- Laos: where is this country of mountains?
- How to get to Laos?
- Holidays in Laos
- Souvenirs from Laos
It is important to know where Laos is for everyone who is going to spend their holidays there. It will not be superfluous to know that the dry season prevails in Laos in November-April, and the rainy one in May-October. In the heat, it is appropriate to visit the mountainous regions of Laos, and in the rainy season - to go on a cruise along the Lao rivers.
Laos: where is this country of mountains?
The location of Laos (capital - Vientiane; area 236,800 sq. Km) - Southeast Asia. Cambodia borders it on the south, Thailand on the west, Myanmar on the northwest, Vietnam on the east, and the Chinese province of Yunnan on the north.
Laos does not have seaside resorts; its territory is occupied by dense forests, and the landscape is represented by low mountains and hills (the 2800-meter high mountain Bia stands out against their background). Laos is separated from Vietnam by the Truong Son mountains, and from Thailand by the Luang Prabang mountains.
Laos consists of Udomsai, Phongsali, Bokau, Savannakhet, Sekong, Huapkhan and other provinces (there are 16 in total).
How to get to Laos?
The Russians do not have the opportunity to fly to Laos as part of a direct flight: on the way from Moscow to Vientiane, stops will be made at the airports of Singapore (the air trip will last 22.5 hours), Seoul (the duration of the trip will be a day), Hanoi (20 hours), Bangkok and Irkutsk (passengers will have an 18-hour flight).
The Moscow - Pakse flight involves transfers to Urumqi, Guangzhou and Vientiane (the trip duration is 31 hours), Guangzhou and Ho Chi Minh City (passengers will have a 14-hour flight), Shanghai and Vientiane (tourists will be in Pakse after 33 hours).
To be in Luang Prabang, you need to stop for rest in Bangkok and Helsinki, which is why you will be able to reach the final destination in 20 hours, Ashgabat and the capital of Thailand - in 19.5 hours, Hanoi - in 14.5 hours, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi - in 19 hours, Ho Chi Minh City and Pakse - in 18.5 hours.
Holidays in Laos
Those who come to Laos should pay attention to:
- Vang Vieng caves (the vicinity of Vang Vieng is a place of concentration of about 70 caves, but only 5-7 are available for visiting; Blue Lagoon is of the greatest interest; it should be noted that visiting the caves is paid).
- Vientiane (tourists will be offered to familiarize themselves with the assortment of the Morning Market, see the sculptures located in the Buddha Park, the Wat Si Muan temple, the Pha Luang stupa, the Wat Phra Kaew temple, the Tat Dam stupa of the 16th century, as well as photograph Arc de Triomphe Patusay).
- Pakse: guests are invited to explore the former palace of the Kings of Champasaka, which today is a hotel, the Wat Pu temple complex, the gilded statue of the Big Buddha, the Wat Phabad and Wat Lung temples.
- Luang Prabang: famous for the temple complex of Wat Sientong, which is decorated with a mosaic depicting wondrous animals and birds; The Royal Palace, where everyone is often invited to the ballet; Mount Phusi, climbing (it is more comfortable to climb from the side of Dara Market) to which you will be rewarded with the opportunity to admire amazing views. If you retire 10 km from Luang Prabang, you will be able to visit the elephant camp, on whose backs you can ride.
- Valley of Kuvshinov: stone pots, 1500-2000 years old, are of interest; the maximum size is 3 m, and the weight is 6000 kg);
- waterfall Kuang Si: is a 4-cascade waterfall (the stream of the highest cascade rushes down from a height of 54 meters).
Souvenirs from Laos
Tourists are not advised to leave Laos without pre-purchased wickerwork made of bamboo and wicker, bedspreads and bags made in patchwork, silk “sin” skirts, Buddha statues, mini-replicas of Lao temples, silver jewelry, carvings made of bone, stone and wood, tinctures with alcoholized scorpions or snakes.
