Laos is a place of pristine wonder and extraordinary beauty, from the wide range of dramatic mountains in the north to the river islands in the south. Laos will attract your inner adventurer with its rich history, unique landscapes, tradition, and civilizations.
Laos serves many kinds of tours suitable for both relaxing and venturous visitors, such as climbing, seeing the historical or sacred sites, and exploring the authentic life of the locals.
The post introduces the top places to visit in Laos, the Laos river cruise, as well as the best time to visit Laos.
Like most countries in the Asia region, there are two different seasons which are the dry season and the wet season in Laos, but tourists can travel here all year round with no impact of the coastline.
The dry season lasts from October to late April, with the typical climate of average temperatures, much sunshine, and rare rainfall. Therefore, it is considered the best time of the year to visit Laos.
Laos hiking and trekking
During the wet season, although the rising water level causes inaccessible to some mountainous regions and local villages, the visitors also have a chance to admire the beauty of falling water from waterfalls and the greenery of rural areas.
July and August are the two wettest times, and if you also wish to discover Asia’s beauty, Vietnam tours or Myanmar tours can be two destinations on your top list owing to their crystal water beaches and long white sand.
In the summertime, scuba diving, sunbathing, and swimming is the priorities to relax and discover the bottom life of the sea.
Tourists can immerse themselves in a variety of experiences with many places to visit in Laos in the best month to visit Laos.
Life is full of challenges to encourage and dare people to conquer. Are you ready to take risks? The best places to visit in Laos also cover in this part.
Rock climbing
The countless mountains in Laos give visitors excellent routes on limestone with incredible formations, over 500 ways gathering in Thakhek and Vang Vieng.
While the experiences explore the stunning paths through tufas, sintering, and face climbing, the beginners also encounter many challenges and excitement.
Laos climbing
Cycling
Have you tried the long cycle of Vientiane’s Mekong Riverfront?
It is a worthy trip for visitors who desire to escape the hustle and bustle of life, communicate with kind locals, and watch the greenery fields. For further routes, take a 4-day cycle or even more.
Sometimes, you may see the cruises running along the river giving their passengers the best view of Vientiane - Huay Xai and Vientiane - Luang Prabang.
Cycling in Laos
Running
Laos is famous for flat races and challenging running roads, offering different choices to participants, including the Vang Viel Trail and Vientiane’s half marathon or full marathon.
Laos hiking and trekking
To enter the deep forest where you hardly find any other person, hiking and ziplining are two access, while cruise ships take you through the countryside and enable you to see Lao life.
But make sure that your health passes the required tests.
Laos hiking and trekking
Kayaking, rafting, and tubing
Head downstream among the limestone mountains and small villages reaching only by river, the crystal clear water will captivate your attention.
Association with the steams is the paddies, so tourists may admire the greenery beauty while lying above in the river tubings or kayaking.
Laos Kayaking, Rafting, and Tubing
Laotians often say “Sabai Sabai”, referring to a relaxed pace of life, “take it slow” to encourage people to escape their busy daily habits and refresh themselves.
We warmly welcome travelers to the green oasis, where you do nothing but take a rest and feel the tranquil space. While Lying on a hammock in the forest, at a peaceful campsite, or fancier with a cruise down the Mekong in Laos short cruise, take a glance at the local's life to know how exciting it is.
Afterward, take part in some classes to learn traditional weaving, cooking, and pottery with the calm of your mind and meditative movements. If your style is to read and nibble on the cookies spontaneously in the strange cafeteria, a trip to French heritage towns undoubtedly stands on your list.
Relax at Homestay in Laos
Jump into a cruise and recharge by the fantasy of jade-green flow crossing the majestic mountains and adventurous caves with some famous routes Luang Prabang - Luang Prabang, Chiang Rai - Vientiane, and Luang Prabang - Huay Xai.
Through the journey, tourists may not only feel the beauty and greatness of nature but also be reborn from the motherland.
After the long trip, what could be better than pampering the tired body with a herbal steam bath and massage in Laotian tradition? Furthermore, meditation with monks in the pagoda help unwinds and be more satisfied.
Over 60% of the population are Theravada Buddhists, a part of Laotians also trust in traditional spirits called pĕe or phi. However, they share some common rituals.
Alms Giving
“Tak Bat” is a high-value religious Buddhist practice that a number of devotees offer food to barefoot monkeys who walk quietly through the towns.
Two intentions are to let people supply food for the monks, and in return, they bestow merit for the supporters.
Tak Bat in Laos
Festivals
Laotians host many festivals highlighting their lifestyle and religion according to the Buddhist lunar calendar. Some must-join events are the Vat Phou Festival in Champasack Province, where takes place buffalo and cock fighting, elephant racing, and performances of Lao ancient music and dances.
Laos Water Festival
Boun Khao Chi (Makhaboucha) throughout the country when then the Buddist entered the temple and showed their merit-making activities. Don't miss the Rice Ceremony and Boun Phavet here.
Myths and Spirits
It is not an issue of Buddhism or spirit worship for the majority of the Lao. Instead, established Buddhist ideas live peacefully with reverence for the pĕe who are supposed to inhabit natural objects.
People are surrounded by the souls of buildings, territory, natural areas, and phenomena. So are ancestral spirits that protect humans and malignant spirits that cause harm. Therefore, the locals need to commemorate to please and appease ur guardian deities throughout the year during festivals.
Pak Ou
Many kinds of buildings have left the legacy of Laos during a historical period of over 70,000 years, with the iconic from traditional sacred places to French colonial quarters or unique modern highlights.
Pha That Luang, located in the heart of Vientiane, is covered by gold largely is regarded as the most significant symbol and monument in Laos.
