Laos Hill tribe villages, mountain treks and stunning landscapes take visitors out of the cities in search of more active outdoor pursuits. Experiencing life along the Mekong River is a fascinating and colourful adventure. A diverse range of ethnic communities live by river's banks and visitors can either view them as they float slowly past on a boat or make special tours to visit them and interact with the friendly local people. As you move away from the main cities, Buddhist temples and shrines are more simple but no less impressive. You can also make trips to see some interesting ancient ruins such as Vat Phou, which is located on one of the main river cruising routes.

For the thrill seekers, river rafting down the Mekong can be an adrenaline fueled experience, either in canoes or rafts depending on the number of people. Specialist guides lead groups on these river adventures using their local knowledge to find challenging white water as well as visiting traditional cultures in the villages on the riverbanks.

Guided cycling tours are a great way to see the main cities and their cultural sites, and for those heading of into the countryside a popular excursion is the 30km ride from Luang Prabang to the Kuang Si waterfall. This spectacular series of falls is particularly impressive after the rains and also a popular day trip for Laotians, which means visitors have the chance to combine nature with local culture.

For hikers, treks from Muang Hai to Ban Na Haew are becoming increasingly popular and pass through incredible mountainscapes taking in Hmong and Khmou hill tribe villages. A guide is essential to help navigate the mountain passes as the tracks are not clearly marked up in the hills and its easy to lose your way. For serious climbers, permits can be arranged in advance by tour operators for the challenging mountains, they can also help with trip logistics.

In the land of a million elephants what better way to see the spectacular scenery than riding one? A most treasured and memorable experience, the elephants are well taken care of, and tours of varying lengths can be arranged through the forests and hill tribe villages surrounding Luang Prabang.

Whichever adventure you choose in Laos, whether a peaceful cruise down the Mekong or shoot down this tremendous river by raft, the timeless cultures of those living on its banks guarantee an inspiring holiday in one of the most bio diverse destinations on the planet.