Laos is a beautiful country to visit, with so many lovely places, sights and things to do. The nature is pure and untouched and the atmosphere is still very authentic. It is a country where you can spend weeks and enjoy nature, boat trips and get to know local people in small villages. You marvel at art and culture in the old city of Luang Prabang, but also feel the cosmopolitan atmosphere in Vientiane. In South Laos there are highlights such as the Khmer temples, caves and the idyllic setting of the 4000 islands. In this article you’ll find an overview of the best things to do in Laos, including tips for hotels, tours, best time to visit and local traditions and customs.
For a long time, Laos was one of the most isolated countries in Asia. But nowadays Laos is a destination that you absolutely want to visit. It is one of the least visited destinations in Southeast Asia, wich makes you feel as if you are going off the beaten track. Enjoy this list with the best things to do, including tips for hotels, tours, best time to visit, traditions and the South Laos highlights.
Located on the Mekong River, Luang Prabang is the most beautiful city in Laos. The French colonial buildings, interspersed with temples and monks dressed in orange, create a special and even magical atmosphere. The city center is listed by Unesco as World Heritage site. In Luang Prabang you can get inspired by art, culture and beautiful nature for days. In the morning you will see the monks collecting their alms and in the afternoon you will hear the gongs of temple ceremonies everywhere.
There are many things to do in Luang Prabang in Laos. You can visit temples, viewpoints, markets and lovely terraces and restaurants. At a number of restaurants you can learn how to cook Laotian and at the Royal ballet of Laos you can take a traditional dance class. It is also possible to spend a day exploring the area and visiting the idyllic waterfalls of Kuang Si, the butterfly gardens and the surrounding villages.
One of the best things to do when you are arond Luang Prabang in Laos, is to visit the Pak Ou caves. This cave is known for the thousands of Buddha statues that you will find inside, in all shapes and sizes. The cave has been an important Buddhist shrine since the 16th century. And many pilgrims have brought Buddhas here over the years.
The cave is located along the Mekong and is only accessible from the water. It is best to visit the caves during a trip on the Mekong or as a day trip from Luang Prabang. The cave consists of two parts. A lower part which is easy to reach via a short staircase. And a higher cave, for which you have to climb a large staircase. On the way you always have a beautiful view of the river. Bring a flashlight as it is dark in the caves.
Do you want to visit the Pak Ou Caves from Luang Prabang? Then this might be an interesting tour.
An absolute highlight in Laos and the best way to absorb the beautiful nature is by taking a boat tour on the Mekong river. Most boats are slow boats, meaning you will cruise for hours on the river and immerse yourself in the daily life of the Laotians, who live around the river. You sail past plantations, small villages and lots of greenery. On the way you see elephants and people working along the river. With a guide you can moor at a number of villages and get to know the people. You can also taste the local whiskey Lao Lao, which is still distilled in many villages in the old-fashioned way.
Do you want to cruise the Mekong river? Then this might be an interesting tour. Most tours include a visit to the Pak Ou Caves and Kuang Si waterfalls as well.
This tour can also be done, when you travel from Thailand to Laos or the other way around. From Chiang Khong / Huay Xai, located on the border between Laos and Thailand, you can go for a two-day boat trip on the Mekong river, with an overnight stay in Pakbeng. The tour ends in Luang Prabang.
In Laos you will find countless villages, with tribes such as the Kamu (Kmhmu), Tai Dam, Akha and Hmong. You can visit these villages and meet the local families. It is a great way to support these places and learn more about traditions, customs and life in Laos. In Luang Prabang you will also find an interesting museum called TEAC. In a few rooms, this museum provides very brief information about the various tribes from Laos. There are also shops in Luang Prabang and Vientiane, where beautiful Hmong art, such as jewelry and scarves are sold.
Looking for a special experience among the locals? During a two-day trek you will walk through villages in northern Laos, spend the night with local families and learn more about their way of living. More information can be found here.
Vientiane is the capital of Laos and also the commercial and cultural heart of the country. It is a modern city with boulevards, lots of buildings and shops. The French influences are still clearly visible in certain places, due to the architecture and the many French bakeries and cafes. Vientiane in Laos has few spectacular things to do and sights, but a short visit to the capital is definitely worth it. To visit the iconic buildings, such as the golden stupa and Patuxai, the Laotian version of the Arc de Triomphe. But also just to enjoy the nice cosmopolitan atmosphere in the center, around the boulevard. Here you will find interesting galleries, shops, temples, restaurants and lots of trendy cafes.
Want to read more about Vientiane? Check out my Vientiane Laos City Guide with tips for the best things to do in terms of art, culture, fashion and history, hotels and restaurants.
Laos is one of the most heavily bombed countries in the world. It is said that more than 2 billion kilos of bombs ended up in Laos during the Vietnam war. Unfortunately, there are still unexploded bombs scattered across the country and accidents occur daily. Many local people get injured and disabled because they encounter an unexploded bomb during their daily work on the land. The COPE visitors centre and UXO Visitors Centre in Vientiane and Luang Prabang, are institutes that provide physical rehabilitation services for the victims and also function as a museum. You will find a lot of information about the history, current situation and investigations for finding and defusing the bombs. With your visit you will not only learn something about Laos, but also contribute to these important projects.
Vang Vieng is located in a karst landscape, which comes straight from a picture book. For years Vang Vieng was the partyplace of Laos and still there are many cafes, but it is more quiet than before. Nowadays there are many outdoor activities and things to do in this part of Laos such as tubing, rafting and kayaking. This is an overview of interesting tours. My recommendation is to visit Vang Vieng if you like these outdoor activities or if you want to make a stop between Luang Prabang and Vientiane. Make sure you spend the night along the river and take a boat trip at the end of the day, to admire the sunset behind the beautiful landscape.
