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• Hot: March–May

• Rainy: May–October

• Cool & Dry: November–February – best time to visit

• Sticky Rice (Khao Niew): A national staple, eaten with hands and served with nearly every meal. Symbol of Lao identity.

• Fresh Herbs & Fermented Flavors: Dishes often include lemongrass, galangal, dill, mint, and fermented fish sauce (padek).

• Larb (laap): Minced meat salad with herbs and lime.

• Tam Mak Hoong: Spicy green papaya salad with padek.

• Sai Oua: Spicy Lao sausage.

• Balance of Textures & Tastes: Spicy, sour, bitter, salty, and umami – often in the same dish.

Key sights:

• Pha That Luang – Laos’ most sacred golden stupa.

• Patuxai – Victory monument with city views.

• Wat Si Saket – Oldest temple with thousands of Buddha images.

• That Dam (Black Stupa) - Tied to a seven-headed dragon, dates to the Lan Xang era and was built in the 16th century.

• Haw Kham - The Presidential Palace was once a royal and colonial residence.

• COPE Center – UXO history and rehabilitation stories.

• Mekong Riverside – Sunset walks and night markets.

• Talat Sao (Morning Market) – A mix of local produce, textiles, and souvenirs.​​

• Buddha Park, 25 km from Vientiane, showcases surreal Buddhist and Hindu sculptures by priest-shaman Bunleua Sulilat.

Our handpicked hotels:

• Souphattra Heritage Vientiane, a stylish boutique hotel inspired by Laos’ rich heritage, blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary elegance. Its 46 well-designed suites feature warm wood, local textiles, refined details and panoramic city views, offering a calm, comfortable and centrally located base for discovering the capital.

• Settha Palace Hotel, a beautifully restored 1930s French-colonial mansion in the heart of Vientiane, Settha Palace offers timeless elegance with just 29 refined rooms and suites. Surrounded by lush tropical gardens, the hotel blends heritage charm with modern comfort, featuring a serene pool, attentive service and the classic La Belle Epoque restaurant. A tranquil hideaway, perfectly placed for exploring the capital.

• Lao Poet Hotel captures the creative spirit of this distinctive Vientiane boutique hotel. Inspired by 1930s Indochine design, the former home of a renowned Lao poet features 55 guestrooms and suites across eight floors. Behind its striking black façade, colourful interiors blend contemporary style with traditional touches, complemented by a rooftop poolside bar and a refined restaurant serving modern Lao cuisine.

Our handpicked hotel:

• The Riverside Boutique Resort, set against dramatic limestone mountains, offers a tranquil luxury retreat with elegant French-colonial design. Its 34 spacious suites, featuring private balconies, floor-to-ceiling doors and refined décor inspired by Laos’ diverse ethnic cultures, create a stylish and serene riverside escape.

Key sights:

• Wat Xieng Thong – Iconic 16th-century temple with intricate golden carvings.

• Royal Palace Museum – Former royal residence showcasing Lao art and history.

• Mount Phousi – Climb for panoramic views of the town and Mekong River.

• Alms-Giving Ceremony – Witness the serene morning ritual of monks collecting alms.

• Old Town & Night Market – UNESCO-listed streets lined with colonial houses, local crafts, and food stalls.

Beyond Luang Prabang: Lies a world of quiet villages, sacred caves, and striking natural landscapes.

• Kuang Si Falls – Stunning multi-tiered turquoise waterfalls with swimming areas.

• Pak Ou Caves – A scenic cruise to sacred caves filled with thousands of Buddha statues.

• Whiskey Village (Ban Xang Hai) – Traditional village known for local rice whisky and handwoven textiles.

• Ban Chan Pottery Village – Riverside village specializing in traditional pottery making.

• Tad Sae Waterfalls – Multi-level falls surrounded by forest, great for a half-day nature escape (wet season only)

• Hmong & Khmu Villages – Authentic hill tribe communities offering cultural immersion and trekking opportunities.

