Hin Nam No National Protected Area is a natural wonder, located in south-central Laos on the border with Vietnam. The region was formed from an ocean floor during the Paleozoic era more than 400 million years ago. Its jagged karst peaks and ridges reach 300 metres in height and jut out of a flat plain of lush forest and winding rivers.
Last July, the area — which joins with Vietnam’s Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park — was designated as the fourth UNESCO World Heritage site in Laos.
“It’s a stunningly beautiful landscape,” says Australian archaeologist Daniel Davenport as he speeds his battered Land Cruiser through muddy puddles. It’s also challenging terrain — especially during the wet season that lasts from May to October. Roads are swallowed by rivers, and are only passable by way of small ferries that barely accommodate Davenport’s vehicle.