{"id":97317,"date":"2015-10-02T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-10-02T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelstartblg.wpenginepowered.com\/explore-laos-discover-south-east-asia\/"},"modified":"2025-11-04T13:52:57","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T13:52:57","slug":"explore-laos-discover-south-east-asia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/explore-laos-discover-south-east-asia\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Ways To Explore Laos, A Photo Essay Of The Land Of A Million Elephants"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>North of Thailand and South of China, bordering Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia, Laos is a peaceful country of green hills and astonishing natural beauty. For your next South East Asian adventure explore the land of a million elephants by river, bike and foot.<\/p>\n<h2>1. Take a slow boat along the Nam Ou River.<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44974\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/16252334601_2a853d8da9_b.jpg\" alt=\"16252334601_2a853d8da9_b\" width=\"780\" height=\"438\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Nam Ou River by Mario Micklisch on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/fvfavo\/16252334601\/in\/photolist-qLasRx-7w1wcT-7zucVT-8EWvRe-9fxqr3-9vvuKP-oPtWNJ-dDiDxs-62DELB-7JBuEG-nxTat2-8FY64f-7B3k53-aAByCd-4tH17r-7rGPim-ojVoc-699YZT-At4uD-jDjN2G-4nPyQR-bhjWLg-9fPNjU-9Yxomg-dK7QQd-3gFMQK-6Z1bWM-8fQpmR-ttsj1v-f4LrSK-f5267f-fd8Bee-fdnWV3-fdnVcJ-fd8ALF-fd8B2V-8QrZJD-9fxrcs-dSBtQM-7BjZwj-6TsLUK-aptLKA-jCGNcL-7Bh56d-fd8Epv-fd8HiP-9fPKoU-aZqzak-48ZRFG-oJV1JJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Flickr<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>2. Swim in the natural turquoise pools at Kuang Si Waterfall near Luang Prabang.<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44968\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/5604804240_84f7059144_b.jpg\" alt=\"Kuang Si Waterfalls\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> Kuang Si Waterfall by Jurriaan Persyn on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/oemebamo\/5604804240\/in\/photolist-9xh62S-5KH2SW-bts6u6-68gDCT-68kGbd-68gFUe-8FGGcQ-m4mw1M-my8he1-kTyLgC-9ytmMB-m4jfKR-my74jB-95n12b-fHF1xa-9bNUcP-9bS2X9-9bNSkV-8FDstB-jDizwq-obL2Ms-oQQL8X-4pArij-pnYUkd-jDhH7L-iQfG8Q-m4iq6M-m4mEDE-pCMGEd-9bP1s8-aaDn9o-9bP6ki-9bP4K6-8FDuk4-eorHgd-7U4XGV-uY2wK-obW4so-djpVC7-4bK1vE-68kQ8j-m4i7FZ-m4kitL-aBZDgE-bUrU2m-991eaY-my9kyA-dz3m75-oLkRhh-e7ypmJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Flickr <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>3. Investigate the archaelogical wonder of the plain of Stone Jars.<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44846\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/14881422954_d581fb78db_b.jpg\" alt=\"plain of jars\" width=\"780\" height=\"438\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> Stone Jars by David McKelvey on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/dgmckelvey\/14881422954\/in\/photolist-oF2bzQ-ppnxTz-e1b2yp-ppsAsJ-pb5FTg-oTR8qa-oTR7dF-pb5Ktc-975Vk7-p9joi5-8fAjiE-4P38AT-pb5J4P-oUmNsm-9i7Faf-pbmpCH-oTQWL4-oTS4Ns-pbjjRu-p9jfPN-oTS9MV-6tfuVX-bDFZ4-vhcoXe-uk2V2e-9YbG8R-Lteyh-bDG4t-bDFU7-bDG2v-bDFRL-bDG8K-bDG6V-bDGag-5xv9Qn-8ZcJC3-pUG1nn-pFS4KH-anpu1U-9nLgAQ-9nHe9F-oK4uWv-ppszzG-pDLxUU-oTRsEy-pbmnYv-ppq4ey-8fAkjY-pbf9Jy-oTMX2Z\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Flickr <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>4. Go cave exploring at the Karst Limestone Formations near Vang Vieng.<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44806\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/480961_10152433995955534_852363278_n.jpg\" alt=\"vang vien\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>5. Spot rare Irrawaddy river dolphins on a cruise along the Mekong River.