Laos
DH Travel, with over 10 years of experience throughout Laos & Southeast Asia travel, provides the best travel guides as well as exceptional customized private guided tours, centrally located hotels, and a variety of activities to enhance your experience in Laos & Southeast Asia.
Please contact us at any time for expert planning advice and unrivaled support for your memorial trip.
Airport Codes for Laos |
Capital City of Laos: • Vientiane
Currency: • Kip
International Dial Code: • + 856
Laos’ two busiest international airports: • Luang Prabang International Airport in Luang Prabang (LPQ)
• Wattay International Airport in Vientiane (VTE)
These flights times are to/from Luang Prabang: • 1hr flight to Vientiane, Laos (domestic flight)
• 1hr 05min flight to Hanoi, Vietnam
• 1h45min flight to Bangkok, Thailand
• 2hrs 15min flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Best Time to Visit Laos |
• Laos has 2 seasons: The dry and wet (rainy) seasons.
• The Best Time to visit Laos is in the dry season from October to late February when the weather is warm and dry throughout the country, with temperatures ranging from 15 degrees to 30 degrees.
• River travel is best between November & January when the Mekong River has high enough water levels for easy passage along Laos’ waterway.
• The wet/ rainy season lasts from May to late August, with temperatures ranging from 28 degrees to 36 degrees.
Public Holidays in Laos |
• January 1st International New Year
• January 20th Armed Forces Day
• March 8th International Women’s Day
• April 14-16th Lao New Year
• May 1st Labor Day
• December 2nd Lao National Day
The Current Covid-19 & Visa Policy in Laos |
The current Covid-19 updates in Laos
Covid-19 travel updates may change, so please check prior to travel. Currently, these are the guidelines to follow:
▸ As of 9 May, Laos is officially fully open to international travelers
▸ A Lao Green Pass, Covid insurance, and the on-arrival test are no longer required.
▸ Fully-vaccinated travelers only need to provide their certificate of vaccination upon entering, and those who are not fully vaccinated only have to take a Covid ATK test within 48 hours before departure.
▸ Private vehicles may be used to enter and exit Laos.
Visa policy in Laos
To begin, a passport valid for at least 6 months is required and you should have at least one blank visa page.
Laos Visa Exemption
With an ordinary passport of the below countries, you can travel to Cambodia without a visa up to:
• 30 Days for Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore:
• 14 Days for Brunei and Myanmar
• 15 Days for Japan, South Korea, Russia, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland)
Laos Visa On Arrival
Most nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival in Laos or E-Visa before arrival to Laos, valid 30-day, including • EU citizens
• Australians
• North Americans
Visa on arrival in Laos is available at all ports of entry in this country, including international airports and major cities.
Visa on arrival is also available at all border checkpoints in Laos: • Thailand – Laos
• Cambodia – Laos
• Vietnam – Laos
• China – Laos border
Fee For Visa On Arrival Fee: • China: US $20
• Australia and other countries: US $30
• USA and UK: US $35
• Canada: US $42
• India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka: US $40
You should bring two passport-size photos with you if you want to apply for a visa on arrival.
Travelers from Africa and the Middle East must apply for Visas in advance.
Click here to apply online for your tourist E-visa to Laos, valid for a maximum of 60 days after receiving the Approval Letter
Laos Visa Extension
• Traveler can extend visa up to an additional 60 days for about US $1 for each day through the Department of Immigration in Vientiane.
• However, if you extend after the visa expiry date, you will be fined TheUS $10 for the days you overstayed.
Note: On weekends or Laos public holidays as well as before 8 am and after 4 pm on weekdays, an additional US $1 is charged from the overtime fee.
Laos Highlights: things to do & travel guide |
▸ Luang Prabang – With The Old Quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site & picturesque landscapes of palm-lined riverbanks, ornate golden temples, and ancient monuments.
▸ Vientiane – The capital and largest city of Laos is located in the northeast of the Mekong River and serves as the country’s central river port located in a country that heavily relies on its rivers for transportation and its surrounding hinterland of intensive rice cultivation.
▸ Pakse – Wat Phu, a UNESCO World Heritage site dating back to the fifth century, as well as the spectacular Bolaven Plateau, a lush, cool region famous for home-grown coffee and spectacular waterfalls!
▸ Don Khong – Dong Khong is a natural beauty island with 4,000 small islands and 19 villages, many of which depend on fishing for a living. The main market, which is organized in the early market to offer a wide variety of fresh Mekong fish, is extremely beautiful.
Top 10 Things to Do in Laos |
1. Do not miss to experience and talk with the children in the Tribal village in Laos
2. Must explore the Mekong Smile boat – very relaxing and amazing
3. Best lodging is Sanctuary Pakbeng Lodge resort
4. Enjoying the textiles in Laos – Pakbeng market
5. Pak Ou Caves is a treat, home to 4000 buddhas in a cave!
6. Best adventure – The elephant village camp in Luang Prabang
– Feeding and footing on elephants in the Mekong!
7. Walking through the Luang Prabang street market
Starting right after the morning ALMS ceremony!
8. Visiting a shop where a master weaver creates the most unique and beautiful products
9. Enjoying the Ban Chan pottery village & Khmu Village
10. Staying at a hotel in Luang Prabang, eating along the river across the street
Destinations & Attractions in Laos: things to do & travel guide |
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Alak Village
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Arts and Ethnology Centre
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Ban Khia Luang
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Ban Phanom
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Ban Thin Som Village
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Bear Sanctuary
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Big Brother Mouse
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Buddha Park
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Elephant Village
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Friendship Bridge
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Haw Pha Kaew
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Khone Phapeng Fall
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Kuang Si Falls
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Liphi Waterfall
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Living Land Farm
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Luang Prabang Morning Market
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Luang Prabang Night Market
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Luang Prabang Traditional Baci and Cultural Show
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Mount Phousi
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Nam Khan River
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Nam Ou River
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Nava Mekong
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Ock Pop Tok
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Organic Farm
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Pak Ou Caves
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Patuxay Monument
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Phousi Market
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Royal Palace Museum
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Tad Fane Waterfall
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Tai Dam Village
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Talat Sao Market
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Tamarind Gardens Cooking School
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Tamnak Laos Cooking Class Luang Prabang
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Tham Jang Cave
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That Luang Stupa
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Wat Aham
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Wat Chomphet Temple
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Wat Haisok
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Wat Inpeng
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Wat Long Khoune Temple
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Wat Mai Temple
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Wat Ong Tue
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Wat Prakeo
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Wat Sene Temple
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Wat Sisaket
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Wat Visoun
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Wat Xiengthong
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4000 Islands
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Don Khone Island
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Don Khong Island
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Laos Ethnic villages
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Laos Leum village
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Laos wine
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Luang Prabang
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luang say lodge
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Minority Ethnic People
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Muang Khua
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Nong Khiaw
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Pak Beng
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Pakse
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Tadlo
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Vang Vieng
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Vientiane
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Wat Pa Phon Phao
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Wat Phou
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Xieng Khouang