Laos is a little tranquillity in the heart of South-east Asia, sandwiched between Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Footprint's 6th edition Laos Handbook has been completely revised and updated and provides everything needed to make the most of this peaceful and beautiful country. From hiring bikes and exploring the '4,000 islands' in the south, going high-speed down the Mekong in a rubber tube, seeking out some amazing French bakeries in Vientiane or trekking deep into the mountains.

With fantastic listings on how to do all these, plus the necessaries on where to eat, sleep and drink this guidebook is essential if you want to experience this beautiful country for yourself. The guide opens with a colour section of inspirational photographs and advice to help you plan your trip giving you a flavour of the best things to see and do. The guide suggests itineraries for one-two week trips and for three-four week trips.

The Essentials section provides great advice on how to get there and how to get around as well as information on sleeping, eating, drinking and shopping helping you plan your trip as well as advising you on the ground. The heart of the guide is broken in to the key regions of Laos - Vientiane, The North, Central, The South - and gives you comprehensive information on each of the regions. Each regional section has an overview map, local information on how to get around with transport and street maps where relevant, a short history of the region, thorough advice on what to see and do and a directory of key local information on banks, embassies, internet cafes, medical and even laundry services.