Laos is possibly the least touristy country in all of Southeast Asia. That is precisely what makes him so special!
If you want to go to an unexploited and very authentic country, Laos is what you are looking for.
To travel part by motorcycle is one of those memories that inevitably tears a smile from my face.
Many say that Thailand is the country of smiles. I disagree For me, Laos is the land of smiles. And the children! -With Myanmar-
One of the few countries that are officially communists, with which the flag of the sickle and hammer is present in many places, both official and not.
Almost a month as a backpacker and traveling for free. Next, my itinerary, in the form of a summary guide, of the places where I was.
The best? My motorcycle tour of the Bolaven Plateau was, by far, the best of Laos, as well as the mystical air that permeates Luang Prabang and the Kuang Si Waterfall.
Worst? I do not have any bad memories of Laos, but perhaps, to say the least, I expected something more from the capital Vientiane and Wat Phou, although I enjoyed a lot in both for other reasons.
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* Also, Read about Events and festivals in Laos
1- 4000 islands
Si Phan Don, literally translated the 4000 islands, most south of the country, bordering Cambodia, perfect for relaxing in the hammock bungalow opposite the Mekong and tour the islands by renting a bike.
I stayed at Don Det, the most economical and backpacker profile. The views of its neighbor Don Khon from the bars and restaurants or the sunset from the other side of the island are not to be missed.
Who said Laos did not have a beach?
Not to be missed, the Khone Pa Soi waterfalls or the "beach" Sand Beach, where the boats leave to see the dolphins. Pure nature and fantastic panoramic views.
More information and photos in: 4000 islands: Who said that Laos did not have a beach? Relax and total disconnection
2- Bolaven Plateau
Do you know that feeling of absolute freedom and happiness because you are really doing what you like? That's what happened to me on my motorcycle tour through Laos.
Enjoying 4 days for the Bolaven Plateau with fantastic landscapes, breathtaking waterfalls and authentic people in the villages along the way make me take an unforgettable memory of this part of Laos. 500 km of adventure on the road!
The thrill of parking the motorcycle at the entrance of a village and seeing a thousand children running towards you with a happiness in the indescribable face is priceless.
More information and photos in: Motorcycle in Laos (part 1): The Bolaven Plateau An authentic experience!
3-4- Pakse and Wat Phou, Champasak
My motorcycle route continued this time discovering what Pakse hides and reaching the Wat Phou temples in Champasak, like temples of Angkor but in miniature, with the Mekong River as a witness along the way.
From Pakse, without a doubt what is worthwhile is to climb the Big Buddha that is on top of the mountain through the bridge that crosses the Mekong. I was surprised that I was absolutely the only tourist up there, since there are several temples next to thousands of mini Buddhas.
Last stop, the Wat Phou temples of the 5th century. If you have already been to Angkor, this will not impress you in the least. Even so it is interesting to visit. Especially for the views from the top of Phu Kao hill.
More information and photos on: By motorcycle through Laos (part 2): Pakse and the Wat Phou temples in Champasak
5- Vientiane
Vientiane is the least capital capital of all of Southeast Asia.
Apart from the several interesting temples it has, such as Haw Pha Kaeo, Wat Sisaket or Wat Si Muang, and the incomprehensible hell that I spent on the bus both to go and to leave - the worst of Laos is, by far, the transport- , the memory that took me are the good times that I passed thanks to Couchsurfing and the people I met there. One of the 'surfers' even gave a couple of concerts. And the best thing is the way he plays the instruments. With your feet ... A crack!
The temple they are most proud of is Pha That Luang, a little further from the center and emblem of the city. Around the main temple, you can find a recumbent giant Buddha and different temples.
And one more interesting visit is the NGO / museum COPE, which is dedicated to helping those affected by the bombings in the Vietnam War. 270 million bombs fell on Laotian territory, of which 80 million did not explode. Still, a significant number of them are still buried, threatening.
6- Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng is a village on the banks of the river surrounded by mountains, caves and film landscapes of which it had references a bit distorted of what it is today.
It has ceased to be an English-German-Australian drunken destination making the famous 'tubing', where every year several tourists died, to become an essential place.
It is recommended to rent a motorbike and explore the surroundings, such as Blue Lagoon, a space where you can swim in the water that has a very characteristic turquoise color, visit caves where the only way to access is through the water or others like the enormous Poukham Cave .
In addition, we were fortunate to witness something that can not be seen every day. The inauguration of the Buddha statue in the city's temple.
7- Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang is one of those places that I came to with such high expectations - a Unesco heritage since 1995 - that I was disappointed at first. But as the days passed my impression changed, especially when I visited the Kuang Si Waterfall waterfalls which was pre-booked as part of my Laos tour packages . Turquoise water where I could bathe in an unbeatable environment.
The truth is that the city has a special charm. The buildings, the surroundings and the innumerable amount of monks at any time make that as the days go by they make you less inclined to leave. A mystical air that breathes there.
And if you like temples, here there are to bore you. Wat Mai, Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Aham or Wat Ho Pha Bang are examples of this.
As a culmination, the ceremony of offering alms to the monks at 5:30 in the morning. The monks walk throughout the city perfectly aligned, barefoot and in absolute silence during the scarce half hour that lasts. It's worth the early morning!
8-9- Laos border - Vietnam
I do not usually dedicate a post to the crossing of a border between 2 countries, but in this case I deserved its own history. Read about vietnam and laos border crossing
Already with the Vietnamese Visa in my passport I decided to take the road that almost nobody takes to cross the border from Luang Prabang in Laos to Sapa. For free and taking local buses.
I slept in cities where tourists could count on the fingers of my hand and I had four fingers left over.
An endless trip, with moments where I swallowed dust for hours, where I preferred not to look out the window and not realize the precipices we crossed or where the fever visited me at the worst moment. Of course, the incredible landscapes on the way compensate for all the above!
Quite an experience, that if you are thinking of doing it yourself too, I'm just going to give you some advice. Patience! But hey, sure you already know that and I do not have to tell you that;)
More information and photos in: How to cross the endless northern border Laos - Vietnam. From Luang Prabang to Sapa
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