INTRODUCTION TO LAOS - The Rough Guide to Laos - page 29

2 Luang Prabang A mountain kingdom for more than a millennium, Laos's former capital
has blossomed into a world-class tourist destination, yet retains its exotic charm.
3 Vang Vieng Set among epic karsts, the notorious backpacker capital is slowly shaking off
its bad reputation and emerging as an outdoor playground for active travellers.
4 Ang Nam Ngum Fresh fish and boat rides draw Lao families to this vast, island-speckled
reservoir, created with the damming of the Nam Ngum river.
5 Vientiane The engine room of modern Laos is a fast-growing Asian city, but traces of
French rule are still seen everywhere, from wide boulevards to street-side baguette stands.
WATERFALLS AND RUINS
Easily covered in two or three relaxed weeks, this route takes in some of southern Laos's
most picturesque spots, with plenty of hammock time built in.
1 Savannakhet Start in the south's colonial gem, where sun-yellowed villas have been re-
stored as restaurants, hotels and tour offices organizing treks into nearby jungles.
2 Pakse This thriving Mekong city is a natural base for trips around the Bolaven Plateau, and
is within easy day-tripping distance of sleepy silk-weaving villages.
3 Tad Lo A chilled backpacker community is growing up near the base of these falls, which
slosh splendidly over rounded rocks and swimming holes.
4 TadFanandTadYuang After touring the Bolaven Plateau's coffee plantations, take a dip
at Tad Yuang, a picture-perfect dual cascade. The much taller Tad Fan, surrounded by dense
jungle, is just a kilometre away.
5 Champasak Dusty orange light lends a magical feel to mornings and evenings in this town
on the Mekong's west bank, once the capital of a bustling kingdom.
6 Wat Phou A Khmer ruin to rival many of the temples at Angkor, Wat Phou occupies a
prime location beneath pristine forests.
7 SiPhanDon On its final push through Laos, the Mekong splits into a web of serene tropical
islets, inviting island-hopping tourists to kick back with a glass or two of lào-láo .
NORTHERN ESCAPE
Travelling through the mountainous north can be tough, with cooler temperatures and
cramped bus rides that make even the locals feel queasy. Allow yourself around two weeks
for this route.
1 ViengXai Monuments are all that remain of plans to make this chilly communist backwater
the new Lao capital after the Pathet Lao successfully hid out in its caves.
2 Sam Neua It's not big on sights, but Sam Neua is a good base for textile enthusiasts. The
region's designs are some of the most sophisticated in all of Laos.