Laos

The Land of a Million Elephants

Bruno - Our Expert in Laos

Bruno Luquin has successfully completed the Travelife Sustainability Management training course for tour operators and travel agents. 

Located in the heart of the Indochinese peninsula Laos is a small rural and mountainous state where the endearing population cultivates an art of living without agitation or vain desires Bô Pen Nian. Sleepy wild and enigmatic, the former kingdom of the “million elephants” seduces travelers with its serene atmosphere, its exceptional cultural heritage, enriched by the multiplicity of historical legacies such as Luang Prabang a city classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its preserved colonial architecture and its beautiful Buddhist temples. 

Laos is also a unique natural heritage between rivers, mountains, waterfalls and its formidable human kaleidoscope with the northern ethnic groups still present and with unchanging ancestral traditions.

” Choosing Laos is simply reviving the pleasure of travelling. “

Our Exclusives

  • Travelife Partner and pioneer in eco-responsible projects such as Ms Deuane’s Homestay in Ban Lae Sivilay.
  • Partnership with the association www.apeel-laos.org, which works to protect the elephants of Laos, in particular the Mekong Elephant Park sanctuary.
  • Tours with train connections (arrived in Laos at the end of 2021).
  • Staffed guides for over 10 years to accompany your travellers.
  • Office certified as a Travelife Partner and participating in the “Refill not Landfill” programme.

Travelife Partner Sustainability Award for
ASEV Travel Laos

This reward is a recognition of ASEV Travel Laos’ commitment towards social and environmental sustainability.

Laos' Travel Offer

Long ignored by mass tourism, the country’s recent development allows us to imagine unique immersive experiences

The omnipresent nature in Laos also allows to live outdoor experiences and soft adventures such as bike tours, zipelining on the canopy, meeting elephants or gibbons in the forest, traditional boat cruises and eco responsible activities around the themes of sustainable agriculture or the enhancement of craftsmen and their traditional skills cooking classes, pottery, sculptures, bamboo weaving or vegetable fiber dyeing. For families, small groups of friends, couples for honeymoon trips, this is an ideal playground for travelers in search of nature simplicity, authenticity and spirituality which also offers a range of charming hotels.

Overview of Laos

Laos has been open to tourism since the 90s only. It is still a genuine destination, and despite increasing number of tourists, Laos remains a confidential destination.

Its heritage is most and foremost natural (country of high mountains, valleys bordering many rivers), cultural (two sites are classified World Heritage) and ethnic (it is the highest ethnic diversity in South East Asia).

Highlights

  • The City of Luang Prabang
  • Vat Phou site
  • The Mekong, Mother of Waters
  • Herds of wild and domestic elephants
  • The greatest ethnic diversity in Southeast Asia

Fast facts

Information Laos

Capital : Vientiane

Time Zone : UTC +7

Dial Code : +856

Currency : Lao Kip (LAK)

Population : 7 million

Main Airports : Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Savannakhet and Pakse

Language : Lao

 

Laos, a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, stretches over 236,000 km² and spans more than 1,000 km in length.

Bordered to the north by China, northwest by Myanmar, west by Thailand, and south by Cambodia and Vietnam, it is the only landlocked nation on the Indochinese peninsula. The Mekong River, Laos’ primary river, crosses the entire country and serves as a natural border with Thailand.

The capital, Vientiane, reflects French colonial influence. Laos is predominantly Buddhist, with agriculture, especially rice farming, being central to its economy. The country is renowned for its stunning landscapes and vibrant festivals.

Laos Signature Experiences

Laos authentic homestay
Take the road to Ban Lae Sivilay, a small traditional Laotian village on the banks of the Nam Xuang River, a tributary of the Mekong. Located around thirty kilometres from Luang Prabang, it is home to a few hundred Lao and Hmong inhabitants - a typical and charming setting in the Laotian countryside. Discover the daily life around the village, fish, cook and dine with your hosts. Stroll through the local market, swim in the river, assist to a Baci ceremony or to a Khene demonstration (Lao music instrument).
Jeep Tour Across the Bolaven
Spend a day in Paksong, the coffee capital of the Bolaven Plateau, where you'll meet Mr. Khamsone, a passionate coffee producer. Join him on a jeep excursion off the beaten path across the Bolaven Plateau. Explore his farm and learn about coffee from plantation to cup. Discover local villages and scenic waterfalls, and enjoy the ever-changing landscapes. Along the way, visit local products and traditional bamboo houses typical of the region.
The Nam Ngum Lake
Spend a relaxing time around the Nam Ngum Lake, the largest artificial lake in Laos and enjoy nautical activities for those seeking an alternative to frenzy Vang Vieng.
Mekong Elephant Park Sanctuary
You will cruise on the Mekong from Luang Prabang to Pakbeng, a village in northern Laos, bordering the Thai border. Stay at Sanctuary Pakbeng Lodge which offers a breathtaking hillside setting with panoramic views of the Mekong River. Located opposite to Mekong Elephant Park, it is the ideal place to discover the park and its Elephant preservation activities. Then walk throughout the village and enjoy a cooking class before returning to Luang Prabang and attend the traditional Baci ceremony in a house perched on the banks of the Mekong River
Traditional Cuisine & Kamu Villages
In Pakbeng Laos, by the mighty Mekong, you will participate to a Lao cooking class. You will first of all go to the local market to make the ingredients selections. Then, you will cook yourself 5 traditional dishes that you will have the pleasure to enjoy as lunch and maybe be able to reproduce once back home!

Preferred 3* Hotels

Luang Prabang
Sanctuary Luang Prabang Hotel

Pakbeng
Sanctuary Pakbeng Lodge

Vang Vieng
Sanctuary Nam Ngum Beach Resort

Preferred 4* Hotels

Nong Khiaw
Maison de Nong Khiaw

Champassak
La Folie Lodge

Vientiane
Lao Poet

Preferred 5* Hotels

Luang Prabang
Rosewood 

Luang Prabang
Sofitel

Luang Prabang
Satri House

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