Laos how long to spend

Book transport to Laos on Bookaway by clicking here. However, if you are entering from China, Thailand or Vietnam and fancy an adventure, you might prefer to travel via the northern highlands and see some local villages — the routes are detailed below.

If you are taking the slow boat or a direct bus to Luang Prabang but still want to see the highlands, you can easily travel from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw and Muang Ngoy and then return to Luang Prabang before heading south. The city is filled with French colonial architecture and it is located on the Mekong. There are loads of things to do in Luang Prabang to spend a few days.

There are plenty of Wats to explore, as well as the Royal Museum which tells the story of Lao royalty and how it intertwines with Buddhist ideals. After exploring these spots, head to Mount Phousi for a spectacular sunset — but try to get there about an hour before sunset as it is incredibly busy! Mount Phousi is a very spiritual place for Lao people, so take some time to absorb the mystical feeling of it and of course, admire the spectacular view.

For dinner, check out Tamarind. Specialising in set menus of Lao cuisine, and with plenty of vegan options, dining here is a must-do in Luang Prabang. If they are booked or you fancy something a bit different, you could think about doing a Luang Prabang food tour — click here for more information and to book.

Day number two in Luang Prabang has a very early start. Wake up at , ready to see the almsgiving at 5am. This is where the monks walk down the street and are offered different food and products.

It really shows you how spiritual Luang Prabang — and all of Laos — is and is certainly one of the most unique things to do in Laos.

You can see the almsgiving independently, but to ensure that you get the best spot, to enable you to interact with the monks and to learn all about this sacred tradition, you could book on a local tour. Click here for more information. These waterfalls are among the best in South East Asia and, although busy, are well worth it.

Hire a motorbike to make the journey or book onto a minivan for around 35, kip return. Considering that you can only get to the waterfall by tourist shuttle or motorbike, this might be a good idea. Learn more about and book the tour here. An alternative for your afternoon in Luang Prabang is a cooking class.

There are a few cooking classes available throughout the city; click here to learn more about a highly rated class. You could also take a course at Tamarind — the place I recommended you eat at the night before. Click here to book it. Upon returning, and maybe after a power nap you did wake up at am after all! They also offer food with a variety of Asian and Western options.

Be sure to stay here for some BeerLao after dinner! But what you can do is wait until Utopia closes at about pm, and then head to the bowling alley. Watching a load of rowdy drunks attempt to bowl is an extraordinarily entertaining way to finish off your time in Luang Prabang! Hostel: Smile Luang Prabang Hostel is a great option for backpackers.

With sturdy beds with their own individual light and curtain, good wifi and air conditioning, it is a fantastic place to stay in central Luang Prabang. Click here to book Smile Luang Prabang Hostel. Mid-Range Hotel: Sanctuary Hotel Luang Prabang enjoys a central location, but is indeed a sanctuary, set back from the city.

Rooms are air-conditioned and the hotel has free WiFi. Each room has a flat screen TV and safety deposit box, as well as an en-suite with warm shower. Click here for some information about Sanctuary Hotel and to book.

With spacious rooms with a balcony and private bathroom some with a spa bath! An excellent breakfast is included. Click here for more information and to book. If you want to check out northern, off-the-beaten-path Laos, keep reading for a Northern Laos itinerary. Not many travellers come to Luang Namtha, which is shown in the lack of tourism in the region.

This makes it a great place to get in touch with local life! The main highlights of Luang Namtha can be enjoyed by driving a motorbike around the town and local villages.

In rural Laos which is most of the country , there are less flashy hotels, and more basic guesthouses.

These are very kind on your wallet, and while basic, you can generally get clean, safe, comfy rooms. Kingmala Guesthouse in Luang Namtha is a budget kinda place; its rooms are no-frills, but they provide an attached bathroom as well as comfy beds, good WiFi and air conditioning.

The staff are friendly and helpful. It takes six hours and seeing the water bordered by mountains is absolutely phenomenal. Muang Ngoy is popular with tourists and does have some epic climbs and viewpoints, but it is very touristy and I personally preferred Nong Khiaw.

From Muang Ngoy, you can take a boat to Nong Khiaw — or even kayak there! It takes a couple of hours but is a great way to really take in the spectacular scenery. Remember when I said that Muang Khua is well off the beaten track? This means that there are few guesthouses that are actually online — many of them you need to just rock up and hope they have a room. There are more options in Muang Ngoy, if you decide to spend the night here.

Riverview Bungalows and Guesthouse has a garden, bar and restaurant serving Asian and European food. Bungalows looking over the river have en suite bathrooms and a balcony. Beautiful Nong Khiaw is one of my favourite towns in Laos.

