Rock Climbing Over Rice Paddies

Few activities cause your adrenaline to flow to like rock climbing. The excitement of scaling natural rock formations is accentuated when paired with a unique location. Vang Vieng, Laos provides the perfect combination of scenery and climbing opportunities. The most popular destination for newcomers along with experienced individuals includes a short hike through stunning rice paddies (below) and countless formations.
Rice Paddies, Laos © Gennaro Salamone

Vang Vieng is a standard stop for backpackers on the Southeast Asia route. Though there is plenty of space for peaceful contemplation, the center of the town tends to be filled with young travelers enjoying re-runs of Friends and The Simpsons at the various restaurants. The diners often remove their shoes to sit cross-legged at tables encircled with couch-like seating.

That being said, the majority of the wanderers who enter the town are looking to break a sweat. Rock climbing, tubing, and mountain biking are just the beginning of the early morning activities. The cost for 1-3 days of rock climbing depends upon the number of travelers in your group. For up-to-date rates, examine the rates of well-established Green Discovery. If the sound of all that “work” is too much for your holiday, consider an inexpensive ($5-10 per hour) massage in the evenings.
Rock Climbing, Laos © Gennaro Salamone

Be sure to befriend a couple of fellow travelers in Vang Vieng. It is one of the easier places to meet people in Southeast Asia.

Read about meeting Buddhist monks or fishermen in Laos.

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Gennaro is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing a travel article or photograph for publication.

 

 

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