Laos itinerary, day by day

From the temples of Luang Prabang to the karst peaks of Vang Vieng and on to quiet Vientiane, day by day: the map, what is worth booking, everything that costs nothing, and where to sleep at three budgets.

🗓️ 3, 7 or 14 days📍 3 stops☀️ Best time: November to March

Luang Prabang · Photo Mykhailo Petrushchak / Pexels

Route map (numbers = order of the stops).

Laos in 3 days

2 stops · 11 things to do · ≈ 170 km

1Luang Prabang

Days 1-2

The old royal capital, UNESCO-listed since 1995, where gilded temples line a peninsula between the Mekong and the Nam Khan. At dawn, monks walk the streets to collect alms.

🎟️ Worth booking

The morning alms round and market2h · from €9
The tak bat at first light, when monks in saffron robes file past to receive sticky rice, followed by the morning market. Watch in silence and from a respectful distance.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Kuang Si falls and the bear rescue centreHalf day · from €20
Turquoise pools stepping down a forested hillside, with a rescue centre for moon and sun bears at the entrance.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Wat Xieng Thong · Mount Phousi at sunset · The night market

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Mad Monkey Luang Prabang (€12 a night) · Mid-range: Villa Maly (€90 a night) · Luxury: Sofitel Luang Prabang (€220 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

RnB Restaurant - Bar ↗ ★ 4.9 · 622 reviews
Lost In Baan - Hi-Fi Restaurant & Cocktail Bar ↗ ★ 4.9 · 559 reviews
ຮ້ານອາຫານຮ່ອມວັດແສນ1991 Wat Sene Alley Restaurant 1991 ↗ ★ 4.8 · 253 reviews
Khaiphaen ↗ ★ 4.7 · 1141 reviews · €€
Le Petit Prince Cafe ↗ ★ 4.7 · 414 reviews

Photo Suraphat Nuea-on / Pexels

🚐 Minivan · 4h · 170 km

2Vang Vieng

Day 3

A small town ringed by limestone peaks, blue lagoons and the Nam Song river. At sunrise, hot-air balloons rise over the rice fields.

🎟️ Worth booking

Hot-air balloon over the karst1h · from €110
An early flight over the limestone peaks, the river and the rice fields as the mist lifts.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Tubing and the blue lagoonsHalf day · from €20
Floating down the Nam Song on an inner tube, then a swim in one of the clear blue lagoons below the cliffs.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The Blue Lagoon · The limestone caves · Nam Xay viewpoint · Cycling through the rice fields

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Easy Go Hostel (€10 a night) · Mid-range: Riverside Boutique (€75 a night) · Luxury: Amari Vang Vieng (€130 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Beats & Bites Restaurant Vangvieng ↗ ★ 4.9 · 611 reviews
Bon Appetit ↗ ★ 4.8 · 582 reviews
Lime Lounge Cocktails Tapas ↗ ★ 4.8 · 212 reviews
Chinese noodle restaurant ↗ ★ 4.8 · 169 reviews
Delicious-ທິບພະຣົດ ↗ ★ 4.7 · 210 reviews

Photo Basile Morin / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Laos in 7 days

3 stops · 17 things to do · ≈ 320 km

1Luang Prabang

Days 1-3

The old royal capital, UNESCO-listed since 1995, where gilded temples line a peninsula between the Mekong and the Nam Khan. At dawn, monks walk the streets to collect alms.

🎟️ Worth booking

The morning alms round and market2h · from €9
The tak bat at first light, when monks in saffron robes file past to receive sticky rice, followed by the morning market. Watch in silence and from a respectful distance.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Kuang Si falls and the bear rescue centreHalf day · from €20
Turquoise pools stepping down a forested hillside, with a rescue centre for moon and sun bears at the entrance.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Wat Xieng Thong · Mount Phousi at sunset · The night market

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Mad Monkey Luang Prabang (€12 a night) · Mid-range: Villa Maly (€90 a night) · Luxury: Sofitel Luang Prabang (€220 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Suraphat Nuea-on / Pexels

🚐 Minivan · 4h · 170 km

2Vang Vieng

Days 4-5

A small town ringed by limestone peaks, blue lagoons and the Nam Song river. At sunrise, hot-air balloons rise over the rice fields.

🎟️ Worth booking

Hot-air balloon over the karst1h · from €110
An early flight over the limestone peaks, the river and the rice fields as the mist lifts.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Tubing and the blue lagoonsHalf day · from €20
Floating down the Nam Song on an inner tube, then a swim in one of the clear blue lagoons below the cliffs.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The Blue Lagoon · The limestone caves · Nam Xay viewpoint · Cycling through the rice fields

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Easy Go Hostel (€10 a night) · Mid-range: Riverside Boutique (€75 a night) · Luxury: Amari Vang Vieng (€130 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Basile Morin / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

🚐 Minivan · 3h30 · 150 km

3Vientiane

Days 6-7

One of the calmest capitals in Asia, spread along the Mekong, with the golden stupa of Pha That Luang and the concrete statues of Buddha Park.

