Experience a cookery demonstration with one of Laos' finest chefs to learn more about the delights of Laotian cuisine. This can be arranged in Luang Prabang or Vientiane.

If few people travel to Laos, even fewer make it to the remote northern mountains; a jungle-clad area that could offer stiff competition in Laos’ beauty contest. On the banks of the Nam Pak River awaits Muang La with swish accommodation, thermal spas and top-class restaurant - so far, so luxury resort? Not so. As well as being a stunning place to stay, the resort has access to unique cultural experiences with local guides taking guests to nearby villages to learn about the Khmu, Hmong and Ikhos communities.

Get connected to local Laotian village life by staying with Ms Kham and her family in their traditional, wooden stilted house on the banks of the Nam Ou River.

Situated beneath the gentle hills outside Luang Prabang, you’ll have the chance to soak up the atmosphere of the village and its surrounding terraced rice fields as you swing in a hammock under the house.

Settle into a night in the jungle in your very own ‘nest’: a simple yet cosy bamboo bubble partly suspended above the forest floor. Snuggle down after a challenging day’s trekking and let the gentle sway of the canopy rock you to sleep, with the sounds of the tree-dwellers as your lullaby.

Fly through the jungle canopy like a long-armed gibbon and spend the night in the treetops in an eco-friendly treehouse. This is one of those experiences you will never forget.

Savour a taste of Lao country life, and some delicious coffee, as you criss-cross the rural heartland in an ex-army jeep. Your guide, and barista, is Mr Khamsone Suvannakhily, who is a passionate advocate for the local brew, the Bolaven Plateau itself, and the many communities who call it home.