Climb Mount
Phousi
Ascend Mount
Phousi for a
panoramic
view of
Luang
Prabang and
the
surrounding
rivers and
hills.
Swimming
Swim in the
lower pools
of the Kuang
Si
Waterfalls,
situated
30km (19
miles) from
Luang
Prabang, and
bathe in the
two hot
springs some
52km (32
miles) north
of Phonsavan:
Bo Noi and
Bo Yai.
Wildlife
For a
special
experience
stay in a
tree house
in Bokeo
Nature
Reserve,
near
Houayxai,
and travel
through the
forest
canopy on
zip wires
looking for
Black
Gibbons
Trekking
Head to the
hills and
trek
independently
or as part
of a locally
organised
tour. A
number of
guest houses
offer hiking
trips
starting
from Muang
Xing, a
small town
on the river
plains in
the
mountainous
Luang Namtha
province in
the far
northwest.
Tubing
Lazily float
along the
Nam Song
River in a
rubber tube
in Vang
Vieng. The
scenery is
stunning and
enterprising
locals will
tow the
thirsty in
to riverside
bars for
Beer Lao.
Many of the
bars have
zip lines
and water
slides.
Boloven
Plateau
Head to the
Boloven
Plateau in
Champassak
province for
elephant
riding and
trekking.
Pakse, home
to many
ethnic
minority
groups, is
the region's
capital and
the ideal
base from
which to
explore the
plateau.
Learn to
cook
If you enjoy
the flavours
and textures
of Lao food,
spend a day
learning to
cook
traditional
Lao dishes.
Courses in
Vientiane
and Luang
Prabang
include a
visit to the
local market
to purchase
meat and
vegetables
for the dish
you are to
prepare.
Cruise the
Mekong
Meandering
along the
Mekong River
from Pakse
on a
converted
teak barge (www.vatphou.com)
is an
idyllic way
to see the
country.
Spend two
nights on
board,
visiting Wat
Phu, temples
and
traditional
villages.
Ride an
elephant
Trek through
the jungle
on the back
of an
elephant to
Tad Sae
waterfall
near Luang
Prabang.
