A breathtaking 8 hour bus journey winding through, around and over magnificent limestone mountains, often shrouded in mist, links Vientiane, the modern capital, with Luang Prabang, the old royal capital. Both cities have survived the ravages of war and communist take-over to present a simple, relaxed Asian face, with French colonial influence in much of the architecture and food. Both cities lie on the Mekong River - wide and slow at Vientiane, fast-flowing and set among peaks of varying shades of green and blue at Luang Prabang,which has been named as the best preserved Asian city by UNESCO, awarding it World Heritage status.

See Philip's photos of Laos