As many of you already know, Laos is a country that we are very fond of, as it was the destination of the first trip we made together, and the one of which we started writing the blog, back in 2008. We have visited it on a couple of occasions, and we have been gathering all the information that we believe is necessary to go on a backpacking trip.
The second time, we did a motorbike tour in the north, an experience that was even more fun because we took Songkran, the cat we adopted in Malaysia, with us.
We never tire of recommending Laos, but don’t expect to find a country similar to its Southeast Asian neighbors, as it is very quiet and more rural, a destination not suitable for those looking for a party, without beaches, but it is the ideal place for those who want to get away from the tourist crowds, where not even the popular Luang Prabang becomes overwhelming…
For all those who are planning their next trip and are interested in knowing more, below we present the guide to Laos with a backpack.
Most EU countries together with united Kingdom, United States and Australia won’t need to process a visa in advance. Laos offers a visa on arrival, you will only need a valid passport, a few other requirements and the money ($35). We tell you everything in Visa for Laos, how to get it quickly. (coming soon)
If you are thinking about taking a trip to Laos, we are sure that you have already started looking for flights to this country to get an idea of the range of the prices. Ideally, you should enter through Thailand and then cross the border, so you will find cheaper flights to Bangkok than to Vientiane.
It’s essential to travel to Laos with comprehensive insurance. We were among the first to offer the popular 5% IATI discount, and you can now get it with Heymondo Travel Insurance as well. You can find more information about both companies through the links provided above, or you can access the discount directly using the buttons below (in both cases, you’ll see the reduced final price on their website):
Is it safe to travel to Laos with small children? Given that it is a less touristy, more humble country with less developed infrastructure than its neighbors, it’s natural to question the safety and whether it’s a good idea to visit this destination with kids.
We wouldn’t recommend hopping on a rickety bus and heading to the most remote villages as a family, as the roads in many areas leave much to be desired. However, in recent years, Laos has introduced the Laos-China Railway, which connects popular destinations like Luang Prabang, Vientiane, and Vang Vieng. This is a fast—and most importantly—safe way to travel with the whole family.
Regarding the issue of mosquitoes and the diseases they can transmit, it’s best to visit the country (and the region in general) during the dry season, when mosquitoes are less prevalent and the risk is significantly reduced.
If you’re concerned about food, you’ll be happy to know that Laos offers a rich variety of local cuisine, dishes influenced by the French, and international restaurants. By sticking to local staples like fried rice, sticky rice, noodles, and typical street snacks, you’ll easily find something suitable for the whole family.
If you’re still unsure about traveling with your children, you might find one of the following articles helpful:
Laos has a tropical climate, and the best time to visit the country depends on your preferences regarding weather and activities. Generally, there are three distinct seasons in Laos: cool season, warm season, and rainy season.
While many hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants in Laos offer free Wi-Fi, some travelers prefer or need a constant connection. We’ve included details on obtaining a eSIM Laos card with unlimited data. If you want to get one directly, use the following link (with a discount):
Certain vaccines are recommended depending on the type of trip and the duration of your stay.
The best approach is to schedule an appointment at an international vaccination center well in advance, as waiting lists can be long. There, specialized doctors can advise you, answer all your questions, and provide tailored recommendations. In addition, they will give you essential information on preparing your first aid kit and preventing diseases with basic precautions.
Knowledge is power—once you have all the necessary information, you’ll be able to make the best decision for your trip.
The capital of Laos is not a place we had fond memories of from our first visit, but the fact that we were “stuck” in Vientiane the second time (we had to wait for a visa) meant that we ended up finding our spot.
The Patuxai or triumphal arch, the Pha That Luang, a walk along the river, seeing many temples, eating lots of bread and drinking lots of wine. As you can see, although it is not a marvel, it is enough to spend one day in Vientiane. In our opinion, there is no need to spend more time here.
At the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Kha rivers lies one of the most beautiful and charming cities in all of Southeast Asia: Luang Prabang.
It is a must-see, because it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995, and every day monks, locals and tourists walk through its streets full of temples and colonial houses or enjoy its restaurants and charming accommodations.
And, if the center of Luang Prabang is culture and history, its surroundings are pure nature and adventure: sailing on the Mekong or swimming in waterfalls will be the only activities that will speed up your pace a little.
The first time, we completely ignored it and passed by because of its bad reputation, and, eight years later, when we decided to give it a chance, we realized that not visiting this town had been a mistake.
There are many things to see in Vang Vieng, beginning with the spectacular landscape of its surroundings that fascinated us when we arrived on the motorbike and its numerous caves and lakes kept us entertained for a whole day.
River tubing is still practiced, although with much more control to avoid dangerous situations, and there is practically no trace left of the excessive tourism that once made it so famous.
In the north of Laos, nestled in a bend of the Nam Ou River, lies the small town of Nong Khiaw. Although the town itself is nothing more than a handful of houses and some accommodation for travelers placed beside the river, it stands out for its location, in the middle of limestone mountains that give it a fairy-tale appearance.
The best option is to rent a bike and ride around the outskirts, where, among other things, you can find caves. From there you can sail to Muang Ngoi, in the same village you will find an agency where you can book the trip.
Pakse is a good place to stop off to explore the surrounding area and Champasak province. It is the starting point for visiting the Khmer ruins Wat Phu, the Bolaven Plateau and the 4,000 Islands, so it is easy to rent a motorbike from there, and there is a wide range of accommodation options. It is a small, welcoming town, although it does not have any special charm.
Savannakhet was a complete surprise for us, as we were not expecting anything from this city, which we only visited to cross the border back to Thailand.
However, it managed to extend our stay for a couple of days, during which we spent time walking through its streets of colonial architecture, seeing some temples and even some churches.
The most relaxed place in Laos is undoubtedly the “archipelago” of 4,000 islands in the middle of the Mekong River, in the south of the country. Known as Si Phan Don, this group of small islands adapted to backpacking tourism offers days of total relaxation.
There are only a few things to do once you have circled the island you are on: cycling through the rice fields, looking at the river on its way to Cambodia, reading in a hammock or eating a pizza with a special ingredient… The biggest ones are Don Det, Don Khon and Don Khong.
One of the most popular activities in northern Laos is hiking and getting to know the flora, fauna and ethnic groups that inhabit the region. The Luang Nam Tha area specializes in organizing one (or multi) day treks where you can sleep and get to know the villages you come across in depth, something that has been growing in popularity over the last few years.
We did it from Vieng Phouka and, even though it was tough and we had to fight with leeches, we really enjoyed walking through those mountains.
In the center of Laos, halfway between Vientiane and Savannakhet, lies Kong Lor, a tiny village where some travelers come to visit an extraordinary cave of the same name, through which a 7km underground river runs in absolute darkness.
Don’t miss Kong Lor, a seven-kilometer-long cave with an underground river in Laos. (coming soon)
An entertaining and original way to get to Luang Prabang from Huay Xai is by sailing along the Mekong, sharing a spot on the boat with many more people and a lot of merchandise that will crush you if you are not careful.
But there is nothing like enjoying watching the river life and its people. Normally it is done in 2 days, and you spend the night in Pak Beng. Here you can read about the first stage and the second one. (coming soon)
Our second visit to Laos was on a Honda CB500X that we rented in Chiang Mai, an authentic way to travel around the country that gave us complete freedom to move around.
You can find all the information published in the article Motorcycle route through Laos: how to cross the border on a motorcycle, descriptions of the sections, number of kilometers, difficulty of the day…
Sometimes Thailand doesn’t give you any problems, but then in Laos you are not allowed to bring your motorcycle in. There is a bridge, the Friendship Bridge IV, which can be crossed without any problems (for now), and is located a short distance away.
This is the one we chose, and if you want to know the necessary steps, you have everything in the article How to Cross the Laos Border by Motorcycle from Thailand. (coming soon)
In Laos, there is not the wide range of accommodation that you can find in Thailand or Vietnam, for example. However, it is easy to find hostels that are affordable, but very modest. We stayed in double rooms with private bathrooms that cost between 50,000 and 120,000 kips. Here are some examples:
Our strategy was always to “book the first night and then find hotels as we go,” but as tourism has grown, so have the number of new hotels and “fully booked” signs, as well as new booking websites. The advantage now is that, with just a click, you have a wide selection of hotels and guesthouses to choose from before you even arrive at your destination.
We recommend using platforms like Booking.com or Agoda.com, which are very popular in Asian countries like Laos.
Since there is no railway, most of the travel in Laos will be by road, bus or minivan. We do not have updated prices, because the last time we did the whole route by motorbike, and our first visit was almost 10 years ago, so it would not make sense to put prices. But traveling locally is always a cheap and affordable option.
The official currency of Laos is the Lao kip (LAK), although in the capital and many other cities you can also use the Thai baht and the US dollar without any problem. In rural areas or less populated areas, it is advisable to carry kips as well for small transactions, and to carry smaller denomination notes to avoid exchange problems.
Food: The cheapest way to eat is in the simple restaurants frequented by locals, or at market stalls. In these places you can always eat a good plate of rice (15,000 kip approx.), a soup, or some noodles. Our food budget was very varied, but we usually paid around 40,000-50,000 kip per person. Keep in mind that a beer always increases the budget…
Drink: The ever-present Beer Lao, you’ll find it in every single place you stop, whether it’s a seedy joint in the middle of a road or the most luxurious restaurant in Luang Prabang. Obviously, it doesn’t cost the same everywhere, and the price ranges from 10,000 kips to whatever they want to charge you.
Click on the image and it will take you to a new Google Maps window with all the points of interest to travel around Laos.
