Laos Travel Guide

Laos travel guides to inspire your next trip.

Located in the heart of Southeast Asia, Laos has maintained its sense of traditional culture and landscape and makes for a fascinating trip.

Idyllic scenery, with stretches of rice paddies, stilted houses and a dramatic skyline. Go slow, enjoy the scenery and soak up the culture in the gorgeous architecture of Luang Prabang and the capital Vientiane.

Best Places to Travel in Laos

Vang Vieng

Best-known for its past status as a party hotspot, there’s a lot more to Vang Vieng than river tubing and raucous parties.

Clustered in a spectacular setting next to the Nam Song river, Vang Vieng is gaining a reputation as a rural haven and the perfect destination to explore the great outdoors.

Rock climbing, cave tubing, kayaking and taking a dip in The Blue Lagoon – get ready for your next adventure.

Vientiane

Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Vientiane is the capital of Laos and is the perfect spot or discover city life.

Unlike the pastoral scenery in other areas of Laos, you’ll find a selection of restaurants, cafe and bars in this quietly attractive city.

Explore the Buddhist statue park and be sure to sample some of the delicious cuisines. There are plenty of temples and stupas to discover – some do charge an entry fee.

Stroll through one of the nature parks or stop by the Lao National Museum to check out some of Laos’ culture and heritage.

Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is my favourite spot in Laos. Dozy, beautiful and calm, it’s the perfect counterpart to other hectic Southeast Asian towns.  A UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s a gorgeous mix of colonial architecture, Buddhist temples and delicious food.

Whilst this colourful town floats at a drowsy pace, it’s not all a throwback to the past – over recent years, Luang Prabang has seen more than its fair share of boutique hotels and great restaurants opening and an increasing number of visitors.

Pakse

Pakse sits at the spot where the Mekong and Xe Don rivers meet. More than this, it’s a cool place to spend a few days enjoying one of Laos’ most charming destinations.

Check out the architecture of the Wat Luang Buddhist temple or explore The Champasak Historical Heritage Museum.

Champasak

Champasak was once a seat of royalty. These days it’s lost some of its former glory – but not all.

The main attraction, Wat Phou, tells the story of times past. Scattered with colonial buildings that once belonged to the king of Champasak, it’s an intriguing destination and a glimpse into history.

Wander around Champasak and you’ll also find traditional wooden houses, belonging to the locals. Overlooking the river, you’ll find some charming restaurants to relax in whilst enjoying views of the river.