The first thing you notice when you arrive in Laos is the green: it’s everywhere. It’s not the buildings that catch your eye but the landscapes: untouched wilderness, valleys, trees, fields, all of it subtle shades of green.
Even in the heat of the day, riding through the mountains or over rivers, the green is almost overwhelming, but it creates a sense of peace as the miles fly by and the road disappears off into the distance both in front and behind you.
Nothing seems quite real. You want to stop and take photos, but instead you simply stop and stare.
Surrounded by majestic landscapes, moving water, green fields and forests of bamboo as far as the eye can see, there’s a sense of calm in the Laos countryside that I have not found anywhere else.
Green bamboo stands perfectly straight on the path to Luang Prabang’s Mount Phousi.
A dirt road snakes through the jungle in Muong Haim.
A run-down farmer’s shelter overlooks a mountain field surrounded by grass.
Old rice fields are burned to make way for new fields.
The sun breaks through the clouds over a valley en route to Muong Haim.
Storm clouds swirl over the mountains en route to Muong Haim.
The final stretch of road to Nong Khiaw is framed by bent bamboo.
The river under the bridge in Nong Khiaw.
Somewhere near Pak Nga.
A river cuts through the valley outside of Pak Nga.
A view of the Nam Ou River as it rolls through the valley outside Pak Nga.
Mountains meet at the intersection of the Nam Ou and Mekong Rivers near Hatgna.
Back in Luang Prabang atop Mount Phousi.
Looking east over Luang Prabang from the temple atop Mount Phousi.
An intensely orange sunset complements Laos’ green landscapes.
