Skip to main content
  • News
    • Trending News
    • Videos & Interviews
    • Taylor Swift
    • One Direction
    • Kim Kardashian
  • Music
    • Music Highlights
    • Music Videos
    • Charts
    • Playlists
    • EMAs
    • Brand New For 2018
    • MTV PUSH
    • Artists
  • Shows
    • Latest Shows
    • The Charlotte Show
    • Geordie Shore
    • Ex on the Beach
    • Floribama Shore
    • Just Tattoo Of Us
    • Teen Mom UK
  • Movies
    • Movies Highlights
    • New Movies Coming Soon
    • Videos & Interviews
    • Trailers
    • Moana
  • Games
    • New Games
    • Quizzes
  • Style
  • Life
    • Life
    • MTV Breaks
    • Sex
    • WTF
    • SRS
    • Travel
    • Fitness
  • Pictures
  • Win
  • MTV Bump
  • TV Guide
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Search
  • Pictures
  • Win
  • MTV Bump
  • TV Guide
Home
  • News
    • Trending News
    • Videos & Interviews
    • Taylor Swift
    • One Direction
    • Kim Kardashian
  • Music
    • Music Highlights
    • Music Videos
    • Charts
    • Playlists
    • EMAs
    • Brand New For 2018
    • MTV PUSH
    • Artists
  • Shows
    • Latest Shows
    • The Charlotte Show
    • Geordie Shore
    • Ex on the Beach
    • Floribama Shore
    • Just Tattoo Of Us
    • Teen Mom UK
  • Movies
    • Movies Highlights
    • New Movies Coming Soon
    • Videos & Interviews
    • Trailers
    • Moana
  • Games
    • New Games
    • Quizzes
  • Style
  • Life
    • Life
    • MTV Breaks
    • Sex
    • WTF
    • SRS
    • Travel
    • Fitness
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Search

Travel

  • Main
  • Videos
  • Pictures
  • News

The Bucket List: 11 Reasons Why Laos & Cambodia Are The Backpacker Dream

We're seriously considering moving to Vang Vieng permanently...

Rebecca Tyrrell
  • Share to Facebook
  • Tweet to Twitter
  • Share to Google plus
Friday, March 16, 2018 - 16:26

Whether you’re planning the ultimate gap year trip or simply looking for a new place to explore on your next holiday, deciding where to go can be an absolute nightmare.

There are so many incredible places to see in so little time, but luckily there's now super-cool technology out there to do the choosing for you!

We chatted to Contiki's bot (the fittingly named Tiki), and took a fun quiz that determined our travel style and dream location to visit. 

Hilariously, we didn't even know where we were heading until 24 hours before jetting off.

But Tiki did not disappoint, and sent us on an incredible nine-day trip across Laos and Cambodia - starting in Laos’ ancient capital Luang Prabang, travelling down to the backpacking haven of Vang Vieng, across to the modern capital Vientiane, on to Cambodia’s capital city Phnom Penh, and then finishing up in Siem Reap.

WATCH WHAT WE GOT UP TO IN LAOS & CAMBODIA RIGHT HERE:

From exploring the ancient Angkor Watt temple to kayaking down the Nam Song River, it really was the trip of a lifetime. Don’t believe us? Check out more of what we got up to below...

Take a dip in a crystal blue waterfall

I found paradise 😍

I found paradise 😍

A post shared by Bex Tyrrell (@bextyrrell91) on Feb 18, 2018 at 3:30am PST

We may have spent hours scrolling through the Laos & Cambodia hashtags on Instagram before we left home, but nothing could’ve prepared us for just how beautiful the landscapes really are. We’d only been in Laos for a matter of hours when we discovered actual paradise at the Kuang Si Falls in Luang Prabang. 

Get closer to nature

As if swimming in the crystal blue water at Kuang Si Falls wasn’t an experience enough in itself, there’s also a bear sanctuary within the grounds of the park. Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre is home to moon bears who have been rescued from bile farms, illegal poaching and the wildlife trade, and watching them bask in the sun was an unexpected treat.

Off to Cambodia tomorrow so here’s a roundup of some of the cute doggos I saw during my time in Laos for anyone who missed my daily updates on stories 😍🐶❤️ #dogsoflaos

Off to Cambodia tomorrow so here’s a roundup of some of the cute doggos I saw during my time in Laos for anyone who missed my daily updates on stories 😍🐶❤️ #dogsoflaos

A post shared by Bex Tyrrell (@bextyrrell91) on Feb 21, 2018 at 8:16am PST

The bears weren’t the only animals we fell in love with in South East Asia, though. We saw so many cute doggos that we even dedicated a whole album to them on Instagram! 

Experience ancient Buddhist traditions

Despite both countries being popular with tourists and backpackers, Laos & Cambodia have remained quite traditional, especially when it comes to religion. During our trip we took part in an Alms Giving ceremony in Luang Prabang where you offer food to the passing monks to contribute to their one(!) daily meal.

