Asia

Sabai dee and welcome to this guide to Travel in Laos. Laos is a small country in South-East Asia, somewhat overshadowed by its neighbours Thailand and Cambodia, which has managed to develop without becoming tourism-dependent. This doesn’t in any way mean that it’s not worth visiting! Picture a landscape of rice paddies as far as the eye can see, where it’s not unusual to see water buffalo working the land. It’s a country where the beauty of the stormy skies mingles perfectly with the waters of the rivers. The people are unbelievably kind. Buddhism is omnipresent and governs every stage of life. It’s a country where you can switch off from normal life, chill out, take your time and just listen to the rice grow. It’s a country that’s simply a delight to travel in. You’re not imagining it: a stay in Laos is an exquisite and timeless experience. You will be charmed by the sublime Luang Prabang. The former capital houses magnificent temples and monasteries, interspersed with a wonderful natural landscape of hills and the waters of the Mekong. The Mekong, or ‘mother of water’ is sure to be the common thread that runs through your trip to Laos, as you follow its winding course by bus, by car and above all by boat, one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the ancient kingdom of a million elephants…

Laos

Xiengkhouang

Being on the other side of the Mekong than Pakse, it's a great departure point if you're heading to Wat Phou Champassak. The village itself is not void of interest, and you'll be enchanted by a short stay here.

Champassak

Khong

Muang Sing is a pretty village miles from anywhere, about 2 hours from Luang Nam Tha and lost in the countryside of northern Laos. 

Muang Sing

 Wat Phou is the biggest and most beautiful archaeological site in Laos. It is 10 km from Champassak, surrounded by pretty scenery.  

Vat Phou

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Wat Phou is lost in the calm of the Laotian countryside. You really must come next door to Champassak and visit this site, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I came during my 11 month long world tour, and if your <a href="/laos/">trip to Laos</a> includes a trip to Cambodia then Wat Phou is a perfect complement to Angkor. If it's possible then I think it 's better to go to Wat Phou first. Angkor is so grandiose that I might have been disappointed coming here afterwards. This is the cradle of Khmer civilisation and it is very interesting to explore. I arrived by bike from Champassak and rode down the long alley with ruined palaces on both sides, and then walked up the great staircase which is shaded by beautiful frangipani. It's wonderful when they are in flower. Once you are at the top there is a view over the site and the surrounding countryside which encourages you to spend some time looking at it.

Wat Phou is the biggest and most beautiful archaeological site in Laos. It is 10 km from Champassak, surrounded by pretty scenery.

You can reach the site by bike. The route is easy to follow and it's a quiet road. Under a blazing sun, on a rickety bike, it took me a good 45 minutes to get there. I'd read in guides that if you've seen Angkor in Cambodia, you shouldn't expect to be as impressed by this site. I disagree! At first sight, under a hazy sky in the middle of scorched rice fields, I thought it may not be the best time to visit and that I'd come during the wrong season. Maybe... But that didn't put me off! The huge Frangipanis were covered in white and yellow Plumeria blooms, their root systems embedded between the stones, distorting and invading the foundations. Wat Phu is quite simply magnificent. It was built on the flancs of a mountain and is a hommage to Shiva. It takes a bit of effort to cover the hundred metres or so to reach the baray, which is empty of water at this time of year and climb the steps up to the beautifully preserved sculptures that decorate the upper temple. Your legs may ache by the time you return to Champasak, but, like me, you'll probably be grinning from ear to ear after having spent a day exploring this architectural wonder.

Wat Phu, a Khmer temple dedicated to the Hindu faith,  is 12km from Champasak. Nestled at the foot of Mount Phu Kao, it's referred to as a mountain temple.

Built on the foothills of the sacred Mount Pasak, this Khmer site is reminiscent of Angkor. Although a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001, the sanctuaries, pavillions and temples have been ravaged over time. The good news is that restoration work is underway. The main ceremonial avenue, via which we entered the site, has had its lotus bud sculptures restored and recorded. 
We strolled along two ponds (baray) where lotus flowers floated (a bonus that made up for the rainy season!) and the Khmer architecture was reflected off the surface. In a country that is already 'zen', Vat Phou takes it one step further; the perfect place for calm, quiet contemplation. 
At the top of the stairs, Hindu and Buddhist worshippers invited us to watch them lay carnations as offerings to a Hindu Trinity carved into the rock or at the feet of the many Buddha statues. We continued our walk as far as the stone crocodiles and elephants, reaching the source of the sacred waters that flow into the cave where worshippers gather. Sitting up there, we caught our breath and gazed across a view that is easily described as 'heaven on Earth'.

'Little brother' to Cambodia's Angkor Temple, le Vat Phou is a Laotian gem, a classified UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001.

Vat Phou Vacations

Vat Phou: How to get there?

Vat Phou: See when to go ?

Vat Phou: For how long?

Vat Phou: What to see nearby?