Laos

Laos is called the “Land of a Million Elephants” – and its natural wonders, plus its archaeological sites like the Plain of Jars, put this landlocked country on many a traveller’s bucket list.

Even so, the paradox of Laos is that it’s famous for being unexplored. The country is still mostly covered in jungles and forests, with wild and largely untouched scenery and a huge variety of wildlife to be found as a result.

“Timeless” and “traditional” are words associated with Laotian culture and unlike its surrounding countries, which are more well-known for their range of activities and hotspots, Laos is more about taking a break from it all…within a beautiful setting, and while trying wonderful French-inspired food, of course!

Laos is a very safe country to travel to – especially if your tour is planned by seasoned travel veterans. Still, we’d recommend following the below tips to stay safe when you travel to Laos:

• During jungle treks and cave tours, tread carefully: sure, the views are spectacular, but it’s never worth breaking your neck for a photo!
• Don’t drink the tap water, and clean your teeth with bottled water if possible
• Pack plenty of mosquito spray. And wear long, loose clothes to cover your arms and legs while trekking in order to keep the leeches at bay.
• Although crime rates are extremely low in Laos, it’s still a developing nation and petty crime does exist. So keep your belongings safe and within view as you travel through Laos.

Rest assured, when you choose a Laos travel itinerary with Wide Eyes Tours & Travel – whatever that looks like – our local guides consider your safety their highest priority. We’ll make sure you have a great adventure…while staying safe and comfortable, too.

Despite rapid growth, plus more and more tourists visiting Laos, it’s still a poor and developing country. Its landlocked nature means it has limited resources and its lack of infrastructure has resulted in an underdeveloped, unregulated economy.

Travellers seeking a luxury holiday will be hard-pressed to find all the frills in Laos. Electricity outages can be common – if your accommodation has electricity to begin with – and with bumpy, uneven roads, getting a bus can be an adventure in itself.

Of course, that’s also what makes Laos so special: as ‘underdeveloped’ can mean ‘unspoilt’. If Laos did have a thriving economy, maybe it wouldn’t have such a thriving animal species within its jungles, or such a diversity of landscapes and ethnic minorities within its mountains.

Laos travel is accepting – and embracing – the fact that you’re not going to get home comforts. (You can get a hot shower at home…but how often can you witness an elephant bathing near your bungalow??)

It’ll be interesting to see how the country will change over the next 20 years. You can contribute to a healthier, more sustainable development by travelling responsibly and practising ethical tourism – something our team of local travel assistants are passionate about.

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Laos may not be as popular as the likes of Thailand, Cambodia or Vietnam – but as such a beautiful and friendly country, it would be a shame to miss it during your travels to Southeast Asia. Locals here are welcoming, genuinely friendly and excited to see people visiting a place they’re so proud of (and with good reason, too!)

You may not find them as engaging or chatty as in the likes of Vietnam: they tend to be more laidback, perhaps even shy, and the language barrier makes any banter pretty challenging. But you’ll still find them to be incredibly warm, and glad that you’re here.

So if you’re looking for a slower way of life, time to take in some breathtaking scenery and to immerse yourself in a rich culture, Laos could be the perfect fit.