Laos in 2026 offers a unique opportunity to experience Southeast Asia's "hidden gem" in its most genuine form, where spiritual practices and unspoiled nature take center stage. The scenery is both stunning and diverse.
For example, Luang Prabang is a UNESCO city known as the cultural heart of the country. It has temples with golden roofs and saffron-robed monks. Vang Vieng has dramatic limestone karsts and blue lagoons. People who want to have fun can go through the forests of northern Luang Namtha or kayak through the huge Kong Lor Cave. People who want to relax can go to the 4,000 Islands (Si Phan Don) in the south, where the Mekong River slows to a crawl. Laos is still a great place to explore slowly, whether you're going to see the tiered beauty of Kuang Si Falls or the enigmatic Plain of Jars. It's a tranquil, crowd-free alternative to its busier neighbours.
Luang Prabang is where the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers meet. It feels like time stops there. Wat Xieng Thong, the town's main temple, contains a famous "tree of life" mosaic and delicate gilded sculptures that show off an art style that has persisted for hundreds of years. You have to venture out on the water and pass by old riverside distilleries to really get to know this area.
Travelling in Indochina is becoming more and more popular, and Skanda Holidays have tours that take in the very best of the region, from the reclusive beaches of Vietnam’s Whale Island,...
Laos has a very similar climate to its neighbours Vietnam and Thailand meaning that the months November through February are the most pleasant time to visit - at this time of year there is little ...
Laos is a magical country to explore, with beauty to be found absolutely everywhere, though some of the highlights of the country include the incredible Kuang Si waterfalls - harmonious and tranquil
Better known as Buddha Park, this little slice of Lao eccentricity is a pleasure to explore. Built in 1958 by a priest-shaman intent on merging Hindu and Buddhist philosophy and iconography into o...
Laos is of course a country whose very culture is embedded in the beauty of its diverse flora and fauna.
