Pak Ou Caves - Just a Couple Hours Upriver From Luang Prabang, Laos

After negotiating with a boat captain outside the stunning Wat Xiengthong, we embarked on a scenic several-hour journey up the legendary Mekong River to reach the famous Pak Ou Caves.

Little did we know that "a short climb" actually translates to "prepare your legs for the stairway to Buddha heaven!" The ancient limestone caves are packed with literally thousands of Buddha statues—and I mean THOUSANDS. Every nook, cranny, and shadowy corner is filled with golden Buddhas of every size imaginable, creating the world's most overwhelming spiritual statue collection.

By the time you reach the upper cave, you've seen so many serene Buddha faces that they start blending into one giant meditative blur. It's like a holy game of "Where's Waldo" except every Waldo is enlightened and your calves are screaming from the endless stone steps.

Worth the journey? Absolutely. Will your legs ever forgive you? That's between you and your quads!