Luang Namtha - Laos' Northern Frontier
Luang Namtha: Northern Laos' Wild Adventure Playground While everyone's cousin is posting selfies from Luang Prabang, you could be having a wilderness adventure in Luang Namtha that makes their temple tours look like a trip to the mall. Tucked away in Laos' northwestern corner where it plays border hopscotch with China and Myanmar, Luang Namtha is what happens when nature goes all out but forgets to invite mass tourism to the party. Where in the World? Luang Namtha province sits in the uppermost corner of Laos like a hat perched awkwardly on the country's head. The provincial capital (also called Luang Namtha because naming things was apparently not a priority) serves as the gateway to some of Southeast Asia's most pristine wilderness. The landscape looks like what would happen if you gave Mother Nature an energy drink: mountains dramatically erupting from valley floors, rivers slicing through dense jungles, and rice paddies that seem to have been installed by who...