Laos Tours & Vacations

Small Group Tours & Tailor-Made Vacations

Overview

Discover one of Southeast Asia’s best-kept travel secrets, with our Laos tours and holidays. With the countries, undeniable qualities being overshadowed by its more established neighbours, Thailand and Vietnam, life in Laos is calm and serene, with the country’s historical isolation presenting travellers with a rare glimpse of traditional life in Southeast Asia.

After its doors opened to foreign visitors in the 1990s, Laos has seen a steady but relatively small influx ...

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Meet the Experts

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Group tours

Travel to Laos with like-minded people on one of our small group tours (usually max size 12), featuring knowledgeable local guides and an expert tour leader.

TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS

Whether you want to travel on one of our award-winning itineraries or build your own journey from scratch, our expert consultants will help create the perfect tour for your tastes and budget. Below are a few suggestions of the kind of trips we can offer, all of which can be tailored to you.

SUGGESTED ITINERARIES

HIGHLIGHTS OF LAOS

BEST EXPERIENCES

Receive a blessing from the elders

Receive a blessing from the elders

Take part in a traditional Baci ceremony. A local village elder will perform blessings, chanting and Pook kwan - the tying of the white Baci threads on your wrists. Later, taste a home-cooked traditional Lao cuisine.

Learn the secrets of Lao cuisine

Learn the secrets of Lao cuisine

Kick off the Tamarind cookery course with a visit to the morning fresh market to find local herbs, vegetables and foods that are customary to Lao cuisine. Learn about local ingredients and preparation methods and enjoy your own version of the day’s menu.

Spot dolphins in the 4,000 Islands

Spot dolphins in the 4,000 Islands

Explore the abandoned French colonial buildings and Old French Railway Bridge on Don Khon island and visit the beautiful Liphi Waterfall nearby. Board a long tail boat and head towards the Cambodian border in search of the endangered Irrawaddy Dolphin.

Meet isolated communities

Meet isolated communities

Follow a picturesque mountain trail up through breathtaking scenery to meet the villagers of Khamu and Ikhos, living in traditional bamboo and wooden houses. Get a taste of the beliefs and unique traditions of some of the most isolated communities in Laos.

Try your skills at boules

Try your skills at boules

Experience Luang Prabang’s unique night life and challenge your guide to the popular game of ‘Petanque’ or boules. Later, reward yourself with a beer and delicious traditional BBQ - ‘SinDat’ – at a restaurant popular with the locals.

Explore Mekong River villages

Explore Mekong River villages

Take a longtail boat and set off along the mighty Mekong River. Observe daily life along the river as you stop by numerous villages, home to traditional local trades such as pottery, weaving and fishing, as well as some beautiful temples. You'll even get the chance to sample some of the famous Lao Lao whiskey!

TOP PLACES TO VISIT

Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang, the former royal capital of Laos sits at the junction of the Mekong and its tributary the Khan River. Considered to be the jewel of Indochina, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage ...

Muang La

In the heart of northern Laos, equidistant from China and Vietnam, you'll find the small village of Muang La, with less than 100 inhabitants and dotted with wood and bamboo buildings. Surrounded by rain-forest,...

Vientiane

Unlike many other Southeast Asian capitals, Vientiane is low-rise and the pace of life is far slower than many of its bustling neighbours. Set on a bend of the Mekong River, Vientiane is Laos' largest ...

Champasak and the 4000 Islands

Champasak is a small town in southern Laos, on the west bank of the Mekong River. Once the seat of the Kingdom of Champasak, an independent Lao state which was abolished by the French in 1945, the town ...

OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO STAY

Premium | Boutique Hotel

Ansara Hotel, Vientiane

Previously the Thai Embassy in Vientiane, this beautiful Ansara Hotel is a boutique property superbly located on a quiet lane right in the centre of Vientiane, and is an excellent choice for the…
Premium | Hotel

Avani+ Luang Prabang Hotel, Luang Prabang

A wonderful escape from the bustle of town, the Avani+ is conveniently located opposite the night market and nearby the Mekong River. The minimalist design and wooden interiors create an airy and…
Superior | Lodge

La Folie Lodge, Don Daeng Island

La Folie Lodge is set on the banks of the Mekong River on tiny Dong Daeng Island, a short 15 minute boat ride from the riverside town of Champasak. This eco-lodge is one of our favourites in Southern…
Premium | Lodge

