Of all the countries in Southeast Asia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic is the least popular tourist destination. Perhaps the fact is that Laos is landlocked and tourists will not be able to relax on the beaches here. But if an even tan is not your main goal, and you are just looking for oriental exoticism and decide what to see in Laos, you can be calm! "The country of a million elephants and a white umbrella", as the state was called in the XIV century, will find something to surprise the traveler who dared to go here. In Laos, you will find ancient temples, picturesque landscapes, mysterious oriental traditions, and unique cuisine, and therefore your trip will be no less amazing than a trip to neighboring and widely promoted Thailand or Cambodia.
Top 15 attractions in Laos
Wat Phu
Khmer temples, attracting millions of tourists annually to neighboring Cambodia, are also in Laos. They may not be so monumental and famous, but travelers who have visited them will certainly speak of such excursions with delight. For example, Wat Phu at the foot of Mount Khao near the town of Tyampatsak is quite worthy of the attention of foreign guests.
The first temple was built here in the 5th century, but the religious buildings that have survived to this day, 6 km from the Mekong River, date back to the 11th-13th centuries. The temple is still used by Buddhists who worship the sacred Mount Kao. It has been a religious center for centuries. All roads from it lead to other sanctuaries, eventually leading to Cambodian Angkor.
Quang Si
The most beautiful Lao waterfall Kuang Si is located in a national park in the province of Luang Prabang. The Kuang Si streams rush down from a height of 54 meters in four cascades, between which there are pools with the purest blue water. The most full-flowing waterfall K-p.webp
In addition to the water cascade, you can look here at the typical Lao villages on stilts. The village of Ban Tat Paen is home to artisans from whom tourists buy traditional Lao souvenirs. Near the waterfall, there is a center for the protection and rescue of the Himalayan bear, which is a rare and endangered species.
To get there: by bus or tuk-tuk from Luang Prabang.
That Luang
The most significant architectural monument for the Lao is considered to be a building 4 km northeast of the center of the capital. The temple complex of That Luang is even depicted on the coat of arms of the Lao PDR:
- The great stupa of the temple consists of three levels, each of which represents an element of Buddhist teachings.
- The base of the stupa has dimensions of 68x69 meters. There are 323 sacred stones here.
- 30 small stupas of the second level symbolize the same number of Buddhist virtues.
- The large stupa on the third level rises 45 meters. Its top looks like a lotus flower.
The temple That Luang, founded in the 16th century, is the residence of the Buddhist patriarch of Laos. The temple is completely covered with gilding, and every November, during the full moon time, it hosts the Big Stupa Festival.
Arc de Triomphe Patusay
The memorial in the capital of Laos is dedicated to the memory of the soldiers who fought for the independence of the republic. The arch was erected in the center of Vientiane in the middle of the last century in honor of the victory over the French colonialists. Despite the obvious resemblance to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the Lao memorial has its own features inherent in the architectural structures of Southeast Asia.
The Patusay Arch is richly decorated with stone carvings, its top is decorated with dozens of mythological creatures, and each of the five towers of the memorial symbolizes not only the sacred commandment of Buddhism, but one of the five principles of peaceful coexistence of nations in the world.
On holidays, the arch is illuminated, and from the height of the observation deck on the central tower, panoramic views of Vientiane open up.
Wat Sieng Thong
On the peninsula formed by the Nam Khang and Mekong rivers, the Xieng Thong Temple was built in the 16th century. The honor of creating vata belongs to the then king of the Kingdom of Laos. During the construction, all the classic techniques of temple Buddhist architecture were observed: curved roof slopes descend to the ground, the structure is decorated with mosaics depicting birds and animals, and in the inner halls you will find stupas and Buddha statues.
The main shrine of Vata is located in the Red Chapel of Sieng Thong - a statue of the reclining Buddha, one of a kind. The pavilion at the east gate displays the royal family's funeral carriage, while the outer sides of the walls are decorated with scenes from the Ramayana.
Sisaket
A special respect for the Sisaket Temple is already expressed in its name. The syllable "si" symbolizes the goddess Lakshmi, who brings good luck and prosperity.
The Sisaket cotton wool contains thousands of Buddha statues made of silver, wood, stone, clay and bronze. The oldest examples were made in the 15th century. They are located in special niches along the inner perimeter.
The main Buddha in the sacred hall is covered with a cobra hood. This statue has existed since the 18th century, and the ceiling above it is covered with frescoes depicting scenes from the life of Gautama Buddha.
