Laos Tour Packages – Adventure in Nature Of all Laos tour packages the most interesting are the ones that combine your trip with an adventure that freshen up your mind and soul. Laos is a country in the heart of the South - East Asia and in the center of Indochina peninsula that has no access to the sea and beach lines unlike its neighboring Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. In this Laos Guide I will try to give you all the advice to spend a pleasant holiday, no matter what type of vacation in Indochina you are looking after. The best times to visit Laos are the months of November, February and August, also, considered the high season for travel to Laos, as it is very hot and there is little rain. However, from the period of July to October due to rainy and monsoon season there are less travelers in Laos and also the season from May to July is a great time for adventure seekers to hike in the mountains of northern Laos. For traveling in Laos make sure to have the following items with you: sarong, sweater or light jacket for the rainy season, Hiking shoes and flip-flops, valid passport and visa though Laos tourist visa is now issue at the borders and airports of Laos, international driving license, in case you would like to drive and enough cash, as if you travel to remote area then you may find it very difficult to find the ATM. Be protagonists of a journey that give you an exciting feeling that sooner or later everyone needs to experience in order to enjoy the wonders that Laos has to offer. Through this guide it will be very easy to understand what you can see within a country that has become a tourist trail since the last decade.
Best sites to include to your Laos Tour Packages Laos has a very long history, indeed the first settlements date back to four thousand years ago, thanks to the very favorable position and a spectacular and grandiose nature of the country.
Highlights are ranges from eco-tourism and the artistic and religious heritage, 60% of the population are following the Buddhist religion. Vientiane: In the capital you can visit the Pagodas and typical tower-shaped buildings and temples that are really unique. A few kilometers from Vientiane, you can relax to the Buddha Park. Vientiane itself is a very laid back city that makes anyone to stay a little more, enjoy your evening at the bank side of the Mekong River and admire the French style architecture. Luang Prabang: A town with thousands of years of history and the ancient capital of the Laos, now a World Heritage Site, where you can see an idyllic landscape and rich of ancient buildings. Between the two major cities lies a small village called Vang Vieng, where you can admire the beauty of natural caves and enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. Plain of Jars: is an Archaeological site that is considered as the only ancient site in Laos, is located in Xiang khoang that unearthed the prehistoric period dating back to the 500 BC belonging to the first civilized communities, when visiting this site, make sure to visit the ethnic minority tribes that living around in the local villages, this surely will be a nice experience to meet and see them in the daily life, some tour providers provide overnight stay with the local tribes with the simple facilities such as home-stay, sometimes no shower for few days, but the matter is you will experience a nice ethical life style. Champasak and Sothern Laos: in the province of Champasak, visiting the ruins of the temple called the Wat Pou and Pha pheng waterfalls are should not to be missed. Finally, to fully enjoy the atmosphere you must take a Laos tour packages that is following the Mekong River, leading to the discovery of beautiful places and lush green nature, the Mekong river Cruise in Laos is one of the best examples.
The most important festivals in Laos are: the 'Lunar New Year, celebrated around April, the feast of That Lua, which takes place in November and the Bun Bang Fai, or feast of fools, which takes place in May. However, remember, to bring a jacket, a sweater, an umbrella, shoes and some flip flops, because they are easy to remove when visiting temples. The currency of Laos is the Kip (1 euro is worth about 10,000 kip), US Dollars and Euros are widely accepted in the banks and currency exchangers. For travel to Laos you will required to have a passport wit decent validity and the visa either beforehand, or apply it upon arrival through any land borders or in an international Airports in Laos, a 30 day Laos tourist visa is cost between US $ 23 to 45, depend on your nationality, make sure to carry a passport sized photo and cash in hand. Laos tourist visa is issued at the following borders: Visa-on-arrival in Laos is issued to all international airports in Laos as well as the friendship bridges with Thailand, also, in most land borders (except for the borders with Myanmar) Vientiane Wattay Airport Pakse Airport Luang Prabang Airport Savannakhet Airport Friendship Bridge in Vientiane Friendship Bridge Thakaek Friendship Bridge Savannakhet Train station in Vientiane Tha Naleng
As for the Laos foods, they are not very imaginative; in fact, the cuisines of Laos are pretty much similar to its neighboring China and Thailand or sometimes Vietnam. The main ingredients are vegetables, chicken, pork and duck, and sometimes a little fish. Among the many souvenirs to buy, I recommend fabrics, wooden, stone or bone sculptures, jewelry in gold and silver (as the price is very good) and an opium pipe that is a plus and is completely handmade.
Arts and culture in Laos The predominant religion in Laos, as neighboring countries, is Buddhism so there is a considerable influence of Buddhist worship in the local culture. Temples have considerable importance in society and today is a place of worship and important meeting. The temple architecture differs however from that of Thai temples; those in Laos are more decorated. Since 1990 it has developed a cultural policy in Laos and was built several museums and cultural centers that host any kind of cultural event. Traditional music is focused on complex classical percussion; folk music is represented by the song and the khene, a kind of mouth organ. The Laotian theater focuses around a thematic text, often full of humor and wordplay licentious, if not entirely vicious.
Landscapes and the countryside sceneries The Mekong River valley is a mythical place in Laos. You will be enchanted by magical countryside in a tropical environment. In the midst of rice fields and bamboo forests, you will be fascinated by the atmosphere of this quiet place, ideal for meditation. The surrounded area where Plain of Jars located is another place to be, where you can admire beautiful landscapes. This plain is amazing from the archaeological point of view: you will find huge stone jars scattered in the fields. The biggest is called King and weighs nearly 6 tons.
Luxury Travel Vietnam, LTD Vietnam based Luxury tour operator since 2004 that is offering a large numbers of travel packages within the Indochina peninsula. Indochina is the land of thousands of possible experiences and motivations, plan and finalize your Laos tour packages, or perhaps combine it with Vietnam and Cambodia to enjoy the maximum adventure and relaxation in a journey that will be a trip of life time to you, visit Luxury Travel Vietnam at: http://www.luxurytravelvietnam.com