Laos, the Land of a Million Elephants, is my absolute favorite country in all of Southeast Asia. While I’ve heard many travelers rave about nearby Thailand and Vietnam as their favorite destinations, there is just something about Laos that drew me in with its lack of pretense and subtle tranquility. While there is a tourist trail in Laos, it is still small and less-trodden than nearby countries, and it is very easy to get off the beaten track to explore the laidback, rural lifestyle of the Laotion people. You can find adventure around every corner of the country, and the nature here is largely unspoiled. If you aren’t convinced yet, below I go into the main 13 reasons to seriously consider adding Laos to your Southeast Asia trip.

1. Laos is stunning, period.

Unique geographical features and scenic locations abound in all parts of the country. Mountains, waterfalls, rivers, limestone caves, colorful colonial cities, and ancient temples make a journey through Laos an incredibly beautiful one.

2. If you like mountain scenery, Laos is your place.

Surrounded by limestone peaks in Vang Vieng, Laos.

The north of Laos is especially mountainous, and places like Luang Namtha and Nong Khiaw offer trekking opportunities. The main tourist hubs of Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng have hiking as well, while you can find more beautiful mountain scenery in central and even southern parts of Laos, too.

3. But there are islands, too, for those interested in that kind of vacation.

Islands in a land-locked country?! Yes indeed, the mighty Mekong River, which meanders vertically down the length of Laos, creates a massive river delta at Laos’ southern border with Cambodia. Here at this delta lies the 4000 Islands, which is so wide that you cannot see all the way from one end of the river to the other. On any of the three inhabited islands of Don Kong, Don Det, or Don Kon you can swim, go boating, swing in a hammock, find some delicious restaurants, see rare dolphins, or party it up at one of the many island bars. Freshwater island vibes IS a vibe.

4. If the mountains or the islands don’t entice you, the waterfalls might.

The twin waterfalls of Tad Fane, located along the Bolaven Plateau Loop in southern Laos. — The twin waterfalls at Tad Fane, located along the Bolaven Plateau Loop in southern Laos.

I got to see some of THE cOoLeSt waterfalls I’ve literally EVER seen while traveling around Laos. Like you could tour the country just based on waterfalls and nothing else and you could be satisfied. 1000%. Also with waterfalls comes some cozy swimming holes and gorgeous turquoise pools. Just saying.

Best places for waterfall peeping: Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, and the Bolaven Plateau Loop.

5. Did I mention the caves?

Many of the mountainous formations in Laos are made of limestone, and where there’s limestone, there are usually caves and interesting rock formations. There are a few places to explore caves in Laos, such as in Vang Vieng and around Thakhek. My absolute favorite cave in the whole world that I have visited is the Kong Lor Cave, which is located in the gorgeous, mountainous limestone region along the Thakhek Loop.

6. How about the 2-day slow boat?!

A slow boat moving down Laos' Mekong River. — One of the slow boats bringing travelers down the Mekong River.

A unique experience for sure, the 2-day slow boat from the northern Lao-Thai border to Luang Prabang was how everyone traveled through this region before some of the modern-day roads and lightrail were built. Many locals who live along the Mekong River still take this slow boat to and from other villages, and travelers enchanted by the idea of floating along a scenic river for a couple of days often choose this slower route to start or end their travels in Laos.

7. There are also cute, quaint colonial cities to explore.

Luang Prabang is the most famous colonial city in Laos, and as such, it is the busiest (and consequently most expensive) city in the whole country. But upon seeing the colors of the French-style buildings and the surrounding mountain scenery, it’s easy to understand why this is the most visited destination in Laos. For a cheaper visit and fewer crowds, you can travel further south to Thakhek, Savannaket, and Pakse, which may not boast the same scenery and beauty as Luang Prabang, but are quieter colonial gems all the same with their own unique tourist attractions, like caves, waterfalls, ancient ruins, and motorbike loops.

8. The south of Laos is basically untouched gold.

The rural, unspoiled beauty of central and southern Laos is seen by few people and that makes it all the more special.

If you are after a truly authentic experience, taking a visit to central and southern Laos (or really anywhere outside of Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng) will show you a stunning country full of natural beauty that hasn’t been built up entirely for tourism. The result of this may sometimes be a lack of electricity or a slower bus journey, but you will be rewarded with other gems that come with visiting a country in its unpretentious form.

