Luang Prabang

Probably the first name that springs to mind when Laos is mentioned as a tourist destination, this town, a UNESCO world heritage site has justified its reputation. The town itself is placed idyllically on the Mekong River and boasts some of the most beautiful temples to be found in Asia, as well as a pleasing mix of French Colonial architecture.

The capital is often overlooked as a tourist destination, but the charm of Vientiane warrants as least a one night stay.

The capital boasts many attractions, including the famous monuments of Patuxai and That Luang. The city has a huge choice of good restaurants, both local and international. And, there is no finer place, arguably to watch the sunset, than from a Vientiane bar overlooking the Mekong River.

For something different in and around Vientiane, we would recommend a visit to Buffalo Mountain National Park, a beautiful area just 2 hours drive north of Vientiane, ideal for of foreign visitors.

Luang Namtha

The adventure destination of Luang Namtha, which offers some of the best trekking options in Asia, combined with wonderful scenery, wildlife and diverse hill tribes is a relatively new addition to the Laos
Luang Namtha’s difficult access was a stumbling block to visitors in the past – not so now, thanks to a new road built through northern Laos. This new road handily links Luang Namtha to Huay Xai, on the Thailand

Unusually for such a remote area, Luang Namtha boasts some very good accommodation at the Boat Landing – please see our hotel section for more information. This and the wide range of activities on offer – trekking, home stays, cycling, boat trips, kayaking, etc, etc (see our itinerary section) is making Luang Namtha a ‘must visit’ destination for many people. tourism portfolio. border. Journey time now, is a short four hour drive, making it an ideal location for a Laos-Thailand combination tour.

Khammoune

Khammoune province is the newest destination on the Laos tourist map. Today, very few visitors come to this part of Laos, which makes it a great time to visit before the crowds visit.

The scenery here is nothing short of breathtaking. Huge limestone karsts rise up in front of the winding HinBoun River. The area is home to numerous caves – the most famous being Kong Lor, a spectacular cave 7.5km long and over 100m high in places. There are also a number of beautiful waterfalls in the province, and lots of friendly smiling locals who are still very new to the idea of foreign visitors.

GrandViet Tour can organize trekking, home stays, boat rides through Kong Lor, and even kayaking for the more adventurous traveler.

Plain of Jars

One of South East Asia’s most mysterious sights has to be the Plain of Jars, hundreds of huge stone urns, some over 2m high, scattered across the plains in Xiengkuang Province in the remote north east of Laos, While most ancient Asian sites, such as the Angkor temples in Cambodia, have revealed many of their secrets, historians are still unsure as to where the jars came from, how old they are and what they signify.

The landscape here is quite unique in Laos, partly because it is set on a high elevated plain, so the weather is much cooler than the rest of Laos, and partly because this also happened to be one of the most heavily bombed places on earth, the craters left over create a strange lunar landscape.

The best way to reach the Plain of Jars is by road from Luang Prabang, which is a stunning drive and adventure in itself. We recommend a couple of nights at the Auberge, an atmospheric place with beautiful views over the surrounding area. Our expert local guides are a fountain of knowledge on the Jars themselves, and it is also interesting to visit some of the local villages, as the area is home to numerous ethnic tribes.

4000 Islands

A beautiful and often overlooked area, the 4000 Islands, or Si Phan Don has much to offer. Here you can find a laid back lifestyle (even for Laos!), stunning waterfalls, and the pre Angkorian temple of Wat Phou. Improved flight connections into Pakse, the closest airport, and new, high standard character properties means this should be on most itineraries.
What we suggest is a relaxing couple of nights stay on Done Khone, perhaps one day seeing the sights with our knowledgeable guide, and then the second day, just take it easy, or hire a bicycle to get around the peaceful island, while enjoying the sunset from the unique floating bungalow accommodation of Sala Phae. (see our hotel section for more details).

One worthwhile project we like to promote is the ‘Big Brother Mouse Project’. This is a non profit organisation aiming at providing good quality English books for needy schools in the local area. Tourists are invited to purchase as many books as they feel and then distribute them accordingly. We work in conjunction with the project by providing a series of day trips where the client is taken to the special book shop and then embark on a pleasant day trek culminating in a visit to a school to distribute the books. For more information on this worthwhile project please don’t hesitate to contact us.