Laos is one of the most ecologically intact countries in Asia and is quite possibly the most laid-back country on earth. The majestic Mekong River is the lifeblood of Laos; flowing 1835 kilometres form China all the way to Cambodia. More than ten percent of Laos is officially protected, and vast swaths of virgin forest blanket the stunningly beautiful mountains that dominate much of the country. Fortunately, the lack of major population pressures means that the biodiversity in these hills remains impressive.

Until the mid-1990s, Laos’ main foreign exchange earner was the fees paid by overflying airlines – the economy remains blissfully unsophisticated. Despite 20 years of rapid growth, agriculture still employs about 80 percent of the population, many of them at a subsistence level. Mining construction, logging and tourism are other significant employers.

Laos is like a repository of all those animals that have been hunted to near extinction elsewhere in the region. They generally keep a pretty low profile, but the jungles hide small but significant numbers of tigers, clouded leopards and spindlehorns, and the highest proportion of elephants to humans in Asia. The Mekong is home to a few Siamese crocodiles and even fewer Irrawaddy dolphins.

Laos is fast becoming the ecotourism capital of Asia. Whether you are trekking through the hills in the Nam Ha National Protected Area, zipping through tree tops at the Gibbon Experience or watching rare Irrawaddy dolphins playing in the Mekong, ecotourism is helping travellers gain experiences and locals make money. Mostly, projects have been well planned and are legitimately low impact.

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