Phakeo
Across the street from Wat Sisaket, you will find the Phakeo Temple, built in the 16th century. Wat was built for the statue of the Emerald Buddha brought by King Settatirat from Chiang Mai. When the warriors of Siam captured Vientiane, the relic was taken to Bangkok, where it is now kept in Phra Kaew. The warlike Thais destroyed the temple itself.
The shrine was restored a century later, and today a small museum is open in the Phakeo Temple. Tourists can see here a copy of the sacred Emerald Buddha and buy traditional Lao souvenirs.
Bolaven plateau
The Bolaven Plateau in southern Laos is not only an important agricultural region, but also a popular destination for tourists visiting the country. Up to 20 thousand tons of robusta coffee is grown on the plateau annually, and travelers get acquainted with the peculiarities of the life of local ethnic minorities and the technologies of cultivating the land on coffee plantations.
The Bolaven Plateau has played a significant role in the history of the republic. Here the uprising of the Lao Teng people against the French colonialists began.
Other attractions in Laos include the many waterfalls on the plateau, to which local travel agencies organize excursions and hikes.
Wat Simiang
One of the most visited temples in the capital can be found in the eastern part of Vientiane. Old Wat was founded in the middle of the 16th century during the reign of the country's most respected monarch Settatirat. Under him, the Kingdom of Laos achieved the greatest prosperity.
The temple complex was built on the ruins of an ancient Khmer stupa, the material for which was laterite blocks. Partially destroyed by the Siamese army in the 18th century, Simiang was subsequently rebuilt.
In the temple, you can attend ceremonies during the days of the Pha Thathatluang Buddhist festival. Local belief says that visiting Wat Simiang brings good luck, and all wishes made here are sure to come true.
That Dam
The "Black Stupa" in the capital of Laos was once entirely covered in gold, but today it looks black from the moss covering it. Despite its not very presentable appearance, That Dam still serves as a sacred place for Lao people. Tradition says that the stupa was built at the entrance to the cave, where the naga live - a huge seven-headed snake that protects Vientiane from foreign invaders. It was he who, awakening in the 19th century, helped expel the Siamese conquerors from Vientiane.
Khon
You will find a cascade of the most beautiful waterfalls on the Mekong near the city of the same name on the border with Cambodia. The height of the fall of the flow is not too great - only 21 meters, but the total length of the cascade exceeds 9.5 km, and the width is 10 km. These are record figures, and Khon Falls are the widest cascading waterfalls in the world.
Buddha park
There are about 200 statues depicting Buddha in Wat Xienghuan Park, 25 km southeast of the capital. The statues are made by modern craftsmen, but they look like old ones, thanks to the special technique and the numerous patterns that decorate them.
The main exhibit of the park is a three-story building, the levels of which symbolize hell, heaven and earthly life. The gate is the mouth of the demon's three-meter head.
Botanical Garden
Pha Tad Ke Garden is the first of its kind in Laos. Here you can look at dozens of species of plants typical for this area, enjoy the specialty coffee, the beans of which are grown on the Bolaven plateau, choose souvenirs to remember the trip and take a break from the hustle and bustle, admiring the beautiful views. The most popular "inhabitants" of the Pha Tad Ke botanical garden are lotuses and orchids.
The garden is located near Luang Prabang.
How to get there: by boat from Ban Wat That pier in Luang Prabang (15 minutes on the way).
Open from 8 am to 6 pm except Wed.
Paku caves
The sacred caves of a thousand Buddhas are located 25 km from Luang Prabang at the confluence of the Mekong and the U River. You can only get here by boat. The caves are famous for the collection of images and statues of Buddha brought here by pilgrims for centuries.
In total, in the Lower and Upper caves, there are about 4,000 statuettes made of stone, bronze, clay and wood.
Textile Museum
Exquisite exhibits of a private collection of antique textiles cannot fail to attract the attention of the beautiful half of humanity. The museum is housed in an elegant mansion near Vientiane.
The exhibition features old weaving looms and spinning equipment. Some of the exhibits literally overwhelm visitors with their subtlety of work and the perfect combination of colors.
Antique textiles at the Laos Museum are not the only reason to get to Ban Nongta Thai, 4 km from Vientiane. Museum visitors get the opportunity to see how handmade fabrics are created today. For all comers, the owners of the museum hold seminars on weaving skills for a small fee.