Such a special experience taking part in the Buddhist Alms Giving ceremony on my last day in Luang Prabang earlier this week 🙏

Such a special experience taking part in the Buddhist Alms Giving ceremony on my last day in Luang Prabang earlier this week 🙏

A post shared by Bex Tyrrell (@bextyrrell91) on Feb 22, 2018 at 11:30pm PST

We were also lucky enough to be invited to a Baci ceremony in Vang Vieng and had symbolic white threads tied around our wrists for good luck.

Go kayaking down the Nam Song River

Apparently kayaking cures a hangover 👌

Apparently kayaking cures a hangover 👌

A post shared by Bex Tyrrell (@bextyrrell91) on Feb 20, 2018 at 9:49am PST

This is definitely up there with our favourite activities from the trip. We might not be the best of rowers, but floating down the river surrounded by some seriously stunning scenery is our new happy place. We’ve genuinely been daydreaming about it at work ever since we got back… (sorry boss!)

Watch the sun set over Siem Reap on a quad bike tour

I might not have got the #AngkorWat sunrise I was hoping for but quad biking during this sunset made up for it 🌅🇰🇭❤️👍

I might not have got the #AngkorWat sunrise I was hoping for but quad biking during this sunset made up for it 🌅🇰🇭❤️👍

A post shared by Bex Tyrrell (@bextyrrell91) on Feb 25, 2018 at 8:43am PST

After we got over the initial nerves of trying to avoid crashing into the dozens of other bikes (and cows!!!) on the roads, we had the absolute time of our lives riding through the countryside as the sun set on our final night in Cambodia.

Feast on some creepy crawlies

Pan fried scorpions with parmesan cheese and cashew nuts #entomophagy #siemreap #cambodia #restaurant #scorpion #bugscafe

Pan fried scorpions with parmesan cheese and cashew nuts #entomophagy #siemreap #cambodia #restaurant #scorpion #bugscafe

A post shared by Bugs Cafe (@bugs_cafe_sr) on Mar 21, 2017 at 10:28am PDT

If we’re being totally honest, we chickened out of trying any of the food on offer at Siem Reap’s Bug Café, but if the idea of feasting on ant-filled spring rolls and pan-fried scorpions tickles your fancy then this is the place for you! Alternatively, head to any of Cambodia’s many street-food markets and you should be able to find everything from cockroaches on a stick to deep fried tarantulas.

Explore all of the temples

Seen so many beautiful temples in Laos 💙💚💛🧡❤️

Seen so many beautiful temples in Laos 💙💚💛🧡❤️

A post shared by Bex Tyrrell (@bextyrrell91) on Feb 21, 2018 at 2:34am PST

You may think that when you’ve seen one temple you’ve seen them all, but trust us when we say that Laos and Cambodia have some of the most beautiful and downright impressive feats of architecture and design we’ve ever seen. From the beautifully colourful Pha That Luang in Vientiane to the breathtaking Angkor Watt and the actual Tomb Raider temple Ta Prohm in Siem Reap, you really are spoilt for choice.

Go to the circus!

Join us for #Fun@Five! Catch a 5 p.m. show every Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Book online for best seats. http://ow.ly/9WpK30gqWss IG RS: Danit Kaitlyn KHAY @nnittt

Join us for #Fun@Five! Catch a 5 p.m. show every Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Book online for best seats. http://ow.ly/9WpK30gqWss IG RS: Danit Kaitlyn KHAY @nnittt

A post shared by Phare, The Cambodian Circus (@pharecambodiancircus) on Dec 5, 2017 at 1:21am PST

This is an absolute must for anyone staying in Siem Reap! Performers – who often come from difficult backgrounds and are trained up by a non-profit professional arts center – tell stories about Cambodia’s past and present through dance, theatre and breathtaking gymnastics.

Sip on a cocktail named after one of Angelina Jolie’s most famous roles

#summer115 #trip #cambodia

#summer115 #trip #cambodia

A post shared by Zhang Rr📷 (@summer115) on Feb 2, 2018 at 2:29pm PST

Yep, not only did we visit the temple where Tomb Raider was filmed, but we also dined at a restaurant the actress frequented while shooting the movie. The Red Piano on Siem Reap’s buzzing pub street serves up a cocktail named Tomb Raider, a delicious concoction of Cointreau, lime juice and tonic water.

Not only that, but they keep a record of how many orders of the drink they receive and every 10th person gets it free while the 500th gets a free shirt AND $100 cash. Not bad, eh?

Visit the COPE Centre in Vientiane

While most of us are taught about the Vietnam war at school, we rarely hear about the tragic pasts of both Laos and Cambodia.

Laos is the most heavily bombed country per capita in history - with US forces dropping the equivalent of a planeload of bombs every 8 minutes, 24-hours a day for 9 years. Many of those bombs are left unexploded in the country today, resulting in multiple deaths and the debilitation of many every year. We visited the COPE centre in Vientiane to learn about the charity work they do to help clear these bombs and also offer support to those left disabled.

Learn about the brutal Khmer Rouge Regime at the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

A visit to these two locations is an absolute must when it comes to understanding Cambodia’s tragic history. An estimated 25% of the population was killed through genocide under the communist party’s regime from 1975-79, and millions of those were killed and buried at the Killing Fields.