<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44847\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/8583652826_f731139a39_b.jpg\" alt=\"irrawaddy dolphins\" width=\"780\" height=\"438\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> River Dolphins by Erwan Deverre on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/38737012@N04\/8583652826\/in\/photolist-ejFgrB-e5vsWf-e5vtnb-iy8rfa-7EXREy-7ETZ96-5yzk36-7Zq4U6-a8nexY-a8npDJ-a8ng1J-a8nthw-a8jzcR-a8jkEP-a8nmq7-a8jvGc-a8nuSW-a8jscr-a8nhSu-48EfLa-rhx1Ru-5yzjWp-5yzjUT-5yDCZ5-5yzjY8-bggwce-jLWfg-nyQNL-4CERwz-viMZ7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Flickr<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>6. Eat cheap and tasty street food.<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44963\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/5836703976_6d7f551db6_b.jpg\" alt=\"sandwiches laos\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> Sandwiches at the market by Ruben I on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/djrue\/5836703976\/in\/photolist-9TLCKb-hjqTU-hjqR7-hjqP3-hjqH1-hjqL3-a7PVhJ-7Sj2CC-6bkcUE-mg5kfu-5z9gTw-eL58WK-7EG6yC-624FQE-7kQ1Mo-c25VpY-aksWu2-dAKD6Y-624E2N-7jPubf-7jPup3-7jKA34-3M2zFd-9FGKhy-nVokZW-dkYxe-7jKAit-7jKBgr-7jPtXA-77Ckpv-7boZxf-7kHG5v-ifNVk-61ZyGv-nzBRFY-ns91Va-4tTAJ4-78UpH8-99m3Py-5cbRnF-xx9Ux-61Zvhg-wmbh4-64MCjH-xx8vi-63KRf1-9gR2e5-4tLX3j-nXjdLQ-oT5L4V\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Flickr <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>7. Go on a 4-day mountain bike tour in Northern Laos.<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/Tiger-trail269.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44848\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/Tiger-trail269.jpg\" alt=\"bike tour, northern laos\" width=\"780\" height=\"377\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> Biking in Laos courtesy of <a href=\" http:\/\/tour-bin.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Tour-bin <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>8. Stroll the streets in the capital Vientiane and you might find yourself inadvertently joining in a parade.<\/h2>\n<h2><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44802\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/148980_10152400182445534_515164503_n.jpg\" alt=\"laos\" width=\"780\" height=\"535\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2>9. Climb the many steps to the top of Mount Phousi in Luang Prabang, taking in the view of the two rivers (be respectful as this is a sacred place).<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44805\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/307178_10152400335150534_17611012_n.jpg\" alt=\"luang prabang\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" \/><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44842\" title=\"Releasing a bird as a buddhist offering\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/200559_10152400438760534_591880863_n.jpg\" alt=\"bird offering\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>10. Take a hot air balloon over the mountains in Vang Vieng.<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44855\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/vang-vieng-hot-air-balloon-1280x853-780x519-1.jpg\" alt=\"vang vieng hot air balloon \" width=\"780\" height=\"519\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> Ballooning in Vang Vieng by Bex Shapiro on <a href=\"http:\/\/thethoughtfultraveller.com\/2014\/12\/24\/lush-laotian-scenery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">The Thoughtful Traveller <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>11. Take it easy and go tubing along the river at Vang Vieng.<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44854\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/Vang_Vieng_tubing2.jpg\" alt=\"vang vieng tubing\" width=\"780\" height=\"594\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> Tubing Vang Vieng <a href=\"http:\/\/www.backpacksandbunkbeds.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Vang_Vieng_tubing2.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Backpacksandbunkbeds <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>12. Visit one of the many fresh produce markets in Luang Prabang.<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44799\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/46444_10152400358540534_1706810611_n.jpg\" alt=\"luang prabang, fruit\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>13. Go on a mountain trek, staying in small villages in the hills.