The spectacular Pak Ou caves are justifiably lauded for their striking setting carved into a limestone cliff facing the river. The caves are crammed with Buddha images of all styles and sizes, but most represent the classic Luang Prabang standing Buddha. Trips can be arranged through guesthouses and tour operators.

Price: full – US Dollar5.00
Price variation: price is for a six- to seven-hour trip which includes a stop at the Whisky Village.
Nam Ou river mouth
25km (15mi) along the Mekong from Luang Prabang

Plain of Jars
The Plain of Jars is a large area extending around Phonsavan from the southwest to the northeast where huge jars of unknown origin are scattered about in over a dozen groupings. There are three main sites available to visit, with site 1 the closest and containing the most jars.

The purpose of these possibly 2000-year-old jars remains a mystery and without any organic material – such as bones or food remains – there is no reliable way to date them. Archaeological theories and local myth suggest the enigmatic jars were used for burial purposes.

The jars weigh as much as six tonnes (6.6 tons) and have been fashioned from solid stone, which doesn’t seem to have come from the area. Many of the smaller jars have been taken away by collectors, but there are still several hundred in the five major groups. Thong Hai Hin, the biggest and most accessible site, has two pavilions and toilets, as well as the largest jar on the plain.

Price variation: approx 8.00 per person, depending on size of group
Phonsavan
15-35km (10-20mi) S-SE of Phonsavan
Laos – Currency

The official national currency in Laos is the Lao kip (LAK). Although only kip is legally negotiable in everyday transactions, in reality three currencies are used for commerce: kip, Thai baht (B) and US dollars (US$). In larger cities and towns, baht and US dollars are readily acceptable at most businesses, including hotels, restaurants and shops.

Tipping
Tipping is not customary in Laos except in up market restaurants where 10% of the bill is appreciated – but only if a service charge hasn’t already been added.

Getting There And Away
It’s possible to enter Laos by land or air from Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam or China. Land borders are often remote and the traveling can be tough either side, but the actual frontier crossing is usually pretty simple. The only real prerequisites for entering Laos are a passport with six months’ validity and a visa if you are crossing at one of the few borders where you can’t get a visa on arrival, such as the Cambodian border at Voen Kham.

Flying into Laos is refreshing in that you don’t need to shop around – only a few airlines service Laos and prices don’t vary much.

There are three international airports in Laos. Wattay International Airport (tel: 021 512165) in Vientiane; Luang Prabang International Airport (tel: 071 212856) and Pakse International Airport (tel: 031 212844). Lao Airlines is the national carrier and monopolises the majority of flights in and out of the country, though many code-share with airlines such as Thai Airways, China Eastern Airlines and Vietnam Airlines. The international departure tax can be paid in kip, baht or US dollars.