What is it that makes Laos different to its neighbours?

Laos is a landlocked mountainous country occupying the northwest portion of the Indochinese peninsula. It is bordered by Burma and the People’s Republic of China to the north, Thailand to the West, Cambodia to the south and Vietnam to the east.

With a history stretching back over 10,000 years Laos offers a way of life that is both unique and special. A land of genuine faith it also prides itself highly on its generous hospitality. Having been relatively untouched by tourism it has also managed to retain much of its original charm and beauty. Having said this the number of people choosing Laos Holidays as their holiday of choice is rapidly growing. Whilst Laos welcomed just 80,000 international visitors in 1990 this number had significantly increased to 1.876 million in 2010.

Laos Holidays are particularly popular with those seeking a relaxed style of holiday. Their official tourism slogan is “Simply Beautiful” and many tourists say that the main reason that they love Laos so much is due to the fact that it has retained elements of the “Original Asia” that many of its close neighbours have lost.

So when is the best time to visit? Laos can be visited all year round however many people choose to visit between November and February when the weather is both cool and dry. The months of March, April and May are also dry however have a tendency to be oppressively hot as the annual monsoon arrives in June.

With regards what Laos has to offer in terms of tourist attractions there are a wide variety of things to both see and do. In order to get the most from your experience it is however worth considering booking an organised tour opposed to booking a hotel and going on day excursions.

Emperor Tours are one of the largest independent travel companies in the UK and offer two different Laos Tours from which to choose from.

The “Laos Explore” tour is an 8 day private package where not only will you experience Laos people and their everyday life you will get to see the stunning landscapes and unique architecture this beautiful land has to offer. Your tour will include a visit to the old capital of Xieng Khouang (Muong Khoune), a traditional boat trip up the Mekong River to visit the Pak Ou Caves plus many other trips including stops at various minority villages and local markets.

The “Hongsa Safari” tour is also an 8 day private package tour however as the name suggests includes a safari by elephant which will take you to visit the local people in Hongsa and their homes which are built on stilts in traditional Lao Lu style. Other highlights include a traditional boat trip to Luang Prabang and a visit to the sacred Buddha cave of Tham Ting and Tham Phoume.

One thing is for sure though whichever of the Laos Tours you decide to opt for you can rest assured that you will receive an unforgettable experience.