Gentle and calm, Laos is the inner sanctum of South East Asia’s Indochine. Colonised by the French and land locked, Laos is perfectly combined with Vietnam or Northern Thailand for a luxurious yet adventurous retreat from modern day life.
Culture
Lao culture is centered on the pleasures of life: eating, drinking, sleeping and chatting with friends. Work obligations rarely take priority over socialization. It's common to be asked if meals, weekend activities, weddings and whatever you're doing right now is “muan,” or enjoyable.
Best Time To Travel
The small, landlocked country of Laos is best visited between October and April, when the weather's warm and dry throughout. River travel is best between November and January, when high water levels make passage easy along Laos' main waterway, the Mekong River.
E. Jennings - April 2023
A big shout out for Luxperia!
The most fabulous travel packages! Just as I thought I found the most beautiful places in South East Asia, along comes Laos! I'm smitten and it is only Day 1!
HOW TO GET THERE
The easiest way to get to Laos is to fly into the capital city, Vientiane. There are direct flights available from various cities in Asia, such as Bangkok, Hanoi, and Kuala Lumpur. Alternatively, you can also take a bus or boat from neighboring countries such as Thailand (boat), Vietnam (bus).
WHERE TO SLEEP
There are ample lodgings in Laos to suit every budget and preference. From budget-friendly hostels and guesthouses to mid-range hotels and luxurious resorts. Homestays and eco-lodges are also popular options for those looking for a more authentic and sustainable travel experience.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Laos offers a range of experiences and tours to suit every interest. Explore the cultural heritage of the country by visiting ancient temples and traditional villages. Adventure enthusiasts can enjoy activities such as trekking, kayaking, and zip-lining. For a more relaxing experience, enjoy a sunset cruise along the Mekong River or indulge in a traditional Lao massage.
DISCOVER THE CUISINE
Lao cuisine is a delicious and diverse blend of flavors and influences from neighboring countries. Must-try dishes include sticky rice, laap (a minced meat salad), and tam mak hoong (spicy green papaya salad). The country also offers a variety of street food and local specialties such as grilled meats and freshwater fish dishes.
Laos City Guides
Luxperia city guides for Laos offer comprehensive information on the country's top destinations, including the capital city of Vientiane, and the historic town of Luang Prabang.
Highlights include stunning temples, lush landscapes, traditional markets, and delicious cuisine. The guides also provide practical tips on transportation, accommodations, and cultural etiquette.
A Sample Itinerary
An exciting sample itinerary ready to be tailored for every traveller’s need. Contact our team to design a trip dedicated to your own personal interests or use the following as a guide to what can be achieved in this destination.
For first-time visitors to Laos, we've created a 'Grand Tour' covering the top highlights of this beautiful country. While often overshadowed by its neighbor Thailand, Laos boasts stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and delicious cuisine. Whether you have a week or a month, our tour will help you make the most of your time in Laos.
Welcome to the captial Vientiane
Once arrived in Vientiane, meet your local guide and transfer to Lunch at Doi Ka Noi restaurant. A small restaurant serving a daily changing menu of authentic Lao cuisine. Doi Ka Noi is a member of Slow Food. We cannot cater for vegans as all dishes. Use fish sauce or pa daek, essential ingredients in Lao food.
Afternoon, drive to visit the Buddha Park. It is located around 30 minutes driving from downtown, locally also call Vat Xieng Khuan. It contains numerous of religious sculptures mixing Hindu and Buddhist styles and displays over 200 statues along the Mekong Riverbank. Return to town, visit The Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise (COPE) works in partnership with the Centre for Medical Rehabilitation (CMR) to ensure that people with physical disabilities have local, affordable access to a quality, nationally managed rehabilitation service. Come and learn about the history of UXO in Laos and stories of how our work has helped people move on.
Morning, visit Sisaket; the historic temple of Vat Si Saket, the oldest surviving temple in Vientiane and Haw Prakeo, the former house of the emerald Buddha image which is now in Bangkok.
