Laos is one of the few destinations where, in some areas, visitors are yet to deviate from a few well-trodden sights. It’s Indochina’s final frontier, and our specialists have trekked through jungles, scouted out caves and journeyed up rivers to get to know it more intimately. They can help you plan your vacation to Laos to follow in their wake.
Only now emerging after years of isolation, Laos is a country of steep, jungle-robed valleys inhabited by resilient communities who live at a refreshingly unhurried pace. The former royal stronghold, Luang Prabang, is a mosaic of golden wats and Indochinese villas, its streets often filled with silent processions of monks. In the diminutive capital, Vientiane, you’ll find faded French-colonial mansions and coffee shops. The rest of the country is predominantly one blanket of green, carved with slow-flowing tributaries of the Mekong. As you explore, you’ll happen upon little-visited hill tribes, backwater towns and Cham temples that predate Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.
Creating tailor-made tours for over 25 years
Suggested tours for Laos
These tours give you a starting point for what your vacation to Laos could entail. Treat them as inspiration, as each trip is created uniquely for you.
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![Vat Phou Cruise in the 4000 islands]()
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![Exploring Xe Bang Fai Cave]()
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![Plain of Jars site one, near Phonsavan]()
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![Temple in Luang Prabang]()
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![Mekong River views, Laos]()
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![Monk, Angkor Wat]()
Grand tour of Indochina: Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia
Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and VietnamView this tour -
![Patuxai Monument in Vientiane, Laos]()
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![Fisherman, Hoi An]()
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![Red Dzao woman, Thanh Kim Valley, Sapa, Vietnam]()
Suggested activities for Laos
Whatever your interests, our specialists will build activities into your trip that connect to how you want to experience Laos.
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Living Land Rice Experience ![Workers at the Living Land Rice Experience, Luang Prabang]()
Living Land Rice Experience
Luang PrabangLiving Land Rice Experience
This is a great opportunity to experience the hard life of a farmer and try your hand at some of the activities, such as working with Suzuki the water buffalo, in knee-deep muddy rice paddies. Enjoyable and very educational, you will learn about the 13 steps and various methods involved in planting, growing, harvesting and cooking rice.
View details -
Vientiane City Tour ![Pha That Luang, Vientiane]()
Vientiane City Tour
VientianeVientiane City Tour
The first stop of the tour is the National Museum, where you can follow the history of Laos from prehistory to the present day.
View details -
Ikho Tribe Village Visit ![Village scene, Northern Laos]()
Ikho Tribe Village Visit
Ikho Tribe Village Visit
From the resort you take a 4x4 transfer to one of the most intriguing villages in the area. The road runs parallel with the Nam Phak River and the journey to the Ikho villages is incredibly scenic.
View details
Why travel with Audley?
- 100% tailor-made tours
- Fully protected travel
- Established for over 25 years
- 98% of our clients would recommend us
Best time to visit
Our specialists advise on the best months to visit Laos, including information about climate, events and festivals.
Travel advice
Practical tips for traveling to Laos, from social protocols to guidance on money matters, with a link to the latest Government of Canada travel advice.
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Laos in pictures
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![Surrounding scenery]()
Explore the caves in Vieng Xai -
![Chillis and Kaffir Lime Leaves; Phonsavan Market, Laos]()
Try the local food and drink -
![Mekong River]()
Take a cruise on the Mekong River -
![Pak Ou Caves]()
Travel to the remote North -
![View from the bridge in Nong Khiaw of the Nam Ou River]()
Take a boat trip down the Ou River -
![Wat Phou, Champasak, Laos]()
Visit the temple complex at Wat Phou -
![Plain of Jars near Phonsovan]()
Walk among the Plain of Jars -
![Sunset in the 4000 Islands, Laos]()
See a sunset over the Mekong
Our expert guides to traveling in Laos
Written by our specialists from the viewpoint of their own travels, these guides will help you decide on the shape of your own trip to Laos. Aiming to inspire and inform, we share our recommendations for how to appreciate Laos at its best.
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![Laos: why you should go]()
Laos: why you should go
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Meeting indigenous cultures in Southeast Asia ![Lowland clansmen, Tufi, Papua New Guinea]()
Meeting indigenous cultures in Southeast Asia
Meeting indigenous cultures in Southeast Asia
Visit Southeast Asia's minority groups and discover how to give something back to the areas in which you spend time.
Read this guide -
What to do in Laos: our highlights guide ![Mekong River]()
What to do in Laos: our highlights guide
What to do in Laos: our highlights guide
Still very much untouched by mass tourism, Laos offers the visitor much to see and do, from watching monks perform daily rituals or taking a night safari in a national park, to learning to cook Laotian food or taking a relaxing cruise down the Mekong River.
Read this guide -
The Khmer Empire ![Khmer man resting at Angkor Wat]()
The Khmer Empire
The Khmer Empire
Discover the culture and history of a country on a tailor-made trip, with visits to explore famous sites and others not quite so well known but equally impressive.
Read this guide -
Exploring the far north of Laos ![Laos tribal women]()
Exploring the far north of Laos
Exploring the far north of Laos
Visiting Laos is an opportunity to escape from the fast-paced lifestyle of the developed world, especially northern Laos. Soak up the tranquil atmosphere and admire the picturesque scenery of this little-visited area.
Read this guide -
Laos walking vacations: Indochina's remote backwaters ![Walking to the H'mong village garden]()
Laos walking vacations: Indochina's remote backwaters
Laos walking vacations: Indochina's remote backwaters
Laos specialist and keen hiker Laura explains why the jungle-clad hills of northern Laos are best explored on foot. She shares her suggestions for the best routes and experiences to make the most of a walking vacation in Laos.
Read this guide -
Family vacations in Laos ![Kuang Si Waterfall, Luang Prabang]()
Family vacations in Laos
Family vacations in Laos
We can highly recommend Laos as a destination for a family vacation. We can suggest suitable accommodations and excursions to ensure your family vacation here will be a truly unique and memorable experience.
Read this guide -
Laos, Asia away from it all ![Nam Nern Night Safari]()
Laos, Asia away from it all
Laos, Asia away from it all
Laos is often overlooked: and therein lies its beauty. You can travel to isolated regions that really are remote and fall into an unhurried pace of life that has changed little in centuries. Our specialists have journeyed to outlying national parks, far-flung caves and secluded villages to find the best places to visit.
Read this guide -
Luxury vacations in Laos ![Swimming pool, Amantaka]()
Luxury vacations in Laos
Luxury vacations in Laos
If you're planning a luxury vacation to Laos we have a wide range of accommodations available. Our specialists can recommend the best places to stay to ensure you have a trip to remember.
Read this guide
Discover more about Laos on our blog
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![Ta Prohm]()
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