Laos Travel Tips: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

Is Laos Worth Visiting?

Yes, yes, and yes again!

We originally only traveled to Laos because we wanted to get from Thailand to Vietnam — and in the end, Laos turned out to be our favorite of all three countries. It’s a fantastic off-the-beaten-path destination.

Since Laos isn’t very densely populated, everything here moves at a much more relaxed pace than in most countries in Southeast Asia, and you’re in nature in no time.

On top of that, most parts of Laos are not overrun with tourists, so you really get a genuine feel for local life and culture.

Laos on a Map

Laos is located in Asia, landlocked between Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and China.

In terms of area, Laos covers 236,800 km² — just a little smaller than Great Britain.

The country has approximately 7.7 million inhabitants — that’s actually fewer people than live in the state of Lower Saxony in Germany.

Getting to Laos

There are no direct flights from Europe to Laos. You’ll always have to connect through another country.

That said, many people combine a trip to Laos with a road trip through Thailand or a road trip through Vietnam anyway.

You have several options for getting to Laos:

• By plane
• By bus
• By boat

You can book tickets for all modes of transportation on 12goasia.

Flights to Laos

Laos has a total of three international airports: Vientiane (the capital), Luang Prabang (in the north), and Pakse (in the south).

You can find direct flights to Laos from cities like Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Hanoi, Saigon, or Singapore.

Book flights to Laos

Buses to Laos

From the neighboring countries of Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia, there are plenty of bus connections into Laos. The journeys tend to be long and comfort levels are modest.

That said, the bus is always the cheapest option for getting to Laos.

Here’s a quick overview of bus connections to Laos:

• Bus ticket Bangkok – Vientiane: 11 hours, approx. 15 euros
• Bus ticket Bangkok – Pakse: 12 hours, approx. 20 euros
• Bus ticket Siem Reap – Pakse: 9 hours, approx. 15 euros
• Bus ticket Hanoi – Vientiane: 24 hours, approx. 50 euros

Boat to Laos

Especially popular among backpackers, the Slow Boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang is a truly memorable way to arrive. You first take a bus from Chiang Rai in Thailand across the border, then spend two leisurely days drifting down the Mekong by boat.

The boat trip costs around 40 euros in total. The boats aren’t the most comfortable, but the journey is seriously an experience in itself.

Book tickets for the Slow Boat

Trains to Laos

You can also reach Laos by train. From Bangkok, for example, there are several connections into the country. Trains also run from China (Kunming).

Book the train from Bangkok to Vientiane

Book the train from Luang Prabang to Kunming, China

Entry Requirements and Visa for Laos

Most visitors to Laos need a visa.

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry — no exceptions.

Visa for Laos

Getting a visa for a stay of up to 30 days (extendable to 60 days) is pretty straightforward.

You have two options:

• E-Visa (apply here)
• Visa on Arrival (obtained when you enter the country)

The e-visa costs 50 USD and the visa on arrival costs 40 USD. We’d go with the visa on arrival — it’s cheaper and simpler.

We tried applying for the e-visa online at one point, but the website just didn’t work for us. Save yourself the hassle.

Visa on Arrival

For the visa on arrival, you’ll need a passport photo — officially two passport photos, though we only had to hand in one.

You’ll also need to fill out two forms upon entry. Some fields are a bit confusing, but don’t stress — we filled them out imperfectly and got through without any issues.

There’s also a small 40 baht (about 1 euro) fee when you submit the forms — you can probably pay this in US dollars too.

Depending on the border crossing, the whole entry process takes between 10 and 60 minutes.

Currency and Travel Costs in Laos

In Laos, you pay with the Lao kip. 23,000 kip is roughly 1 euro. In many places, you can also pay with US dollars.

Laos is a cash-based country. Credit cards usually won’t get you very far.

You’ll find ATMs in all cities across Laos. Just keep in mind that small villages sometimes have none at all.

Most ATMs charge a withdrawal fee of around 30,000 kip (just over 1 euro) per transaction — so it’s worth withdrawing larger amounts at once.

Our tip: Make sure you don’t have any cash left over at the end of your trip. The Lao kip is a purely domestic currency — you can’t exchange it abroad. So spend it all, donate it, or pass it on to fellow travelers heading to Laos after you.

Travel Costs in Laos

Laos is a very affordable country to travel in — even cheaper than Thailand and Vietnam.

Budget backpacker hostels start at around 4–6 euros per night. A simple, clean, family-run guesthouse will typically run you around 15 to 40 euros per night depending on the standard.

For luxury hotels, prices start at 100 euros per night and up.

Food and drinks are really affordable too. A simple local dish costs about 1–2 euros. A large bottle of Beer Lao (0.65 liters) costs around 20,000 kip (approx. 1 euro). A bottle of water (1.5 liters) costs 10,000 kip (0.50 euro).

Accommodations in Laos

Accommodations in Laos are generally pretty basic and don’t always meet Western standards — but they’re significantly cheaper for it.

At around 20 euros for a double room at a guesthouse, you can expect a clean room with plenty of space.

The shower is usually in the middle of the bathroom with no separation from the toilet and sink, so the bathroom floor often ends up flooded. You’ll always be given flip-flops, though, so your feet stay dry.

