It’s no secret that Laos is my absolute favorite place in Southeast Asia — and one of my favorite countries in the world. This magical landlocked gem has sleepy river towns, dense jungles, friendly people, spicy food, and the greatest city on Earth. On my last day here I sat at the bus station for nearly two hours trying to avoid bursting into tears as the final minutes ticked away on my visa. (I walked across the border at 11:58 pm.) To help you discover why this country is so incredible, I put together this 2-week Laos itinerary.
I hand-picked each destination in this itinerary to give you maximum variety and minimum travel time. You’ll get to sample a bit of everything that makes Laos so great — from deservedly popular Luang Prabang to genuine off-the-beaten-path adventure in southern Laos.
In this post, you’ll learn about the best things to do in Laos, where to stay, what to eat, and how to get around. Sound good? Keep reading to find out how to spend the PERFECT 2 weeks in Laos!
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Days 1-3 of your Laos itinerary: Luang Prabang
Your Laos travel itinerary starts off with a bang in Luang Prabang, at the junction of the Mekong and Nam Song River. This city — the most charming in Asia — instantly seduces travelers with its French-colonial shop-houses and laid-back river culture. Plus the food is awesome, the temples are gorgeous, and it has the best night market on the continent.
Did I mention I love Luang Prabang?
Start your first day with breakfast at Saffron Coffee. Spend the morning temple-spotting and museum-hopping to get a sense of Lao temple architecture (it’s totally different from its neighbors). Don’t miss Wat Xieng Thong, with its stunning Tree of Life mosaic. The entire area is a Unesco World Heritage site. Climb Mount Phu Si for sunset before spending the evening browsing the Hmong night market.
On day two, do a day trip out to Kuang Si Waterfall. It’s the most iconic waterfall in Laos, with impossibly blue water and plenty of swimming holes. Enjoy a sunset drink overlooking the Mekong River at Utopia before calling it an early night.
On your last day in Luang Prabang, wake up early to see the alms-giving ceremony — but make sure you behave respectfully. Then, try being Lao for a day with a cooking class or rice harvesting tour. Alternatively, hang out in the A/C at JoMa Bakery with a good book.
Luang Prabang practicalities
Where to stay: Accommodation in Luang Prabang is expensive compared to other places to visit in Laos, but you can still find good deals. Paphai Guesthouse has simple bamboo-walled rooms with shared bathrooms for just $5 a night.
Where to eat: Everywhere! Luang Prabang has the best restaurant selection in Laos. Saffron Coffee, JoMa, Scandinavian Bakery, Novelty Cafe, Timeless Cafe, and Le Banneton and good breakfast options. Don’t miss Tamarind for at least one meal. The Hmong Night Market has great local food.
Arriving: Sorngthaew (pickup trucks with wooden benches in the back) and tuk-tuks make the run from the airport and bus stations into town. You’ll pay 20,000 kip for a shared ride.
How to get around: Central Luang Prabang is extremely walkable. You can take a sorngthaew to Kuang Si Falls, or rent a motorbike to explore the surrounding area.
My favorite thing about Luang Prabang: Everything. This city stole my heart in every way possible. The second I’m making enough money from this blog to do it, I’m totally quitting my job and moving there.
Further reading: Read my entire 3-day Luang Prabang itinerary here.
Days 4-5: Vang Vieng
With only 2 weeks in Laos, you unfortunately won’t have enough time to explore the undiscovered northeast. But you can still experience the country’s most beautiful limestone karst scenery and river vibes in lovely Vang Vieng.
Vang Vieng used to have a reputation as a dangerous black hole of alcohol and drugs, but it’s cleaned up its act a lot in recent years. Now it’s more of an adventure tourism center. The river tubing is still open, and you can still buy drinks along the way. But you won’t find stoned backpackers munching on opium-infused “happy pizza” and mindlessly staring at TV’s playing endless episodes of Friends anymore. (Yes, this used to be a thing. I was there for it back in 2012 and it was awful.)
It’s a good thing the town has cleaned up, because it has one of the most spectacular locations in Laos. And once the party scene closed up shop, the kayaking and caving industries came into their prime.
