Laos

Laos is the Southeast Asian market most agents quote reactively rather than sell deliberately — usually bolted onto a Vietnam or Thailand itinerary when a client asks for something quieter. There’s a better case for it than that. Luang Prabang is a UNESCO-listed river town with a pace and texture that nothing in the region matches, and for clients who have already done Bangkok, Bali and Vietnam, it’s one of the few remaining destinations that still feels undiscovered. We operate the two commercial centres and the route between them: Luang Prabang with the Kuang Si falls, the Pak Ou caves and the morning alms round, and Vientiane as the capital and arrival point. The Vientiane–Luang Prabang rail link has changed the economics of this itinerary considerably — what was a long road transfer or a domestic flight now runs in a couple of hours, which makes a four-night programme viable where it previously wasn’t. The alms-giving ceremony needs handling rather than just scheduling. We brief clients on conduct and distance beforehand; it’s a religious observance, and groups that treat it as a photo opportunity cause genuine offence.