Si Phan Don which literally means “Four Thousand Islands” in Lao is a group of islands in the Mekong river and is located in the Champasak region of Souther Laos. Don Khong is the administrative seat of the region and is the largest of the  islands. The islands lie pretty close to the Cambodian border and can be easily reached by road both from Cambodia of the Laos town of Pakse or Ban Nakasang.

The islands are pretty well set in the backdrop of the beautiful Mekong river that has the largest water fall in SouthEastern Asia. Other than the waterfalls, the narrow gauge railway constructed by the French in the 1900’s is a good place of interest. The Mekong river after the falls is known for the Irrawady dolphins, which is an endangered species. You could also rent a boat and take a ride in the Mekong river with one of the locals.

(Image courtesy of NeilsPhotography)

Are you someone who’s been looking for an adventure packed holiday – a holiday in which you get adrenline pumped to its max? Then Vang Vieng might be just the place for you. Located in the Vientiane province of Laos is the town of Vang Vieng. It lies along the banks of the Nam Song river and became a popular destination among tourists not because of the historical monuments or beautiful places to see but because of the number of adventure packed activities that one could do here!

Vang Vieng is between the capital city of Vientiane and Luang Prabang and is easily accessible by road. Tubing or kayaking down the Nam Song river is perhaps the best thing you can do where you’re here. If you’re a rock climbing enthusiast, then there are a couple of rock faces suitable for pros as well as first timers. Vang Vieng is known for its limstone hills and cliffs that stand out beautifully in the backdrop of the Nam Song river. It also has a number of caves and caverns and the Tham Phu Kham cave is the most popular one – not to missed!

(Image courtesy of jmhullot)

The capital of the Southeast Asian country of Laos, Vientiane is the largest city and the most peaceful city in the country. The city has a rather relaxing atmosphere unlike other capitals of countries. Vientiane was earlier known as Sri Sattanak, or Sisattanak and was the administrative capital of the Lan Xang kingdom. The name of the city is believed to have derived from the Pali language and literally means “city of sandalwood”.The city is well connected by air with most of the major cities in SouthEast Asia.

Vientiane being a historic city has a number of attraction in the form of monuments and temples. The Wat Si Saket temple is perhaps the oldest of the temples in Vientiane and houses thousand of Buddha statues all made of wood,stone and metals like silver and bronze. The Haw Pha Kaew and the Wat Si Muang are other temples that are known for its beautiful Buddhas statues. The Victory gate or Patuxai which is a rendition of the French Arc de Triomphe and the Laos National museum are among place that needs to be visited by any tourist.

(Image courtesy of charlotte.marillet)

The former capital of the Asian country of Laos, Luang Prabang is a city located on the banks of the Mekong river in Central Laos. It is the capital of the Louangphrabang Province and was the administrative capital of the Luang Prabang kingdom and the city is also a noted UNESCO World Heritage site. The city was earlier known as Muang Sua and was first conquered in the year 698.

What attracts tourists to Luang Prabang is its historic and natural sites, and the old town has some remains of the French styled houses. Tourism is an important source of economy to the city and it has been attracting thousands of tourists from the neighbouring countries like China, Thailand and Cambodia. The Pak Ou caves also known as the Buddha caves and the Kuang Si falls are some of the best natural sites to see in the city. The Kuang Si falls is extremely picturesque and has some great pools where you can take a dip. The Haw Kham royal palace and the Vat Xieng Toung-which is the oldest and the most beautiful monastery in the region are among other historic attractions in Luang Prabang.

(Image courtesy of  jmhullot)