You could spend a few days hiking in Nong Khiaw; and the town itself is very chilled out and famous for their herbal steam baths. There are two lookouts above the town which can be hiked to independently, and also some great caves in the town.

Spend a day just chilling in the town and seeing these sights. Be sure to enjoy a herbal bath and massage at Sabai Sabai. But the best of Nong Khiaw is in the surrounding area.

Take a two-day hike to see some of the spectacular nature of the region, including jungle, rice terraces and local villages. Of course, all food will be authentically Lao and Lao Lao local whiskey is included!

Dorms are very cheap just 35, kip but they do not take reservations and are often full. I experienced him not being too pleasant to a waiter while there, which made me feel quite awkward!

Guesthouse: Sythane Guesthouse is decent and a great price. Click here for rates and to book Sythane Guesthouse. From Nong Khiaw, take a bus back to Luang Prabang. From here, you can take a bus to Phonsavan you will probably need to stay one more night in Luang Prabang. Click here to book your bus tickets. In Phonsavan, there is a grassy expanse which is just full of jars. Nobody knows how they got there. The urns on the plain date to the iron age, and nobody really knows how they got there or exactly what they were used for.

It seems really strange to travel for hundreds of kilometres to check out some stone jars littered around the countryside, but the mystique of it all really adds to the atmosphere.

There are three sites that are accessible from Phonsavan by foot, bike, tuk-tuk or tour. Either rent a motorbike and use maps or join a tour. It also includes a few other stops like a whiskey-making shop and a few war exhibitions. This area was savagely bombed during the Secret War; the bomb craters you see are a sombering reminder of this.

Click here to book a bus from Phonsavan to Vang Vieng. But The Hillside Residence is a good find. The rooms are clean and comfortable — extra touches like well-placed lighting make a difference and give it a more deluxe atmosphere than a lot of Lao guesthouses. The staff are really friendly and will happily meet you at the bus station. Rooms have balconies and private bathrooms, and the staff are happy to give lots of information about the local area.

Click here for rates and to reserve. Oh Vang Vieng. What a place. So bearing in mind I arrived here after spending 3 weeks in Southern Laos, honestly — I just disliked it. The main street has absolutely no culture, bar one temple, and is just full of backpacker bars and restaurants. It was just a shambles.

Vang Vieng was once the most hedonistic place in Asia. It was home to infamous tubing, with dozens of bars open on the river, frequented by inebriated backpackers every day. But bad things happened — in one year alone, 27 people died in the river from getting drunk and doing stupid things. It has calmed down a lot now. Tubing still exists, but there are only 4 bars to drink at these days, and a lot of the areas that cost people their lives have been removed or fenced off.

However, it remains a party town, which is pretty out of touch with Laos. But anyway, the countryside around the town is beautiful. And there are a lot of things to do in Vang Vieng. The Blue Lagoon is located 7 kilometres from the town and is a great spot to cool off on a hot day.

It takes about Read my post about hiking in Vang Vieng for more information. Some of the adrenaline-boosting activities you can do in Vang Vieng are:. I had a really hard time trying to find accommodation in Vang Vieng. Hostel — Many backpackers go to Nanas, which is the party hostel.

If you fancy that, click here to check it out. I think the dorms are good value, especially as the rate includes breakfast, but there are definitely cheaper and nicer places to stay in a private room. Hop-off, stay longer and explore. Stray are the experts in taking you off the beaten track in Southeast Asia. We believe we have a responsibility to make a positive impact on the communities we visit. Supporting local operators and hiring local guides means that you can learn more about the culture and get more out of your trip.

Travel is about creating lasting connections and sharing experiences. Stray travellers are open minded adventurers who make the most of every moment. We'll keep you safe and stress-free , with guidance and support every step of the way. Please check our Service Updates page for more information. Sawadee, Sabaidee hello and welcome to Stray!

Your adventure kicks off in popular Chiang Mai, an amazing city full of endless activity options, such as Thai cooking classes, bike tours or Muay Thai kickboxing. If you arrive early in the day feel free to visit a few of the Buddhist temples in the city, the old walled city or the Tapae Gate. Afterwards, make the most of your first night by getting to know each other over a delicious Thai dinner and a few cold beverages.

Today is free for you to explore this historically rich city or venture outside the city to discover the natural beauty of northern Thailand. Chiang Mai is the perfect base for some of Thailand's best guided hikes and treks, as well as the top spot for adventure activities like mountain biking, abseiling and whitewater rafting.

