Laos is one of the few destinations where, in some areas, visitors are yet to deviate from a few well-trodden sights. It’s Indochina’s final frontier, and our specialists have trekked through jungles, scouted out caves and journeyed up rivers to get to know it more intimately. They can help you plan your vacation to Laos to follow in their wake.
Only now emerging after years of isolation, Laos is a country of steep, jungle-robed valleys inhabited by resilient communities who live at a refreshingly unhurried pace. The former royal stronghold, Luang Prabang, is a mosaic of golden wats and Indochinese villas, its streets often filled with silent processions of monks. In the diminutive capital, Vientiane, you’ll find faded French-colonial mansions and coffee shops. The rest of the country is predominantly one blanket of green, carved with slow-flowing tributaries of the Mekong. As you explore, you’ll happen upon little-visited hill tribes, backwater towns and Cham temples that predate Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.
Creating tailor-made tours for over 25 years
Suggested tours for Laos
These tours give you a starting point for what your vacation to Laos could entail. Treat them as inspiration, as each trip is created uniquely for you.
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![Exploring Xe Bang Fai Cave]()
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![Patuxai Monument in Vientiane, Laos]()
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![Vat Phou Cruise in the 4000 islands]()
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![Mekong River views, Laos]()
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![Plain of Jars site one, near Phonsavan]()
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![Monk, Angkor Wat]()
Grand tour of Indochina: Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia
Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and VietnamView this tour -
![Temple in Luang Prabang]()
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![Fisherman, Hoi An]()
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![Red Dzao woman, Thanh Kim Valley, Sapa, Vietnam]()
Suggested activities for Laos
Whatever your interests, our specialists will build activities into your trip that connect to how you want to experience Laos.
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Culinary delights tour of Vientiane ![Chillis and Kaffir Lime Leaves; Phonsavan Market, Laos]()
Culinary delights tour of Vientiane
VientianeCulinary delights tour of Vientiane
Visit Lam Pai-Bay Tong, a rustic restaurant/cooking school close to the Mekong River where you will learn how to create three local dishes using traditional ingredients and techniques.
View details -
Evening Baci Ceremony ![Traditional dress]()
Evening Baci Ceremony
Luang PrabangEvening Baci Ceremony
The Baci ceremony is a mix of Animism and Buddhism. These ceremonies are common to Laos. Their purpose is to call back your own spirits to your body because they sometimes escape.
View details -
Vientiane City Tour ![Pha That Luang, Vientiane]()
Vientiane City Tour
VientianeVientiane City Tour
The first stop of the tour is the National Museum, where you can follow the history of Laos from prehistory to the present day.
View details
Why travel with Audley?
- 100% tailor-made tours
- Fully protected travel
- Established for over 25 years
- 98% of our clients would recommend us
Best time to visit
Our specialists advise on the best months to visit Laos, including information about climate, events and festivals.
Travel advice
Practical tips for traveling to Laos, from social protocols to guidance on money matters, with a link to the latest US State Department travel advice.
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Laos in pictures
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![4000 Islands, Mekong River, Laos]()
Enjoy a river cruise around the 4000 Islands -
![View from the bridge in Nong Khiaw of the Nam Ou River]()
Take a boat trip down the Ou River -
![Sunset in the 4000 Islands, Laos]()
See a sunset over the Mekong -
![Wat Phou, Champasak, Laos]()
Visit the temple complex at Wat Phou -
![Surrounding scenery]()
Explore the caves in Vieng Xai -
![Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos]()
Stroll among the temples at Pha That Luang -
![Infused alcohol for sale at the night market in Luang Prabang]()
Visit the night markets of Luang Prabang -
![Chillis and Kaffir Lime Leaves; Phonsavan Market, Laos]()
Try the local food and drink
Our expert guides to traveling in Laos
Written by our specialists from the viewpoint of their own travels, these guides will help you decide on the shape of your own trip to Laos. Aiming to inspire and inform, we share our recommendations for how to appreciate Laos at its best.
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![Laos: why you should go]()
Laos: why you should go
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Indochina cruises ![Sunset upon return to Indochina Sails Junk, Halong Bay, Vietnam]()
Indochina cruises
Indochina cruises
Southeast Asia specialist Mark shares his cruising in Indochina highlights. Picking his favorite ways to travel down the Mekong through Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, as well as taking in the limestone karsts of Halong Bay, and the local culture and landscapes along the Red River and on Lake Tonle Sap.
Read this guide -
Family vacations in Laos ![Kuang Si Waterfall, Luang Prabang]()
Family vacations in Laos
Family vacations in Laos
We can highly recommend Laos as a destination for a family vacation. We can suggest suitable accommodations and excursions to ensure your family vacation here will be a truly unique and memorable experience.
Read this guide -
Meeting indigenous cultures in Southeast Asia ![Lowland clansmen, Tufi, Papua New Guinea]()
Meeting indigenous cultures in Southeast Asia
Meeting indigenous cultures in Southeast Asia
Visit Southeast Asia's minority groups and discover how to give something back to the areas in which you spend time.
Read this guide -
Exploring the far north of Laos ![Laos tribal women]()
Exploring the far north of Laos
Exploring the far north of Laos
Visiting Laos is an opportunity to escape from the fast-paced lifestyle of the developed world, especially northern Laos. Soak up the tranquil atmosphere and admire the picturesque scenery of this little-visited area.
Read this guide -
Laos walking vacations: Indochina's remote backwaters ![Walking to the H'mong village garden]()
Laos walking vacations: Indochina's remote backwaters
Laos walking vacations: Indochina's remote backwaters
Laos specialist and keen hiker Laura explains why the jungle-clad hills of northern Laos are best explored on foot. She shares her suggestions for the best routes and experiences to make the most of a walking vacation in Laos.
Read this guide -
What to do in Laos: our highlights guide ![Mekong River]()
What to do in Laos: our highlights guide
What to do in Laos: our highlights guide
Still very much untouched by mass tourism, Laos offers the visitor much to see and do, from watching monks perform daily rituals or taking a night safari in a national park, to learning to cook Laotian food or taking a relaxing cruise down the Mekong River.
Read this guide -
Laos, Asia away from it all ![Nam Nern Night Safari]()
Laos, Asia away from it all
Laos, Asia away from it all
Laos is often overlooked: and therein lies its beauty. You can travel to isolated regions that really are remote and fall into an unhurried pace of life that has changed little in centuries. Our specialists have journeyed to outlying national parks, far-flung caves and secluded villages to find the best places to visit.
Read this guide -
Luxury vacations in Laos ![Swimming pool, Amantaka]()
Luxury vacations in Laos
Luxury vacations in Laos
If you're planning a luxury vacation to Laos we have a wide range of accommodations available. Our specialists can recommend the best places to stay to ensure you have a trip to remember.
Read this guide
Discover more about Laos on our blog
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![Ta Prohm]()
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