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    Laos travel guide in photos

    / Last updated 31 May 2016

    Introduction

    Laos is breathtakingly beautiful. Take a tour in photos through this magnificent, mellow land, visiting the stunning old capital of Luang Prabang, the serene current capital of Vientiane, the karst landscapes of Vang Vieng, the mighty Mekong and Nam Ou Rivers, 4000 Islands (Si Phan Dong) and more. 

    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • The old royal capital of Luang Prabang is a delight. It's the most popular destination in Laos for its serenity, ancient temples, Mekong River life and architecture. This is a temple in the Royal Palace, Luang Prabang, Laos
    • Luang Prabang, Laos
    • Luang Prabang, Laos
    • Morning alms giving - Luang Prabang, Laos
    • Morning alms giving - Luang Prabang, Laos
    • Misty Mekong Morning, Luang Prabang
    • Luang Prabang, Laos
    • Luang Prabang, Laos
    • Luang Prabang, Laos
    • Mekong sunset, Luang Prabang
    • The Mekong River, Luang Prabang
    • The Mekong at Pak Ou Caves, Luang Prabang
    • Pak Ou Caves, Luang Prabang
    • The grave of Henri Mouhot, the French explorer who was the first westerner to set eyes on Angkor Wat in 1860.
    • Luang Prabang, Laos
    • Luang Prabang, Laos
    • Luang Prabang, Laos
    • Kuang Si Falls, outside Luang Prabang, Laos
    • Kuang Si Falls, outside Luang Prabang, Laos
    • Bear Sanctuary at Luang Prabang, Laos
    • On the road from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng, Laos
    • Once a backpacker town, Vang Vieng has mellowed. The party continues but at a less furious and dangerous pitch. At one point, backpackers were dying in Vang Vieng at an alarming rate. The town is slowly reinventing itself and trading on its stunning karst landscapes.
    • Vang Vieng, Laos
    • Vang Vieng, Laos
    • Hmong family, Vang Vieng, Laos
    • Vang Vieng, Laos
    • Vang Vieng, Laos
    • Tubing at Vang Vieng, Laos - a more mellow affair than it once was.
    • Vang Vieng, Laos - the party town has mellowed
    • Vang Vieng, Laos
    • Viewpoint outside Vang Vieng, Laos
    • Viewpoint outside Vang Vieng, Laos
    • Vientiane may well be the world's most mellow capital city - though things are changing. This is That Luang, Vientiane
    • Wat Sisaket, Vientiane
    • Mekong waterfront exercises, Vientiane, Laos
    • Wat Inpeng, Vientiane
    • Colonial ruin, VIentiane
    • Breakfast in VIentiane
    • Wat Inpeng, Vientiane
    • Vientiane Shophouses
    • Patuxai Victory Monument, Vientiane, Laos
    • The old medical school, Vientiane
    • Carol Cassidy - two decades in Vientiane, bringing Lao textiles to the world.
    • Vientiane, Laos
    • Patuxai Victory Monument, Vientiane, Laos
    • Wat Sisaket, Vientiane
    • Market, Vientiane
    • Unexploded ordinance team at Attapeu, Laos. The US War on Laos drags on 40 years later.
    • Mekong gets fierce at Khone Phapheng, Si Phan Dong, Laos
    • Khone Phapheng, Si Phan Dong, Laos
    • Don Khong, 4000 Islands Laos - a stunning area for cycling and relaxing
    • Si Phan Dong, Laos
    • 11th century Angkorian Temple of Wat Phu, Laos outside Champasak town
    • Angkorian Temple of Wat Phu, Laos
    • The Mekong River at Champasak, Laos
    • Former Royal Residence, Champasak, Laos
    • Champasak, Laos
    • Champasak, Laos
    • Wat Luang, Pakse, Laos
    • Pakse, Laos
    • Tad Fane waterfall, Bolevan Plateau Laos
    • Tad Fane, Laos
    • Muang Khua, near Vietnam's northern border is a base for the Nam Ou River journey to Nong Khiaw and on to Luang Prabang.
    • Muang Khua, Laos
    • Muang Khua, Laos
    • The slow boat along the Nam Ou River to Nong Khiaw from Muang Khua is one of the most beautiful I've ever taken. Stunning pristine forest and karst landscapes.
    • Nam Ou River, Laos
    • Pristine forest along the Nam Ou River, Laos
    • Nong Khiaw, Laos
    • Nong Khiaw, Laos
    • Up to the Nong Khiaw viewpoint, Laos
    • Nong Khiaw, Laos
    • Nong Khiaw viewpoint, Laos
    Quicklink - Introduction - Laos