Si Phan Don – Laos' archipelago (by Laura)

Laos may be a landlocked country, yet it still manages to boast an archipelago of tropical islands in its deepest south.

Si Phan Don (Four Thousand Islands) is created as the Mekong river runs out of Laos towards Cambodia; the area stretches to as much as 14 kilometres wide, full of small rivers, streams, sandbanks and a few more substantial inhabited islands.

The islands really do have a tropical feel, with a pace of life to rival any in the Caribbean and even its own family of dolphins. There are endless white sandbanks and hoards of longtail boats criss-crossing the river at all times of the day (see left).

We spent our last few days in Laos there, which included our New Year celebrations.

The culture of the islands is said to have largely been preserved over the years with little impact from the French and American wars.

Development of the area is arriving, but slowly- the islands’ accommodation is very basic, there is limited electricity (run off private generators which switch off at 9 or 10pm), no phones and just one main dirt track crosses from one side to the other- this being the former railroad built by the French to transport goods up the river.

Watching the world go by on the Mekong (very, very slowly- this is Laos after all) was the perfect way to end a trip in a country where river life still plays such a key role.

Laura