In a nutshell
- Planning a trip to Laos? You’re in the right place. We’ll walk you through the best Laos itineraries for 1–3 weeks — based on routes we’ve done ourselves.
- With one week, you can hit the top highlights — Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, and Vientiane. This is the route we took ourselves, and we cover it first.
- Got more time? We also share our picks for 10 days, 2 weeks, and 3 weeks — so you can explore even more of what makes Laos special.
- For every route, we tell you exactly how to get from A to B and where the best places to stay are — so you can plan with confidence.
Our Map with the Top Highlights of a Laos Round Trip
On this map we’ve marked all the stops in Laos that we think are worth visiting. Below we’ll walk you through our recommended Laos itineraries:
- 1 week in Laos: Must-sees (what we did)
- 10 days in Laos: Must-sees and northern Laos
- 2 weeks in Laos: Must-sees and the south
- 3 weeks in Laos: All the highlights
1 Week in Laos
In one week you can cover the essential highlights of Laos. We did this route on our way from northern Thailand to Vietnam — and honestly, we wished we’d stayed longer.
How do you get to the starting point Luang Prabang?
Factor in travel time: 0.5 – 2 days
The fastest option is to fly. You can get direct flights from Bangkok or Chiang Mai, for example.
Read our full review of Lao Airlines
If you’d rather travel overland, the best jumping-off point is Chiang Rai — home to the famous White Temple in Thailand. From there you can hop on the Slow Boat or combine a bus and train.
Book all your connections through 12goasia — it’s the easiest way to sort everything in one place.
Read our review of the Slow Boat to Laos
Luang Prabang
How much time to plan? 2–3 days
Luang Prabang is a gorgeous city with some seriously impressive natural highlights nearby. Here’s what to do while you’re there:
- Wander through the historic old quarter
- Climb up the viewpoint & temple Mount Phousi
- Take a day trip to the Kuang Si Waterfall
- Watch the sunset on the Mekong River
- Eat at the night market
- Stop by a charming café
Read all our tips for Luang Prabang:
Where to stay in Luang Prabang?
Our hotel pick: Parasol Blanc — beautifully decorated with an excellent breakfast. It’s about ten minutes from the old town, which gives you a central but quiet base.
Budget pick: Villa Khoum Xieng Thong Boutique — super central, friendly hosts, and great value for money.
How do you get from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng?
We recommend taking the train. It’s only one hour from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng and the ride is super relaxed.
Just keep in mind that the Luang Prabang train station is about 30 minutes by tuk-tuk from the city center, and you should arrive at least 30 minutes before departure.
Book connections from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng on 12goasia
Vang Vieng
How much time to plan? 2 days
Vang Vieng has spectacular scenery and some really fun outdoor activities. Here’s what to do:
- Ride a hot air balloon
- Hike to viewpoints
- Swim in blue lagoons
- Tubing on the Nam Song River
- Explore the landscape by bicycle
- Go out in the evening
Read all our tips for Vang Vieng:
Where to stay in Vang Vieng?
Our hotel pick: Riverside Boutique Resort — a stylish spot right on the river, with a garden pool and a delicious breakfast.
Budget pick: Smile Guesthouse — very friendly staff, a quiet location in an authentic neighborhood, and still close to the action.
How do you get from Vang Vieng to Vientiane?
You can book the train or a group transfer by van. We went with the van because it picked us up right at our hotel and dropped us in the center of Vientiane — no fuss.
The van ride takes about 2.5 hours and costs around 9 euros. The road is in good shape.
The train takes just one hour and starts at around 16 euros. The downside: both train stations are outside of town, so you’ll need a taxi or tuk-tuk at each end.
Book connections from Vang Vieng to Vientiane on 12goasia
Vientiane
How much time to plan? 1 day
Vientiane is Laos’s capital and home to some genuinely impressive landmarks. Here’s what to see:
- Visit the That Luang Temple
- Stroll through the night market
- Admire the triumphal arch Patuxai
- Walk along the Mekong
- Visit the Ho Phra Keo Museum
Read all our tips for Vientiane:
Where to stay in Vientiane?
Our hotel pick: Riverside Hotel — a lovely place right on the Mekong with great value for money.
Budget pick: Vientiane BB Hostel — small but solid, right in the center. We stayed here and were totally happy with it for the price.
How do you continue from Vientiane or get back?
From Vientiane you have plenty of options to keep your Southeast Asia journey going.
By train, bus, or plane you can easily reach Bangkok, for example.
For Vietnam, there are daily bus connections to Hanoi or Da Nang. By plane you can fly to Saigon or Phnom Penh in Cambodia, among other destinations.
Book your onward connection from Vientiane on 12goasia
10 Days in Laos
Ten days gives you enough time to really dig into northern Laos. We’d suggest starting all the way up north at Nam Ha National Park and working your way south.
How do you get to the starting point Nam Ha National Park?
