The first time I went to Laos was to renew my visa to Thailand. I had been in Thailand for close to three months and was getting close to hitting the maximum stay on my non-immigrant visa.

The locals told me the only way I could extend my visa was to cross the border to Laos where I could get a shiny new visa at the Thai embassy in the nation’s capital, Vientiane, and then come back.

That’s what I was going to do. But I knew there was so much more to this country than one overpacked embassy. So I turned my 48-hour visa trip into a seven-day tour of the Laos’ top spots.

There’s no better way to describe Laos than laid-back. Tourists don’t visit Laos as much as they do the neighboring countries of Thailand and Vietnam. But that’s not a disadvantage. If anything, it only adds to the reasons one should travel to Laos. From Vientiane in the south to Luang Prabang in the north, here’s how to spend a week in Laos.

Vientiane

As I mentioned, Vientiane is a good place to collect your tourist visas if you plan to head into other countries. Visas are processed overnight so you’ll have to spend at least 24 hours here. But not to worry, there’s plenty to do in the capital city.

For an important history lesson, head to the COPE Visitor Centre. It’s a free exhibit established by the non-profit organization Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise and it shows the lasting legacies of the Vietnam War. Every year, hundreds of Lao civilians lose their limbs from unexploded ordnance bombs that were dropped on 40 percent of the country during the war. The first thing you’ll see at the exhibit is a reconstruction of more than a dozen falling bombies (tennis ball-sized bombs) hanging from the ceiling.

Afterwards, you can check out the city’s night market where tons of street vendors line the Mekong riverside selling handcrafted items and knick knacks alongside plenty of knockoffs.

Vang Vieng

For a while, this rural town was notorious for reckless drinking, raves and numerous injuries and deaths. Now that the government has cleaned up Vang Vieng’s image by reducing the number of bars along the river, this town can now be appreciated for what it truly has to offer: gorgeous cliffs, bright green paddy fields, and adventure. The best way to get around is by scooter, which you can rent for the day from a guesthouse or tour company.

Drive west to the spectacular Blue Lagoon, a very small pond that bedazzles you with its bright turquoise color. You can join the brave travelers and jump into the lagoon from a tall tree, though you might have to get in line. There are plenty of shaded shacks nearby where you can enjoy a picnic or take a nap. Once you’re well rested, walk on over to the Tham Phu Kham Cave. It’s a challenging 100-meter climb up some rocks and steps but once you’ve reached the entrance of the cave—you’ll know from the drastic drop in temperature—it’s only a short walk to see the Sleeping Golden Buddha inside. Make sure to bring a headlight.

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Luang Prabang

There’s a reason this northern city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: it’s drop-dead stunning. The golden roofs of the Buddhist temples glisten against the sun, wooden houses are fused with European architectural details, trees and flowers line the very clean streets, and every person and child you meet seems to always be smiling. Like the other places mentioned, Luang Prabang is a perfect backdrop for an easy bike ride. You can rent a single-speed bicycle from any guesthouse for a nominal fee and traverse the city at a slow pace.

To see the incredible Kuang Si Waterfalls, you’ll need to take a tuk tuk or a motorbike as it’s about an hour outside of the city. The entrance fee is about $2.50 US. Bring your bathing suit and runners, and get ready to do some hiking since the entrance begins at the lowest level of the cascading falls, requiring you to walk up to get to each section of the waterfall. If you’re in no rush, you can cool down in the pools between each leg of the hike. For the ultimate view—and bragging rights—you can extend your hike all the way to the top of the waterfalls.

After a long day of activities, some spots to get food, drinks and a pleasant setting in one shot is either Dyen Sabai or Lao Lao Beer Garden. They’re both set outdoors amongst trees and natural landscape, and you can indulge in your very own traditional Lao barbeque (called “sindad” by locals). You get your own grill and you cook whatever meats, vegetables and noodles you want, either on the grill or straight into the broth. The local beer, Beer Lao, is crisp and refreshing, and something of a novelty around the world since it doesn’t get exported very much, so this is your chance to try it.

Best Time to Visit

Most tourists like to come here during the dry season from November to March when there’s little rain and temperatures are manageable. If you’d rather avoid the crowds, or you can’t book the time off, March to May is also a good time to go if you don’t mind temperatures that can get as hot as 104°F. From May to October, temperatures still hover around 86°F but it’s the wet season so tropical downpours offer frequent cool-down periods.