Grand tour of Indochina: Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia
Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam
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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 holiday 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 holiday to Laos could entail. Treat them as inspiration, as each trip is created uniquely for you.
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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Luang Say Cruise ![Pak Ou boat, Luang Prabang]()
Luang Say Cruise
Luang Say Cruise
One of the best ways to enter Laos is by river from the Thai border. The journey takes you through surprisingly varied scenery, from remote 6,000 foot mountains to lunar rock faces and sandbanks.
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Kuang Si Waterfalls ![Kuang Si Waterfall, Luang Prabang]()
Kuang Si Waterfalls
Luang PrabangKuang Si Waterfalls
Kuang Si Falls are 30 kilometres from town. The excursion leaves Luang Prabang in the morning and heads toward Ban Ou by boat.
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100 waterfalls trek from Nong Khiaw ![Ou river scenery]()
100 waterfalls trek from Nong Khiaw
Nong Khiaw100 waterfalls trek from Nong Khiaw
Walking through small streams and rice paddies you arrive at the bottom of the 100 waterfalls which were only first explored by non-locals in late 2008. The next few hours you will encounter only water and jungle and hear the sound of the waterfall cascades as you physically work your way up through the various levels which stretch upwards for around 1.2 miles (2 km).
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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 travelling to Laos, from social protocols to guidance on money matters, with a link to the latest FCDO 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 -
![Mekong River]()
Take a cruise on the Mekong River -
![Wat Phou, Champasak, Laos]()
Visit the temple complex at Wat Phou -
![Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos]()
Stroll among the temples at Pha That Luang -
![Surrounding scenery]()
Explore the caves in Vieng Xai -
![Infused alcohol for sale at the night market in Luang Prabang]()
Visit the night markets of Luang Prabang -
![Pak Ou Caves]()
Travel to the remote North
Our expert guides to travelling 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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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 -
Family holidays in Laos ![Kuang Si Waterfall, Luang Prabang]()
Family holidays in Laos
Family holidays in Laos
We can highly recommend Laos as a destination for a family holiday. We can suggest suitable accommodation and excursions to ensure your family holiday here will be a truly unique and memorable experience.
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Luxury holidays in Laos ![Swimming pool, Amantaka]()
Luxury holidays in Laos
Luxury holidays in Laos
If you're planning a luxury holiday to Laos we have a wide range of accommodation available. Our specialists can recommend the best places to stay to ensure you have a trip to remember.
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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.
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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.
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Laos walking holidays: Indochina's remote backwaters ![Walking to the H'mong village garden]()
Laos walking holidays: Indochina's remote backwaters
Laos walking holidays: 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 holiday in Laos.
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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 favourite 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.
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Southeast Asian cuisine ![Thai street food]()
Southeast Asian cuisine
Southeast Asian cuisine
Trade routes, historic connections, colonialism and common sources of ingredients have left many strong links between the dishes found throughout Southeast Asia. We investigate the very distinct national variations that have evolved in this region.
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Discover more about Laos on our blog
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![Ta Prohm]()
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