Right before the Cambodian border, where the Mekong river drops into a series of waterfalls, lie a series of tiny sandy islands. Home to tranquil farmer and fisher villages, shady trees and mud covered water buffaloes, the Four Thousand Islands is the near-perfect setting for some quiet days in the hammock. While soulless Vang Vieng is the backpacker party capital of Laos, the Four Thousand Islands is the adoring, chill out version. No dvd screening nor techno beats, just a bit of lazy tubing, Irrawaddy dolphin spotting and gorgeous sunsets, which is best taken in from your own bamboo balcony.

In the tranquil riverside town of Savannakhet lies this tiny Dinosaur museum. The palaeontology founds are all from the area and the one room exhibition is a very low key affair. A dinosaur is drawn in full size along three of the walls and outlined by Christmas lights. The curators are very friendly, though not much English is spoken, and will pull out drawers to show you hidden stuff up close. You might even get a tour in the store room behind, where all the new founds are. Don't expect a lot of explanation, all signs are only in Lao and French. We like... bravo!

The Ho Chi Minh trail was not a single trail, but rather a network of trails and dirt roads the lead from North Vietnam to South Vietnam through Laos and Cambodia in the bloody years of the Vietnam War. The Viet Minh, who were based in North Vietnam and lead by Ho Chi Minh, used it to supply their allies in the South, the Viet Cong, with arms and men, so they could fight the Americans and the South Vietnamese army. Since both Cambodia and Laos were officially neutral, the Americans decided to secretly bomb the area where the Ho Chi Minh trail went through. Just in Laos the Americans dropped more than 2 millions tons of bomb, making Laos on of the heaviest bomb country in the world. Today there isn't much evidence of the Ho Chi Minh trail, but at the dirt square in Pa-am village you can still see a Russian surface-to-air missile launcher (with missile) that the North Vietnamese troops managed to drag down here.

The few meters the Katamtok waterfall is lacking in height compared to the Tat Fan (the highest waterfall in Laos), is done up by the unspoiled setting. It is almost hidden in the jungle and though a small sign on a tree gives it away, chances are that you will have for yourself (at least until the road is made sealed). Similar to Tat Fan, it plunges out of the jungle where the Bolaven Plateau breaks off and disappear 100m, or so, below in more green stuff. Very nice, very low key, very Lao.

A 7.5km long cave in the bottom of a gorgeous valley protected by steep limestone cliffs. At Ban Kong Lo you can take a boat trip all the way through the cave to the other end (and back, of course) where it opens up into another valley. One section of the cave have a nice range of stalactites and stalagmites, where some are still growing. Unfortunately the local tourist are having a hard time keeping their hands off the sensitive formations. The rest of the cave is just one long tunnel that bends around big boulders that once have fallen from the ceiling high above. Sure it is a nice cave, but it is its extremely long length that makes it extraordinary.

Where the Mekong River meets the Nam Khan river lies one of the most charming cities in Asia. The old town of Luang Prabang is an ancient capital packed with golden temples, old French colonial houses, and even a royal palace. Though it is fast becoming a mandatory stop on the Southeast Asian trail, it is still tranquil and fairly unspoiled with quiet backstreets and hidden temples just a block away from the French bakeries and cafes on the main street. In the evening the friendly monks overcome their shyness to practice English with the passing travellers, and at dawn they sway down the streets in long orange rows to collect alms from local the Buddhists. It is almost too easy to fall in love with Luang Prabang.

A little trading town made from bamboo and concrete on the bank of the river Ou. No attractions stands out, but a stroll through the little market or along the river will make time pass. Crossing the suspension bridge brings you to the Khamu village of Ban Nam Tum. Most travellers stay only one night in Muang Khua on their way to/from northwest Vietnam (especially Dien Bien Phu). The Lao/Vietnamese border at Tay Trang is only 75 km away, but seventy-five rough kilometers through amazing mountain hills.

This little fisher village on the banks of river Ou (Nam Ou), now doubles as a tranquil traveller hub. The setting is spectacular with rows of bobble mountains that disappear into the mist while Nam Ou winding its way through below. During the Vietnam War the area was heavy bombed by the Americans in their failed attempt to destroy the Ho Chi Minh trail. Today huge bomb fragments are used as morbid garden decoration and fencing. The little village is slowly evolving as an adventure destination with trekking, fishing, cave tours and the mandatory tubing on offer.

Pakse is slowly developing into a charming travel hub. Beside being used as a gateway for the neighboring countries (yes all of them; Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia) and access point to the Four Thousands Islands further south, it works nicely as a base to explore the rich surroundings. Within a day travels you can visit the Khmer ruins of Wat Phu Champasak, peek over the highest waterfalls in the country and go coffee tasting on the Bolaven plateau. A cheap rental scooter can even bring you around on the multi-days Southern Loop. Back in Pakse, you can relax down at the Se Don or Mekong river with a mandatory Beer Lao in your hand. How easy can it be!

In 2004 a local guy found a cave up on a steep cliff face. When he crawled through the narrow cave entrance, there were more than just stalagmites inside the cave. 229 Buddha statues in various sizes were looking at him. Nobody knows for sure when and why they were placed, which just add to the magic. Today the cave is a popular pilgrim place for local and monks alike. They come to pray, splash water, banging the gong and to do other quirky rituals. The drive from Tha Khaek goes through picturesque rice paddy fields with nice views of the limestone mountain range in the distance.