Laos Guide
Introduction to Laos
For a long time Laos was largely unknown to Western travellers. However, since the 1990s, a steady flow of visitors has trickled into this poverty-stricken, old-fashioned country, encouraging the development of some traveller-oriented services. For many, a journey through Laos consists of a whistle-stop tour through the two main towns of Vientiane and Louang Phabang, with perhaps a brief detour to the mysterious Plain of Jars or ancient Wat Phou. Those willing to explore further and brave difficult roads and basic, candlelit accommodation will be rewarded with a rugged natural landscape and an ethnically diverse people not much changed over the centuries.