Book your air tickets and lace up your running shoes—the second edition of the Luang Prabang Half Marathon in Laos is set to take place on October 12 this year. 

The half marathon has got to be one of the most picturesque races around—Luang Prabang is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the race route will take runners past more than 10 ancient temples and scenic rivers. Plus, you'll get to see Buddhist monks finishing their morning alms collection at the start of the event. On top of that, you'll also be racing for a good cause—all proceeds will go towards the construction of a specialist children's hospital in Luang Prabang. 

The race is still some months away, but you can already start registering (USD200 upwards, which goes straight to charity) here. Then, proceed to make your travel plans—we recommend catching a flight to Bangkok, before connecting to Luang Prabang via Bangkok Air or Lao Air.