<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44809\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/15744361384_b183ace5ed_h.jpg\" alt=\"landscape laos\" width=\"780\" height=\"211\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> Courtesy of l@mie on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/lamerentertainment\/15744361384\/in\/photolist-pZgY7C-8QLW9R-4W3VDu-pt7JE6-6SKwe7-7qnYm1-9Dvptf-paLmrU-76ziTw-BQuBm-ax4Ndo-b9qnZ6-ascAAe-pfJhsS-56T5N2-fLDzik-pNX92Q-bqtMuR-aWyGLe-aWB9vr-pdzMu8-qdbidK-gZkXFo-56T5ED-56XfrL-5Km7Yi-4rVdfp-pSpBaM-8rj3uZ-q5oyyj-8YY7KU-6RLVzQ-91i9mb-4tHQ7H-aX4J8V-bjpPZc-6RLSTh-pqEF4d-4tqRL4-pcSEfL-pjV2Fj-cSXkY3-6BfwQ4-pgusjV-ppMzKq-peKCg9-pvkmQr-ptBaQg-piKBRQ-pfb79d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Flickr<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>14. Eat delicious, affordable Laotion street food at the night market.<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44808\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/15121190560_c0c0784913_c.jpg\" alt=\"night market, luang prabang\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> The Night Market by Kh\u00e1nh Hmoong on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/hmoong\/15121190560\/in\/photolist-p3d495-pggYTs-peYBEZ-pEWws9-p1yHpz-p1vKLp-3gMuUJ-4rZCi3-phawMf-pEUtkY-pqXnPb-dUSB4o-pdp9fb-b2CWdV-3gHaaK-pcSEfL-b2GtEZ-peKCg9-9CWaJp-GrH3r-9CZ6i3-9CWaRp-p8i37h-GrCkQ-GrCvj-GrH7p-GrCBA-GrCym-GrCEY-bcaYin-63MLC5-s1pAcV-qsi3rs-pvkmQr-pnFLbW-pCqP8L-ptBaQg-pfb79d-pevksA-uxRtFj-pq6f2s-pdSsp3-b3GLCg-peeAkX-pdd7mf-aB9CjY-b2Gq2i-56Xfhu-aB9C2N-8qVq8E\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Flickr <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>15. Bike through the charming streets of Luang Prabang.<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44820\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/15271504801_c561892f05_c.jpg\" alt=\"15271504801_c561892f05_c\" width=\"780\" height=\"526\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> Girls on Bicycles courtesy of Kh\u00e1nh Hmoong on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/hmoong\/15271504801\/in\/photolist-pgusjV-56T5ED-4rZDMS-pGcZyy-p43EiM-pjV2Fj-oJHipx-piKBRQ-oLY1rd-pirVU9-xZm24-poN7j3-p3d495-pggYTs-peYBEZ-pEWws9-p1yHpz-p1vKLp-3gMuUJ-4rZCi3-phawMf-pEUtkY-pqXnPb-dUSB4o-pdp9fb-b2CWdV-3gHaaK-pcSEfL-b2GtEZ-peKCg9-9CWaJp-GrH3r-9CZ6i3-9CWaRp-p8i37h-GrCkQ-GrCvj-GrH7p-GrCBA-GrCym-GrCEY-bcaYin-63MLC5-s1pAcV-qsi3rs-pvkmQr-pnFLbW-pCqP8L-ptBaQg-pfb79d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Flickr <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>16. Explore the shrines and mix of traditional Laos and French architecture that give Luang Prabang UNESCO World Heritage status.<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44804\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/227646_10152400717180534_1487925489_n.jpg\" alt=\"luang prabang\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44803\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/165817_10152400182450534_659802798_n.jpg\" alt=\"luang prabang\" width=\"780\" height=\"576\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>17. Walk along the Mekong at dusk.<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44801\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/148909_10152400359360534_1667194654_n.jpg\" alt=\"luang prabang, mekong\" width=\"780\" height=\"478\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>18. Spend a morning teaching English to the student monks at the Luang Prabang library.<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44851\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/DSC00629-560x372-1.jpg\" alt=\"luang prabang library\" width=\"560\" height=\"372\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> The Luang Prabang Library by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ptraveler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/laos\/DSC00629-560x372.JPG\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">P Traveler <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>19. Visit the unusual dinosaur museum in Savannakhet, a town renowned for fossil finds.