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Our recommended 14 Day Laos Itinerary
Laos, also known as the “land of a million elephants,” is a Southeast Asian dream destination. It’s a county for everyone, whether you’re an adventure seeker, wildlife enthusiast or simply a nature lover.
Rich with lush vegetation, pristine forests, karst formations, mountains, waterfall it can be really hard to not fall in love with Laos. We recommend spending at least two weeks to explore the country properly. Here is our recommendations for each day:
Day 1 of the 14 Day Laos Itinerary – Vientiane
Upon arriving at Vientiane Airport, explore the city and its important temples like Wat Hoprakeo, Wat Sisaket and That Luang Stupa Museum Shrine—the most significant national monument in the city. Don’t forget to stop by the Arc de Triophe-inspired Patuxai Monument, as well.
You may also want to drop by Talaat Sao or the “morning market,” to shop for souvenirs like silks, cotton, embroidery and silver. Then catch the sunset at Mekong River.
WHERE TO STAY:
$$$ – Be Na Cam 2, Nalinthon Hotel or [eafl id=6156 name=”Souksan Guesthouse” text=” Souksan Guesthouse”]
$$ – The City Inn Vientiane or [eafl id=6058 name=”Vientiane Nam Phu” text=”Vientiane Nam Phu”]
$ – [eafl id=6054 name=”Vientiane Backpackers Hostel” text=”Vientiane Backpackers Hostel”], [eafl id=6057 name=”Funky Monkey Hoste” text=”Funky Monkey Hoste”] [eafl id=6053 name=”Backpackers Garden Hostel” text=”Backpackers Garden Hostel”]
Day 2 – Vientiane – Luang Prabang
Explore the former royal capital on foot! First visit the National Museum, formerly the Royal Palace, to check out royal artifacts. Then visit Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Sen, and Wat Mai.
Climb the 350 steps to Phou Sii Hill in the heart of the city, and enjoy the stunning view of the Kane and Mekong. At the top, you can also check out the Wat Phou Sii and Indochina war anti-aircraft guns.
Grab some dinner at one of the Top 10 Best Luang Prabang restaurants recommended by TripAdvisor, and after take a stroll along the night market.
WHERE TO STAY:
$$$ – [eafl id=6091 name=”The Apsara Rive Droite” text=”The Apsara Rive Droite”], [eafl id=6090 name=”Burasari Heritage” text=” The Burasari Heritage”], [eafl id=6089 name=”Mekong Riverview Hotel” text=”Mekong Riverview Hotel”] or [eafl id=6088 name=”Belmond La Residence” text=”Belmond La Residence”]
$$ -[eafl id=6087 name=”Ock Pop Tok Mekong Villa” text=” Ock Pop Tok Mekong Villa”], [eafl id=6086 name=”Le Sen Boutique Hotel” text=” Le Sen Boutique Hotel”] or [eafl id=6085 name=”Lan Kham Riverside” text=”Lan Kham Riverside”]
$ -[eafl id=6084 name=”Cheng Backpacker Hotel” text=”Cheng Backpacker Hotel”], [eafl id=6083 name=”LPQ Backpackers Hostel” text=”LPQ Backpackers Hostel”], [eafl id=6082 name=”Central Backpacker Hostel” text=”Central Backpacker Hostel”], [eafl id=6081 name=”Khammany Inn Hostel” text=”Khammany Inn Hostel”], or [eafl id=6080 name=”Kounsavan Guest House” text=”Kounsavan Guest House”]
Day 3 – Luang Prabang
Right after breakfast, hop on a cruise that runs off the Mekong River to the village of Ban Muangke, and make sure to enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the countryside along the way. Upon arriving at the village, take a 45-minute walk to Pak Ou Caves and explore the countless gold-lacquered Buddha statues in all imaginable shapes and sizes.
Visit Ban Xanghai, famous for the local specialty of rice wine, and also visit the nearby villages of Ban Xangkhong, Ban Xienglek and Ban Nong Xai.
