Laos

From dawn almsgiving ceremonies and temple-hopping to Mekong cafés and sunset views, the city packs in culture, history, and charm.

The Elephant Conservation Center in Laos is working to protect the nation’s fading elephant heritage while rethinking what tourism can mean for the animals’ future.

Trafficked and abused bears find sanctuary from Asia’s illegal wildlife trade in a remote valley outside Luang Prabang.

At an abandoned airstrip in Vang Vieng, the legacy of one of history’s most heavily bombed countries collides with a fast-changing, tourism-driven present.

Former royal guesthouse harnesses a blend of Lao heritage and French art de vivre under new ownership.

A slow ride down the Nam Ou River offers the quintessential Laos experience, peaceful, profound, and best enjoyed with a book and a cold beer.

New boutique boat plies the Mekong between Luang Prabang and Vientiane offering designer suites, gourmet cuisine, and tailored excursions.

Fa Ngum, the creator of the early Lao kingdom Lan Xang, is widely regarded as the founder of Laos, and his legacy can be charted throughout the nation.

A new semi-high-speed train is making Laos’ banner destinations more accessible than ever. Duncan Forgan got his ticket to ride on a recent visit.

Secreted away in the far north of Laos, Phongsaly is home to a mosaic of minority cultures and some of the most spectacular scenery in Southeast Asia.

Most people visit the Bolaven Plateau in southern Laos for its verdant patchwork of waterfalls and landscapes. But crowds are starting to come for something different: a cup of its specialty coffee

Most who travel to this area go for the culture, history, and architecture, but there is a small, unusual attraction about a 30 minute drive from the main town area: the Laos Buffalo Dairy.