in 1931 for a French exhibit, since the statues return the temple has gained back its illustrious past. The peaceful monk like atmosphere of the temple has the power to release your tensions just from stepping foot on the temple grounds.

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2. Buddha Park   



The Buddhism religion come to life in Buddha Park, with over 200 religious sculptures throughout the park some believed to be 2,000 years old or more. The sculptures are an amazing tribute to Buddha, with one sculpture being over 40 meters high. The park was built back in 1958 by Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, a monk who studied both Buddhism and Hinduism. This explains why Buddha Park is filled not only with images of Buddha but with Hindu gods as well. All of the sculptures are quite remarkable but there are some that stand out such as the statue of the Hindu god king, Indra, who is pictured riding a three headed elephant. The sculptures are all truly intriguing not only because of their enormous size but because the surprising amount of details put into them. Birds eye views can be found throughout the park and the entrance fee is reasonable.

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3. Mekong River   



The Mekong River is the greatest river in all of Southeast Asia, believed to be 4,350km in length with the greatest portion of the river being found in Laos. Much of the roads near the Mekong River are very poor and the rugged mountainous terrain makes it very difficult for land transportation that why the main mode of transportation of the river communities is by boat. The upper area of the Mekong River in Laos is considered by most, the most stunning of journeys among its rich greenery and small riverside villages. The best way to enjoy the scenery is a boat ride from Huay Xai at the border with northern Thailand to Luang Prabang, either place is a good starting point. For the locals the river provides a route for international trade and an outlet to the sea. The amazing river is a natural marvel of the world not to miss.

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4. Pha That Luang   



Pha That Luang is one of Laoss most significant monuments; it was originally constructed in the 16th century over an earlier Khmer temple. In 1823 the temple Pha That Luang was demolished during a Siamese invasion but later on in 1931 it was reconstructed by the French returning it to its original stature. The interesting temple has many stages with terraces overlooking the grounds; each level of the stupa represents an increasing stage in Buddhist enlightenment. Pha That Luangs lowest level represents the material world; its highest level represents the world of nothingness. The stunning greenery that grows on the grounds gives tribute to Pha That Luangs uniqueness and spiritual awareness. The name Pha That Luang literally translated means "Great stupa in Lao", which it truly is the great temple found of Laos. The golden coloured temple is a breath-taking sight that you will surely remember for many years to come.

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5. Vang Vieng   



Vang Vieng is a tiny town in central Laos that has just started to get its international reputation recently, when the town transformed from a central bus hub to a place where you can find some of the most amazing landscapes while tubing. The young towns lazy river is the home site of Laoss tubing industry. When it comes to tubing in Vang Vieng there is no reason to plan ahead all you have to do is walk to the riverside, rent a tire tube and hop in. Its also a place that seems tailor made for backpacking in the wondrous misty hills that surround the town. The cozy, relaxed town is one of the best places in Laos to sit around by the riverside enjoying the views as you sip on a smoothie or read a book. The nearby Blu Lagoon in the hills is one of the most notable sites and its any easy site to miss if you get sorryed into the vibe of the town relaxing by day and partying at night.

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6. Plain of Jars   



Laoss Plain of Jars is a spectacle everyone should behold filled with massive size stone jars of unknown origin are spread about, some of the jars are taller than the average man, giving way for the thought that there may have been an civilization of giants that inhabited the area in centuries past. The jars sprinkled about the area range from small cluster of just a few to several hundred grouped together. The stone jars are undecorated and without much detail with the exception of a single jar that has a human bas-relief carved onto it hard exterior. Research of the Plain of Jars suggests that the giant stone jars are associated with prehistoric burial practices but it is still unknown for sure who made the jars or why they are strewn about on the plain. The Plain of Jars remains one of the worlds most interesting testaments to a past civilization.

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7. Wat Sisaket   



Wat Sisaket located in the Vientiane area of Laos is famous for its small Buddha statue lined walls but not only does it get its reputation as a great place to visit from the tiny sculptures. Wat Sisaket is also known widely because of its wondrous architecture and layout with history dating back to 1818. Along the interior walls of the cloister there are more than 6,800 sculptures of Buddha made from wood, bronze and stone found, a true tribute to the Buddhist religion. The temple is surrounded by tropical trees providing shade for the inhabiting monks. The locals, who visit the temple to pray, earn merit with the monks by offering food which is a traditional for use of the temple for praying. The temple has survived the Siamese-Lao war of 1826 and in turn has become the oldest monk monastery in Laos today. Art enthusiasts are sure to love the handcrafted figurines that are found throughout Wat Sisaket.

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8. Pak Ou Caves   



The Pak Ou Caves located about 25km from Luang Prabang are only accessible by boat; the wondrous caves are filled with locally donated Buddha statues of different shapes and sizes. There are actually two levels of the caves the lower level and an upper level accessible through a chain of stair ways and ladders. The caves are naturally lit but you may want to bring a flashlight to see some of the areas especially in the upper levels. There are literally thousands of Buddha images within the Caves, mainly hand carved wooden images. From Luang Pabang you on hop on a boat that will bring you up the Mekong River directly to the caves, its a two hour trip from Luang Prabang but its well worth it as you can sight see as you journey up the river. The glorious cave tribute to the Buddha image is definitely worth the visit.

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9. Vat Phou   



Six Kilometers from the Mekong River from the base of mount Phu Kao sits "Temple Mountain" or "Vat Phou" as natives say, is another great historical site found in Laos. With temple ruins found about the area, one temple which lays in ruins on the site dated back to the 5th century but the surviving structures date back from the 11th to 13th centuries. The site houses many original Khmer Temples of eastern origin primarily. On the summit of the mountain is a 15 meter high monolith, which is the main reason for the site of the temples as this is a natural lingam or image of the Hindu god Shiva. Carved representations of the female sex organs, called yoni, can also be found. Vat Phou is also registered with the UNESCO world heritage list too being a site with historic ruins and structures that date so far back in time.

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10. Bolaven Plateau   



Located in the Southern region of Laos is the famous Bolaven Plateau, well known for its grand waterfalls, Tad Fane being the most well-known of the bunch. Its also a place of many ethnic villages, miraculous scenery and unexplored areas. Set at an elevation, where its lowest point is 1000 meters above sea level, the plateau has a much milder climate than other parts of Laos with much cooler days and a lot cooler nights. Its fertile soil is also where the best coffee and tea of Laos is grown, which are both Laoss main agricultural export. The locals of the plateau offer to give visitors guided tours of the Bolaven Plateau, so seeing the land and some of the most beautiful hidden views are just a conversation away when you are on the plateau. The Tad Fane twin waterfalls in the rainforest patch of land are a must see.