Where to go in Laos in June

Head up north - Luang Namtha and surrounds.

Two recommendations:

Trek out of Muang Long up in the NW (google muang long tourism for a local fantastic well-known guide). Excellent hiking, remote villages, calm atmosphere.

Take a few days in Phonsavan and the Plain of Jars. Hang with the Jars at site #2 and 3 (few visitors) - dawn and/or dusk. Prepare to hear spirits in this unique setting (Pine trees in Laos??). History is everywhere - ancient and modern. Visit the tiny town of Napia while you're there. Do more than the minimum.

There is good kayaking in the Nam Ha NPA, and you can organise trips at several agents in Luang Namtha town which is just an hour away from the Nam Ha NPA entrance.If you are headed north up to M. Long as suggested above then you will pass through Namtha anyway.

Thanks for much for the recommends. They are much appreciated!

Sorry, I should have expanded on my recommendation. I'm also in my (early) 40s and spent about three weeks in Laos last year. I loved Luang Namtha as there's lots you can do there. You can hire a bike and cycle on your own or do an organised tour by joining a group. Muang Sing is just a local bus ride away and is smaller. Luang Namtha also has a great night market, too.

Of course you will want to visit Luang Prabang and Vientiane.

I also really enjoyed Thakkek for a couple of days - there's lots of caves there and it's easy to hire yourself a vehicle (can't remember the name of them) to take you on a day tour. You can stop there on the way between Vientiane and Pakse if you're heading that way.

Thanks for the info Julie! I am wondering if starting from Luang Prabang, heading north and then south is too much for three weeks? I'm not in a hurry but I would like to to go Luang Namtha and Muang Long and perhaps see the Jar Sites as well. Is this too much to do in three weeks(well, 18 days to be exact)? I have yet to get a return ticket from Laos to Cambodia, so I'm trying to find a route that won't have me rushing around and backtracking a lot. Thoughts?

You may be pushing it to include both the Plain of Jars and Luang Namtha, as they are in different directions of the north. But if you stick to Namtha and surrounds (or Plain of Jars area), Luang Prabang, Vientiane and the South you should have no problems in 3 weeks if you don't want to rush.

Luang Prabang, Luang Namtha and Vientiane were all musts in my mind. Although you can strike the latter off if you don't have time.

Personally I think you can do it in 18 days without it being too rushed. The buses are slow, but the country is not massive so you can get around from place to place pretty easily.

I got drawn into Luang Prabang - although there isn't a vast amount to do there, the place is so pretty and relaxing that I ended up staying in the town for 10 days, when I intended to stay for just 3 or 4!

Definitely my favourite country in the region.

Enjoy the trip.