There are a variety of water and sport activities that not only provide good exercise but also often give a good perspective of native village life and also an emersion with nature.

Kayaking tours provide travelers will direct glimpses into certain small Laotian Villages. For instance, one can visit the ethnic villages in Nothern Laos of the Khmu and Hmong. The Khmu live at lower altitutdes than the Hmong who live amongst the mountains. These villages are composed on hut tents on stilts, where chickens and children roam around; though the first thing one notices is the simple life lived here. Though there are no tvs or running water, these villagers are generally very friendly to tourists and children will laugh and play with tourists as well. That is the most prominent difference between Laos and other countries in South East Asia. Here tourism and foreigners are still concepts and thus, there is really a possibility to see how this life is, without the scene looking choreographed. There is a certain naitivite about Laos that all visitors should cherish.

Climbing Gecko mountain is a good activity for the adventurous, as the mountain rests o on the cliffs off of the Mekong. Thus, one can take a 25 minute boat ride to the mountain and climb over the treetops.

Others may pefer to escape waterfalls, such as the Kuang Si and Tad Se, to swim, relax and beat the heat. It is also popular to picnic there on a full-day tour with guides.