🎟️ Worth booking

Buddha Park and the city, guidedHalf day · from €20
A riverside garden of more than two hundred Hindu and Buddhist concrete statues made from 1958 onwards, then a tour of the capital.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Lao cooking class3h · from €25
Three hours to learn laap, sticky rice and green papaya salad, the three pillars of the Lao table.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Pha That Luang · Patuxai, the victory gate · The morning market · The Mekong riverfront at sunset

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Barn1920s Hostel (€11 a night) · Mid-range: Salana Boutique (€65 a night) · Luxury: Settha Palace (€170 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

My kitchen Indian Authentic food ↗ ★ 4.9 · 489 reviews
Le Khem Khong ↗ ★ 4.8 · 273 reviews
3 Merchants Restaurant ↗ ★ 4.8 · 230 reviews
LAO Kitchen Home made ↗ ★ 4.8 · 101 reviews
Bacan Cafe Vientiane ↗ ★ 4.7 · 888 reviews

Photo Elizabeth Dove / Pexels

Laos in 14 days

4 stops · 22 things to do · ≈ 320 km

1Luang Prabang

Days 1-4

The old royal capital, UNESCO-listed since 1995, where gilded temples line a peninsula between the Mekong and the Nam Khan. At dawn, monks walk the streets to collect alms.

🎟️ Worth booking

The morning alms round and market2h · from €9
The tak bat at first light, when monks in saffron robes file past to receive sticky rice, followed by the morning market. Watch in silence and from a respectful distance.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Kuang Si falls and the bear rescue centreHalf day · from €20
Turquoise pools stepping down a forested hillside, with a rescue centre for moon and sun bears at the entrance.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Wat Xieng Thong · Mount Phousi at sunset · The night market

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Mad Monkey Luang Prabang (€12 a night) · Mid-range: Villa Maly (€90 a night) · Luxury: Sofitel Luang Prabang (€220 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Suraphat Nuea-on / Pexels

🚐 Minivan · 4h · 170 km

2Vang Vieng

Days 5-8

A small town ringed by limestone peaks, blue lagoons and the Nam Song river. At sunrise, hot-air balloons rise over the rice fields.

🎟️ Worth booking

Hot-air balloon over the karst1h · from €110
An early flight over the limestone peaks, the river and the rice fields as the mist lifts.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Tubing and the blue lagoonsHalf day · from €20
Floating down the Nam Song on an inner tube, then a swim in one of the clear blue lagoons below the cliffs.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The Blue Lagoon · The limestone caves · Nam Xay viewpoint · Cycling through the rice fields

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Easy Go Hostel (€10 a night) · Mid-range: Riverside Boutique (€75 a night) · Luxury: Amari Vang Vieng (€130 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Basile Morin / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

🚐 Minivan · 3h30 · 150 km

3Vientiane

Days 9-12

One of the calmest capitals in Asia, spread along the Mekong, with the golden stupa of Pha That Luang and the concrete statues of Buddha Park.

🎟️ Worth booking

Buddha Park and the city, guidedHalf day · from €20
A riverside garden of more than two hundred Hindu and Buddhist concrete statues made from 1958 onwards, then a tour of the capital.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Lao cooking class3h · from €25
Three hours to learn laap, sticky rice and green papaya salad, the three pillars of the Lao table.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Pha That Luang · Patuxai, the victory gate · The morning market · The Mekong riverfront at sunset

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Barn1920s Hostel (€11 a night) · Mid-range: Salana Boutique (€65 a night) · Luxury: Settha Palace (€170 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Elizabeth Dove / Pexels

🚆 Fast train · 2h · return

4Luang Prabang

Days 13-14

The old royal capital, UNESCO-listed since 1995, where gilded temples line a peninsula between the Mekong and the Nam Khan. At dawn, monks walk the streets to collect alms.

🎟️ Worth booking

The morning alms round and market2h · from €9
The tak bat at first light, when monks in saffron robes file past to receive sticky rice, followed by the morning market. Watch in silence and from a respectful distance.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Kuang Si falls and the bear rescue centreHalf day · from €20
Turquoise pools stepping down a forested hillside, with a rescue centre for moon and sun bears at the entrance.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Wat Xieng Thong · Mount Phousi at sunset · The night market

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Mad Monkey Luang Prabang (€12 a night) · Mid-range: Villa Maly (€90 a night) · Luxury: Sofitel Luang Prabang (€220 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Suraphat Nuea-on / Pexels

Hotel prices are per room per night, activity prices per person, checked when written. Some links are affiliate links (Booking, GetYourGuide): we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

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Good to know before you go

🍽️ What to eat

Laap: minced meat or fish tossed with lime, toasted rice and fresh herbs, the national dish.
Khao niaw: sticky rice, served in a small basket and rolled into balls with the fingers.
Tam mak hoong: green papaya salad pounded with chilli, lime and fermented fish sauce.
Khao piak sen: a thick rice noodle soup, the breakfast of the whole country.
Lao coffee from the Bolaven plateau, and a cold Beerlao at sunset.

⚠️ What to avoid

Cover shoulders and knees in temples, and take off your shoes before going inside.
At the alms round, stay silent, keep your distance and never use a flash on the monks.
Agree the tuk-tuk fare before you get in.
Drink bottled water only, and accept that nothing here runs to a strict timetable.

Plan this trip

📒 The free printable Laos guide→ 🗓️ Best time to visit Laos, month by month→ 🎟️ What to book before you go→

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