We also had the honour of speaking with survivor Chum Mey, who saw his family killed and was held prisoner at the S-21 security prison, a former high-school that now houses the museum.

MTV Travelled With... Contiki on their Laos and Cambodia Uncovered trip. Visit contiki.com to book or click here to chat to the Tiki bot and take a quiz to determine your Travel Style!

Latest News

Avicii
Avicii Songs Re-Enter UK Top 40 Following His Death
11 Of The Best Pieces Of Celeb Merch You Need To Buy Right Now
Xbox Live Avatar Leak
Someone Leaked The New Xbox Live Avatars And They're More Inclusive Than Ever
Take This Quiz About Your Career To Find Out Exactly When You'll Get Married
Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson's love timeline
Tristan Thompson Reportedly Cheated On Khloe Kardashian Using Instagram
Love Island's Olivia Buckland Opens Up About Her Battle With Depression
Fortnite
Check Out All The New Weapons That Just Came To Fortnite
Braided Rose Hair is Trending Rn And It’s Very Summer Appropriate
Yoku's Island Express
This Super Cute Dung Beetle Adventure Game Finally Has A Release Date
Sophie Kasaei free's the nipple
Geordie Shore's Sophie Kasaei Frees The Nipple In White Lace Bralette And Double Denim Ensemble
Holly Hagan Channels Dirrty Era Christina Aguilera In Bottomless Leather Chaps
Every Type Of Ear Piercing You Can Get
Louisa - YES - Music Video
Louisa Talks 'YES', Partying & LA In MTV Laid Bare
Rihanna’s Lingerie Line Looks Set To Be Size Inclusive
Beyonce Attempts To Lift Solange Up At Coachella And It Ends In An Epic On-Stage Fall
KJ Apa Performed At Coachella And Riverdale Fans Loved Every Second
7 Ways To Tackle Hormonal Acne Outbreaks
MTV Staff Share Their Tried And Tested Daily Skincare Routines
Teen Mom UK Episode 7 Spoiler Video: Chloe Patton And Jordan Edwards Argue About Cleaning In Their New Home: ‘When Do I Get A Break?’
Shawn Mendes Reveals He Spoke To A Therapist About His Anxiety

More From Travel

Taipei
8 Reasons Taipei Is Holiday Goals
Taipei
Travel
8 Reasons To Visit Taipei | MTV Travel
Reggae, Raves And Ice Caves: The Low-Down On Snowbombing Festival 2018
Travel
Alpine Adventure In Lake Tahoe | MTV Travel
6 Ways To Experience Luxury And Adventure In Oman
Travel
Ski, Don't Sleep, Rave, Repeat: A Week At Snowboxx Festival 2018
South Lake Tahoe
7 Reasons Why South Lake Tahoe Is A Californian Must
Travel
Explore Oman: Where Luxury Meets Adventure | MTV Travel
Travel
We Partied Like A VIP At Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE And It Was The Ultimate Beach Rave Mash-Up | MTV Travel
7 Of The Top Snow Festivals From Around The World
Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort
Sport, Spas & Spices: 5 Reasons A Luxury Portugal Getaway Is The Dream Vacay
Avoid The Festival Crowds With A Luxury Party Cruise Around The Mediterranean

Trending Articles

Sophie Kasaei free's the nipple
Geordie Shore's Sophie Kasaei Frees The Nipple In White Lace Bralette And Double Denim Ensemble
TV Shows
Ex On The Beach Spoiler: Becky Taylor Finds Out About Ex Zach Tull’s Filthy Shower Sex After He And Laura Brown Confess All To Marnie Simpson And Casey Johnson
Charlotte Crosby hints that Joshua Ritchie is her true love after posting a page from a self-help book about love
Charlotte Crosby Drops A Massive Hint That New Boyfriend Joshua Ritchie Is Her ‘True Love’
Niall Horan has revealed that he has 'mild' OCD
Niall Horan Reveals ‘Mild’ Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Diagnosis
Fans Are Losing It Over Nathan Henry’s Incredible Peach In This Geordie Shore Shot
Holly Hagan Channels Dirrty Era Christina Aguilera In Bottomless Leather Chaps
Chloe Ferry Promises She’ll Love Boyfriend Sam Gowland ‘For The Rest Of Her Life’
Teen Mom UK Episode 7 Spoiler Video: Chloe Patton And Jordan Edwards Argue About Cleaning In Their New Home: ‘When Do I Get A Break?’
Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson's love timeline
Tristan Thompson Reportedly Cheated On Khloe Kardashian Using Instagram
Rihanna’s Lingerie Line Looks Set To Be Size Inclusive
Watch Marnie Simpson Squirm In Horror As She Faces Ricky Rayment For The First Time Since Their Split
Avicii
Avicii Songs Re-Enter UK Top 40 Following His Death
  • Contact Us
  • Access Services
  • Website Terms
  • Mobile Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • MTV Jobs
  • MTV Press
  • Anti-Slavery
  • Global Tax Policy Statement
Hit us with some keywords!