Pha That Luang
Vat Phou is the iconic harmonious combination of temples in early and traditional Khmer architecture between the 7th and 12th centuries.
Patouxay, That Sikhottabong, Mount Phou Si, Buddha Park, and Vat Kang are Laos tourist attractions representative of their tradition and beliefs.
Running along Southeast Asian nations, including Laos, the Mekong river is known as one of the largest rivers all over the world.
It is not only an essential part of local life but makes excellent river cruising which brings unforgettable trips to the natural wonders and indigenous life closer.
In addition, you can diversify your trip with a Laos adventure to the Golden Triangle, where the visit Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand.
Relax on the Laos river cruise
They cross breathtaking jungle scenery to the Luang Prabang, which contains the UNESCO World Heritage Site or lively night market and Buddhist pagodas.
Therefore, things to do in Luang Prabang are varied and attract millions of arrivals to Laos each year.
Along the journey, the cruise ship will stop at some spots to let the passengers hop into the land and explore the place's beauty.
Lao dishes are colorful and mouth-watering, with chilies and herbs, and the harmonious mixture of the ingredients surely thrills your taste. Although Laotian cuisine has gained popularity throughout the world, it is still worth experiencing.
It is surprising how complex and refreshing spontaneously with many flavors by skillful chefs crossing Luang Prabang to Vientiane.
Traditional dishes in Laos
Laap
Laap appears as ‘meat salad’ on a majority of menus, and it is also called larb or lab, referring to the meat served right after butchering to keep fresh and eaten raw.
The Laap is quickly fried after mincing (or keeping it raw, depending on your order) and adding fish sauce, fresh herbs, sticky rice powder, or lime juice. Its signature taste relies on the rice powder).
One perfect offering also includes bile and bitterness.
Kaipen (Fried Seaweed)
It is a kind of Lao snack made of freshwater green algae kept in thin sheets and seasoned with garlic and sesame seeds, then dried under the sun.
The sheet fries are the sign of the perfect time to eat with the dipping sauce called jaew bong - the mixture of thin pieces of buffalo skin and roast chili.
Khao Poon
If you are a spicy foodie, Khao Poon is comfort food made of rice vermicelli noodles in a spicy soup. The soup is made with ground chicken, fish, or pork, fish sauce, garlic, shallots, chilies, lime leaves, galangal, and perilla leaves.
You also get a variety of toppings, like shredded cabbage, string beans, shallots, coriander, spring onions, and mint leaves.
In addition, Laos serves plenty of other dishes, such as Or Lam (Lao Stew), Sien Savanh (Lao Beef Jerky), and Som Moo (Preserved Pork Sausage).
Each meal is representative of its nature and culture, so the more you enjoy, the more you can discover.
Khao Poon
You do not need to worry about transportation in Lao as they possess many modern traveling systems such as airways or highways.
Flight
A few airlines handle international flights there. They are Vietnam Airlines, Thai Airways, and Lao Airlines, mainly located in Vientiane and Luang Prabang.
Paske is the third international airport to offer air routes between Ho Chi Minh (in Vietnam) and Siem Reap (in Cambodia), so tourists can save time by traveling.
Train
The overnight sleeping train departs from Thailand and arrives in Laos in the upcoming morning at a cheap cost. However, travelers rarely use trains owing to the poor service and unknown station location.
Flight
The majority of cities in Laos are accessed by reasonable-price flights. Lao Airlines serves the routes of Vientiane - Pakse, Vientiane - Savannakhet, and Vientiane - Luang Prabang.
You should book the ticket in advance, especially in the peak season, to avoid missing the trip.
Boat
The river route is a shortcut for individuals who have endured Laos' terrible road conditions. This plan allows us to take the main Mekong route from Houayxai to Luang Prabang.
Taxi
It charges by the meter and is not recommended. For your comfort, Indochina Odyssey Tours provides air-conditioned, insured, and clean vans.
With a private car and tour guide, you can stop and explore at any location you wish to photograph and avoid the pressure of spending too long at certain attractions.
Highway
As was said at the beginning of the post, Laos's roads have gotten a lot better in the past few years. Buses and trucks are becoming popular ways for travelers to get around.
Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, and Savannakhet are all connected to the capital, Vientiane, by asphalt roads. Keep in mind that going by car can take up to 10 hours longer than going by plane.
There are many things to do in Vang Vieng with various vang Vieng tourist attractions, and it is a worthy place to go in Laos.
Motorbikes or Tuk Tuk
In Vientiane, motorbikes are for people who like to take risks. It's best to wear a helmet and bring your motorcycle license since the police won't let you ride without either.
In Laos, people often get around by tuk-tuk. Travelers are supposed to pay before the ride for each place they want to go.
Laos has a wide range of places to stay, from hotels to guesthouses or campgrounds. Most of the time, the best choices for international visitors depend on where they are staying and their purposes.
Green Park Boutique Hotel
The accommodations are generally luxury and excellent facilities in the big cities such as the capitals, whereas rural areas mainly offer guesthouses with limited services.
Some famous accommodations are Amantaka, Ansara Hotel, and the River Resort.
Because Laos' best time to visit occurs from November to April so you should consider the peak time of tourism here and book the room in advance:
High season: November - April
Low season: May - September
Currency: Laos Kip
Visa: It is easy to get a visa to Laos in simple steps: attending the border, filling out the form, paying money, and waiting for the 30-day tourist visa.
Packing to Laos: Bring suitable clothes and keep in mind that Laos is quite a conservative nation. Therefore, the arms and legs should be covered when visiting the temples and pagodas.