Honeymoon in Laos

Luang Prabang is easily one of south east Asia’s most atmospheric cities, blessed with a magical atmosphere that has most travellers at ‘hello’. Hugging a curve in the Mekong, it’s a mixture of bougainvillea-lined streets, gold-tipped temples, french bakeries, tawny-robed monks and very friendly locals. There’s absolutely nothing not to like. Wander around the night market, sip delicious coffee, stroll along the river and take a boat trip to watch the blazing sun set over the Mekong.

The Bolaven Plateau is somewhere hard to capture in words. An untamed, emerald jumble of giant ferns, tropical forest, tumbling vines and natural waterfalls, it’s bursting with wilderness romance. Here, you can sleep in a hillside bungalow opposite twin waterfalls crashing 200m into the gorge below. Suffice to say, it’s an unforgettable place to rest your head. You can trek to the minority tribes living in the rainforest, swim in sparkling pools and swing in a hammock with a jaw-dropping view.

Hide from rest of the world in the bright, emerald valley basin of Nong Khiaw, staying in a riverside eco-lodge and slowing down to the lazy pace of life. It’s a pocket of total peace, surrounded by jungle-clad karst mountains and tumbling rice terraces. You’ll stay in a spacious bungalow made of natural materials, with a balcony overlooking the river. Grab a Beer Lao, sit on your balcony, gaze up at skies and watch the stars pop up after sunset. It’s rural romance at its best.

Let all the wedding stress slip away as you float between the Four Thousand Islands, possibly the most laid-back place on the planet. Some of the islands here are completely submerged in the rainy season, appearing only when water levels recede, lending a mythical atmosphere to the whole area. You can hop between the bigger islands, meet the friendly locals, swing in a hammock and concentrate on doing as little as possible.