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Top 10 Things to do Good for Big Groups in Laos, Laos
Coordinates: 18°N 105°E / 18°N 105°E / 18; 105
Restaurants in Laos
1. The Living Land Farm
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 884 reviews
This charming community farm just outside of Luang Prabang overlooks wonderful Rice Fields and Mountains. Rice is planted all year round and they welcome guests who want to learn about Rice planting and other farm activities like bamboo weaving, sugar cane pressing, black smithing. Visitors get to try most of the activities or can just watch. Rodolphe and Susan, the two buffaloes help with the ploughing of the rice paddies and guests can have a go too. The half day programme starts at 08.30 and finishes with a tasting of rice based snacks. The farm is shared by 9 families who also grow organic vegetables and flowers. Lunch is available too and includes a selection of typical Luang Prabang dishes and fruit. Proceeds from the Rice Experience go to supporting over 60 students with their studies and they operate free English classes for the whole village. They have a small Homestay unit made from an old granary. Booking is necessary and pick-up and return by tuk-tuk is included.
Reviewed By ashems13 - Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom
From start to finish, this experience was a brilliant one! The staff at the Living Land seem to love their jobs which made it so nice to experience. The process of growing and harvesting rice is so interesting and it was exciting to be able to try it all for ourselves - it’s definitely a hands-on day out!! To top it off, we had the most delicious lunch made from the organic fruits and vegetables from the farm as well as sticky rice. So tasty and impressive!
2. Viewpoint Nong Khiaw/Ban Sop Houn
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 308 reviews
Reviewed By ianx17489 - Inverurie, United Kingdom
This was a really rewarding viewpoint to climb up to. We're both early sixty's and found the climb hard but very doable.. (our mistake was to set off for the climb at about noon when the sun was building up...., however that said there is plenty of shade on the way up). The climb took us almost 1.5 hour, easy pace. Younger fitter people would get up in under an hour. It's a very good path that is maintained very well by the family operating it. We met the son on the way up as he was repairing sections and he was so passionate about maintaining the path. Full credit to him on what he has achieved. There are ropes at some of the tricky parts, which are very useful. As usual, water, sunscreen and mosquitoe repellant recommended... The view from the top is quite stunning and definitely worth all the effort. 360" views. Great photo opportunities. The operators are building a small covered shelter at the top so that apart from shade people can camp up there at night to capture sunrise at no extra charge. In summary a very worthwhile climb, rewarding and best done very early in the morning to catch sunrise and "avoid the afternoon heat"....
3. Laos Buffalo Dairy
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 300 reviews
Reviewed By wee_lassy_eats_world - Panama, null
About 5-10 mins from the falls, this was an unexpected 45 minute detour to our itinerary. The enterprise is set up to support local farmers make more money by renting their buffalo to them (only 50% survive at birth). They then work to vaccinate and cross breed to make them stronger whilst paying the farmers rent until their return. All the money they make is from the buffalo cheese (which they sell to hotels, restaurants, etc) donations and very yummy ice cream. They have pigs, ducks, rabbits, etc which you're welcome to feed. You can also milk and bathe the buffalo (which they love!). Very gentle creatures who love a good cuddle and seem very happy and content in their home. Well worth the visit if you have time (a very reasonable 50k kip for the tour)
4. Vat Phou complex Temple - World Heritage
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 91 reviews
Khmer temple complex dates back to the 10th-14th centuries and offers magnificent views.
Reviewed By stefanblank
It is like Angkor in Cambodia but not so crowded. It is much smaller, but its got a nice atmosphere and a lot to see. An electric shuttle bus brings you to the old buildings. There is a holy spring and a little temple at the top. From there you have a really good view over the whole landscape. Don’t miss the museum, it‘s worth a visit.
5. Wat Xiengthong
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,268 reviews
Laos' most enchanting temple was built in 1560.
Reviewed By LuizDutraNeto - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
In the ancient city of Xien Thong (literally, "The Golden City"), almost at the junction of rivers Mekong and Nam Kham, King Setthathirath ordered, in 1559, the construction of a temple. It was named "Wat Xien Thong", the "Temple of the Golden City". King Setthathirath probably never imagined this would become the city's most beautiful temple, and even maybe of the whole Laos - the "Land of a Million Elephants". Later on, the city of Xien Thong was renamed to Luang Prabang, meaning "The Place of Buddha" and "Wat Xien Thong" became the royal temple, where kings were crowned and holy relics were kept. The temple was built according to the early Lao architecture features, normally referred to as "Luang Prabang Classic Style", with roofs that sweep low to the ground. Just amazing! Visit the temple, its central shrine (the holy "Sim"), side chapels, pavillions, residences and gardens. And before leaving, near its East Gate, do not dare to miss "The Royal Funerary Chapel", where the "Royal Funerary Carriage" and the "Royal Family Funerary Urns" are housed. Unmissable! Enjoy!
