20 Essential Facebook Groups for Vientiane Expats
Vientiane can be a tough nut to crack for newcomers. Here are 20 game-changing English-language Facebook groups to help you get the most out of living in this unique and perplexing city.
Lao Zoo: What I Wish I Knew Before Visiting
The Lao Zoo may just be the most misunderstood zoo in Southeast Asia. The national zoo of Laos isn’t even really a “zoo” at all, but something far more interesting.
8 Awesome Things to Do with a Baby in Vang Vieng
Wondering what to do in Vang Vieng with a baby (or toddler)? Here are eight fun (and totally realistic) things, from our own experience living in Laos.
Nong Khiaw
We spend four nights in Nong Khiaw, a remote and subdued jewel of the north, soaking up the fresh mountain air and easy-going vibe.
Vientiane Boat Racing Festival: An Insider’s Guide for Travelers
For some in Laos — the Boat Racing Festival is the big reward after a long, hard planting season.
For many, many more — it’s one more excuse to party down.
Phou Phanang Conservation Area Hiking Guide (Vientiane)
Phou Phanang National Biodiversity Conservation Area offers rural hiking near Vientiane. What to expect, route map, how to get there & more.
Lake Titicaca’s Isla Amantani (Amantani Island)
Dominated by agricultural terraces and two ancient-temple-topped peaks, the remote island of Amantani is quite unlike any other island we’ve visited.
Uros Floating Islands of Lake Titicaca
And now for something a bit different. At 12,500 feet above sea level (3,800m), Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. It’s also home to the Uru-Aymara who live across 44 self-constructed floating islands of reed!
Hiking Around the Rim of Quilotoa Lake
We drastically underestimated hiking the rim of Quilotoa Lake. We thought, “Let’s take a walk around the rim!” Twenty minutes in, however, we already knew we were in for one heck of a challenge.
Baños Waterfall Route: An Unforgettable Day Trip
Riding an ATV along a narrow, winding Andean highway wasn’t something we ever planned on doing, or really even thought of during our backpacking trip along the Ecuadorian Andes. But when in Baños…
Dar es Salaam to Lushoto
Fresh off a fantastic two weeks on Zanzibar, we spend a couple of days in Tanzania’s largest city, with our sites set on what’s next.
Maxixe
Maxixe. Mind blown. Pavement, strip malls, trees. For me, Maxixe once represented a gateway to the outside world. I was eager to introduce Lori to this dusty, bustling transit hub. Only problem–I hardly recognized it.
Baños: Seeing the Sights, Hiking the Hills
Sprawled out over a small, mile-high valley in the Andes, the supremely picturesque town of Baños lies in the shadow of the active Tungurahua volcano and is the gateway to the jungle in the East.
23 Nights in Hotel Rwanda
What is it like to spend nearly a month in one of Africa’s most infamous hotels? This is my experience in Hotel Rwanda.