Bokeo is tucked in the north-west corner of Laos between Thailand and Myanmar, a mountainous province home to a rich mixture of flora and fauna and 34 different ethnic groups. However it’s the Mekong River that really defines much of its character and is one of the prime reasons to visit.
Seductively slow pace of life
In Laos the pace of life is seductively slow and cruising down the Mekong is one of the best ways of instantly relaxing into holiday mode. The Luang Say cruise runs from the Thai border through Bokeo down to Luang Prabang on a 2 day journey on a converted rice barge. Modern life soon disappears as you’re surrounded by Laos’ panoramic beauty, interspersed with village visits and a stay in a riverside lodge.
The adventurous can also include the Gibbon Experience, a rather unusual holiday experience, essentially spending 2 nights in a jungle treehouse and zip-lining through the canopy from tree to tree 40 metres up! The Gibbon Experience is an eco-project in North Laos designed to protect the native flora and fauna from forest clearance and benefit the local community by creating a profitable sanctuary. The natural environment takes centre stage this is not a tourist sideshow.
Eco-tourism will continue to grow in Bokeo and can be combined with a stay in Nam Ha NPA. Adventure awaits those who head north.