‘Zip’ over the unspoilt jungles of Laos

Soar through the jungle canopy, traversing an exhilarating course of ziplines and suspended walkways. Watch the treetops, the jungle floor and the magnificent Kamet waterfalls whiz by, then having flown over what feels like the entire valley, drop in at the treehouse to spend the night.

Getting from place to place in Laos is always interesting, from drives that snake up into the mountains, to scenic river journeys, to pedalling through remote villages. But a zipline? In the case of Dong Hung Sao National Park, it makes perfect sense. At ground level, the park is a virtually inaccessible landscape of dense vegetation, deep ravines and craggy outcrops to confound all but the most sure-footed locals. Gliding over the tree-tops is a thrilling and innovative solution that also helps preserve the jungle that flashes beneath your feet.

It’s suited to anyone with a reasonable level of fitness, from first timers to experienced flying foxers, and you’ll start with a full safety briefing before taking a walk through the coffee plantations and vegetable gardens into the forest. Slip in amongst the trees that fill the steep river valley and look out for a swaying canopy walkway high in the branches. Then, take a deep breath, and step out…

The walkway leads to the first of many zip lines connected by short treks, abseils and canopy walks. Keep your eyes open as you soar over the layers of green to the multi-tiered cascade of the Kamet falls plunging 120 metres to the river basin below. Eventually you’ll zipline into the Jungle Tree House - a forest lodge of six basic but comfortable opensided treehouses suspended above the forest floor. Relax in the riverside restaurant and bar before retiring to drift off to sleep to the sounds of the forest.

The focus of this zipline is not just on thrilling travellers but on wider benefits, including using indigenous materials, generating electricity from a waterfall powered turbine, sourcing food from local villages and offering local people sustainable employment. Beyond those thrilling ziplines are other ways to test your head for heights too. Climb a short but nerve-testing via ferrata of metal rungs set into a steep rock wall, and picnic on one of the region's highest peaks, with views reaching over to neighbouring Thailand.