Laos

Laos is the oft-ignored backwater of what was once French Indochina, and as a fortuitous result retains much of the traditional charm and feel of a bygone era. Roughly the size of Britain, landlocked Laos is sandwiched between Vietnam, China, Burma, Thailand and Cambodia, all of whom have exerted a strong influence on the country during the course of its history. Laos has one of the lowest population densities in Asia, with most of its population living along the fertile lowlands of the Mekong River valley which forms the country’s lifeline.

Original Travel consultants have visited the country several times in the last five years and believe that the Mekong, mountains and forest give Laos a great natural beauty that when combined with its French colonial heritage, Buddhist culture, and relaxed pace of life makes this arguably the most appealing country of south-east Asia.