For Southeast Asia without the crowds, add Laos to your list, pronto. This beautiful, landlocked country is nestled between Thailand and Vietnam and offers visitors a generous dose of culture, history and jaw-dropping landscapes – with the added bonus of a little space and peace to enjoy it in. And it’s not just the scenery that’s beautiful: the hotels more than match their surroundings and there’s a small but perfectly formed selection to choose from. The following are our cherry-picked, favourite spots and our guide to the best hotels in Laos.
Rosewood
Luang Prabang
Taking that idea of space and peace to heart, the Rosewood Luang Prabang sits on the outskirts of this picture perfect town, offering countless moments of solitude. Forests and streams can be seen (and heard) from all over the hotel and the chic interiors perfectly complement the lush exteriors. Think opulent hilltop tents set in a canopy of trees, suites and villas by the edge of babbling rivers and a pool surrounded by emerald gardens. There’s a restaurant tempting you with five course dinners, a spa offering blissful treatments (and did we mention the glass floor over the river?), as well as yoga, Laotian cooking classes, heritage walks, private dining, river cruises… have we sold you on this heavenly spot yet?
River Resort
Champasak
If you’re in search of Khmer history combined with epic landscapes, Champasak, with its temple ruins and history-filled towns and villages, as well as rivers, waterfalls and jungle, is for you. And, if you’ve come all this way to see the beautiful surroundings, why not stay at a hotel which prides itself on looking after them? River Resort Champasak cares immensely about this magnificent part of the world it calls home and it shows. The eco-resort is set on 30,000 square-metres of preserved land, has its own rice paddy and vegetable gardens to supply the kitchen, and the team almost entirely hails from local villages. That’s feel-good tick number one, but we’re also fairly certain you’ll be happy with the location on the banks of the great Mekong River. Watch the sun rise over its glassy waters, or set out exploring in a kayak or boat to really get a feel for where you are.
Riverside Boutique Resort
Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng might have made a name for itself as the adventure capital of Laos but Riverside Boutique Resort is all style and sundowners. Inviting you in with a blend of colonial and Laotian design, this polished spot is the perfect place to escape the boisterous town and enjoy some R&R. Make the most of sunny days lounging by the pool, enjoy a treatment or two in the grass spa rooms, and round out each day with cocktails as the sun sinks. The excellent restaurant serves mouthwatering local cuisine – those lemongrass pork skewers are calling to us – or head down to the night market for a taste of traditional street food. Lovers of adventure won’t find themselves short of things to do with hiking, abseiling, caving, kayaking, abseiling and even hot air ballooning right on your doorstep.
Ansara
Vientiane
Short on skyscrapers and big on greenery, we’re pretty sure that Vientiane is like no capital city you’ve ever visited before. The winding streets are filled with history, with plenty of museums and temples to explore and restaurants and boutiques to sample. Hidden away on one of those lanes is the charming boutique hotel, Ansara Vientiane. The quaint spot offers a respite from the bustling city and the calming decor does its job after a day of exploring. Foodies will find themselves excellently accommodated at La Signature restaurant, one of the most popular spots in the city, with its exquisite French cuisine offering. Activities-wise, take in the city’s sights, cool off in the pool and, after the sun sets, head into town for some night shopping and street food sampling. Everything is within reach of the Ansara, making for an easy, breezy stay.
Mandala Ou
Nong Khiaw
Lovers of the outdoors will fall head over heels for Nong Khiaw, where lush green mountains and limestone casts loom overhead and the mighty Mekong floats lazily by. It’s a place to get under the skin of Laos and enjoy its simple comforts – and nowhere more so than Mandala Ou. You might not get the bells and whistles of a five star resort, but we’re certain you’ll forget all about that once you’re bobbing in the infinity pool, gazing at the scenery spread out below. The restaurant is an excellent spot to sample regional Laotian cuisine and there’s even a poolside bar for a cold Laobeer when required. Rooms are comfortable and exactly what you’ll need after all the hiking, caving, biking, waterfall-exploring and trekking. We think this laid-back Laotian spot is exactly what the doctor ordered.