The best way to experience Vang Vieng is on a combined caving/kayaking tour. This takes a full day of your Laos itinerary, but it’s totally worth it.
The tour starts with a tubing run through a cave. Then, you’ll hike through rice paddies to another cave, this one with an important role in local Buddhist tradition. You’ll stop for a delicious barbecue lunch (veggie options available) before kayaking for 3 hours down mild whitewater to reach Vang Vieng.
If you have some spare time before or after your tour, be sure to check out the Organic Mulberry Farm — the original backpacker hangout in Laos!
Vang Vieng practicalities
Where to stay: Choose your accommodation very wisely in Vang Vieng. A small minority of guesthouses still indulge the party scene, and you don’t want to be anywhere nearby if the cops crack down when you’re in town. Vang Vieng Boutique Hotel is a reliable budget option — check prices and book here.
Where to eat: The cafe at the Organic Mulberry Farm is lovely.
Arriving: Minibuses from Luang Prabang cost 40-50,000 kip and take about four hours. They’re much faster than the big buses.
How to get around: Walk in town, but you’ll need to rent a motorbike to get to the caves/Organic Mulberry Farm/hiking spots.
My favorite thing about Vang Vieng: Watching the sunset from the bridge over the river.
Further reading: Check out my guide to kayaking in Vang Vieng.
Days 6-7: Vientiane
Laos’s capital doesn’t feel like a capital at all. It feels more like a sleepy backwater, the kind of place you retreat to relax in after a few hard weeks on the road. Well, except for all the great cafes and restaurants, that is.
As quiet and peaceful as it is, Vientiane also has some of the most important cultural attractions in Laos. So don’t spend your whole day on a balcony with a cold beer — explore the city!
Every visitor to Vientiane should check out the “Golden Stupa,” or Pha That Luang. It’s the most important religious site in Laos. While you wander the grounds and check out the small temples on-site, you’ll meet young monks keen to practice their English.
If you’re more of a museum person, or care at all about the legacy of the Secret War in Laos, don’t miss the Project COPE Visitor Center Exhibition on UXO. You’ll learn all about how hidden land mines are still impacting the lives of Lao people — especially children. What could be a devastating exhibit is actually quite uplifting, though. The center is staffed by UXO survivors who aim to ensure other survivors can lead full lives.
Finally, don’t leave Vientiane without checking out Patuxai. The “Arch of Triumph” was constructed to resemble Paris’s, using cement the American government gave Laos for the purpose of building an airport. You can get great views of the city from the top.
Vientiane practicalities
Where to stay: Vientiane is the second-priciest city in the country after Luang Prabang. Lucky Backpackers has decent rooms for $6 a night.
Where to eat: Han Sam Euay Nong for classic Lao food. Ban Anou Night Market for cheap meals. Taj Mahal for some of the best Indian food you’ll ever find outside India. Branches of JoMa and Scandinavian Bakery for coffee/breakfast.
Arriving: Coming from Vang Vieng, you’ll probably end up on a minibus (40,000 kip) to the centrally located Talat Sao Bus Station. You can walk to hostels in the Old Quarter from here.
How to get around: Getting around Vientiane on foot is 100% doable, but tuk-tuks ply the streets if you’re feeling lazy. Bargain, but not too hard.
My favorite thing about Vientiane: The way you can visit a food stall at prime dinner hour in a capital city and still find the chef napping.
Further reading: You can find a full list of the best things to do in Vientiane here.
Days 8-9: Kong Lo Cave
In the first week of this Laos itinerary, you’ve covered the top destinations in the country. The vast majority of visitors to Laos never go beyond these three cities. Now, it’s time for the real adventure to begin.
Heading south from Vientiane, you’ll immediately notice that you’re usually the only falung (tourist) around. Even though few people speak English, they’re extremely friendly and welcoming. Nobody tries to rip you off. This is the Southeast Asia that’s disappearing to overtourism.
Your first destination, smack-dab in the center of the country, is Kong Lo Cave. This is one of the largest caves in Asia and one of the most authentic adventures I’ve had in all my travels.
