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Alms giving by Buddhist monks in Luang Prabang
Laos your way

Tailor-made Laos vacations shaped around your passions

Alms giving by Buddhist monks in Luang Prabang

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.

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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.

Suggested activities for Laos

Whatever your interests, our specialists will build activities into your trip that connect to how you want to experience Laos.

  • Kuang Si waterfalls
    Kuang Si Falls near Luang Prabang, Laos

    Kuang Si waterfalls

    Luang Prabang

    Kuang Si waterfalls

    Kuang Si Falls are 30 kilometers from town. The excursion leaves Luang Prabang in the morning and heads toward Ban Ou by boat.

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  • UNESCO site of Wat Phou
    Wat Phou

    UNESCO site of Wat Phou

    UNESCO site of Wat Phou

    Dominated by the vast expanse of the Mekong River, this sleepy tropical region is home to the temple ruins of Wat Phou, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.

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  • Explore around Nong Khiaw
    Nong Khiaw, Laos

    Explore around Nong Khiaw

    Nong Khiaw

    Explore around Nong Khiaw

    Beginning with a leisurely boat ride up the Nam Ou to Muong Ngoi, a remote and extremely beautiful mountainous area north of Nong Khiaw, you then take a light trek through the fields and forest.

    View details

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  • 100% tailor-made tours
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Best time to visit

Our specialists advise on the best months to visit Laos, including information about climate, events and festivals.

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Useful information for planning your vacation in Laos

What language is spoken in Laos?

The official language of Laos is Lao, a tonal language similar to that spoken in Northern Thailand. As a result of former colonization, French is still taught in schools, but English is now spoken more widely, especially by the younger generation.

Although the complex tonal variations in Lao can make it difficult for English speakers to pronounce words accurately, any attempt by farangs (foreigners) to speak Lao is always appreciated. People from Laos often greet each other by smiling, pressing together their palms, and saying ‘sabaidee’ which means hello.

What's the currency of Laos?

The currency of Laos is the Laotian kip (LAK). The kip is a closed currency and cannot be taken out of the country, so you’ll need to find an ATM on arrival or visit a bank or money exchange to get local cash. ATMs are commonplace and most hotels, shops, and markets in Vientiane and Luang Prabang will also accept Thai baht and US dollars. Credit cards are widely accepted in most hotels, gift shops, and upmarket restaurants.

What food and drink should I try in Laos?

When in Laos, you should try larb (minced pork salad), tam mak hoong (green papaya salad), and mok pa (steamed fish parcels). Rice, especially sticky rice, is the staple food and most Lao dishes will have an Indo-Chinese influence. You’ll find the most authentic local food on market stalls and in smaller restaurants where local people eat. The influence of former French colonization is still seen in the baguettes and croissants normally eaten for breakfast, while lao lao (rice whisky) and Beer Lao are the most common drinks.

How much should I tip in Laos?

Tipping is commonplace in Laos, especially in the service industry, and a tip of about 10% is appreciated. You should also be prepared to tip guides, drivers, and porters. We use the best guides and drivers available in Laos, but as there are limited guide numbers, the best guides do expect larger tips than might be expected in other countries. We can provide more details before you travel.

What should I wear in Laos?

Plan to dress modestly in Laos with clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, particularly if visiting temples or Luang Prabang, one of Southeast Asia's most spiritual destinations. You’ll also be asked to remove your shoes and leave them outside when entering a temple.

During the drier months (October to April), you’ll need light clothing such as shorts, skirts, and shirts, and possibly a fleece for the evenings. In the rainy season (May to September), a light waterproof jacket is useful, as well as clothes with long legs and sleeves to wear during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are active.

A sun hat and umbrella, which can double up as a parasol, are always useful.

Where can I find the latest travel advice for Laos?

For the latest travel advice for Laos, including entry requirements, health information, and the safety and security situation, please refer to the Canadian Government Travel & Tourism website.

What can I experience in Laos?

In Laos, you can visit gilded temples, admire dramatic karst scenery and forested mountains, and immerse yourself in local traditions and cultures, such as alms giving in Luang Prabang.

You could also experience what it’s like to work in a rice paddy, take a cookery class to learn all about local ingredients and culinary traditions, or set out along the Mekong on a river cruise.

For a more adventurous trip, you could get out into the jungle-clad hills and mountains on a caving and kayaking tour or go on a guided hiking trip to the 100 waterfalls.

Where can I stay in Laos?

Laos offers a wide range of places to stay from stylish boutique hotels to restored French villas and ecolodges in the mountains of the north. You’ll find the best choice of hotels in Luang Prabang and Vientiane where you can stay in a former royal residence with a spa and choice of swimming pools, or a historical former officers’ residence turned sleek, minimalist hotel. Outside the cities, and in the south, hotels are often simpler but comfortable and may have more traditional styling, but our specialists have found plenty of interesting options from simple guesthouses on the banks of the Mekong to traditional thatched bungalows set in tropical gardens.

Where should I go in Laos?

Luang Prabang, Vientiane, and Vang Vieng are some of the best places to go in Laos, but you’ll also find plenty to explore in the lush hills of the far north and the small villages and temple ruins of the south. You could watch saffron-robed monks collect alms among gilded temples in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, visit caves and small villages in the dramatic limestone karst scenery around Vang Vieng, or explore the mysterious Plain of Jars where hundreds of giant urn-like stones dating back to megalithic times lie strewn across the plains. Hike through the mountains of the north from a base in Nong Khiaw or watch freshwater dolphins in the Mekong and enjoy the slow pace of rural life in the 4000 Islands. Our country specialists will be happy to discuss your interests and offer advice on the best places to go in Laos.

How long does it take to fly to Laos from the Canada?

Flying to Laos from the west coast of Canada takes around 20 hours. From Toronto, expect the journey to take around 28 hours.

What's the time zone in Laos?

The time zone in Laos is UTC+7 hours. Laos does not observe Daylight Savings Time.

What's the best way of getting around in Laos?

Train travel is one of the best ways of getting around northern Laos, while domestic flights are best for travel between the north and the south. The train is comfortable and reliable and links the capital, Vientiane, with Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, and further north. River travel is also possible in Laos, and boat journeys along the Mekong River allow you to visit remote communities in the hills more easily. Alternatively, we can arrange for you to have a private driver between destinations.

Do I need vaccinations to visit Laos?

Your doctor can provide you with up-to-date immunization advice for Laos. You can also check the recommended vaccinations by visiting the Government of Canada - travel vaccinations website. Checking that you’re up to date with all vaccinations recommended at home is also a good idea before you start your trip.

If you’re arriving in Laos from a country deemed to be at risk of yellow fever, you may also be asked to provide proof of vaccination against the disease. Check countries at risk with the World Health Organization (WHO) or speak to your doctor.

Do I need a visa to visit Laos, and what do I need to check with my passport?

Use our travel tool to find up-to-date visa and passport requirements for Laos. Enter where you’re traveling to and from (including any stopover destinations en route or flight layovers), along with your intended travel dates and passport details, for a full list of requirements.

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