Our handpicked hotels:

• Amantaka: Located in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, Amantaka occupies a collection of restored French-colonial buildings. The architecture shapes both the interiors and the ambience, blending colonial elegance with traditional Laotian style.

• Avani+ Luang Prabang Hotel: A contemporary-classic hotel built on the former site of French officers’ quarters, right in the city centre. This low-rise, balconied property features 53 rooms overlooking Mount Phousi, framed by blossom and banyan trees.

• Rosewood Luang Prabang: A secluded riverside retreat with just 23 rooms, hidden within the leafy jungle outside Luang Prabang, Rosewood Luang Prabang revives a forgotten 19th-century hill station once owned by Auguste Pavie. Reimagined by Bill Bensley, the estate becomes a refined time capsule of Laotian history and the first villa-and-tent luxury resort within the UNESCO World Heritage zone. 
  Restored under strict UNESCO guidelines, the old Lao villas now centre around a natural waterfall and meandering streams. Highlights include La Grande Maison, Pavie’s former guest house, and the Elephant Bridge Bar, set above the river where elephants once crossed — all brought to life through Bensley’s distinctive storytelling and design.

• La Résidence Phou Vao, an intimate luxury resort with 34 spacious suites, perched on a peaceful hilltop overlooking Luang Prabang’s misty mountains, blends colonial elegance with lush gardens and refined French art de vivre. From ancient temples to serene Mekong cruises, it offers more than a stay — an unforgettable retreat, complete with an infinity pool and an open-air spa beside a waterlily pond.

• Satri House, a refined boutique hotel reflecting the authentic spirit and warm hospitality of Luang Prabang, once the childhood home of Prince Souphanouvong. The residence features 35 rooms and private pavilions set amid lush gardens, shade palms and lotus ponds. Period antiques and art celebrate its graceful blend of Lao heritage and French colonial architecture.

• The Luang Say Residence is an iconic five-star French-colonial retreat in Luang Prabang, offering 32 luxury suites across eight elegant pavilions set against a mountain backdrop. Inspired by the journeys of 19th-century French explorers, the residence pairs gracious colonial décor with serene surroundings

• Victoria Xiengthong Palace, a four-star boutique heritage hotel in Luang Prabang, set within a former royal residence built between 1904 and 1909 during the French colonial era. Once home to King Sisavang Vong and later the final residence of King Savang Vadhana before 1975, the palace showcases a refined blend of traditional Lao architecture and colonial elegance, carefully restored in the early 2010s.

Our handpicked hotel:

Nam Kat Yorla Pa Resort, a distinctive luxury eco-retreat nestled in the rainforests of Oudomxay beside the Nam Kat River, is also home to Laos’s only biodiversity museum, offering an engaging introduction to the region’s natural and cultural heritage.

Activities:

• Canopy Walk — Walk aerial bridges through the rainforest to waterfall, a gentle and immersive way to experience the forest from above.

• Ziplining — Fly through the rainforest on 11 ziplines, soaring over rivers and waterfalls—or reach a treehouse stay accessible only by zipline.

• Waterfall Abseiling — Rappel down cascading waterfalls for a thrilling adventure. No experience needed. April–October, weather permitting.

• Mountain Biking — Explore the nature reserve on two wheels, from scenic riverside trails and easy village rides to challenging jungle and bamboo forest tracks — suitable for all skill levels.

• Mountain Trekking — Trek rugged peaks like Phu Ya Kha and Phu Pa Hin with overnight summit camps and stunning views, or choose lighter hikes at Phu Toh Hin with panoramas and a fun canopy walk.

• Jungle Hike — Explore trails through bamboo forests, streams and waterfalls, discovering ancient trees and dense jungle canopy at your own pace.

Getting there:

• By plane: Vientiane ↔ Oudomxay, ~55 minutes, 3 times weekly. Airport ↔ resort / 17km ~25 minutes

• By road: Luang Prabang ↔ resort, 202km, ~5 hrs

• By train: Laos–China Railway, a comfortable and convenient option.