This evening you can enjoy dinner at one of the many great restaurants then browse the night market, take in a ladyboy show or the Muay Thai boxing or head out for a few drinks with friends. This morning we depart Chiang Mai to head for the Thailand-Laos border. We stop here long enough to grab a snack, stretch our legs and take a few photos before we continue on to cross the border into Laos.

Once in Laos we take a short tuk-tuk ride to the small town of Houay Xai , our stop for the night. Sit back and soak up this incredible journey as you wind your way through lush farmland, thriving jungle and rugged mountain scenery, drifting past water buffalo, locals fishing, and kids splashing in the shallows. We arrive in the village in the late afternoon. Here you will get a taste of traditional Lao village life by staying with a family in their home.

Experience a special Baci welcoming Ceremony, try the local whiskey, and explore the village. This is a true highlight of any trip to Southeast Asia and exclusive to Stray! See More moment: Experience a traditional Baci Ceremony performed to bring visitors to the village good luck and good health. This ancient ritual is said to protect you as you travel and is a heart-warming chance to connect across cultures. Do More moment: Your contribution to the village funds annual projects to improve infrastructure and make a difference in this community.

We wave goodbye to the village and jump back aboard our private boat to head downriver to the famous limestone Pak Ou Caves. Pak Ou is an important pilgrimage site for Lao people, and here you will see thousands of Buddhist images that have been placed throughout the caves over hundreds of years. The fusion of French Colonial architecture with traditional Lao design set against a backdrop of misty mountains and lush green jungle makes this a truly majestic place.

Luang Prabang is home to the National Palace Museum, Wat Xieng Thong the oldest monastery in town and plenty of other ancient Buddhist temples and sacred sites to explore. Alternatively, you can spend the day cycling or trekking, take a cooking class, or head to the night market for a hassle-free bargaining experience and some delicious cheap local food. Travel past hill-tribe villages, vast green valleys and rolling hills.

Our journey today takes us to the little riverside town Vang Vieng, formerly known as the best place to take tubing trips down the Nam Song River to visit riverside bars and indulge in cheap booze. These days you can still go tubing, but now you get to enjoy the beauty of Vang Vieng's landscape without the sound of pounding bass in the background. With its stunning natural scenery, Vang Vieng offers ample outdoor activities to choose from. We recommend hiring a bike to explore the town and visiting the Blue Lagoon, one of the best natural swimming holes in Laos.

There are also great rock climbing and kayaking options. This evening check out one of several international restaurants for a taste of home or head to one of the bars to really get the party started. Today we cruise through to the capital of Laos. After check-in at our centrally located accommodation, you are free to explore the city, get a massage, go shopping or people watch at one of the local restaurants by the river.

Relax after the drive by popping down to the river for an afternoon swim, swinging in a hammock at your accommodation or sampling a delicious Lao meal at one of the little restaurants in the village. Take advantage of your free day with the chance to explore the underground river that winds its way through a mountain!

For most travelers, a three-day Laos itinerary is often part of a longer Indochina trip. If you have only three days in Laos, we highly recommend that you concentrate in and around Luang Prabang. A popular pilgrimage site for Buddhists, these caves feature thousands of Buddha icons tucked away in a series of remarkable limestone cliffs. From Pak Ou, you can then head to the iconic Kuang Si Waterfalls and enjoy a refreshing swim in its turquoise blue waters. With a total of five days to spend, we suggest adding two additional days in Vientiane on top of the three-day Laos itinerary above.

With its laid-back vibes, numerous Buddhist temples, and stunning gems of colonial architecture, Vientiane forces you to recalibrate your expectations of an urban area.

Plus, the city is the perfect place to relax. You can get around Vientiane on foot or in a traditional tuk-tuk, but exploring the city by bicycle is the best way to go about it. Among the sights, you should not miss are the Patuxai Monument, inspired by the Arc de Triumph in Paris, and the Buddha Park, a sacred site with statues about Buddhist mythology. Featuring hip interiors, gastronomic delights, authentic French pastries, and the perfect cup of delicious Lao coffee, it is easy to see why Vientiane is a haven for traveling coffee aficionados.

Start out by spending a day in the border town of Huay Xai, where the Gibbon Experience is located. Up next is Luang Prabang , the city of temples and monuments. Next, prepare yourself for an adventure in Vang Vieng. From river tubing and ziplining to kayaking and hiking, there is no shortage of outdoorsy adventures to be had in this town. In addition to this, the town is also famous for its idyllic blue lagoons where most of the action takes place. After a full three days spent in nature in Vang Vieng, head for Vientiane and kick back for two days.

From Vientiane, you can either take an overnight bus or catch a flight to Pakse.