Everything You Need to Know on How to Travel to Laos

Welcome to the ultimate beginner's guide to traveling in Laos! With my annual trips, I've gained invaluable insights, and this comprehensive list covers everything I wish I'd known on my first visit. Explore my videos for more insights into different excursions and the local cuisine in Laos.

1. Time of year:

1. Consider traveling near the end of the rainy season, around late October, when the lush foliage is green. It's also a quieter tourism period, which means more affordable accommodations and flights. Plus, you can witness the enchanting Festival of Lights in Luang Prabang, marking the beginning of the dry season and the end of Buddhist Lent.

2. Where to visit:

1. Laos is huge and I recommend taking your time in each city to get a great experience in Laos.  For first timers, I recommend at least one week in Laos:  2 days in Vientiane, 1 day in Vang Vieng, and 5 days in Luang Prabang.  All three of the cities are in the north so you will get a feel of what life is like in these areas.  Vientiane is the capital of Laos.  Vang Vieng is where you can explore all outdoor activities.  Luang Prabang is my favorite as it is the food capital of Laos giving all the Lao food enthusiasts the joys of Lao food and it has a rustic charm that is unmatched.   You will have to visit Laos again to see the beauty of the South.

3. Flight 

1. Flying into Laos can be a little tricky because there are not many flights compared to other large countries.  Here is my typical route from Los Angeles.  I usually take LAX to Bangkok to Vientiane.  Within that route and depending on the airline, you may be stopping in Japan, Taiwan, or Korea before going to Bangkok.  Be prepared for long flights as it can take between 20 to even 30 hours to get to Laos including the layovers and wait time.  A round trip flight from LAX to Laos will cost between $800 to $1600 USD for economy.  

4. Visa

1. If you are a US citizen, the visa to Laos is $40 USD.  You can get a visa on arrival, but make sure to bring 2 physical passport photos that can be bought at your local CVS or Walgreens, $40 USD in cash, and your passport. You can also get an eVisa online a month ahead via the website https://laoevisa.gov.la/index. 

5. Passport

1. Check that your passport is updated and look at the expiration date.  The passport should be good for at least 6 months before the expiration date.  To be safe, make sure to start the renewal process if you have 9 months left before the expiration.  If this is your first time getting a passport, plan ahead as it could take 3 months to get the passport.  

6. Where to stay 

1. Hotels and guesthouses are affordable in Laos so whether you want to treat yourself to luxury or stay at a simple place, there are a variety of places.  If you are a solo traveler, and want to stay somewhere simple, check out www.booking.com for some options.  

7. Vaccines and Medicine 

1. Make sure to check with your doctor.  These are the vaccines and medicines my doctor suggested:  Japanese encephalitis, Hepatitis A, and the 2nd does of typhoid.  The nurse will look at your immunization record and recommend these and maybe more if you're not updated in your immunization. She also prescribed me malaria pills if I choose to take them. Malaria is more common in the south of Laos. There are pockets of Laos in the north that have a small chance of malaria hence why I am taking these malaria pills. Lastly, she also gave me Zithromax diarrhea pills for emergencies. The first time I went to Laos, I had bad diarrhea where I had to go with every step I took lol I don't want this to happen to you. The last two times I went, I have not had diarrhea so maybe my stomach got used to Laos. Both the malaria and diarrhea pills came out to be about $67 and the vaccines were free. This is only my experience and suggestions so do what feels right for you! 

8. Money 

1. It really depends on whether you love shopping and want to bring back souvenirs.  The food in Laos is affordable and you could probably be good with $200 USD for the month for just food.  I recommend bringing $500 USD for every two weeks but you don’t have to exchange all the money right away.  Exchange $200 and see how much you spend in the first week.  Right now (October 2023), the exchange rate is $1 USD is 20,000 kip.  

9. Travel Insurance 

1. Having travel insurance is IMPORTANT.  I had to use it on my recent trip to Laos because I had to go to the emergency room.  Luckily, I bought travel insurance from Allianz for $161.  Make sure to read what the insurance includes as there are several types of travel insurance.  

10. Packing

1. Traveling can take a toll on your body and health so I recommend starting with packing medicine like tylenol, vitamin supplement powder mix, allergy medicine, and whatever other pills you need to take with you.  I also pack cloth that can be worn in versatile ways so a lot of black and white tops and button ups.  I go with two pairs of pants and two shorts, workout outfit, and sleepwear.  I also always pack an additional day or two of underwear just in case and enough socks for the days being gone. 

Have you been to Laos? What are some of your tips when traveling to Laos? Comment below!

These recommendations were made after going on a sustainable trip made possible by European Union in Laos | Plan International Laos | Travelife for Tour Operators | ສະພາການຄ້າ ແລະ ອຸດສາຫະກຳ ແຫ່ງຊາດລາວ | Plan International Deutschland