Day 4 – Luang Prabang
Wake up early to witness the daily Lao morning ritual of monks carrying bowls, while the townsfolk give them offerings like as sticky rice.
Next, take a beautiful nature day trip to the exquisite Kuang Si Waterfalls and its cascading turquoise waters.You can cool off or take a swim in the large ponds below the waterfalls, and also enjoy a picnic lunch by the pool.
Pass by teak forests, stunning landscapes, and a cultural exposure to the minority villages of Hmong and Khmu, then visit the weaving village of Ban Phanom for some Lao textile.
Day 5 – Xieng Khouang Road
In the morning, hit the road to Xieng Khouang, which is home to the impressive “Plain of Jars,” and was once devastated by American bombing during the Indochina War. In order to get there, you will pass by astonishing high, rugged mountains, karst formations and hill tribe villages.
Stop by the hill-top Sala Phoukhoun, and then make your way to Hmong village at Ban Phouvieng, Ban Nongthang, Muangsuy and Thampra.
Later afternoon, arrive at Phonsavan, the capital of the Xieng Khong province.
WHERE TO STAY:
$$$ – Nice Guesthouse
$$ – White Orchid
$ – Ber 5 Guesthouse
Day 6 – Luang Prabang Plain of Jars
Image courtesy of cosian tour
Right after breakfast, journey to the “Plain of Jars,” an extraordinary archaeological site where hundreds of large stone jars are scattered all over the plateau. Each one is thought to have been made more than 2000 to 2500 years ago, and is speculated to be used to store rice wine, or to serve as urns. For lunch visit the local central market.
Day 7 – Vang Vieng
Take a 4-hour trip to Vang Vieng, a beautiful town resting near the Nam Song River. The journey will offer you impeccable views of mountains, limestone karts, paddy fields, markets and wooden stilt houses—a pure nature feast.
While exploring the splendid town of Vang Vieng, relax, unwind and bicycle through the countryside.
After lunch, visit Tam None cave and then cruise along the Nam Song River on a float.
We recommend dinner at any of the restaurants at Vang Vieng recommended by Lonely Planet.
Check in at Vang Vieng.
WHERE TO STAY:
$$$ – [eafl id=6079 name=”Silver Naga Hotel” text=”Silver Naga Hotel”], [eafl id=6078 name=”Riverside Boutique Resort” text=”Riverside Boutique Resort”] or check out this list of quality hotels [eafl id=6077 name=”Vang Vieng Hotels” text=”Vang Vieng Hotels “]
$$ – [eafl id=6076 name=”The Grand Riverside Hotel” text=”The Grand Riverside Hotel”], [eafl id=6075 name=”Thavonsouk Resort” text=”Thavonsouk Resort”] or [eafl id=6074 name=”Villa Nam Song” text=”Villa Nam Song”]
$ – [eafl id=6071 name=”Vang Vieng Boutique Hotel” text=”Vang Vieng Boutique Hotel”], [eafl id=6070 name=”Real Vang Vieng Backpacker Hostel” text=”Real Vang Vieng Backpacker Hostel “] [eafl id=6068 name=”Vang Vieng Backpackers Hostel,” text=”Vang Vieng Backpackers Hostel,”]
Day 8 – Vang Vieng to Vientiane
Return to Vientiane by road and stop by Nam Ngum Lake. There, take a breathtaking excursion by boat around the lake littered with floating fishermen’s villages and thousands of islands.
After lunch visit Vang Sang, the 11th century Bhuddist sanctuary, then the salt extraction site.
Journey back to Vientiane and check in your choice of accommodation mentioned on Day 1.