You’ll spend nearly the whole day getting here by bus from Vientiane. Spend the evening strolling around the village, playing a pick-up game of petang (bocce ball) with the local monks.
The next morning, walk down to the cave mouth and hop in a longtail boat for the spooky, unnerving, spine-tingling 2-hour journey through the cave. At times you may have to hop out of the boat in pitch-darkness and push it down Class II whitewater rapids!
After your tour of the cave, continue to Thakhek to make your onward journey quicker.
Kong Lo Cave Practicalities
Where to stay: Kong Lo EcoLodge has great facilities and charges a bargain $3/person. Check prices and book here.
Where to eat: The handful of restaurants in town serve the usual Lao and Thai stir-fries for the same prices.
Arriving: A direct bus runs from Vientiane’s southern bus terminal every day at 8 am. It takes 8+ hours and costs 140,000 kip.
How to get around: You can walk from the village to the cave. When you’re ready to leave, your guesthouse can call you a sorngthaew to Thakhek.
My favorite thing about Kong Lo: You’ll feel like you’re in an Indiana Jones film.
Further reading: Read my complete guide to visiting Kong Lo Cave.
Days 10-12: The Bolaven Plateau
Just when you’re thinking Laos couldn’t get any better, the biggest adventure is still to come. Hop on a bus to Pakse and rent yourself a motorbike to head out to the Bolaven Plateau.
This plateau in the far south of Laos sits at an altitude of 1,000-1,300 meters. It’s the perfect climate for coffee cultivation, and it’s a welcome relief from the tropical heat.
But the real reason to come here is to cover a four-day motorbike loop that takes you past the country’s most spectacular waterfalls. You’ll be way off the beaten path — some of these towns still see only a handful of tourists a month. You’ve never seen jungle like this before, and you’ve never encountered people this welcoming.
The trip starts off easy, with a half-day ride on good roads to Tat Lo. This town is famous for being the “backpacker town without any backpackers” — it has good tourist infrastructure but you’ll be one of about ten falung in town. Check out the nearby waterfalls on an evening walk. Whatever you do, make sure you eat at Mama Pap’s restaurant.
Next, pass through Sekong on the remote back roads to Attepeu. It’s all about the scenery and village life here. Watch the sunset over the Sekong River with a sweaty Beer Lao.
The third day is the highlight of the trip. Take your bike on the very remote trail to Paksong, passing two 60-meter jungle waterfalls along the way. Finish up with a coffee tour in Paksong. Then, before riding back to Pakse, stop at Tad Fane — a twin 120-meter waterfall plunging over a cliff.
Bolaven Plateau practicalities:
Where to stay: Accommodation standards are low on the Plateau, but every town has a handful of cheap hotels. Stay at Sabaidy 2 Guesthouse in Pakse to recruit travel buddies.
Where to eat: You’ll mostly eat at roadside foe stands, but Mama Pap’s in Tad Lo is great and you can’t miss Koffie’s Coffee in Paksong.
Arriving: Buses from Thakhek run to Pakse throughout the day. The bus station is in the center of town.
How to get around: By motorbike! Rent from Miss Noy’s for 60,000 kip per day.
My favorite thing about the Bolaven Plateau: When you’re driving through a village and all the kids and grandma’s come running out screaming “sabaidee!!!!”
Further reading: Check out my complete guide to the Bolaven Plateau motorbike loop.
Days 13-14: Si Phan Don
Full disclosure: I did not make it to Si Phan Don (the 4,000 islands). I had every intention to, but I ran out of time on my visa after extending my Bolaven Plateau trip by a couple days.
Still, I can pretty much guarantee that they’re the perfect place to end your Laos itinerary. These impossibly chill little islands on the border with Cambodia have everything a backpacker needs after two weeks on the road.
Don Det has the liveliest traveler scene, while Don Khon is more local. You can take dugout canoes or float on an inner tube to get between the islands.
The main thing to do in Si Phan Don is relax. But if you want something a little more active, be sure to check out the string of waterfalls. Tat Somphamit is the most iconic.