Breakfast is pretty much always included in Laos. You’ll typically get fruit, a hot drink, and a dish of your choice — think pancakes, scrambled eggs, fried eggs, or an omelet.

One heads-up: the coffee at guesthouses is usually just instant coffee. We always had ours at a café outside.

If you want higher-end accommodation, you’ll need to spend a bit more and book a proper hotel. Since prices are still way lower than in Western countries, it’s usually very easy to justify the splurge.

Getting Around Laos

You can get around Laos using several different modes of transportation. The best option really depends on the route.

Here’s a breakdown of the most popular routes:

Note: Trains are considerably more comfortable than vans. However, train stations are always located a bit outside of town, so you’ll need to take a tuk-tuk from there into the center.

Climate and Time Zones in Laos

Laos has two distinct seasons: the rainy season and the dry season.

• Rainy season: May to October
• Dry season: November to April

Both seasons are perfectly fine for a visit.

In our opinion, the sweet spot is the transitional period of October and November — fewer tourists and not much rain.

The peak travel season runs from January through March.

One thing to be aware of: from mid-February to mid-May, northern Laos experiences Burning Season. Air quality is very poor during this period, which makes it less than ideal for travel.

During the dry season from December to March, Laos is mostly sunny, but it can get surprisingly cold — especially in the north. Single-digit nighttime temperatures are not uncommon, and daytime highs can sometimes dip as low as 59°F (15°C).

The rainy season has its own appeal, since very few travelers are around at that time — and it rarely rains all day long.

Pack layers and be ready for all kinds of weather.

Check out our packing list for Southeast Asia

Time Difference: Laos vs. Your Home Country

Laos is in the Indochina Time zone (ICT), UTC+7. That’s 7 hours ahead of London (GMT), 12 hours ahead of New York (EST), and 15 hours ahead of Los Angeles (PST) during standard time.

Language and Communication in Laos

The official language of Laos is Lao.

It’s very similar to Thai — about 80 percent of the words are the same, and almost all Laotians regularly watch Thai television.

English will get you by reasonably well. In tourist areas, locals know the most important words and phrases. But don’t expect much beyond the basics.

Knowing a few words in Lao goes a long way:

• “Sabai-dii” means hello or good day — use it any time of day.
• “Khawp Jai” means “thank you” in Lao.
• “Khawp Jai Lai Lai” is the stronger form — something like “thank you very much.”

Safety in Laos

Overall, Laos — like most of Southeast Asia — is a very safe travel destination. Even solo female travelers generally don’t need to worry.

That said, don’t get too complacent. Theft and petty crime do happen, so always keep a close eye on your valuables.

Be careful when renting scooters too — never leave your passport as a deposit, for example.

As a tourist, you may occasionally get overcharged. Always agree on prices upfront — for taxis, food, whatever. If a price seems off, negotiate. That’s completely normal in Laos.

One more thing: drugs are illegal in Laos, and the penalties for selling or possessing them are severe. Steer well clear.

Vaccinations and Health in Laos

There are no mandatory vaccinations for Laos. That said, vaccinations against hepatitis A, dengue fever, hepatitis B, typhoid, rabies, and Japanese encephalitis are often recommended. Talk to your doctor well before you travel.

Stomach Issues

By far the most common illness among travelers in Laos is an upset stomach and diarrhea. Pack a small travel first-aid kit — you’ll thank yourself later.

Never drink tap water, and stick to the golden rule: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.

Malaria and Dengue

Laos is a malaria country. The disease is most common in the south and less prevalent in the north. Check with your doctor before your trip about whether malaria prophylaxis makes sense for your itinerary.

Dengue fever is also widespread. You can get vaccinated against it. Either way, solid mosquito protection is a must — think long clothing and mosquito repellent.

For a full picture of mosquito-borne diseases in the region, check with the Tropical Medicine Institute.

Rabies

We’d strongly recommend getting vaccinated against rabies. There are a lot of stray dogs in Laos, and some of them are genuinely aggressive.

Medical Care in Laos

Fortunately, nothing happened to us during our time in Laos. But medical care there is reportedly not great.

Outside of Vientiane and possibly Luang Prabang, hospitals and clinics are fairly underdeveloped, and language barriers can add to the difficulty.

Make sure you have travel health insurance before you go — it’s non-negotiable for a destination like this.

Also read our article on the best travel health insurance

SIM Cards, Internet, and Outlets in Laos

In most places in Laos, standard European two-pin plugs fit into the outlets without an adapter. That said, there are reportedly some outlets where they don’t — so packing a universal adapter is never a bad idea.

Read our article on electrical outlets worldwide

You can buy SIM cards in all tourist areas — at the airport, at bus stations, and in small shops.

The best network coverage is with Unitel.

We also had solid Wi-Fi at most of our accommodations.

Food in Laos

Lao cuisine is very similar to Thai food, with some Vietnamese influences thrown in. You’ll find curries, noodle soups, fried rice, fried noodles, and grilled meat in all variations.

A Lao specialty worth trying is laap (also written lap, laab, or larb) — finely chopped meat mixed with herbs, chili, and onions. It’s usually made with chicken or pork, but you’ll also find versions with beef, duck, fish, or vegetarian options with mushrooms or tofu.

And then there’s Beer Lao — hugely popular and well-known beyond Laos’s borders. This local brew is widely considered the best beer in Southeast Asia. We’d have to agree.