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

Tad Lo is a small village on the Bolavens plateau, in the south of Laos, which is great place to go if you are travelling with your family.

Tad Lo

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Tad Lo was one of the places that I fell in love with in Laos. Its a really small village that you can get to if you go round Bolavens plateau before following the road further. It's a perfect place to stay the night and relax a little after long days on the bike. I intended to stay the night there and ended up staying a week... The village has a pleasant atmosphere and lots of travellers stay there for a bit and share their experiences before setting off again. During the day you can enjoy the warm water of the river where the village children play, or go off to explore the surrounding countryside and its beautiful waterfalls. At the end of the day, helping with the elephants' bath in the river is a really unusual way to meet people  !

During my <a href="/laos/">trip to Laos</a>, I rented a moped in Pakse so I could tour the Bolovens Plateau. So put on your helmet, hop on the back seat and cling on. We're off to Tad Lo! It was such a lovely place that I spent a sunny afternoon stretched out on the stones or swimming at the top of the waterfall, listening to its cascades crashing on the rocks ten metres below. The water was so warm I spent hours lolling around. As far as I can remember it was the first time I had been able to swim in a river. I'm usually skittish about such things! At the end of the day, I decided to cross the river, so my wife could take a photo of me under the waterfall. It was tricky, as the water was deeper than expected and the current pretty strong. But I managed it all the same. Getting back, however, was not an easy task. I couldn't find the spot where I had crossed over. So it was impossible to get back. I knew that if I just jumped into the Mekong, I would be fished out two days later. So I scoured the bank, looking for a safe spot amongst the enormous rocks and high grass. In other words, I was bare foot and walking along a snake infested river bank. I was finally able to cross when the current abated. I had to get undressed, throw my clothes across and dive in butt naked. David, saved from the waters!

At 85km from Pakse, on the Bolovens Plateau, Tad Lo is a tiny village known for its superb waterfalls.

Tad Lo Vacations

Tad Lo: How to get there?

Tad Lo: See when to go ?

Tad Lo: For how long?

Tad Lo: What to see nearby?