How to Stay Thrilled During Your Laos Vacation: 5 Adventurous Things to Do - Top 5 Activities Every Adventurer Must Enjoy on a Trip to Laos

 While Laos may not enjoy the reputation of Thailand or even neighbouring Cambodia when it comes to its adventure activity possibilities, those who holiday in this remote corner of Asia will have many opportunities to test themselves. Laos is where one is brought face-to-face with the elements with the help of the country’s thrilling activity options. From ziplining to touring bomb shelters, here are some of the most daring things to do during a vacation in Laos.

Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, Pak-Ou-Caves-2017, CC BY-SA 4.0

 1. Primal Forest Ziplining Tour

Known to locals as the Gibbon Experience, travellers with a passion for ziplining must head down to the northern border of the country to experience this one-of-a-kind immersion in a primal forest. Northern Laos is not only home to verdant forests untouched by human development but also sweeping valleys as well. The three-day excursion takes one to some of the wildest corners of the forests with some zip line routes reaching lengths of 500m. The adventure is dubbed the Gibbon Experience due to the fact that these jungles are home to large numbers of black gibbons.

 2. Kayaking around the Four Thousand Islands

Although most tourists head to the Four Thousand Islands for a relaxing beach holiday, adventurists can make more out of a trip to these paradise isles by exploring the coastlines on a kayaking tour. Often regarded as the best way to uncover the natural beauty of the countless beaches of this tranquil archipelago, a kayaking excursion also allows travellers the chance to spot Irrawaddy dolphins, an endangered species only visible in this area. The breathtaking scenery and the chance to explore the shoreline at one's own pace is well-worth it as Si Phan Don or Four Thousand Islands is as pristine as coastal regions get in Laos.

 3. Explore the Bomb-Shelter Caves of Vieng Xai

Going deep underground to discover the Vieng Xai Cave network is not for the faint of heart, even if the venue is one of the country's most popular historical attractions. As a remnant from the country's war-torn past, it is difficult to conceive that a whopping twenty thousand locals called these underground tunnels their home. Although the caves were constructed to escape the constant bombs that ravaged Laos for years, it is remarkable how the underwater city made up of 450 caves actually encompasses markets, hospitals and even a theatre.

 4. Trekking Tour of Rural Katang Villages

Those who are visiting Laos between the months of November and February must take the opportunity to sign up for one of the most daring and challenging treks in the country. A trek to the Dong Phu Vieng National Bio-diversity Protected Area, where the remote Katang villages are found, is no easy feat as the journey to the village is just as jarring as the vastly different lifestyle lead by the residents of this rural community. Not only will tourists learn of their ways but also how to avoid the wrath of the spirit world by refraining from certain types of behaviour.

 5. Hike Up Limestone Cliffs to Reach the Pak Ou Caves

Head to this holy site in Laos where one finds caverns laden with hundreds of Buddha sculptures and enjoy a climbing adventure at the same time. Those based at Avani+ Luang Prabang or any similar hotel in Luang Prabang can clamber up to explore the iconic Pak Ou Caves, which is surrounded by limestone cliffs that are as dramatic as they are challenging. There are two caves visitors can explore as the large number of religious icons takes up more space than one cave can accommodate in spite of the monumental size and scale of the interiors.