Patuxay the 'Arc de Triomphe' of Vientiane, or Patuxai as it is known locally. Built in the 1960s, the US-supplied cement was originally earmarked for a runway extension at the airport, but the Laotians found a much more creative use for it. We ascend the monument for some refreshing breezes and great views over this low-rise garden city. That Luang, the striking golden stupa of Pha That Luang, the most sacred monument in the city. Afternoon, transfer to the train station for your express train EMU C84, depart at 15h05 and arrive in Luang Prabang at 17h10.
Once arrived in Luang Prabang, transfer to Manifa Elephant Camp in Ban Xang Hai.
Breakfast at the camp site followed by activities with the elephants.
Welcome to UNESCO Heritage Listed Luang Prabang
Breakfast and free at leisure before we meet our guide and transfer to Luang Prabang town and visit The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC) is a local social enterprise founded in 2006 to promote the appreciation and transmission of Laos’ ethnic cultural heritage and livelihoods based on traditional skills. The Centre’s primary activities are two-fold: a museum, and fair-trade handicrafts stores directly linked with artisan communities across Laos. TAEC’s work includes school outreach activities, craft workshops, lectures, research, and a non-profit foundation in the USA. Over the past ten years, the Centre has expanded to include a growing collection of ethnic minority artefacts, a small library, family activity centre, and outdoor patio space for special events.
At discretion: visit Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city at sunset and the Mekong River. The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.
For early risers (05:45am), there is a very special dawn visit to watch the monks’ collecting alms. As the sun begins to rise, long lines of orange-robed monks leave their pagodas and walk barefoot down the streets collecting offerings from Luang Prabang residents. It is a beautiful, serene ceremony that highlights the spiritualism of the Laos people.
After breakfast, drive through the Luang Prabang countryside to Kuang Si Waterfalls (32km southwest of the city). The jungle and dense woods surrounding the falls is perfect for exploring on foot and the turquoise pools are perfect for a swim. Before you leave you might like to visit the bear sanctuary, which is next to the falls, run by Free The Bears Fund Inc. There are currently 23 Asiatic Black Bears living in the sanctuary. Lunch at Carpe Diem restaurant.
Morning, visit Ock Pop Tok (meaning “East Meets West” in Lao) was founded on the principles of fair trade and sustainable business practices and the original concept was to bring people together through textiles to exchange knowledge and ideas. The company was pioneering social business and ethical fashion before these terms were even a part of our cultural lexicon. Join the half day Weaving Class is an introduction to weaving on a loom. Each student is assigned a loom and has a guide and a weaver to help them learn the art of weaving. Students will select two colours and will create a placemat sized piece with a Lao motif. Lunch at silk road café.
A breakfast box is prepared by the hotel in Pakbeng as take away for the Shompoo Cruise. In the morning, our guide and chef will make a short demonstration on how to make some Lao desserts and local drinks that travelers will eat later in the afternoon.
Just before lunch, the boat will stop to visit a traditional Kamu village, Ban Houay Phalam, a tiny cozy place which host about 90 families. Travelers will learn about rural lifestyle in a very remote area. Lao traditional Lunch set is served on board. Before to reach Houay Xay pier, enjoy the homemade desserts and drinks made by our team and the travelers. The boat will arrive at destination before 4:30pm and transfer (no guide) to your hotel in Houay Xay.
In the heart of the Nam Kan National Park, discover a series of very long ziplines that fly you from tree to tree to the heart of the largest known tree in Laos. This 'airborne' program features more ziplines and adrenaline un-like no other on the trip so far.
Arrive at the tree house in the afternoon after a 2-hour hike before relaxing or optional extra hiking and ziplining before dinner. The rest of the night is yours before falling asleep in the tree house as you lie in the air with gibbons around you.
Rise early to seize the chance to hear gibbons singing. Guides will bring you tea and coffee before breakfast.
Bid farewell to the new 'local friends' and leave your tree house for a 2-hour hike back to the village. Pick up by car and lunch on the way before returning to Houay Xay to cross the Lao-Thai Friendship bridge. Arrive to the Thai side and meet your local guide and driver for onward travel to Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai or onward flight.