9. The motorbike loops are probably the coolest things to do in all of Laos.

Rural mountain scenery along the Bolaven Plateau Loop in southern Laos. — Scenery from the Bolaven Plateau Loop.

Thakhek and Pakse in particular serve as home bases for those wanting to participate in one or both of Laos’ motorbike loops: the Thakhek Loop and the Bolaven Plateau Loop. The Thakhek Loop in central Laos takes you past some incredible caves, including the awe-inspiring Kong Lor Cave, and the Bolaven Plateau Loop in southern Laos brings riders through a waterfall-filled plateau which also boasts cooler temperatures and coffee farms.

I did the Bolaven Plateau Loop over 3 days from Pakse in southern Laos, which was hands down my favorite activity in the whole country and where I saw some of the most incredible waterfalls! I cannot recommend this enough! While I didn’t do the Thakhek Loop, I did visit the Kong Lor Cave and for that reason alone I also recommend doing the Thakhek Loop!

10. Laos may have fewer visitors, but there are still popular backpacker hubs here.

Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng are the two main tourist hotspots in Laos – namely due to the incredible scenery here and its easy proximity to Thailand. Here, you can find plenty of hostels and tour agencies, many of the locals speak English, and it’s easy to meet other travelers due to the concentration of tourists along this backpacker route in northern Laos.

11. Laos is relatively undeveloped compared to its neighbors, which is a good thing.

Traditional rice fields and buildings on stilts in central Laos near Kong Lor Village. — Rice fields in the early planting season near Kong Lor Village in Laos.

Laos is undeveloped compared to its neighbors and as such sees less tourism but offers allll the authenticity. Compared to Thailand, which is amazing in many ways but has been built up so much for tourism, Laos is an oasis of tranquility and peace, away from the crowds. While some parts of Laos are a little rough around the edges, the positive qualities of this lack of development (pristine nature, natural landscapes, rural Lao life, genuine Lao lifestyle, etc.) far outway the cons of traveling this country IMHO.

12. Laos is more affordable than most of its neighbors (especially Thailand).

With a few exceptions, everything in Laos is for the most part cheaper than other places in Southeast Asia, especially Thailand. If you are traveling on a tight budget, visiting Laos will let your wallet breathe a little. You also won’t find locals aggressively harassing you to buy their products like you might elsewhere in Southeast Asia, so that’s another bonus!

13. On that note, Laos is dealing with a rough post-COVID economy, and travel here could help boost it.

While sometimes promoting tourism can lead to overtourism and the devastation of a place (such as Vang Vieng in past years and some places in southern Thailand), I also do believe that tourism can be good for a place if done consciously. Laos’ economy is not looking too good right now, as their currency has plummetted since COVID and the expensive contruction of its new China-Laos Railway. Tourism here hasn’t reached pre-COVID levels, so prioritizing travel to Laos not only can save your wallet if you’re traveling long-term, but it will certainly help the locals and the economy during this time.

Tips for traveling Laos:

The Laotian Kip has been pretty volatile over the last few years, so just keep in mind that prices you see online may be different when you arrive.
Just know that public transportation can be QUITE the adventure in Laos, so be prepared to be patient on your journeys.
Sometimes the electricity in Laos will go down after a rainstorm or other weather events. Usually this only lasts for a few hours.
Motorbike theft is common in Laos, so if you decide to rent one be sure to lock your bike away inside at night and pay for parking when you’re out and about.
Go explore places outside of Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng, and just get out of the north in general! I promise you will find beauty and nature and golden valleys and gorgeous mountains and caves and you will also very easily be able to see the real Laos.

Finding accommodation in Laos:

There are a few destinations (such as along the Bolaven Loop) where some accommodation providers aren’t online so you have to find your guesthouse the old-fashioned way: by walking or biking around to see them.

Aside from that, I booked all of my other accommodation in Laos from Booking.com, which has the most options, the best prices, no fees, and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

Booking transport in Laos:

By far one of the cheapest places to book your transport is online at 12go.com. Many tour agencies and accommodation providers in Laos (and elsewhere in Southeast Asia) jack up the prices for bus and ferry transit throughout Southeast Asia, with few exceptions. For that reason, this was my main source for booking transit throughout the region.

Thanks for reading and have an amazing time exploring Laos!

Related posts:

13 Reasons To Include Laos On Your Southeast Asia Itinerary