Vientiane ↔ Muang Xai, ~3 hrs

Luang Prabang ↔ Muang Xai, ~1.5 hrs

Train station ↔ resort, 21km ~30 minutes

Muang La offers an off-the-beaten-path escape in Oudomxay, around five hours from Luang Prabang. Best suited to slow travellers, culture seekers, hikers and eco-conscious guests, this peaceful village is surrounded by forested mountains, hot springs and ethnic minority communities.

Key sights:

• Hot springs – Natural pools set among rice paddies.

• Wat Pha Singkham – Hilltop temple with a 400-year-old Buddha.

• Baci ceremony – Traditional soul-tying ritual with local villagers.

• Ethnic villages – Encounters with Khmu, Akha, Tai Lue and Ikho communities.

• Cultural visits – Phavi and Long Ya villages.

• Rice-field walks – Scenic strolls through paddies and bamboo bridges.

• Guided treks – Hikes through local villages and forest trails.

• Local cuisine – Lao dishes made with fresh regional ingredient.

Our handpicked hotel:

Maison de Nong Khiaw (Nature Suites Riverside) offers charming hospitality in Nong Khiaw, with 11 deluxe rooms housed in five bungalow-style buildings. Set on a hillside overlooking the Nam Ou River and dramatic limestone cliffs, each room features a private balcony with stunning views of the surrounding natural landscape.

Selection of Mekong River Cruises in Laos

• Heritage Line Anouvong: A boutique-luxury ship blending Laotian and French-colonial design, with spacious suites (some with balconies & private terraces), onboard spa, restaurant and elegant ambiance. Travels mainly on the Upper Mekong between the Thai-Lao border (Huay Xai), Luang Prabang and Vientiane.

• Pandaw Cruises: Offers classic teak-wood vessels with spacious cabins and a focus on comfort, style, and cultural immersion. Sailing the Upper Mekong on ships such as the RV Champa Pandaw and RV Laos Pandaw, the company operates multi-day expeditions featuring village visits, scenic river landscapes, and authentic local encounters — including an 11-day cruise between Chiang Khong and Vientiane.

• Shompoo Cruise: Operates traditional slow boats offering a rustic, authentic journey on the Mekong between Houay Xay and Luang Prabang. A charm-filled alternative to public slow boats, Shompoo provides more comfort while remaining budget-friendly, with 2-day upstream and downstream trips available.

• Mekong Sun: A great choice for a deluxe cruise, offering just 14 cabins for an exclusive, relaxed experience on the Upper Mekong. With onboard dining, a bar, and comfortable cabins, it’s ideal for travellers seeking convenience and a smooth, classic river-cruise journey.

• Mekong Star: An elegant blend of tropical hardwood, old-world charm, and modern shipbuilding technology. The Mekong Star can reach areas previously inaccessible to passenger vessels and offers 12 spacious cabins for an intimate, refined cruising experience.

• The Boheme: Sails elegant itineraries between Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Huay Xai, and Chiang Khong. This 50-metre, 13-cabin boat features stylish rooms, spa services, and starlight dining, giving guests a comfortable and romantic way to explore the Mekong.

• The two-cabin Gypsy offers an exclusive and fully private Mekong journey. This 41-metre vessel accommodates only four passengers, creating an intimate experience as you sail in comfort and style past quiet riverside villages.

Sunset cruises

• Khopfa Mekong Cruise: A new sunset cruise from Luang Prabang featuring wide-open terraces, scenic river views, and a relaxing atmosphere with welcome drinks and snacks.

• Sa Sa Sunset Cruise: A laid-back two-hour slow-boat cruise with music, food, and cocktails—perfect for watching the Mekong sunset in a relaxed setting.

• River Sun Laos: Offers private and romantic sunset dinner cruises from Luang Prabang, with a quieter ambiance and traditional Lao music.