Tree Top Explorer

In southern Laos we went on a two day expedition through virtually untouched jungle. The natural beauty that we got to experience was above anything we had ever seen before. Most of the distance through the forest was covered by foot. The expedition was also a fear factor experience with zip lining, abseiling and rock climbing.

A total of about 10 long zip lines over a steep canyon gave us the chance to see waterfalls from above and experience a birds eye view of the jungle below. The different zip lining platforms were connected with abseiling ropes and short hiking trails. The real fear challenge came on the second day when we had to rock climb up a cliff leading to the top of a waterfall.

We slept in a tree house that could only be reached via zip lines and had our morning shower in an icy cold waterfall.

These were definitely our best two days so far on our travels. The expedition was a great combination of natural beauty and adrenaline rushes. Anyone going to southern Laos should not miss the Tree Top Explorer.

Vang Vieng

Luang Prabang was a place with a magical feel to it, the town of Vang  Vieng turned out to be the complete opposite. The nature around Vang Vieng is breathtaking. Then town is situated next to a river surrounded by a wall of steep limestone mountains. It could have been a dream destination.

Ten years ago it probably was a dream but today it is a proof of how tourism can go very wrong. The town is filled with very young and very drunk westerners who come here only for the party scene. Most of them behave (and look) as though they are on holidays without their mom for the first time and are not able to handle it when the beer is so cheap.

Now, we should not only be negative because the nature around Vang Vieng is absolutely beautiful. We went on a full day combined cave tubing and kayaking trip that was great. Paddling and drifting down the Nom Song river with high mountains all around was an experience that made the area worth visiting.

 

Luang Prabang

From the minute we got off the slow boat and started walking towards the city center we could feel that Luang Prabang was a place that we would enjoy. The sun had already set and all the cafes and restaurants along the down town streets had a warm feel to them. The city gave off such a relaxed atmosphere, even the street dogs were more chilled out than normal.

After finding a little guest house we set out to try proper Lao food for the first time. We settled on a cozy restaurant along the Mekong river with an outdoor kitchen. The food was simply amazing.

On our last morning we woke up for the sunset to watch the Buddhist monks receive their food for the day. The long line of monks dressed in bright orange walked slowly through the streets in the misty morning as the the town was slowly waking up. It felt like being in the middle of a movie.

Slow boat down the Mekong river

In Japan we took the bullet train. In Laos we took the complete opposite, the slow boat. The bullet train is modern, fast, punctual, silent and comfortable, the slow boat in Laos is the opposite to all those things. The distance that the bullet train can do in a few hours took us two full days on the boat.

The first day our boat was half empty and we had plenty of space. On the second day they merged the passengers from two boats onto one and there was not a single seat to spare. The roof of the boat was filled with bags and the only place to escape the crowd was the noisy diesel filled engine room. When Erika had enough of squeezing between hundreds of other backpackers this is where she headed.

It was quite an experience to travel through the mountainous jungle landscape along the Mekong river for two full days. All we could see was thick forests and occasionally a remote village or temple. Despite the beautiful scenery we could not wait to get off the boat at the end of the second day. We had just had enough.