Trekking the Wild Jungle of Laos

Lying on a log platform with nothing but a mosquito net between me and the vast darkness of the jungle, I was surrounded by the sounds of a living forest. Insects scurrying through the leaves that had fallen to the ground, birds of prey calling in the night, unknown animals rustling through the underbrush not far away, and straining in hopes to hear a lonesome tiger roar in the far off distance. Rainy season was starting to be in full swing, the park was closed, but here we were - trekking through the wild jungle of northern Laos.

Nam Et - Phou Louey National Protected Area: An Innovative Eco-Tourism Model

              Deep in northeastern Laos lies Nam Et - Phou Louey National Protected Area; the largest national park in Laos and one of the most remote primary jungles in all of Southeast Asia.  Due to the near inaccessibility of the park, wildlife is left relatively undisturbed, leading to growing populations of many endangered species like the sambar deer, gaur, white-cheeked gibbon, and even tigers.

Plain of Jars: Secrets of Death

              The Plain of Jars is a mysterious ancient site that has hidden its secrets with time, but also bears the scars of a more recent ‘secret.’  Shrouded in mystery and myth, this bizarre collection of ancient megalithic stone jars is scattered in the hundreds across a war-scarred countryside in northern Laos's Xieng Khuang province.

One of the groups of stone jars and grave markers at Site 1.

              Little is known about the civilization that created these giant jars, but archeologist estimate that they date from the Southeast Asian iron age (500 BC – 200 AD).  It’s believed the jar sites lie on what may have been an ancient trade route that linked the iron ore in the area to the salt supplies in the northeast.

Elephant Conservation Center: Rush to Save a National Icon

A visit to the Elephant Conservation Center could be the highlight of your trip to Laos!

              Centuries ago, Laos was known as the ‘Land of a Million Elephants,’ and although the Asiatic elephant has endured as a national icon, their numbers are in severe decline.  It is estimated that there are only about 800 elephants left in the country; 400 in the wild and 400 in captivity. 

Luang Prabang Travel Guide

              Tucked between the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers and surrounded by a wall of mountains, the UNESCO Heritage Site city of Luang Prabang is a beautiful destination that shouldn’t be missed.  With It’s 33 UNSECO Heritage temples, turquoise waterfalls, jungle clad mountains, and world class food, it has become one of the most popular destinations in Laos.

Vang Vieng: A Party Capital Reborn

              When I was asked to go to Vang Vieng, Laos, I was less than enthusiastic about it.  I knew it had once been the party capital of Southeast Asia, but had read that it had died down a lot since then.  But still, that really wasn’t the type of scene I was looking for.  But my girlfriend at the time really wanted to experience the tubing and, being from Texas, it’s hard to pass up a good tubing experience. 

10 Things to Do in Vientiane, Laos

              Beautiful French-influenced architecture, Buddhist temples, and natural beauty make Vientiane a must-see stop on any tour of Laos.  Vientiane is usually just a stopover for tourist as they make their ways to other places in Laos, but make no mistake, this sleepy capital is more livable and navigable than other Southeast Asian cities.

What to Do in the City

Pha That Luang