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Travel advice for Laos
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Laos
Book your individual trip, stress-free with local travel experts
written by Rough Guides Editors
updated 27.01.2020
Until the 1990s, Laos remained shut off from the outside world, and largely unknown to Western travellers. Since then, more and more visitors have come to discover that this landlocked country offers some of Southeast Asia’s most enchanting natural landscapes and a fascinating diversity of cultures.
Although Laos still much less developed than neighbouring Thailand, the country's accommodation options have expanded considerably in recent years, whether you want to splash out on a plush resort or discover a peaceful budget getaway. To celebrate the release of the new Rough Guide to Laos, we're sharing six of our favourites.
Set on a broad curve of the Mekong, Vientiane, the low-rise capital of Laos is a quaint and easy-going place. In the two decades since Laos became accessible to foreign visitors, the city has evolved remarkably quickly. Today, with foreign investment continuing to pour in, Vientiane is growing fast. And along with new shopping malls and luxurious high-rise developments, the city has some excellent places to stay. The Settha Palace Hotel, a palatial 1932 building close to the centre of Vientiane, is our pick. This carefully restored relic of the colonial-era is filled with French period furniture. Its 29 rooms have all the mod cons, including mini-bar and safe, while outside you’ll find an outstanding pool and beautiful landscaped gardens.
Head 50km northeast of the capital, Vientiane, and you’ll reach Ban Pako, where the rustic Ban Pako Eco Lodge is atmospherically sited on a curve in the Nam Ngum River. Opened in 1993, they claim to be the first eco-lodge in the country. There’s room for just 22 guests here, but if you manage to bag a bed, you could easily while away a couple of days soaking up the laidback atmosphere. Besides lounging in your detached river-view bungalow or in the open-air restaurant overlooking the river, there are a slew of outdoor activities: tubing, swimming, birdwatching and hiking to nearby villages to name a few. Self-guided nature trails also fan out from the resort, on one of which is a herbal sauna near a refreshingly cool spring.
Intersected by the mighty Mekong and Khan rivers and surrounded by lofty mountains, UNESCO-listed Luang Prabang is northern Laos’s major tourist draw for good reason. Yet for all its undeniable beauty and charm, there’s no doubt that Luang Prabang has been transformed by its ever-growing popularity with Western visitors, with almost every property in the historic centre now serving the travel industry in some form or another. Venture just to the south of the centre to find respite. Here this exquisite luxury hotel is set in gorgeous colonial-style villas amid palm and banana-leaf gardens, summoning all the spirit and exotic mystery of imperial Indochina – despite only dating back to 2010. The huge, light suites, with columns and big bay windows, are irresistibly decadent, and highlights include top-class French cuisine at the Belle-Epoque restaurant and afternoon tea in the Henri Mouhot-dedicated 1861 Bar.
Set in lush tropical gardens in a peerless position by the Nam Phak River in Muang La, this blissful retreat is one of the most luxurious places to stay in northern Laos. The huge, naga-themed suites, in half-timbered villas, are exquisitely furnished and feature acres of polished wood. Guests can soak up the river views from private hot tubs, drawn from the 43°C local hot springs and raised off the ground. Most visitors stay as part of a two- or three-night package, which includes a choice of well-thought-out activities and trips.
The charming small town of Champasak is a popular base for touring the atmospheric ruins of Wat Phou, one of the most important Khmer temples outside Cambodia. And for a luxury base from which to visit the sites, this riverside hideaway is without rival in southern Laos. The twenty lao–Japanese-style rooms, with outdoor showers and fan-cooled terraces, occupy an incredibly serene stretch of the Mekong’s western edge, and are separated from one another by lush gardens of banana plants, organic rice paddies and majestically tall trees. The resort even has its own spa and a panoramic restaurant overseen by a Thai chef.
Jakub Czajkowski/Shutterstock
Explore more of Laos with the Rough Guide to Laos. Book hostels for your trip, and don’t forget to purchase travel insurance before you go.
22 days / from4799 USD
The Ultimate Southeast Asia Grand Tour
Explore the highlights of four countries in a bit over 3 weeks: Halong Bay & the Mekong Delta in Vietnam combined with the cities Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Proceed to Cambodia with Angkor Wat before watching the monks in Luang Prabang/Laos. Your trip ends in Thailand with elephants and Bangkok.
view tour ⤍6 days / from1550 USD
Historical Laos
One of Southeast Asia’s lesser-known countries, Laos is definitely off the beaten track, but it has retained its culture, charm and traditional village life, wild jungle and stunning countryside. Come here for tradition and mystery and a unique adventure.
view tour ⤍21 days / from4545 USD
Impressions of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos
Start and end your trip in Ho Chi Minh City and visit highlights such as the Mekong Delta, Phnom Penh with the Killing Fields, Angkor Wat, the historic city of Luang Prabang in Laos before heading back to Vietnam - Hanoi, Halong Bay and Hoi An await.
view tour ⤍4 days / from720 USD
Laos Elephants & Jungle
Fascinating and rewarding, Laos is a charming and traditional destination that is very much off the beaten track. With plenty of activities to appeal to everyone, from elephants and temples to jungle and waterfalls, it’s just the place for a great family adventure.
view tour ⤍15 days / from4400 USD
A Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos Adventure
Make the most of your time in South East Asia and discover not 1 but 3 exciting countries. From Vietnam to Cambodia and Laos you will get the know the locals, visit ancient temples, relax on a cruise, get a taste of Buddhism and so much more. This itinerary will show you the wonders of Asia.
view tour ⤍11 days / from1950 USD
Indochina's Unique UNESCO Treasures
Experience Indochina's finest UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Marvel at magnificent limestone karsts at Vietnam's Halong Bay, wander the winding colonial streets of Luang Prabang, a bastion of Laotian culture, and of course, be inspired by Cambodia's stunning Angkor temple complex!
view tour ⤍14 days / from2947 USD
Vietnam and Laos - Highlights and Exploration
Start your trip in Ho Chi Minh City (former Saigon) and explore the city and the Mekong Delta. From here, you make your way to Central Vietnam with Hue and Hoi An before Hanoi and Halong Bay await. Afterwards, catch a flight to Laos and spend your remaining nights in fascinating Luang Prabang.
view tour ⤍Top image © Mongkolchon Akesin/Shutterstock
written by Rough Guides Editors
updated 27.01.2020
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From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Laos