I would like to spend 7 days in Laos, before returning to Thailand and home. Where should I visit and stay?

Answer 1

I have spent significant time and insignificant time in Laos and my first instinct is to immediately suggest LuangPrabang. You can get flights through Lao Aviation from Vientiane (about $60 one way) and Bangkok Airways from Bangkok (about $175 one way). These prices are variable depending on the season.
LuangPrabang has a host of "groovy restaurants" (as one of our friends says). Our favorites to try are Cafe Ban Wat Siene (French), JoMa (for a Starbucks-esque break from Asian cuisine), La Chedi (Thai/Lao), La Elephant (elegant French).
If you have an interest in Buddhist temples, LP is the place to see them.
A climb up PhuSi hill in the middle of the city offers a lovely panoramic view of the city and surrounding countryside. The mountains are gorgeous! Follow this up with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum.
Enjoying a fruit shake at one of the many little riverside restaurants is a must.
A walk through Phosi market is a good way to see the real life side of Lao culture.
A company called Tiger Trail does good local eco-type tours, from what I hear.
From LuangPrabang, a recommended place to visit is MuangNoi, which is about a three hour drive, then on to Nong Khiao which is a hour or two boat ride.
There is a decent waterfall to visit just outside of LuangPrabang, called KuangSi, which is nice for a picnic and a swim. You can get there by tuk-tuk, the local taxi-like transportation. (Always bargain!! Because you are a foreigner, they will hike up the prices.)
Vientiane is a miss. Not much to see or do there. If you go, you can visit a couple of tourist spots (That Luang and Patusai), some good restaurants and the Morning Market.
Vang Vieng is good if you like to go tubing or kayaking on the river. I hear rock climbing is decent, though I have not done that myself. Very much a backpacker spot.
Spending a day in a village, which can be arranged through many tourist companies, is a good way to see Lao life outside of the cities.

Best resources are Rough Guide to Laos and Lonely Planet: Laos.
Hope you choose to go. It's a beautiful country with friendly people!!

Answer 2

The Auberge des 3 Nagas, Luang Prabang is nearby Xieng Thang Temple and is a few minutes walk to the Nam Kham River. The Auberge des 3 Nagas is a traditional Lao style, boutique hotel sited in a historical building protected by UNESCO. Rooms are large and are tastefully, individually designed. They have a large private terrace and are equipped with modern amenities and services.

Laos' isolation from foreign influence offers travellers an unparalleled glimpse of traditional Southeast Asian life. From the fertile lowlands of the Mekong River valley to the rugged Annamite highlands, Laos is the highlight of Southeast Asia.



This is the least developed and most enigmatic of the three former French Indochinese states. A ruinous sequence of colonial domination, internecine conflict and dogmatic socialism finally brought the country to its knees in the 1970s, and almost 10% of the population left the country.


Meandering rivers, lush jungle, village markets and the UNESCO-listed Plain of Jars.


Crossing the border at the Friendship bridge from Thailand to Laos: The safest and definitely the cheapest way obtaining a valid visa to Lao PDR is buying it at the official border, not from the several travel agencies or tuktuk drivers nearby. Foreigners are charged an extra entrance fee of 10 baht after having their visas stamped in the passport control. There are normally many taxis, minibuses and tuktuks at the border that will take you to Vientiane. (20-30 minutes drive). Dont forget to bargain.

Answer 3

I've never been to Laos, but I've travelled to Thailand and Cambodia with Gecko Travel (a small UK/Thai company, not the big Aussie Geckos) and they were really helpful. They specialise in travel to that part of the world, so their itineraries might give you some ideas.
http://www.geckotravel.co.uk/

Other place for ideas- try Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree.
Happy Travels!

Answer 4

i was in thailand and vietnam last year
thought about a trip into laos but it is very hard to get a decent trip into the country
flights are pretty hard to come by not if u wanna travel overland im sure ull find a decent tour
very very cheap i do know that much tho

Answer 5

hi when you've been to Koh Phangnam head to Chiang Mai contained in the great way on the on the spot I got here back to Bangkok on the prepare in one day from Chiang Mai for a a million off holiday it became ok I wouldnt do it back I went on the Bus from Pattaya to Chiang Mai a lengthy journey i imagine it became about 18 hours yet you spot extra i'd fly in case you could a lot less problem

Answer 6

Yes.

Answer 7

Vang Vien - beautiful place among mountains, caves, lakes. A truly Shang-ri-la. Plenty of cheap guesthouses around and you can meet many backpackers also.

Answer 8

you will need a visa and not all bridge crossings and ferries are available to farang best head for Vientiane and make further plans from there. Dont forget your exit visa before you try and leave.