With its deeply spiritual culture, welcoming people, exquisite food and laid-back culture, it is easy to fall in love with Laos. Read on if you’re wondering where to stay in Laos.
A mere five-minute ride by tuk-tuk to the heart of Luang Prabang, La Residence commands what is possibly the best aspect of any hotel in the city from its peaceful position on the top of a hill, with a wonderful view of Mount Phousi and the surging mountains beyond. Here, traditional Lao buildings with curlicue roofs, faux Khmer ruins, stupas and ornamental lily ponds complement the property’s stylish shadowy interior with its fine Buddhist art, wicker furniture, and a signature of colonial nostalgia.
This former royal summer house is both grand and intimate, with capacious rooms and rich tropical grounds. There are two swimming pools to cool off in – the infinity pool beside the restaurant, and the dipping pool next to the Mekong Spa, which is decidedly colder and perfect between spells in the steam room. Rooms have low slung tables, huge four-poster beds, mosquito nets and contemporary teak furniture.
Private verandas with opium beds overlook the main pool while the mountains beyond maximize the romantic setting. The Phou Savanh Restaurant also has mountain views, and a menu of Lao and Western favorites.
This serene, red-roofed former French administration building, managed by Aman Group, is the city’s premier resort hotel and one of the best hotels in Laos. Surrounded by mango and palm-studded lawns, it is characterized by high ceilings, clean lines and a consistent color theme of green shutters and white walls. The property is located close to the heart of Luang Prabang city. Mount Phousi, with its glittering temple illuminated like a jewel by night and cowled in mist at dawn, hovers overhead, while the Night Market and Mekong River are only five minutes’ walk, and the sacred peninsula a little over 10 minutes.
Facilities include a tennis court, a well-equipped gym, boutique, library, meditation and yoga center, plus an enticing deep-green swimming pool. Alternatively lie back and be cosseted by Amanataka’s superb wellness specialists. You can also learn about the production of rice on a nearby farm where you get to steer a water buffalo through a rice plantation.
The 24 voluminous suites are outfitted with four-poster beds, billowing silk mosquito nets, a huge bath, and his and hers washbasins. Many of the suites have a private swimming pool in a huge bamboo-shaded garden. The stylish Dining Room offers a Western and Lao menu of beautifully executed dishes with seasonal vegetables and locally sourced food.
Deep in the ancient city of Luang Prabang, Les 3 Nagas sits among stilted wooden Lao houses, palm trees and vibrant Buddhist temples. Exuding charm and atmosphere in equal parts, the hotel’s rooms are cool and romantic with a sense of colonial yesteryear. Each room has a veranda, a capacious bathroom, tiled floors, dark-wood furniture, a fridge, a letter-writing desk, and a cream color scheme running through the curtains and bed linen.
Acquired and refurbished by the Accor Group, Les 3 Nagas is one of the original boutique hotels on the peninsula and still one of the most attractive, with warm experienced staff and excellent service. There are no facilities here other than the bar, restaurant, and free bicycles, however there is a free shuttle service around the city and to the hotel’s sister-property hotel, the Sofitel Luang Prabang Hotel, where you can make use of the spa, free gym and outdoor pool.
La Folie is a charming lodge located on Don Daeng, in Lao the “Red island”, a peaceful car-free haven within the UNESCO protected area of the Vat Phou, which is well known for its outstanding sunsets. Each of the 27 luxurious wooden rooms at La Folie Lodge has a private terrace overlooking the Mekong river, its sandy beaches and the sacred mountains of Champasak.
From here, you can take half or full-day excursions to the Wat Phou, 4000 islands, Bolaven plateau, Xe-Pian park, Pakse city or Champasak areas, or just rest, disconnect & recover at the Lodge with its swimming pool, spa, restaurant, bicycles, tropical garden, petanque court, and more. Boat transfers from and to Champasak or Ban Meuang are included with every booking.
The Spa is set in the middle of a tropical garden, under the shade of old trees. Choose between four different massages, each with a unique blend of organic oils, and begin your journey to relaxation, rejuvenation and serenity.
Nong Kiau is a small rustic town nestled on the west bank of the Nam Ou River, spanned by a vertiginous bridge and bookended by towering limestone crags, it is surely one of the most photogenic spots in Laos. Nong Kiau Riverside is right in the middle of this little paradise. Fifteen wooden bungalows and a restaurant sit beside the riverbanks on the outskirts of town.
Mornings are misty and the night sky is filled with stars in this mountainous northern location, which means cooler nights and colder winters than in most of Southeast Asia. Therefore, all rooms are fitted with aircons for the summer and heaters for the winter. Built with old, recycled wood collected from dismantled, traditional Lao houses, each of the bungalows has a large private balcony overlooking the river. Each room is furnished with a very comfortable, four poster, canopy bed with a mosquito net, and equipped with a fridge, coffee table, water boiler and safety box.
Kingfisher Ecolodge in Champasak Province provides you with a comfortable, intimate experience within exotic nature adjacent to the Beung Kiat Ngong Wetlands and the Xe Pian National Protected Area.
Here, you can fully immerse yourself in the tranquility of the nature that surrounds you, whether that is hiking up a mountain or through the jungle to see ancient ruins, cycling through local villages, taking a local dugout onto the wetlands or simply sitting back on your balcony and enjoying the peace and quiet. Champasak is a pretty little town with a French colonial façade along the banks of the Mekong River, perfect for a day’s cycling and easily reachable from the lodge by way of a rustic river ferry.
There are two types of rooms available – the Deluxe Bungalows and the Comfort Bungalows. All have stunning views over the Ban Kiat Ngong wetlands. They are built of top quality locally sourced wood, each with a raised and spacious private balcony. Each is equipped with a comfortable double or twin bed, air-conditioning, two ceiling fans, fridge, safe, and tea & coffee making facilities. All rooms have large en-suite bathrooms with solar powered showers.
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