<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44996\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/dinosaur-skeleton-savannakhet-museum1.jpg\" alt=\"Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton\" width=\"760\" height=\"488\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> Savannakhet Dinosaur Museum<a href=\"https:\/\/www.travablue.com\/images\/dinosaur-skeleton-savannakhet-museum1.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Travablue <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>20. Stay in a luxurious indochine-style teak guesthouse in Luang Prabang.<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44850\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/63797723.jpg\" alt=\"3 nagas guest house, luang prabang\" width=\"780\" height=\"497\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"> Courtesy of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/3Nagas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">3 Nagas <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Getting to Laos<\/h2>\n<p>Book a cheap flight from Cape Town or Johannesburg to Bangkok, then get an inexpensive 1 &#8211; 2 hour flight (on a low cost carrier like AirAsia) to the capital Vientiane, Pakse, or the incredibly beautiful town of Luang Prabang (highly recommended). You could also take the train or bus from Bangkok, north through Thailand to Vientiane, and then a bus to Luang Prabang (though this is a very windy road). Find flights <a title=\"Flights to Bangkok\" href=\"http:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/lp\/bangkok\/flights\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Visas<\/h2>\n<p>You can buy your visa on arrival, it only takes a few minutes to process either at the airport or the land border with Thailand, and certain borders with Vietnam (Nam Khan, Bo Y, Tay Trang, Cau Treo and Lao Bao) and China (Mo Han). You&#8217;ll pay approximately $35 for a 30 day visa. Only US dollars are accepted and you&#8217;ll need to bring a passport photo.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-44843\" src=\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/537328_10152400170250534_323747320_n.jpg\" alt=\"hills laos\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" \/><br \/>\nAll uncredited pictures courtesy of the author.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>North of Thailand and South of China, bordering Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia, Laos is a peaceful country of green hills and astonishing natural beauty. For your next South East Asian adventure explore the land of a million elephants by river, bike and foot. 1. Take a slow boat along the Nam Ou River. Nam Ou River by Mario Micklisch on Flickr 2. Swim in the &#8230; <a title=\"20 Ways To Explore Laos, A Photo Essay Of The Land Of A Million Elephants\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/explore-laos-discover-south-east-asia\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about 20 Ways To Explore Laos, A Photo Essay Of The Land Of A Million Elephants\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":97333,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_destination_ratings":[],"_destination_review_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[381],"class_list":["post-97317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel","tag-adventure-travel","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>20 Ways To Explore Laos, A Photo Essay Of The Land Of A Million Elephants - Travelstart Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/explore-laos-discover-south-east-asia\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"20 Ways To Explore Laos, A Photo Essay Of The Land Of A Million Elephants - Travelstart Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"North of Thailand and South of China, bordering Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia, Laos is a peaceful country of green hills and astonishing natural beauty. For your next South East Asian adventure explore the land of a million elephants by river, bike and foot. 1. Take a slow boat along the Nam Ou River. Nam Ou River by Mario Micklisch on Flickr 2. Swim in the ... 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