Laos Travel Guide

Everyone needs a little help now and then, especially when planning a dream holiday so we're here to help with our travel guide to Laos. Find out more about the best time to go and the top sights you should see when you're there. Discover what plugs you'll need to take with you and how easily you'll find WiFi out there. We also cover the essentials with details on what visa you'll need and provide a round-up of the multi-country tours we offer to Laos and its neighbouring countries.

Vangvieng Laos Tours On The Go Tours

Best Places to Visit

Don't visit Laos without seeing these top sights from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng

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Best Time to Visit

Plan the perfect time to visit with our guide to the seasons and climate in Laos

Currency

Top Travel Tips

A crash course in the essentials from health advice to currency, food to shopping

Visas

Tourist Visas

Visa requirements for Laos and information on getting your visa before you go

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Multi-country Tours

Combine Laos with other Southeast Asian countries including Cambodia & Vietnam

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Traveller Reviews

See what our travellers say about our tours to Laos and what makes them so good

Plan your trip to similar destinations!

Get to know Laos

Recommended Reading

  • The Coroner’s Lunch
    by Colin Cotterill
  • Another Quiet American: Stories of Life in Laos
    by Brett Dakin
  • Bamboo Palace: Discovering the Lost Dynasty of Laos
    by Christopher Kremmer
Did you know...?

Facts about Laos

  • In Laos the New Year is a big deal and is celebrated for three days from April 13th-15th.
  • The oldest modern human fossil was found in Lao and is estimated to be 46,000 years old.
  • Laos is home to the Khone Papeng waterfall, the largest waterfall in the entirety of Southeast Asia.

Laos Travel Advice for Australian Travellers

The safety of our travellers is paramount and we closely monitor travel advisories to Laos. We recommend that you check the latest travel advice from Smart Traveller before you travel.

Flying to Laos from Australia:

It's between a 12-15 hour flight to Laos from Australia depending on whether you depart from the east or west half of the country. The capital city of Vientiane serves as the international transport hub for Laos with a number of airlines operating indirect routes from Australia. Whether you're departing from Melbourne or Sydney, Thai Airways with Bangkok, and in conjunction with Emirates and Qantas on some routes, is the quickest option. From Perth many airlines make two stops en route with one of the fastest flight times offered by Malaysia Airlines via Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. Take a look at Skyscanner for deals on flights from Australia to Laos.

Useful Online Resources:

The official Laos Tourist Organisation site and the latest Laos Weather Updates from the BBC.