Mountain biking in Laos, Luang Prabang Mountain biking off-road through Laos is the perfect way to discover hidden places, encounter new cultures, and experience the unbelievable landscapes in the countryside. Traveling through this country on two wheels gives greater access to places not possible in most vehicles, and allows a slow pace of travel to appreciate
A New Pediatric Hospital Opens up in Luang Prabang Khou is an eight year-old girl from the village of Nong Khuay, a Khmu community two hours away from Luang Prabang. Ostensibly like other kids her age, she actually suffers frequent seizures and shows signs of a development disability. Because access to quality healthcare in Nong
ELEPHANTS IN LAOS For centuries Laos was famed as the kingdom of a million elephants. Now there are fewer than 900 living in the country. While it is unknown whether a million elephants once roamed freely in Laos, elephants are a practical part of everyday Lao heritage, culture, agriculture and livelihood. Elephant are highly respected
Exploring northern Laos and the Muang La Resort This exceptional resort is in the heart of northern Laos where roads from Vietnam and China lead through unspoiled countryside. The MUANG LA RESORT is situated on the edge of a small traditional village with just about 100 inhabitants. Surrounded by dense forests and on the banks
Hmong women in Phonsavan | Photograph by Cyril Eberle This is a remarkable story about the third largest ethnic group in Laos — the Hmong people — celebrating their biggest festival of the year. This colorful event showcases the fascinating culture and history of this group of people expressing their unique identity. Phonsavan market and
The Embassy of Germany to Laos and the Lao-German Technical School gave a warm welcome to racing legend Mrs. Heidi Hetzer as she arrived in the capital of Laos on a world tour in her 1930’s Hudson Greater Eight. Mrs. Heidi Hetzer is a passionate about car racing ever since she started her apprenticeship as
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On any given day at the Tiger Trail bike shop, Noah and his Lao team members will be outside fixing up the new fleet of bicycles. These bikes will then be quickly sent off with riders touring in and around Luang Prabang. If possible, make an effort to book a tour with Tiger Trail and take the
See our updated 2023 post on the top 24 coffee spots in Luang Prabang Coffee has been a staple of Laos ever since it was introduced in the early twentieth century. As a result, coffee spots in Luang Prabang & throughout Laos have sprung up in every kind of iteration from street vendor to Western
As much as I love to find cheap food stalls and search for local spots to eat during my stay in Luang Prabang, I cannot help but enjoy the occasional splurge. Prepared by a new chef with an incredibly attentive staff, this five-course meal at “Kitchen by the Mekong” was a luxurious experience all to itself. Held at Victoria Xiengthong Palace, which is
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This past weekend I took a silk dyeing class at Ock Pop Tok’s Living Crafts Centre. The day was gorgeous, the sun was shining, and the skies were the brightest blue. As I walked into their cafe to wait until the class began, I was handed a complementary fruit tea. I was told that it was some snake
Just last week we decided to go out for a ‘work lunch’ at Ock Pop Tok and sit by the majestic Mekong. A placard that was propped up in the center of each table had advertised their special of the month: Brunch Set featuring Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise sauce. Although we decided on having a
Ock Pop Tok’s Silk Road Cafe is a tranquil place to come for either a brunch or lunch and gaze out at the slow and mighty Mekong. It is also a place where you can find traditional Lao food infused with Western favorites that will surely excite anyone’s taste buds. As we quickly grabbed a
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One of the harder transitions I am having here in Laos is eating a heavy meal for breakfast. I still dream about eating my giant bowl of chilled almond milk poured over a mound of crunchy granola that I was so used to in the United States. I asked someone what Lao people eat for
It was extremely hot and sunny during my first two weeks here in Luang Prabang, a rarity during the ‘rainy season’. For my first weekend, I decided to cool off from the mid-day sun and experience some cultural diversity by visiting the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre. While some may think that the TAEC is
I usually go far away from the city center to find both delicious and authentic Lao food at a fair price. Though after passing this place everyday on Sisavangvong Road during my commute, I knew I just had to take a seat and order a bowl of khao piak khao (boiled rice soup). For only
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Last Thursday and Friday, Tiger Trail had a two-day tour guide training session at a local college in Luang Prabang. This was one of the few times of the year that all of our guides are together in one room! This training workshop was lead by both Peter Richards and Markus Neuer. Peter was an inspirational speaker and
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This local spot is known as “Pasaneyom Coffee Shop”, and it is very popular among local Lao. It is conveniently located near the banks of the Mekong, and it is very busy in the early morning. This coffee shop seems like it has been around for years, and caters Tuk-Tuk drivers, retired men, and some Thai
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After I exited Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok to catch my flight for Luang Prabang, nothing could prepare me for what I was about to experience. The company slogan for Bangkok Airways, “Asia’s Boutique Airlines”, could not have been more fitting . The plane that I rode to Luang Prabang was a small turbo-prop aircraft, which came complete with
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Random things that are awesome about living in Luang Prabang, Laos I’ll be moving out of Laos in a week or two (or three…) and I have grown to love this country more than I ever imagined. It surprised me how quickly Luang Prabang has come to feel like home. Here are some of
Rice is Life Learning how to grow sticky rice at the Living Land Farm near Luang Prabang Living Land Farm The other morning I went to the Living Land Farm just outside of Luang Prabang to experience the Rice is Life program. It was fantastic! Our small group met with Mr. Laut Lee – a phenomenal farmer and
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