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Laos Tours & Travel Packages 2025/2026
30 Laos trips. Compare tour itineraries from 21 tour companies. 305 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.
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Top Laos Attractions
- Floating down the Mekong river in a rubber tube.
- Shopping in the night market in Luang Prabang.
- Trekking into the mountains to visit hill tribe villages.
- Visiting temples in Vientiane.
- Spotting river dolphins around Si Phan Don (Four Thousand Islands).
- Exploring the Khmer temple complex of Wat Phou.
Laos Tours & Travel Guide
Laos Attractions & Landmarks Guide
Sandwiched between Thailand and Vietnam, Laos has often been overlooked by tourists. Thankfully, this is changing, as more and more people are realizing just how much this unique country has to offer. Golden temples, hillside village treks, tubing on the river, lively markets and serene islands make Laos a must-visit for any Southeast Asian trip. Visitors soon find the comparative lack of tourists to be a blessing, as Laos offers a more laid-back lifestyle and authentic local experience than its busier neighbors.
Mountainous Northern Laos provides multiple trekking routes to hill tribe villages, where homestays with local families can be arranged. Mekong-dominated Central Laos is the place to be for tubing on the river and exploring caves and lakes. Meanwhile, the flatlands and mountains of Southern Laos remain reserved for off-the-beaten-track travelers.
Cities
Laos is a serene country, and a relaxed attitude can be found from the smallest village to the largest city. Vientiane, the country's capital, is a sleepy city of orange-clad monks and ornate buddhist stupas, the most significant of which is Laos' national symbol, Pha That Luang. Luang Prabang, in the north of the country, is known for its colorful night market, where visitors can explore at their leisure and uncover some wonderful local souvenirs. Its abundance of temples and French colonial architecture has earned it the title of a UNESCO World Heritage City. Luang Namtha, in the north of the country, is the starting point for treks into in the mountains, and Pakse, in the south, is the gateway to both the Wat Phu temple complex and Si Phan Don (the “four thousand islands”). Backpackers are drawn to Vang Vieng, which offers tubing on the river and other adventure activities, as well as visits to caves and lakes.
Trekking and Homestays
The north of Laos is dominated by mountains, offering visitors many scenic treks. Trails wind their way through scenic forests and local farmlands, and pass through local villages, where homestays can be arranged. If you only have a day or two to spare, try a trek to the Kuang Xi waterfall, where you will pass through Khmu villages before visiting the falls. For those who wish to spend longer exploring the region, week-long treks are available, taking in mountain views, waterfalls, and home stays in Khmu and Hmong ethnic villages. Treks vary in difficulty, so be sure to find a route that suits you.
Treks in Northern Laos can also be combined with kayaking, cycling or elephant riding. Be sure to book with a reliable and safe operator. If choosing a trek that involves cycling, check your bike fully beforehand, including a thorough test of the brakes! If you decide to try an elephant trek, be sure to book with an ethical and animal-friendly operator- reading trek reviews can help with this.
Activities
Vang Vieng attracts many backpackers eager to try “tubing”. This used to involve floating down the river in a rubber tube and stopping at riverside bars, where staff would pull patrons from the river and pour whiskey down their throats. Perhaps inevitably, the government has put a stop to this following a number of tourist accidents. These days, tubing is still available but the riverside bars have been shut down and replaced by rest stops, where visitors can meet fellow travelers and play games (though chances of meeting a local selling alcohol at these rest stops are high).
Other popular attractions in Vang Vieng include the surrounding caves, such as Tham Loup, Tham Hoi or Tham Chang. Some caves, such as Tham Phu Kham and Tham Nam, include lagoons where visitors can have a swim.
Adventure activities such as river rafting, rock climbing, hot air ballooning, zip lining and canoeing can all be found throughout Laos, particularly in the area surrounding Vang Vieng.
Si Phan Don
If you thought the rest of Laos was relaxed, wait until you get to Si Phan Don, the “four thousand islands”. A quietly flowing river, scenic greenery, and golden beaches tempt visitors to sink into a hammock and never leave. If all that relaxing gets to much for you, try a bike ride around the three main islands of Don Khong, Don Det and Don Khon, or a visit to the largest waterfall in Southeast Asia. Boat tours are also popular, especially those that offer sights of pink river dolphins.
Wat Phou
While the Angkor temple complex of neighboring Cambodia may enjoy more global recognition, the ruins of Wat Phou are arguably equally impressive. One of the oldest archaeological sites in Laos, this collection of temples has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While originally a Hindu place of worship, the complex became a Buddhist place of worship in the 13th century, and the temples feature ornate carvings of both Hindu gods and Buddha images. Once a year (usually in February but changeable based on the lunar calendar), Wat Phou hosts a festival of ceremonies and events. This festival lasts for a week, during which visitors can experience a range of buddhist ceremonies as well as traditional Lao music and dancing.
Laos Reviews & Ratings
C
Caroline Shubert
Aug 2024
Written on
Cambodia and Laos Uncovered
The trip was amazing, everything went super smooth travel wise. I especially liked the added optional events. The suggestions of things to do and places to eat durin...
E
Emily
Jul 2024
Written on
Cambodia and Laos Uncovered
Kayaking thought the mountain in vang viang
T
Trusted Customer
Feb 2024
Written on
Spirit of Laos
This trip wasn't up to the normal Explore standards - quality of the tour leader could have been better, itinerary also has room for improvement (especially the ridi...
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