The Plain of Jars

The Plain of Jars, spread across the highland plains around Phonsavan in central Laos, is one of the most intriguing and mysterious archaeological sites in Asia, a UNESCO landscape scattered with thousands of enormous, ancient stone jars. Carved from solid rock over two thousand years ago and ranging up to three metres tall, their true purpose remains unknown, though they are thought to have been used in ancient burial practices, standing in enigmatic clusters across the rolling grassland.

What you actually see

• The stone jars - the thousands of giant ancient jars in clusters.
• The main jar sites - the accessible cleared sites near Phonsavan.
• The mystery - the unexplained purpose of the jars.
• The highland setting - the rolling grassland plains.

When to go

November to March, the cool dry season, for the best weather in the highlands, which can be chilly; the cleared sites are visited on foot, and a local guide adds context to the mysterious jars.

Honest expectations

It is remote, reached by a flight or long road to Phonsavan, and the jars, while intriguing, are an enigmatic archaeological curiosity spread across several sites rather than a single dramatic monument. Crucially, the region was heavily bombed in the Indochina war and still holds unexploded ordnance, so visitors must stick strictly to the cleared, marked paths at the sites for safety.

Nearby

The town of Phonsavan and the war-history sites of the region are nearby.