Factor in travel time: 1 day
For this Laos itinerary, just like the one-week route, the best way in is from northern Thailand.
From Chiang Rai in Thailand you can book a bus connection to Luang Namtha — the town closest to Nam Ha National Park.
It’s about two hours from Chiang Rai to the border at Huay Xai, then another four hours by bus to Luang Namtha.
Book your connection to Luang Namtha on 12goasia
Nam Ha National Park
How much time to plan? 1 day
Nam Ha National Park is great for hiking and getting a feel for the culture of traditional villages. The best base is Luang Namtha. We’d recommend booking a guided day tour into the park as soon as you arrive — for the following day.
Book tours on-site, since there’s not much available online. Most day trips include a hike with a guide and a visit to a traditional village.
Where to stay near Nam Ha National Park?
Luang Namtha is your best base. The town has a limited but decent selection of places to stay.
Our hotel pick: Tulip Hotel — a nice, modern hotel by Laos standards, and you can also book national park tours right here.
How do you get from Luang Namtha to Nong Khiaw?
Your best bet is a bus to Nong Khiaw. The journey takes around seven hours and tickets cost about 20 euros.
Book a bus ticket from Luang Namtha to Nong Khiaw
Nong Khiaw
How much time to plan? 2 days
Nong Khiaw is a small town tucked into a bend of the Nam Ou River. You can hike to viewpoints here or simply soak up the scenery — it’s seriously beautiful.
Top things to see in Nong Khiaw:
- Sleeping Lady Peak Viewpoint
- Phadeng Peak Viewpoint
- Nong Khiaw Bridge
Where to stay in Nong Khiaw?
The selection of good accommodations in Nong Khiaw is limited, but there are some gems.
Our hotel pick: Amanda Riverside — really cozy, and some rooms have river views. Totally worth it!
How do you get from Nong Khiaw to Luang Prabang?
Several buses and vans run daily from Nong Khiaw to Luang Prabang. The journey takes 3–4 hours and tickets cost 9–11 euros.
Book a bus ticket from Nong Khiaw to Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng & Vientiane
How much time to plan? 7 days
For the final seven days you’ll explore Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, and Vientiane. We cover all three cities in detail in the “1 Week in Laos” section above.
Jump directly to the 1 Week in Laos section
There you’ll also find our hotel recommendations for each city and tips on getting from A to B.
2 Weeks in Laos
Our two-week Laos trip itinerary is a fantastic backpacker route — whether you’re traveling overland from northern Thailand to Cambodia or doing it in reverse.
The more time you can give this route, the better. Two weeks is really the bare minimum.
Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng & Vientiane
How much time to plan? 7 days
You kick off your two-week Laos itinerary with a week in Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, and Vientiane. All the details are in the “1 Week in Laos” section above.
Jump directly to the 1 Week in Laos section
There we also cover how to get to Luang Prabang, where to stay in each place, and how to get around.
How do you get from Vientiane to Pakse?
You’ll spend your last day in Vientiane. From there, book a night bus to Pakse (around 12 hours) — or take a flight. There are direct flights from Vientiane to Pakse that take about one hour.
Book your bus or flight ticket from Vientiane to Pakse here
Pakse
How much time to plan? 1 day
There isn’t a huge amount to see in Pakse itself. But after a long overnight journey, you’ll mostly want to use your day here to rest and recharge.
If you do want to explore a bit, the Lao-Nippon Bridge and Wat Phousalao are worth a look — the temple gives you a great vantage point over the bridge.
Where to stay in Pakse?
The hotel selection in Pakse is limited, and most places are fairly basic.
Our hotel pick: Athena Hotel — a solid choice with a pool, garden, and great breakfast.
Budget pick: Samlee’s Garden — more basic, but clean and pleasant.
We recommend staying two nights in Pakse and using one day for a side trip to Champasak — more on that below.
Champasak
How much time to plan? 1 day (day trip from Pakse)
On this day you’ll head out to Champasak to see Wat Phou — one of Laos’s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Don’t skip it.
You can get there by public bus (about two hours each way) or book a guided tour. We’d suggest asking your hotel in Pakse for the latest info on both options, as schedules tend to change.
In the afternoon you head back to Pakse.
Bolaven Plateau
The Bolaven Plateau is a highland area near Pakse. Running through it is a small and large motorbike loop, best explored by scooter — you can rent one just about anywhere in Pakse.
For a two-week Laos itinerary, we recommend tackling the small loop over three days.
- Day 1: Ride from Pakse to Paksong (about 50 kilometers), stopping along the way at the stunning Tad Fane Waterfall. Our hotel pick in Paksong: Give Garden Eco
- Day 2: From Paksong, continue to Tad Lo (about 65 kilometers), where you can also spend the night. Our hotel pick in Tad Lo: Tad Lo – FANDEE ISLAND – Bolaven Loop Pakse
- Day 3: Ride back to Pakse (about 84 kilometers). It’s easiest to stay at the same hotel as before. Our hotel pick for Pakse: Athena Hotel
How do you get from Pakse to the 4,000 Islands?
