Five Ways To Thing To Do In Laos In Eight Days

Marvel at Luang Prabang's Golden Temple, Wat Xieng Thongm, one of the most important Buddhist monasteries in Laos. While in Vientiane, Laos's capital city, visit Si Saket Temple, a fine example of Siamese Buddhist architecture and the oldest temple in the city. Located just outside Luang Prabang, La Residence Phou Vao has an infinity pool to die for with awesome views over the surrounding landscape.

Gaze at the intricately gilded bas-relief facade of Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham, or Wat Mai, the largest temple in Luang Prabang. Get your money's worth, because you won't be finding this type of bargain back home. Oh, and if you feel like splurging, sip on a basil gin and tonic.

A more adventurous menu is available for ₭150,000. We didn't catch anything but my boys had a way more fun than I anticipated. The bait of choice was handfuls of bread crumbs, squished and compacted around a metal frame, with a hook in there somewhere.

I wasn't expecting a cultural experience but we turned up on the day of a tournament. We were invited to a catch-and-release fish farm on the outskirts of Vientiane. Visit the ice cream stand before leaving!

The gift shop offers handicrafts and COPE t-shirts and books, the proceeds all going to the cause. You can see deactivated UXO on display in artful arrangements, go inside a replica of a typical Lao house, try out some wheel chairs and tricycles designed specifically for developing countries, and learn about the programs at COPE. The COPE Museum is a thought provoking tour, suitable for all ages.

Here you will get to see the coffee making process, and of course have a cup or two, before heading to the waterfalls in the surrounding area. Just outside the town is Bolaven Plateau where you'll find the coffee fields. Here you can hire a boat and float through the cavern in what is an experience like no other.

One of the highlights of ‘The Loop' is Tham Kong Lo cave - this is one of the longest caves in the world and it dissects a mountain. Starting and ending in Tha Keak, you can ride off into the sunset, stopping off at the small villages along the way to get an insight into local life in Laos. Today, you can still go tubing at Vang Vieng, and it's now similar to what it was like ten years ago where you used to float down the river and take in the stunning surroundings.

It first started in the early noughties, but it really rose to prominence from 2007 onwards where it became the place Top things to do in Laos be. Tubing is the act of floating in an inner tube down the Nam Song River, stopping off and partying at a number of bars along the way. You can volunteer between 9-11am or 5-7pm, and read children books….what could be more fun than doing scary voices and hanging out with cute Lao kids?!

With Big Brother Mouse , a charity dedicated to helping Lao people read more.