State in Southeast Asia. Not rich in economic terms, but the exoticism of local natural beauty compensates for the lack of luxury. Many beautiful Buddhist temples and palaces. The relief is mountainous, all covered with dense subtropical vegetation. The climate is very warm all year round, but there are rainy seasons. The best time to visit the country is during the relatively cool and dry months from November to February.
Tourism in the country is actively developing, you can easily find quite decent hotels, even luxury ones. The most developed infrastructure can boast, perhaps, only of the capital - Vientiane, although there is no "boil of life" here either. The situation in the capital and the country is quite safe and calm. The most popular form of transport is a bicycle; tourists rent it actively. The basis of the cuisine is rice, fish, poultry. Many vegetables and fruits, the most popular of the drinks is fruit juice with pulp and ice. As souvenirs, you can bring beautiful local fabrics, jewelry, traditional sun umbrellas, spices.
The best hotels and hotels at affordable prices.
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What to see in Laos?
The most interesting and beautiful places, photos and a short description.
Buddha Park (Wat Xiengkhuang)
Park on the banks of the Mekong River, 25 km from the capital. It contains many sculptures of Buddha and other, sometimes fantastic, creatures and compositions. The constructions are stylized, they seem to be ancient, although the park was opened about 50 years ago. There is a lot of greenery around, a great place to walk. The most visited place by tourists in Laos.
Arc de Triomphe Patusay
Monument in honor of Lao warriors who died in the war. The architecture of the arch is traditional, but the decoration is made in accordance with national techniques. The memorial was erected in the center of the capital, on one of the main avenues. Nearby there is a small park, ponds, and musical fountains. An observation deck is located at the very top of the arch.
Valley of Kuvshinov
A vast area near the Annamsky ridge, on which there are thousands of ancient stone objects (pots) of unknown purpose. Each stone vessel weighs several tons. Hypotheses about their purpose are different, there is no consensus. The pots are scattered across several sites in the valley, and tourists can only enter three of them.
Ho Kham Royal Palace and Temple (Luang Prabang)
Both facilities are located close to each other, located in the former capital of Laos. The palace is the residence of the last king of Laos. The building is very decorative, brightly decorated and has been perfectly preserved for more than a hundred years that have passed since its construction. Located in a secluded place, far from the capital and civilization, it is a unique natural and architectural complex. The temple complements it, being a rare example of a Buddhist temple building.
Pak Ou Caves
Thousand Buddha Caves, a temple rock complex on the Mekong River, near the old capital of the country. About 4000 Buddha statues are located there. They were brought by locals and pilgrims. You can get to the caves only by the river, there is no pedestrian path.
Temple of Wat Sisaket
7000 statues of Buddha, the oldest of them date back to the 15th century. Most of the statues are located outside the temple, in special niches, and inside there is one large one, with a sculpture of a giant cobra next to it. The entrance to the temple-museum is paid, but purely symbolic. Part of the complex is given to monks, you cannot visit it.
Pha That Luang Temple
The architectural monument of Laos No. 1 is considered the symbol of the country. The building is ancient, large-scale and majestic. The central building is the Big Stupa. The protruding part of the temple, covered with gold, can be seen from afar. Other temple buildings are located around. The area between them is well-groomed, there is a souvenir market nearby.
Ruins of Wat Phu
Remains of buildings of an ancient temple complex, located in the southern part of the country. The ruins are surrounded by picturesque green hills, one of which (Mount Phu Kao) was an object of worship of the ancients and is associated with the temple. The surviving elements of the buildings date back to the 11th-13th centuries. Even the small surviving part amazes the imagination with the richness of the carving, the decorativeness of the ornaments. The monument is under the protection of UNESCO.
Mekong river
The longest river in Indochina. Part of it flows through Laos. It has picturesque green shores, with a large number of mangroves. Lots of inhabitants, fishing on the river is famous for its fantastic scale. About 700 km are navigable, but the channel is often shallow. Tourists actively travel along the river on traditional boats.
Tat Kuang Si waterfall
Located on the Mekong River, in the national park of the same name. From August to November, the waterfall makes the most vivid impression, since at this time it has a maximum water level. It is a whole system of amazingly bright blue lakes and water cascades, the highest of which reaches 54 meters. A favorite vacation spot for the local population and tourists. One of the most picturesque and interesting parts of the country.
