Essential Travel Itinerary: Laos

Laos is densely saturated with some beautiful natural scenery and laid-back friendly population of 7 million. Vientiane, pronounced 'Viangchan', is a relatively calm and compact capital city with iconic religious edifices in the form of Buddha Park and Pha That Luang Temple. Luang Prabang is 200 miles north of the capital and blends the rural and the urban almost perfectly. Traditional teak wood buildings sit alongside imperial, colonial style town houses. Two rivers bisect the small city which is surrounded by dense jungle and rolling green hills. Luang Prabang also houses the beautiful monastery, Wat Xieng Muan, and hosts a large night market where you can sample local dishes. The Tat Sae Waterfalls are situated nearby. A true picturesque natural bathing spot. Nam Khan National Park is a natural reserve where you can sample life in a tree hut, surrounded by a deep valleys and a network of ziplines. Should you stop approximately halfway between Luang Prabang and Vientiane , you'll be greeted by Vang Vieng and you'll be simply mesmerised by what nature can fabricate.