Visit Si Phan Don, the '4,000 Islands' set in the waters of the Mekong, where you can slow down the pace, immerse yourself in its scenic beauty and enjoy this peaceful, relaxing spot.

Pay a visit to Mines Advisory Group (MAG) in Phonsavan and chat to its head about the work they do clearing unexploded ordnance dropped on Laos during the Vietnam War and its local education programme.

Visit COPE, an organisation dedicated to helping to rehabilitate local people with mobility-related disabilities, including UXO survivors, and learn all about the fantastic work that they do.

Witness the dawn ceremony of Takbat, a daily ritual which sees the saffron-robed monks of Luang Prabang's monasteries collect alms, in the form of food, from the local people who line the streets.