Si Phan Don Practicalities
Where to stay: Don Det for the party scene, or Don Khon for a quieter atmosphere. Lots of local guesthouses offer both fan and air-con rooms in both places.
Where to eat: Don Det has lots of traveler-oriented restaurants.
Arriving: Hop on a bus from Pakse to Nakasong. The journey takes about three hours. From Nakasong, you can get a ferry to the islands.
How to get around: Bicycle is the most popular mode of transport on the islands. The roads are really rough, so motorized transport is uncomfortable.
My favorite thing about the Four Thousand Islands: I didn’t personally visit, but I wish I’d had time to sit in a hammock and watch the sunset over the river.
Further reading: Check out The Hangry Backpacker’s guide to the Four Thousand Islands.
Additions and alternatives for your Laos itinerary
Once you reach the Four Thousand Islands, your 2 weeks in Laos will be up. It’s an easy onward journey to Cambodia from here — a better option than doubling back all the way to Vientiane for your flight home.
If you have more than two weeks, there are plenty of ways you can extend your Laos trip. Alternatively, swap out some of these options for the southern portion of my itinerary above.
The first alternative/addition is great if you’re traveling overland from Vietnam. This route allows you to explore northeast Laos by river boat. Stop in the villages of Nong Khiaw, Muang Ngoi Neua, and Muang Khua along the way. You need at least four days for this journey, but a week is better, since river travel can be slower than expected. Check out the details on the Laos-Vietnam border crossing here.
Another alternative is to head north from Luang Prabang, into the hill tribe regions near the border with China. You can get as off the beaten path as you want here — some of the trekking areas are very remote. But the most popular option is a 1-3 day trek in the Nam Ha National Protected Area, just outside Luang Namtha. Learn more about trekking in northern Laos here.
If you’re entering Laos from Thailand, there are plenty of diversions in that direction as well. The most popular is The Gibbon Experience. This canopy tour is one of the top jungle experiences in the world. You’ll spend a night sleeping in tree houses high above the jungle floor, while during the day you zip-line and hike through the forest. Learn what to expect with this review.
Finally, one of the best parts of travel in Laos is slowing down and seeing the off-the-beaten path places. One lovely diversion from the tourist route is Savannakhet. This sleepy riverside town breaks up the trip from Thakhek to Pakse. It won’t blow you away with spectacular sightseeing, but it’s a lovely place to meet locals, play petang, and enjoy some good food.
Final Laos travel tips
- Lowland Laos is extremely hot and humid, especially in the spring months. But it gets very cold in the mountains. Near the border with China, you might even get snow. Pack layers if you’re heading north.
- Laos is surprisingly expensive compared to the rest of South East Asia. Budget $2.50 for simple street meals, $5 for a meal in a local restaurant, and $10+ a night for guesthouses.
- Buses in Laos are a bit of an adventure. Expect every journey to take 3 hours longer than the driver says it will. Most local buses look like they were made from wet cardboard. If you can avoid overnight trips, your body will thank you.
- That weird-looking black paste/sauce thing on all the restaurant tables is shrimp paste. Tread carefully.
- People in Laos are much more laid-back than elsewhere in the region. They don’t really try to scam you, and even overcharging is pretty rare. Don’t be tempted to aggressively bargain, and getting mad at a vendor would be a huge cultural no-no. You will need to radically re-calibrate your communication style if you’re coming from Vietnam.
- If you’re going off the beaten path, a Lao phrasebook is invaluable, as few people speak English. At a minimum, learn a couple words to order food — som tam is papaya salad, and foe is noodle soup (identical to Vietnamese pho but transliterated differently here). You can always find these two diet staples — just watch how many chili peppers they add.
- Beer Lao is the best beer in Asia. You’ll see the traditional yellow crates transporting it to even the tiniest villages.
- Laos is amazing. Spend as much time as you can here. You’ll fall in love just like I did.
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Some great tips and a sound itinerary, love your photos as well. Will pin for later and hopefully when the borders are open we can share this with others!
Thanks Lee, I can’t wait for travel to start back up again!