When planning a trip to Southeast Asia, it’s easy for your eyes to wander toward the neon lights of Bangkok, the iconic temples of Angkor Wat, or the white-sand beaches of Vietnam. For years, Laos has quietly sat in the middle of it all and is often viewed as the laid-back, "younger brother" to its bustling neighbours. But don’t let the lack of coastline put you off, the Mighty Mekong and mountainous terrain provide more than enough spectacle that will leave you gobsmacked at how it's been left behind.

But being the quieter sibling has its perks.