ADVENTURE TOUR

Laos has plenty on offer for those who like the outdoors. Start with the classic northern trek in the Nam Ha NPA before heading to Luang Prabang and cycling out to Tat Sae or Tat Kuang Si waterfalls. Sit atop a slow bus south to Vang Vieng the activities capital of the country where there are myriad rock-climbing, kayaking and spelunking options and professional guides.

Forget the bus to Vientiane and instead go rafting along the grade five rapids of the Nam Ngum (Ngum River), or kayaking along the Nam Lik (Lik River), part of the way, and complete the trip by minibus. In Vientiane stop long enough for a massage at Wat Sok Pa Luang to work out some of the knots, before trekking into Phu Khao Khuay NPA in search of elephants.

Head south to Tha Khaek by bus or bike and get on a trek into the Phu Hin Bun NPA with its magical waterholes and incredible 7km-long boat ride through the Tham Kong Lo cave. If you fancy more tough trekking, head south to Pakse and get yourself on a trek into the SePian NPA before rounding out your stay in Laos with a boat trip around

GRAND TEMPLE TOUR

Start in Luang Prabang and head first to the city's showcase temple, Wat Xieng Thong a collection of Buddhist chapels delicately decorated with the best gold stencil work in the country. Virtually every other wat in the old temple district is also worth stopping by, as each is unique, but don't miss the massive bronze seated Buddha image at Wat Manolom, the unique watermelon-shaped stupa and faux-lathed windows at Wat Wisu-narat  and the Buddhist art school at Wat Xieng Muan.

Head south to Vientiane for this not-to-be-missed trio: Pha That Luang for its spiky stupa, where Buddhist doctrine is numerologically en­coded; Wat Si Saket for the thousands of niches holding tiny Buddhas; and Haw Pha Kaeo  for the best collection of Lao Buddhist art in the country.

Saving the most ancient and venerated for last, fly south to the small, unassuming town

of Champasak. Just 4km outside of town at Muang Kao lie the ruined city walls of                  Kuruksetra, where the oldest surviving Sanskrit inscription in Southeast Asia was recently found.                     

This defunct kingdom was almost certainly linked to nearby Wat Phu Champasak, an Angkor-style temple ruin and the grandest ar­chaeological site in Laos. If you can visit in time for the Wat Phu Festival in February, you'll be treated to one of the country's most visually impressive and spiritually significant festivals.

Si Phan Don and a rafting trip from Don Del over the falls to the Cambodia border.