Laos - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 588

Laos
856 / POP 6.7 MILLION
Why Go?
The 'Land of a Million Elephants' oozes magic the moment you spot a Hmong tribeswo-
man looming from the mist, trek through a glimmering rice paddy, or hear the sonorous call
of one of the country's endangered gibbons. It's a place where it's easy to make a quick de-
tour and find yourself well and truly off the traveller circuit: the snaking Mekong River
runs through it all, alongside jagged limestone cliffs and brooding jungle. But it's also a
place to luxuriate, pampering yourself like a French colonial in a spa, or chilling under a
wood-blade fan in a top-notch Gallic restaurant. Old-world refinement is found in pockets
right across the country, especially in languid Vientiane and legendary Luang Prabang.
Laos has also acquitted itself well to green tourism, harnessing forests with excellent
treks and tribal homestays. Be it flying along mountain zip-lines, elephant riding, exploring
subterranean caves or traversing the jungle via dirt-bike, Laos will indelibly burn itself into
your memory.
When to Go
Jan Cool-season breezes;even the normally sweltering south is pleasantly bearable.