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Although Laos is a lot less visited than its neighbors, it is definitely a beautiful, friendly and exotic country that deserves a spot in every traveler’s list. This landlocked country is steeped in nature, culture, history, and religion. Its beauty lies in its landscape featuring incredible karst and limestone mountains, lush jungles, hidden caves, terraced rice paddies, and lovely hill tribe villages. Top these off with top-notch food, majestic temples, and exhilarating adventures like cave tubing, trekking, rock climbing, and kayaking, Laos can then be considered as one of the most beautiful and interesting countries in Southeast Asia.
This travel guide will walk you through the best places to visit, how to get around, where to stay, what food to try, among other travel essentials. It will also help you plan the best trip so you can get the most out of this amazing country!
The different ethnicities of Laos use more than 80 languages. However, the official and most widely spoken is Lao, which is sometimes referred to as Laotian. It is closely associated with Thai, so much so that if you can speak Thai, you will be able to get by in the country just fine. Many of the locals speak a little English, so even if you don’t know Thai, you will still be able to manage on your own during your visit. They are also quite fluent in French. In fact, Laos is home to the second biggest Francophone population in Southeast Asia.
Getting a visa for Laos is easy and convenient. You can get a visa directly upon arriving at the airport or on arrival at one of the land border posts. All you need to do is fill in a form, pay, and you’ll receive a 30-day tourist visa. Citizens of ASEAN member states, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and Switzerland can get a free visa on arrival.
The tourist visa costs $30 to $42, depending on which country you’re from. The visa on arrival process is straightforward and won’t take more than 10 minutes. Please note that you’ll need a passport with at least 6 months validity, two photos in passport format, and a visa application sheet that you can get right at the border.
Make sure you save the slip that serves as an exit form. You’ll fill it out and turn it in upon leaving Laos. If you wish to seek an extension for your tourist visa, simply show up at one of the Immigration Offices in Vientiane or Luang Prabang.
In July last year, Laos launched its tourist eVisa service, a move that the government said will make it more convenient for tourists planning to visit the country. Here is the link to the official website for the eVisa application: https://laoevisa.gov.la
The eVisa is applicable for visitors entering Laos through Wattay International Airport, Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge I, Luang Prabang International Airport, Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge II, and Pakse International Airport. The visa is valid only for a single visit. You can file for a 30-day tourist visa online with pre-payment via credit card. You’ll need to upload a copy of your passport bio page, a recent photo measuring 4 x 6 cm in jpeg or png file format. Both files must not exceed 2 MB.
After processing your application, a QR code approval will be sent to you via email. Print it for presentation to immigration officials at the checkpoints. Make sure that the QR code is clearly readable. It takes one to three days to receive the approval notification email. Payment can be made with VISA, JCB, MasterCard, and UnionPay.
This packing list will help you bring along the right clothing, footwear, and other essential items to make your travel enjoyable in this fascinating and fast-developing country.
Laos is frequently part of a wider trip to the southeast so most tourists prefer to travel there overland. Laos has more than a dozen international overland border crossings. They allow overland travel from Cambodia (via one crossing), Vietnam (via six crossings), and Thailand (via seven crossings).
To date, there are still no direct flights to Laos from outside of Asia, so most travelers fly via Bangkok, from where it takes more than an hour to reach Vientiane, and roughly two hours to reach Luang Prabang. Connecting flights are also possible from Kunming (China), Siem Reap (Cambodia), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), and Chiang Mai and Udon Thani (Thailand).
With year-round attractions, there is really no right or wrong time to go. Regardless of the time of year, you plan to travel to Laos, you’ll learn that each season paints this wonderful nation in a different color. However, for the coolest weather and for getting the best out of the outdoor adventures, the best time to visit is November to January.
During this period, the temperature seldom rises above 26°C and there is little to no rain. It is also the best time for river travel as high water levels from the previous months’ rainfall make passage easy along the mighty Mekong River, Laos’ main waterway. You can also go tubing and swimming in rivers and waterfalls, or explore the mystical Buddhist shrines and enigmatic caves.
Normally, the weather is at its coldest in the northern and eastern sections of the country during this time. Vientiane and Luang Prabang see average temperatures of 24°C, while other parts of the southern region rise to around 30°C.
In general, the cool season runs from October to February. The warmest months are March, April, and May (with temperatures as high as 40°C), and from May to June the rainy season starts.
The capital and biggest city in Laos is packed with national monuments and majestic temples, like the Pha That Luang (Great Stupa), Haw Phra Kaew, and the Wat Sisaket. While in this laid back city, make sure to drop by Buddha Park, a garden littered with giant Buddha statues. Vientiane is the most cosmopolitan city in Laos, and you will find bustling markets and a burgeoning foodie scene here.
Vang Vieng is a small town that sits in a perfect spot between Vientiane and Luang Prabang. It is located along the banks of the Nam Song river and is best known as the best site for tubing. You just need to rent a tube for 55,000 kip (~$7) plus 60,000 kip deposit (~$7.50) and enjoy the stunning scenery from the comfort of a river inflatable.
About a decade ago tubing in Vang Vieng was crazy, even fatal. After mounting fatalities that were related to alcohol abuse, drugs, and minimal safety precautions, the government cracked down on the scores of backpackers partying in the idyllic town. Today, while tubing is still one huge party, it is also gradually rebranding itself as a premier adventure activity.
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