6. The Plain of Jars
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 638 reviews
Sousath Phetrasy is the man who helped open the plain of jars to tourist and the trip run by his son, Mr. Nouds Phetrasy is the most informative in town. Extremely knowledgeable about the region, He run daily tours to the plain of jars sites, include site 1, site 2, site 3, site 8, site 12, site 21, site 23, site 25, site 28, site 42, site 52, and he also organize trek to jungle, villages for Camping, for the war obsessives He run trip to Vieng Xai Phathed Lao leader cave and war site as: Lima site 36, LS 85, and LS 20 A Long Tieng the clandestine in the Saisomboun Jungle created by the C.I.A during the secret war 1965.
Reviewed By jodmarshall - Canning, Australia
Visited site 1 & 2 with tour guide. Both sites offered completely different experiences. Site 2 was so green and mainly on the top of a hill, site 1 was more barren and spread out on flat and hillside. We visited around lunch time and surprisingly we had site 2 all to ourselves, at site 1 maybe only 15 visitors. Great photo opportunity and definatley among the best things we did in Laos worth the long drive from Luang Prabang to get there
7. Kuang Si Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11,068 reviews
Reviewed By itskathyhere
If you're in Luang Prabang, you can't miss this site. This is the most beautiful waterfall I have ever seen, and you can climb up to the top of the waterfall, and take a short bamboo raft ride to the source of the waterfall (it's an underground cave). The only thing to note is near the top of the waterfall, there are signs for a cave, which we followed for a while. I think it's about a 2 mile hike to the cave, which is further than we anticipated, and we decided to turnaround half way through since we didn't have the time to keep exploring. If you're tight for time, enjoy your time at the waterfall and don't get distracted by the cave signs!
8. The Gibbon Experience
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 907 reviews
Reviewed By SvenHakan - Uppsala, Sweden
Yes, the Gibbon experience was really great. We were lucky to see gibbons and also hear them sing, but of course not all are that lucky. But the treehouse, ziplines and trekking would have been great enough. It was all very good organized. We did the Classic tour with two nights in the treehouse and of course you come close to your group, we were six in our house (#4, 42 m above the ground)) and we said we had the "best group in the best treehouse". When we met the other groups they said the same :-), so I suppose most groups work out well. This really was an extraordinary experience!
9. COPE Visitor Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,464 reviews
Reviewed By b3n07l0 - Launceston, Australia
This is a museum dedicated to the legacy of the US bombing campaign in Laos known as the ‘secret war’ of unexploded ordinances and the ongoing human impacts which include maiming and death of farm workers and children and the work of COPE and their partners in UXO clearances and the provision of psycho-physical needs of victims. Profoundly moving. Free entry but donations are graciously received and go to find their work in the field.
10. Wat Phu
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 802 reviews
The religious complex of Vat Phou, a combination of Khmer architecture and Hindu religion, is located at the foot of Champasak mountains, with the Phou Kao (the sacred mountain with a natural form as a Linga - symbol of Gof Shiva). This complex was built during the first part of the 11th century, with some additions and reconstructions in the 12th and 13th centuries. Some inscriptions belonging to the fifth and sixth century AD do mention a sanctuary built on the hill, together with the foundation of the city, but this building has disappeared and was replaced by the religious complex that we see today. A museum and interpretative room should be visited on the site. Vat Phou is on the list of Unesco World Heritage since 2001. The archeological restauration/conservation of the site is managed by Vat Phou office. The tourism management is managed by Yingchokchai Company, which provides to the tourists quality services (shuttle, toilets, handicrafts shop, coffee shop, wifi, parking...).
Reviewed By arnaud_x95 - Brussels, Belgium
If you visited Angkor before Vat Phu, you will certainly be a little disappointed. Nevertheless, the surroundings of the temple are beautiful and the site is much less touristic than Angkor. Go there early in the morning: you will avoid the crowds and take benefit of cooler temperatures to visit the temple. A must do in Laos!
