Si Phan Don, 4000 Islands in Laos responsibletravel.com

Way back when, Si Phan Don was where you ended up when you really wanted to get away from it all. Nowadays of course this riverine utopia in the far south of Laos, close to the border with Cambodia, is firmly on the tourist route, its ring of authenticity is somewhat tarnished, but it still has a pleasantly sleepy vibe to it that sets it apart from other notable destinations such as Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng.

The islands are formed by the Mekong River, which expands here and splits into many channels, creating an archipelago. Most of the islands are uninhabited and rarely, if ever, visited. When the Mekong floods, half of them are submerged. The region is renowned for its natural beauty – you get some of the most beautiful sunsets in Laos here – best enjoyed of course from a lazy hammock with a cool beer in hand.