Muang La Lodge, Muang La

Muang La Lodge is a beautiful boutique hotel set the banks of the Nam Pak River in Oudomxai province, northern Laos. There are 10 guestrooms, housed in four traditional villas, each decorated in…
Premium | Boutique Hotel

Riverside Boutique Resort, Vang Vieng

Located on the banks of the Nam Song River, next to a small wooden bridge, the Riverside Boutique Resort is a luxury hotel set amidst lush tropical garden. Its thirty-four rooms and suites are set…
Luxury | Hotel

Rosewood Hotel, Luang Prabang

Inspired by the French-Lao architecture of Luang Prabang itself, this exceptional property combines modern luxury with the enchanting elegance of a bygone age. A choice of accommodation includes…

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WHEN TO GO

Indochina has a climate that ranges from cold and wet in the mountainous of the far north – mainly at night and in the early morning until the mist has been burnt off – to hot and humid in the south. October - February is the cool season so it’s really nothing too drastic. In northern Laos bring a fleece and waterproof jacket for the evenings and In southern Laos the daytime temp will generally be 80-100 degrees so hats and sunscreen all round.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Health and Vaccinations 

There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Laos though you should be up to date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. Malaria is present in some parts of Laos. Please note we are not medical professionals and so we highly recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments. 

 

Currency 

In Laos the official unit of currency is the Kip.  

To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com. 

 

Cultural Sensitivity 

On our tours you will frequently interact with local people, each with their own distinct customs and traditions. We therefore ask you to be considerate and to treat them with respect. Your tour-leaders and guides will always be able to advise you accordingly.  

Overall Laos is very liberal towards travellers and their ways, but we always advise that modest dress should be reflected for both sexes, especially in the more remote areas. The region is predominantly Buddhist and so especially when visiting temples or monasteries you will need to cover your legs and shoulders. Do not wear hats in religious buildings, never touch anyone on the head and do not point your feet towards them (this would be an insult to a monk particularly). Also avoid eating within religious buildings. Generally, when entering a temple sanctuary, house or even guesthouse, you should remove your shoes. This will be apparent by the pile of shoes outside!  

At Wild Frontiers we are very aware of the ethical impact tourism can have on ancient cultures. We realise that taking tourists through such a region can have a negative impact on the lives of those who live there and on all our tours we therefore go to great lengths to minimise the negative and accentuate the positive…after all, there are also many good things that the tourist can bring. 

To help this process we ask that our clients do not hand out pens or sweets to children. As one sign in Egypt emphatically put it, ‘Please don't make beggars out of our children!' No matter how well intentioned, in our opinion the dolling out of free gifts fosters a ‘beggar mentality' that is ultimately extremely destructive to a society. In addition, we do not condone giving out money to beggars or ‘students'.  

However, we also realise that we are exceptionally privileged to be travelling in areas where most of the people have far less than us and that the desire to ‘help' can be very powerful. As a result, we ask that you refer to the Responsible Travel section of this document which highlights the Wild Frontiers Foundation, which supports specific projects in the areas where we travel.  

  

Language & Religion 

The official and dominant language of Laos is Lao. It is a tonal language of the Tai linguistic group whch only just over half of the population speaks. The remainder speak various ethnic minority languages, especially in the rural areas. Just under 70% of the population are Theravada Buddhist with the majority being officially unspecified. The proportion of Buddhist could be as high as 98% as religion remains one of the most important social forces in Laos. Christian missionary work is restricted by the government and the Christians are mostly in the Vientiane area, whereas Muslims are located towards the Myanmar border region. 

Time  

Laos is 7 hours ahead of GMT. 

A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com 

Food and drink 

Food can be one of the highlights of travelling in Southeast Asia. Rice is the foundation for meals and almost all dishes are cooked with fresh ingredients, such as vegetables, freshwater fish, poultry, duck, pork, beef or water buffalo. Lime juice, lemongrass and fresh coriander give the food its characteristic tang, and various fermented fish concoctions are used to salt the food. Hot chillies, garlic, mint, ground peanuts, tamarind juice, ginger and coconut milk are other seasonings. 

In terms of alcohol, the local beers are very good and reasonable wine can also be found, although they can be expensive by comparison. Most spirits are also generally available in larger towns, and make sure to try the Lao Lao whiskey! 

 

Travelling Solo In Laos

All of our small group tours are designed to cater for solo travellers: the number of solo travellers will vary from tour to tour, but usually over half will be travelling alone. Get all of the excitement of discovering new places combined with the security of travelling with an organised group, with like minded people.