Laos Tours: Where to Go and Which Trips to Book
The best Laos tours combine Luang Prabang and the Mekong with a few days in the forested north, and the time to go is November to February, when it is dry and cool. For trekking, kayaking and village homestays, base yourself in Luang Namtha, at the edge of the Nam Ha National Protected Area near the Chinese border.
Laos is landlocked, mountainous and thinly populated, with the Mekong running down its western side. It is slower and quieter than its neighbours, which is the reason to go. Most visitors follow a north to south line from Luang Prabang through Vang Vieng to the capital, Vientiane, and the trips that reward the most effort are the ones that leave that line for the hills.
Ridge after ridge of forest: the landscape of the far north around Nam Ha.
Where to go in Laos
Luang Prabang. The old royal town on the Mekong, a UNESCO site of temples, French-era houses and morning alms rounds. Most trips start or end here.
Vang Vieng. A river town among limestone peaks, known for caves, tubing and kayaking. These days it is quieter and more outdoorsy than its old party reputation suggests.
Vientiane. The capital, small and relaxed, with the main international flights and the Thai border at the Friendship Bridge.
The Plain of Jars. Fields of ancient stone jars around Phonsavan in Xieng Khouang, a detour east by road or air.
Si Phan Don. The Four Thousand Islands, where the Mekong spreads out just above the Cambodian border, and the natural place to cross into Cambodia overland.
Luang Namtha and the far north. Forest, rivers and villages of Akha, Khmu, Tai Dam and other groups, inside and around the Nam Ha National Protected Area. This is where the guided trekking is, and where all the trips we list begin.
How to get around Laos
The Laos-China railway, open since December 2021, has changed travel here. It links Vientiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang in a few hours and continues north through Luang Namtha province towards the Chinese border, so the far north is no longer a two-day bus ride away.
The classic slow boat still runs down the Mekong from Huay Xai, on the Thai border, to Luang Prabang over two days, with a night in Pakbeng. Luang Namtha has a small airport with flights from Vientiane. Roads in the mountains are slow, winding and sometimes cut by landslides in the rainy season, so allow more time than the distance suggests.
Before you book, check the Laos visa rules for your passport, since they vary by nationality and by the border you cross.
When is the best time to visit Laos?
| Season | Months | What to expect | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool and dry | November to February | Clear days, cold mornings in the north | Trekking, everything |
| Hot | March to May | Hot, with smoky haze from field burning in the north | The south, rivers |
| Rainy | June to October | Heavy showers, green landscape, muddy trails | Kayaking, fewer visitors |
November to February is the best window for nearly everything, and especially for trekking: the trails are dry, the air is clear, and nights in the mountains can be properly cold. Bring warm clothing for homestays in those months.
March to May is hot, and the north fills with haze as fields are burned before planting, which hides the views. The rainy season from June to October turns the hills deep green and the rivers full, which suits kayaking, but trails get muddy and some routes become hard going. Pack a raincoat and shoes that can get wet.
Laos tour package or a few trips on the ground?
Laos is easy to travel independently along the main route, and many people do. Where a tour earns its place is in the north, for three reasons: you need a guide to walk in the protected area, village homestays are arranged through local operators and village guides, and the logistics of getting into and out of the forest are hard to set up alone.
So the practical plan for most travellers is to do Luang Prabang and the Mekong independently, then book one or two guided trips from Luang Namtha. Those trips run from a single day to five days, and include the guide, a village guide, meals, permits and the overnight stay.
A village home in the north, the kind of place you sleep on a homestay trek.
Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos tour: how to combine them
We do not list a single three-country package. The common way to combine them is a Vietnam and Cambodia route, which flows naturally overland from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, with Laos added by a short flight, most easily from Hanoi. Laos fits best at the start or end of the trip, because it sits to the north and west of both.
If you are starting in Vietnam, our central Vietnam guide covers Hue and Hoi An; the Lao Bao border crossing lies inland from Hue, on the road west to Savannakhet. The multi-country itineraries lay out two, three and four week routes across the region.
Laos tours worth booking
All of these start and end in Luang Namtha, are priced per person by group size, and include an English-speaking guide and a village guide.
- Laos trekking and homestay tours: every trip we list in the north, from day walks to five days between forest camps and village homes.
- Nam Ha kayaking and trekking, 2 days: about six hours paddling downstream past villages to eco lodging or a camp, then roughly six hours on foot up to a mountain viewpoint, with a riverboat and the road back to town.
- Akha homestay and cycling trip: a drive past Khmu, Lantan and Black Tai villages to Lakkhammai, a night with an Akha family, then a bicycle ride back through Tai villages known for weaving and indigo dyeing.
- Luang Namtha one-day forest trek: about four hours on foot through bamboo and primary forest from Ban Chaleunsouk, a picnic cooked by a stream, then Ban Namleu and the weaving village of Ban Phieng Ngarm on the drive back.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need for Laos?
Ten days covers Luang Prabang, the slow boat or the train, and two or three days of trekking in the north. A week is enough for Luang Prabang and one guided trip. With two weeks you can add the Plain of Jars or the Four Thousand Islands in the south without rushing.
How hard are the treks around Luang Namtha?
They range from easy to demanding. A one-day walk is about four hours on forest trails with some climbing. Multi-day treks involve six hours or more a day, river crossings and steep sections, and overnight stays are in basic village homes or forest camps. Sturdy shoes and moderate fitness are enough for the shorter trips.
How much should I tip a tour guide in Laos?
Tipping is not expected on the trips we list and is never built into the price. If your guide and village guide looked after you well, a small amount at the end, given directly to them, is appreciated. It is your decision, not an obligation.
Is Laos safe for travellers?
Laos is generally a calm, low-crime country for visitors. The practical risks are road travel in the mountains, especially in the rainy season, and unexploded ordnance in parts of the east, which is why you stay on marked paths around the Plain of Jars. For the rest of the region, see the Southeast Asia travel guide.
Fix your travel month first, then book the Luang Namtha trip that fits the days you have in the north.