WHERE TO STAY:
$$$ – Be Na Cam 2, Nalinthon Hotel or [eafl id=6156 name=”Souksan Guesthouse” text=” Souksan Guesthouse”]
$$ – The City Inn Vientiane or [eafl id=6058 name=”Vientiane Nam Phu” text=”Vientiane Nam Phu”]
$ – [eafl id=6054 name=”Vientiane Backpackers Hostel” text=”Vientiane Backpackers Hostel”], [eafl id=6057 name=”Funky Monkey Hoste” text=”Funky Monkey Hoste”] [eafl id=6053 name=”Backpackers Garden Hostel” text=”Backpackers Garden Hostel”]
Day 9 – Vientiane to Pakse – Khong Island
Image courtesy of wikipedia
Very early morning fly to Pakse, and upon arrival board the local ferry and take a peaceful cruise over the Mekong River to the capital of Champasake. There you can explore the ruins of Wat Phu, a Hindu sanctuary of the Khmer Empire between 9th and 13th century.
Visit the nearby temples of Nang Sia and Thao Ta, or take a scenic drive and ferry boat to Khong Island ( Don Khong), and explore the island by bicycle.
Dinner and check in at a Khong Island hotel or hostel.
WHERE TO STAY:
$$$ – [eafl id=6146 name=”Mekong Inn” text=”Mekong Inn”] [eafl id=6147 name=”Kongmany Colonial House” text=”Kongmany Colonial House”]
$$ – [eafl id=6148 name=”Mali Guesthouse” text=”Mali Guesthouse”], [eafl id=6149 name=”Souksabay Guesthouse” text=”Souksabay Guesthouse”] [eafl id=6151 name=”Khongview Guesthouse” text=”Khongview Guesthouse”]
$ – [eafl id=6150 name=”Sabaidee Donkhong Homestay” text=”Sabaidee Donkhong Homestay”]
Day 10 – Si Phan Done
Head out of town and hop on a long tail boat setting sail through the Mekong River where you will witness thousands of islets jut out in dry season. This is also called the ‘Si Phan Done’ area.
Hop off the boat to temporarily stop by the tranquil island of Ban Khone, and explore French colonial relics and the Liphi waterfalls, also known as the “Corridor of the Devil.”
Afterward, anchor off the beautiful village of Ban Na Kasang where you can experience some of the local culture.
Now, hit the road and journey to the Lao-Cambodia border at Weukham, while taking in the impressive sight of Khone Phapheng, and Southeast Asia’s largest waterfalls. Near the falls is home to hundreds of lrrawaddy freshwater dolphins.
Check out the old locomotive railway and the colonial bridge built by the French.
DAY 11 – KHONG ISLAND – BOLAVEN PLATEAU
Leave early morning to drive to the Bolaven Plateau, an elevated region in southern Laos, where you can treat yourself with an elephant ride, and visit the villages near the Bolaven Plateau.
You can stay overnight at the Tad Fane Resort.
DAY 12 – BOLAVEN PLATEAU – PAKSE
Get those muscles moving and go for a hike in the morning to the Dan Sin Say Plateau. You will pass through a hanging bridge, visit coffee plantations and its local villages and ethnic tribes of the Laven, the Alak, the Katu and Suay.
Return to Pakse where you can check-in overnight.
WHERE TO STAY:
$$$ – [eafl id=6152 name=”Forest Hotel” text=”Forest Hotel”]
$$ – [eafl id=6153 name=”Alisa Guesthouse” text=”Alisa Guesthouse”], [eafl id=6154 name=”Sompratthana Guesthouse” text=”Sompratthana Guesthouse”], [eafl id=6155 name=”Royal Pakse Hotel” text=”Royal Pakse Hotel”] or the [eafl id=6156 name=”Souksan Guesthouse” text=”Souksan Guesthouse”]
$ – [eafl id=6157 name=”Sedone River Guesthouse” text=”Sedone River Guesthouse”]
DAY 13 – PAKSE – TALDO
After breakfast, take a trip to Taldo for a more authentic Southern Laos experience. Drive through forests, hills, villages and the red-surfaced basaltic oil and lush plantations.
In Taldo, trek to the incredible Xeset waterfalls, as well as nearby villages to mingle with the ethnic minorities of Kato, Alack, and Nge.
Take an adventure through forest paths, while explore the lush countryside before driving back to Pakse.
DAY 14 – PAKSE – VIENTIANE – DEPARTURE
Drive to the airport for your flight to Vientiane and home.