On the morning after the loop, take a minibus to the 4,000 Islands (Don Det island is your best bet). The ride takes about three hours and costs between 7 and 12 euros.
Book your bus ticket from Pakse to the 4,000 Islands on 12goasia
4,000 Islands
Honestly, there isn’t a whole lot to do on the 4,000 Islands — and that’s exactly the point. They’re perfect for simply unwinding for a day or two at the end of your Laos trip.
Where to stay on the 4,000 Islands?
The largest islands with the most places to stay are Don Det and Don Khon.
Our hotel pick: Moon by Night — a personal, intimate stay on Don Det with a super friendly host.
How do you continue from the 4,000 Islands?
Since the 4,000 Islands sit right on the Cambodian border, the most logical next step is crossing into Cambodia. It’s only about three hours by bus from Don Det to Stung Treng.
Book your bus ticket to Stung Treng on 12goasia
If you’d rather fly, you’ll need to head back to Pakse — that’s where the nearest airport is.
3 Weeks in Laos
With three weeks you can take in all the top highlights Laos has to offer. This Laos travel itinerary also works really well for backpackers heading from northern Thailand through to Cambodia.
Northern Laos
How much time to plan? 10-11 days
On the three-week Laos itinerary, you start at Nam Ha National Park. The easiest way in is from northern Thailand (Chiang Rai).
From Nam Ha National Park you continue to Nong Khiaw and our personal favorite Luang Prabang. After that you’ll discover the outdoor paradise of Vang Vieng and the capital Vientiane.
All the details on planning northern Laos are in the “10 Days in Laos” section.
Jump directly to the 10 Days in Laos section
How do you get from Vientiane to Kong Lor Cave?
Vientiane is your last stop in the north. From there, arrange a transfer to Kong Lor Cave — your accommodation can usually help sort this out.
There’s very little available to book online for this route, so you’re much better off arranging it on the ground. The journey takes around six hours — going by public bus will take significantly longer.
Southern Laos
How much time to plan? 10-11 days
Kong Lor Cave is your first stop heading south. On your arrival day you’ll overnight near the cave, then visit it the following morning.
Our hotel pick for Kong Lor: Spring River Resort
Plan about half a day for the Kong Lor Cave excursion. In the afternoon, catch a bus to Thakhek — ask your accommodation about the best options.
We recommend one night in Thakhek and then heading to Pakse the next morning. Book the bus through your accommodation. Alternatively, you can take an overnight bus from Thakhek to Pakse the same evening.
Our hotel pick for Thakhek: Villa Thakhek
Pakse itself doesn’t need much time — but it’s a great base for exploring the highlights in the surrounding area.
For everything around Pakse and how to continue your three-week Laos route from there, head to the “2 Weeks in Laos” section and start from the Pakse stop.
Jump directly to the 2 Weeks in Laos section
Our Travel Planning Tips for a Round Trip in Laos
Once you’ve settled on your Laos itinerary, you’ll want to think about how to get there, when the best time to visit is, and what to pack for your trip to Laos.
How much time should you plan for a Laos itinerary?
If you’re not sure how long to spend in Laos, we’d go with a 3-week trip.
Laos completely surprised us — we would have loved to stay far longer than we’d planned.
That said, the absolute minimum is one week.
When is the best time to travel to Laos?
We recommend October through February for a Laos road trip.
Rainfall is low and temperatures are more manageable during those months.
May through October is rainy season — expect heat and heavy afternoon showers. It’s still doable, since the rain usually holds off until later in the day.
We advise against visiting northern Laos in March and April. That’s burning season: fields are set alight across the region and air quality gets seriously bad.
Where do you start a Laos road trip?
For many travelers, Laos is a stop along the way — for example, on a route from Thailand to Vietnam or Cambodia.
Not many people fly in specifically for Laos alone, but the country is absolutely worth a dedicated trip!
If you enter overland
If you’re traveling to Laos by land, we’d suggest one of these three entry points:
- Friendship Bridge IV / Huay Xai (coming from northern Thailand, Chiang Rai)
- 4,000 Islands (coming from Cambodia)
- Vientiane (coming from Bangkok or Vietnam)
All of our suggested routes start at Friendship Bridge IV or Huay Xai, and end in Vientiane or the 4,000 Islands. You can absolutely do them in reverse too.
Find out more about entry requirements in our Laos travel tips
If you fly in
The main airports in Laos are Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Pakse.
If you’re following one of our suggested itineraries, flying into Luang Prabang and booking your return from Vientiane or Pakse works really well — depending on your route.
What should you pack for a trip through Laos?
We’ve put together a packing list for Southeast Asia that works perfectly for Laos too.
Check it out!
Is a road trip through Laos safe?
Yes. Laos is a safe country to travel in. That said, keep a close eye on your valuables and take care in traffic — the usual common-sense stuff.
