Known as the land ‘thousands of elephant’, Laos is relaxed to the point where it takes some getting used to. This short experience is the ideal introduction to the wonderful country of Laos and can be easily added to other experiences in the region.

Laos is brimming with kind-hearted people who will make your adventure holiday all the more special. It takes in the highlights of one of the world’s sleepiest capitals and the highlights of the UNESCO listed city of Luang Prabang – one of the highlights of any visit to Southeast Asia. There are also many fantastic dining options, anything from simple street food markets to fancy French restaurants, with food and atmosphere which would not be out of place in the small rues of Paris. This experience is easily added to other trips in the region and works perfectly as an extension to your other holiday plans.

Full country name: Lao People's Democratic Republic 
Area: 236,000 sq km 
Population: 6 million in 2003
People: 50% Lao Loum (lowland Lao), 30% Lao Theung (lower-mountain dwellers of mostly proto-Malay or Mon-Khmer descent), 10-20% Lao Sung (Hmong or Mien high-altitude hill tribes) and 10-20% tribal Thais 
Language: Lao, English, French 
Religion: 60% Buddhist, 40% animist and spirit cults 
Government: communist state 
Head of State: President Khamtai Siphandon 
Head of Government: Prime Minister Boungnang Vorachith 
Capital: Vientian

GDP: US$9.7 billion 
GDP per capita: US$1,700 
Annual Growth: 4% 
Inflation: 7.8% 
Major Industries: Rice, tobacco, coffee, tin mining, timber and opium 
Major Trading Partners: Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan