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Destinations

Laos

Mekong life, gilded temples and limestone karsts

culturenatureslow travelvalue
Plan your trip to LaosSee the top things to doPick your cities
7.8 millionPeople
VientianeCapital
LaoLanguage
LAKCurrency
7 to 14 daysIdeal stay
$60-120Typical day

Laos is a quiet, landlocked country of mountains, rivers and Buddhist temples along the Mekong. Luang Prabang's saffron robed monks and temple lined streets are the highlight, while Vang Vieng's karst scenery and the 4,000 Islands in the south offer outdoor time. The pace is slow and the people gentle. It suits travellers who want calm, nature and culture at low cost.

Where to start

Top 15 things to do

Tap a card or a pin. Add a place to a day of your trip, or look for tours.

  1. A small town on a peninsula between the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, filled with temples and French colonial buildings. It is the most popular place in Laos.

    2 to 4 daysTime needed
    book stays in high seasonBook ahead
    Tip. Climb Mount Phousi for sunset over the rivers.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  2. Luang Prabang's most beautiful temple, with sweeping roofs and a glittering mosaic tree of life. It dates from the 16th century.

    1 hourTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Visit early in the morning before tour groups.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  3. At dawn, monks walk the streets collecting offerings of sticky rice. It is a sacred daily ritual, not a show.

    1 hourTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Watch quietly from a distance and never use flash photography.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  4. A series of turquoise pools and waterfalls in the forest. A bear rescue centre sits near the entrance.

    Half dayTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Go early in the morning for the best light and fewer people.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  5. Two caves in a cliff above the Mekong filled with thousands of Buddha statues. They are reached by boat.

    Half dayTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Combine the boat trip with a weaving village stop.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  6. A town surrounded by limestone karsts, caves and lagoons along the Nam Song River. Tubing, kayaking and hot air balloon rides are popular.

    2 to 3 daysTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Choose reputable operators and avoid alcohol on the river.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  7. A turquoise swimming hole near Vang Vieng with a jumping tree and nearby cave. Several lagoons are signposted.

    Half dayTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Visit Tham Phu Kham cave next to the main lagoon.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  8. Fields scattered with hundreds of ancient stone jars of uncertain purpose. The area was heavily bombed during the Vietnam War.

    1 to 2 daysTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Stay on marked paths because of unexploded ordnance.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  9. A gold stupa that is the national symbol of Laos. It hosts a major festival each November.

    1 hourTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Visit at sunset when the gold glows.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  10. A centre explaining the impact of unexploded bombs in Laos and supporting prosthetics for survivors. It is moving and important.

    1 hourTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Leave a donation to support the work.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  11. A Khmer temple complex on a hillside, older than Angkor Wat. It overlooks the Mekong plains.

    Half dayTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Visit early to climb before the heat.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  12. A scattering of river islands in the Mekong near the Cambodian border. Hammocks, cycling and waterfalls make it relaxing.

    2 to 4 daysTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Rent a bicycle on Don Det or Don Khon.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  13. The largest waterfall by volume in Southeast Asia, where the Mekong tumbles over rocks. It is near the 4,000 Islands.

    2 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Visit in the late afternoon for softer light.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  14. A cool upland of coffee plantations and big waterfalls such as Tad Fane. Many visitors loop it by motorbike.

    2 to 3 daysTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Stay at a coffee farm and join a tasting.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  15. A riverside village surrounded by limestone peaks on the Nam Ou. Viewpoint hikes and boat trips are highlights.

    2 to 3 daysTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Hike to the Pha Daeng viewpoint for sunrise.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Pins from OpenStreetMap search; check a place before you go.
Not on the map: Bolaven Plateau.
Make it yours

Turn Laos into your plan

Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it: pick cities, add places to days, see the weather for your dates.

Plan day by dayAdd any place here to a day of your trip, with times and costs.
Bookings from emailForward flight and hotel confirmations. They land in your trip.
Weather for your datesForecast and usual weather for your exact days, in your units.
Share with your peopleInvite family or friends, split costs, keep one plan.
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Pick your bases

Cities to visit

Each city with a guide opens its own page: map, where to stay, what to eat.

Luang Prabang松岡明芳, CC BY-SA 3.0
3 nights suggested

Temples, monks and riverside calm.

culture, history, gateway · Open the city guide
Vang ViengTango7174, CC BY-SA 4.0
2 nights suggested

Karst scenery and adventure.

adventure, nature · Guide coming
VientianeJakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0
2 nights suggested

Relaxed capital on the Mekong.

culture, gateway · Guide coming
PakseAdam Carr of English Wikipedia, Public domain
1 nights suggested

Southern hub for Vat Phou and the plateau.

gateway · Guide coming
Nong KhiawEkrem Canli, CC BY-SA 4.0
2 nights suggested

Mountain river village.

nature, hiking · Guide coming
PhonsavanTorbenbrinker, CC BY-SA 3.0
1 nights suggested

Plain of Jars base.

history · Guide coming
Don Det (Si Phan Don)Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0
2 nights suggested

Slow island life on the Mekong.

relaxing, river · Guide coming
SavannakhetChaoborus, CC BY-SA 3.0
1 nights suggested

Quiet Mekong town with colonial buildings.

architecture, off the path · Guide coming
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Know the map

Regions

North

Mountains, rivers and the old royal capital.

Luang Prabang, Nong Khiaw, Kuang Si Falls

Central

The capital and karst country.

Vientiane, Vang Vieng

Xiengkhouang

Highland plateau and mysterious jars.

Plain of Jars, Phonsavan

South

Mekong islands, temples and coffee country.

Vat Phou, Si Phan Don, Bolaven Plateau

Northern Laos

Mountains, rivers and the cultural heart.

Luang Prabang, Nong Khiaw, Vang Vieng

Vientiane and the centre

The capital region and Mekong plains.

Vientiane, Buddha Park, Pha That Luang

Short on time?

Ready-made routes

Choose how long you have, then add the whole route to a trip as places and nights.

  1. Vientiane, 1 nightsTemples and COPE.
  2. Vang Vieng, 2 nightsKarsts and lagoons.
  3. Luang Prabang, 4 nightsTemples, alms giving and Kuang Si.
Plan your dates

Seasons and weather

Best: November to February. The cool dry season brings comfortable temperatures and clear skies.

March to May is hot and hazy from agricultural burning, and the rainy season from May to October makes some roads difficult but rivers full and landscapes green.

Busy and pricey. November to February. High season: crowds and the highest hotel prices. Book ahead.
Shoulder. October and March. Good weather with fewer people and better prices.
Quiet and cheaper. April to September, hot then rainy. Low season: lowest prices and few crowds, but shorter days and some places closed.

January. Busy season. Higher prices, bigger crowds.

Usual weather in Luang Prabang

Temperature

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

0.00.81.62.43.13.94.75.56.37.17.98.79.4JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

78°F daily high, 66°F average, 0.6 in

  • Warmest month April (91°F)
  • Coolest month December (65°F)
  • Wettest month August (9.2 in)
  • Driest month February (0.2 in)

Average of past years from NASA POWER, worked out at each city's position. A place far from these cities can be quite different.

Going on specific dates? A Hodolog trip shows the forecast and the usual weather for your exact days. Request access
Know before you go

At a glance

3/5
Safety

The US State Department rates Laos Level 2 (exercise increased caution) for unrest, crime and other risks, and unexploded ordnance remains a hazard in rural areas, so stay on marked paths.

3/5
Getting around

The Laos China railway links Vientiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang quickly, but other roads are slow and winding.

5/5
Value

Laos is one of the cheapest countries in the region.

Good to know

Entry with your passport

Entry rules depend on your passport. Members see the rules for their own passport here.

Passport and visa rules change often and without notice. Always check the official pages before you book and again before you travel.

EntryCheck visa and entry rules on the official Lao eVisa website (https://laoevisa.gov.la/index) and on your own government's travel advice before you go, as rules can change.
PlugsType A, B, C, E, F; 230 V
Tap waternot safe
TippingTipping is not traditional, but small tips for good service are welcome.
PaymentsCash in kip is needed almost everywhere, with cards accepted only at larger hotels and some restaurants.
Emergency1191 police, 1195 ambulance, 1190 fire
EtiquetteRemove shoes before entering temples and homes, and never touch a person's head. Women should not touch monks or hand items directly to them. Keep calm and avoid raising your voice, which causes loss of face.
What to wearCover shoulders and knees in temples, and dress modestly in towns.
DrivingOn the right
Between citiesThe Laos China railway connects Vientiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang in a few hours. Domestic flights reach Pakse and Phonsavan, while buses and minivans cover other routes on slow roads. Slow boats on the Mekong link Luang Prabang with the Thai border.
Main airportsVTE, LPQ, PKZ
Ride appsLoca, LaoGo
Taste it

What to eat

LarbSticky riceTam mak hoong (papaya salad)Khao piak senMok pa (steamed fish)BeerlaoLao coffeeLaap

A short history

The kingdom of Lan Xang, founded in the 14th century, was one of the largest in Southeast Asia, with Luang Prabang as its early capital. Later the region fell under Siamese influence and then became part of French Indochina. During the Vietnam War, Laos was heavily bombed, and unexploded ordnance remains a problem today. Since 1975 it has been a one party communist state, the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Laos