Asia

lush greenery with the steep, towering karst cliffs of Laos poking up in the background

Which Way Should You Do the Thakhek Loop?

Which way should you do the Thakhek Loop? Clockwise, counter-clockwise. Or neither, perhaps? The Thakhek Loop is one of the best adventures that the beautiful country of Laos has to offer. Towering cliffs and limestone formations, caves, and vibrant rice fields highlight the 450 kilometer loop, which generally takes between 3-5 days to complete. I’m

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exterior of slow boat on the banks of the mekong river in Laos

Slow Boat to Laos: Tour vs Independent (What Nobody Tells You)

The slow boat to Laos. A two-day journey down the Mekong River, snaking down from the border with Northern Thailand to the old Laotian capital of Luang Prabang. Many call it a backpacker rite of passage. Others call it a nightmare. Truth is, it’s a bit of both. Over the past few years, it’s become

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Explore the lush green landscapes and rolling hills of Hà Giang under cloudy skies.

Vietnam

Vietnam needs time. A week isn’t enough – you’ll barely scratch the surface and leave feeling like you missed it. Two weeks can work. A month to do it properly. If you’re short on time, stay north. The north is where the best of Vietnam lives- Sapa and the Ha Giang Loop are incredibly scenic

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a lush green flat valley with interspersed steep cliffs and mountains and low clouds in vang vieng, laos

Laos

Laos is where the real ones go. Nearly all travelers to Southeast Asia go to Thailand. Many go to Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines. But Laos remains underappreciated, partly because it’s not the easiest to access, and it has a very remote feel. Laos is a stunning country. Luang Prabang is home to the most

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