Discover Laos in Comfort

Experience Overview

Temples glitter, nature runs wild, and distinct cultures flourish – Laos is a treasure chest just waiting to be unlocked. Luckily, our expert guides are the keyholders, taking you (mostly) by train to discover storied towns and cities, such as Vientiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang, and off-grid to dense rainforests, meandering rivers and hidden waterfalls. To elevate the experience, we stay in a selection of wonderful hotels, including a resort deep within the protected forests of Nam Kat Yorla Pa. One of Our Top Recommended Trips for 2026… Here’s Why After a brief absence, we’ve returned to Laos. And I couldn’t be more excited. With this new trip, we really are going deeper than we ever have before, allowing you to go far beyond the backpacker trail − Sarah Puttnam, destination expert 
Trip For You
This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us. Journeys: We primarily use trains to travel, sitting in comfortable second-class carriages with short journeys between one and three hours. On some occasions, we also transfer by private air-conditioned minibus. Train: A passport copy is required to reserve train tickets in Laos. Please send us a copy of your passport at least 30 days prior to your travel date. E-cigarettes/vapes: E-cigarettes/vapes, heated tobacco products, and shisha are illegal in Laos. You could be fined or imprisoned for purchasing, using, possessing, selling, or taking these items in or out of Lao, even in transit. We strongly advise against bringing or using these devices on your trip.
Group Description
Our groups are a well-balanced mix of solo travellers, friends and couples, all with a passion for exploring the world. Expect to meet those who have clocked up multiple trips with us, and those who are completely new to our adventures. Our small group sizes mean friendships are easily made, while our tour leaders are experts at ensuring every individual has their needs and interests met. For this trip, we also benefit from having two tour leaders, one from Laos, and one from Thailand, providing extensive insight into the wonders of the nation.
Eating Drinking
The food on this trip is a real highlight. The national staple of Laos is sticky rice, which is served with all meals and is often used as a scooping device to pick food up as meals are traditionally eaten with hands and not utensils. Noodle dishes are common and the sweet offerings tend to focus around the abundance of fresh fruit available – be sure to seek out the mangosteen, the sweet segments are a local favourite and unlike any other fruit. Western food is readily available almost everywhere. Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests. Please note, in Southeast Asia the availability of certain specialised products for restricted diets, eg gluten-free or dairy-free, is minimal or non-existent and we strongly recommend you bring these items from home.
Transportation
We primarily use trains to travel, sitting in comfortable second-class carriages with short journeys between one and three hours. On some occasions, we also transfer by private air-conditioned minibus.
Joining Instructions
Key information Start hotel: Eastin Hotel Vientiane, Unit11, Khaemkong Road Oumoung Village Sikhottabong District, Vientiane Phone: +856 21 219 999 Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time. There will be a welcome briefing around 6pm. Airport: Wattay International Airport (VTE) Getting to the start hotel The start hotel is approximately a 10-minute drive from the airport. We provide free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for everyone. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative. Catching your return flight We provide free departure transfers to Wattay International Airport for everyone from the end hotel. Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.
Weather Information
For most of the year, the weather is hot and humid throughout with daytime temperatures of 28C-34C (82F-93F). It is a little cooler at nights and can be cold from November to March in the mountains with temperatures occasionally dropping as low as 10C (50F).
Spending Money
Allow about US$250 for meals not included, which will allow you to eat well. Apart from the food, you should allow money to cover soft drinks (more if you like a beer) and souvenirs. Optional excursions To make the most of your free time in Luang Prabang , you may wish to participate in one of the optional excursions below. While it may be possible to book and join these excursions locally, this cannot be guaranteed. The activities are popular and are not always available to book locally at late notice. To avoid disappointment, we recommend pre-booking with us at the time of booking your trip, or no later than 30 days before travel. Your options are: — Day 6 or Day 8: Bamboo weaving & cooking class (4.30pm-8pm): You are picked up at your hotel and transferred to Bamboo Experience’s venue where you have an interactive cooking class and bamboo-weaving exercise. Spend an evening learning about the importance of the ubiquitous bamboo plant to Lao culture and see the process of bamboo weaving and traditional Lao cooking using bamboo shoot as the main ingredient. — Day 8: MandaLao, communicating with elephants afternoon tour: Begin by creating nutritious treats for the elephants. After meeting the elephants on the banks of the Nam Kahn, give them your treats and walk briefly with them before coming back to the property for local snacks. This activity includes round-trip transport from/to the hotel and a local guide from MandaLao. Pick up is at 2pm/2.30pm and you return to the hotel at 5.30pm. Please note this activity is limited to eight people daily, so advanced booking is essential. — Day 8: Afternoon natural tie-dying class: Enjoy a hands-on introduction to silkworms and silk types, creating natural dyes using plants from a home-grown garden (just like the Lao people have done for hundreds of years). Running from 1pm-3pm, participants are dropped at the venue on the return from Kuang Si Waterfall. Transport is not included but a tuk tuk back to the hotel costs approximately US$15. — Day 8: Cooking class (4.30pm-8pm): A cooking class with a difference! Join us in picturesque lakeside pavilions to cook Lao food and learn about the habits and customs at the heart of Lao cuisine. Fresh ingredients are at the heart of Lao cuisine, with some intriguing and unfamiliar tastes. This activity includes a round-trip transfer from/to the hotel and a local cooking class guide/instructor as part of the activity. Please note, it is only possible to do one of the excursions on the afternoon of Day 8 and all optional activities may be shared with people outside of your group.
Tipping
Tipping is customary in Laos and the local staff will probably expect some gratuity. Tipping kitty: To make things easy, your tour leaders will suggest you donate US$30 per person towards a kitty. This money is then used to tip local guides, hotel porters, drivers etc. If you do not wish to contribute, you are, of course, free to do so. The ‘tipping kitty’ explained above is separate from any tips for the tour leader or assistant guide. Tour leader and assistant guide (where applicable): If you feel your tour leader has performed well over your trip, you may want to show your appreciation of their services. The sum you choose to give is entirely personal, but as a guide for a reasonable starting point: Tour leader: US$5-US$6 per person, per dayLocal assistant guide: US$4-US$5 per person, per day

Highlights