Looking for outdoor things to do in Vang Vieng in Laos? This is an overview of interesting tours.
One of the South Laos highlights and things to do is to visit the Konglor cave. This is a 7.5 km long cave, which you sail through for 1.5 hours. It is very dark and you only see lights from the different flashlights. The silence in this gigantic cave, makes the tour unique. On the way you get to admire the illuminated stalagmites. Sometimes you have to step out and walk a bit through the water, if the water level is too low for the boats. It is a large cave, with a size of 90m to 100m at the highest point. I recommend to put on water shoes and clothes that can get wet, and bring a waterproof bag for your camera.
The Konglor cave can be reached from Konglor village, or Ban O, a small village that is entirely dedicated to the cave, with simple guesthouses and little eateries. The caves are also part of the Thakhek loop, a 450 km route that you can travel by scooter or motorbike from the city of Thakhek.
Looking for a place to stay? This is an overview with tips for simple guesthouses in Konglor Laos.
Si Phan Don, better knows as the 4000 islands, are located close to the border with Cambodia. This place belongs to one of the South Laos highlights without a doubt. It is a place to absolutely fall in love with, because of the relaxed atmoshere. There are not many things to do or see in Si Phan Don islands in Laos, but that is exactly the charm and reason to go.
In the annual dry period, thousands of sandboxes and islands form in the side arms of the Mekong river. Hence the name 4000 islands. A number of islands, such as Don Khong and Don Det, are inhabited all year round and are easy to visit. You can sit along the boulevard and gaze at the river views. Or rent a bike and explore the surroundings, passing small communities, temples, rice fields and water buffaloes. It is also possible to go on a boat trip, visit waterfalls, and observe the irawaddy dolphin, the pink freshwater dolphin. In the evening you can enjoy fish in banana leaf in one of the small restaurants on the boulevard.
The 4000 islands are also a good destination to include in your trip, if you are traveling to or from Cambodia. The border Nonghokkhienne (Laos) – T.P.K. (Cambodia) is about a 45 minute drive from Muang Khong, the capital of Don Khone.
Are you interested in history? Then one of the best things to do in Laos is to visit Wat Phu. It is one of the archaeological South Laos ighlights. Wat Phu was built by the Khmer in the 12th century and would have been the inspiration for Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Where you share the ruins of Angkor Wat with countless tourists, it is likely that you will have Wat Phu almost to yourself.
You will find remains of temples with beautiful ornaments. From the temple of Shiva, on top of the mountain, you have a view of the surroundings. Wat Phu is located near the city of Champasak, in the south of Laos.
Planning to include Wat Phu in your Laos itinerary? You can book your tour here, including transportation and guide. Read everything about a visit, including tips for Wat Phu Laos in the next article.
Are you near Savannakhet? Then the stupa of Hang Ing Hang, the stupa of the hanging tree, is one of the places to include in your itinerary, because of the interesting story. There used to be another shrine at this place, where Buddha would have rested during his journey, under a hanging tree. That’s why this place became sacred. Buddha is also said to have become ill here from eating pork. It is therefore forbidden to consume pork in the vicinity of the stupa. Festivities and ceremonies take place here regularly to honor this holy place.
Looking for hotels? This is an overview with tips for hotels around Savannakhet Laos.
Discover the best tours in Laos.
There are several airports in Laos, the largest of which are Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Pakse and Savannakhet. You can easily search, compare and book a flight via Skyscanner. In addition, all cities and attractions in Laos are easily accessible by public transport or by means of a shuttle service. I personally love renting a car and going out myself. You can rent a car easily through rentalcars.com. But numerous tours to cities and national parks in the area are also offered.
This is an important overview with tips for “do’s and don’ts”, to respect Laos local traditions and customs.
What is the best time to visit Laos? Laos has a tropical climate, with the rainy season, running from June to September. This means there will be showers on a daily base but the landscape is beautifully green. After the rainy season it gets a bit cooler and temperatures are pleasant. October through March is the best time to visit Laos. After February it slowly gets warmer.
The ideal length of stay in Laos is 10 days, which gives you time to explore some of the country’s highlights and things to do. During this period you can discover the beautiful city of Luang Prabang, the Kuang Si waterfalls and Vientiane. If you like nature and adventure, you can stay longer to visit the 4,000 islands in the Mekong River or go trekking in the Bolaven Plateau region. The longer you stay, the more you can take in the tranquil and unspoilt beauty of Laos.
Did you enjoy reading this article with tips and things to do in Laos? In the next article you will find can read more about beautiful Laos:
This article may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something using one of our links, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you, which helps us keep this blog alive. Thank you for your support! Please see our disclosures for more information.
Ben je geïnteresseerd in de wereld? Wil je reis inspiratie opdoen en een land en cultuur beter leren kennen? Reis mee met Passport The World!
Al meer dan twintig jaar reis ik als producent, reporter en gids, de wereld rond, op zoek naar de mooiste verhalen en reiservaringen. In Passport the World neem ik je mee naar bestemmingen in de natuur, langs steden en historische plaatsen, uitzichtpunten, ontmoetingen met de lokale bevolking, wandelingen en bijzondere tochten. Je vindt er reisinspiratie en tips om het maximale uit je reis te halen en een land en cultuur beter te leren kennen.
