Laos

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Laos is one of South East Asias best kept secrets. It is a stunning mountainous country that only opened its doors to Tourism about 10 years ago. Significantly cheaper than Thailand, with lots of natural beauty and friendly people, not trip to South East Asia - time permitting should be with out a trip to Laos. A small country you can travel Laos  comfortably in 10 days to 2 weeks, you do not need to devote much time to it, but you definitely do not want to miss out.

Ask anyone who has been tubing in Laos, and you will get the idea of why so many backpakers highlights of Asia is a trip to Laos.

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Fall in Love with Laos

Laos is a small and relatively unknown country to many, but don’t let this fool you into thinking that it’s not worth a visit. Laos contains many interesting sites of historic and religious significance, and your gap-year will be spent in a truly rewarding way if you work at uncovering the hidden beauties of this country.

If you, like many people, know little about Laos, then your first stop during your gap-year may be to one of the many museums or archeological discoveries that Laos has to offer. The Laos National Museum in the capital of Vietiane, while not the most attractive of buildings, has displays and artifacts dating from various significant periods in Laos’ history, such as its colonial history, and the two World Wars and their influence.

There are also many beautiful and revered temples throughout Laos, which continue to inspire generations of visitors. Wat Wisunarat is one of the oldest temples in the country, dating back to 1513, and is a place where spiritual curiosity meets historical discoveries, making it a doubly rewarding visit. In addition, there are attractions which simply cannot be labeled or categorized. One such attraction is the Plain of Jars, a large area which contains over-sized glass jars.

While many archeologists, historians and architects have puzzled over the purpose of these jars, their reason for being is still unknown. So why not visit them, and add your own ideas to the continual debate? The food and restaurants of Laos are just as diverse as its attractions. Restaurants range from typical Asian cuisine to European food, such as French bakeries and typically British fish and chip meals.

A notable restaurant in Laos is the Makphet restaurant, which employs and trains homeless young people, arming them with skills in waiting-on and cooking in order to improve their own lives. Not only do you leave Makphet with a sense that you have done some good in the world, you also leave with a full stomach and a yearning for more of its delicious food! The best time to begin your gap year in Laos is during the dry season, which occurs from November through May in most of the country. This is also the time when most of the country’s vibrant, colorful festivals take place, on both a regional and a national scale. During the wet season, beginning in May or April and lasting through to November, rainfall is often daily and heavy, but lasts for only a short time. However, rivers and roads quickly fill up and overflow, so boat travel is a common, quick, interesting and usually cheap way to travel during the rainy season. While Laos remains relatively untouched by tourists compared to other Asian destinations, it is certainly a worth-while place to spend your gap-year. Youthful energy and curiosity is an essential quality, as this country is quiet and unassuming, so you need to work quite hard to uncover all the mysteries and beauty that it has to offer.

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