In the far south of Laos, the mighty Mekong weaves through a maze of islands, large and small, and thunders through rocky channels to form the largest waterfalls in Southeast Asia. Spanning the river at more than a kilometre wide, this raging beauty presents an awesome sight. At Khong Papheng Falls, spray lingers in the air from seething waters churning through large clefts of rock. At Liphi Falls, a thrilling zip line allows you to soar and see the falls from above. This is all part of the idyllic region known as Siphandon (4,000 Islands), a laid-back recreational zone with minimal tourist impact as yet.

• Tags: Issue 18, Laos, Mekong River, Michael Buckley, Thailand