Some of the words most frequently used to describe Laos are ancient and tranquil: much of Laos remains untouched and not frequently visited.
Travelers to Laos will find endless UNESCO World Heritage sites to discover, beautiful old towns, stunning natural landscapes, lots of adventure and outdoor activities for everybody to enjoy, as well as a unique window into many diverse ethnic arts and cultures.
Laos is great to visit on its own, but can also be easily added onto a trip to its neighboring countries of Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, China, or Myanmar.
Laos Visas and Travel Restrictions

Entry policy: Laos now is fully reopened to travelers. From January 1st, 2022, international travelers can enter Laos without quarantine.
Visa policy: Nationalities that can obtain a 30-day visa on arrival for Laos include: Australia, Canada, EU citizens, the UK, and the US. You can also apply for an eVisa online in advance if you prefer.
To find out more information about how to apply for an eVisa, check out our guide to getting a visa for Laos here.




98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+
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I have never hear of this company…
I have never hear of this company before , and after reading all these reviews ,I decided to give it a try . The professionalism and communicative skill received by one of the agent , Sharon of Asia Highlights , convince me that She was the right travel agent for my trip in Asia . Very quickly she communicated with me and got all the detail of my desire vacation . Sharon made me a great itinerary with great experiences that I am dreaming to experience and I am looking forward to it . Thanks Sharon for been so great and crafting me a dream vacation with great suggestions. More
orge alvarez,
May 2023
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Coco Yang worked tirelessly to…
From the moment I landed in Bangkok, Ms Noi Ying was there to welcome me and get me settled into my hotel. We enjoyed several days together touring Bangkok and Kanchanaburi. In Chiang Mai, Mr Ekachai took my son snd I on an amazing trip to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary and to visit a community Lanna home, gardens and a hands-on cooking class preparing an authentic Thai meal. Lisa arranged a last-minute speedboat tour of 5 breathtaking islands in Phuket. From start to finish, the guides exceeded my expectations!! Thank you, Asia Highlight!! Debbie Woods More
Debbie Woods,
May 2023
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Sharon from Asia highlights has been…
Sharon from Asia highlights has been amazing. She offered her amazing ideas to other tours I wanted. We have planned the perfect 9 day itinerary to Thailand. She worked in my budget and was very flexible when I had to change my flights. Thank you sharon. Can’t wait for the trip. More
Heather Stern Wilensky,
Apr 2023
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Ms. Ning first review 4-2023
Ms. Albee Ning has been doing a great job accommodating my requests and itinerary changes. Remember the first itinerary is a rough draft and you may modify it to suit your tastes. Remember you can not do it all and see everything in 3 weeks. If the flight wasn't so long I would visit Southeast Asia more often. I will update my review in a few months. We don't leave for 9 more months. Asia Highlights is working well for me so far! More
Chiefray,
Apr 2023
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Perfect Trip To Thailand…
We had so much fun in Bangkok with Tanni and Tom as they kept laughing at all of our silly jokes. Paul, our guide and Chiang Mai was really thoughtful, fun and full of great information about the temples and sights. Thanks so much! Brian and Michelle More
Scott Orchard,
Mar 2023
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I highly recommend Asia Highlights
I highly recommend Asia Highlights. I worked with Alisa and she is fantastic! I was planning my honeymoon trip, and I changed the destination multiple times. Each time, Alisa provided me an updated itinerary with activities that matched my interests. Whether I had a small change to an activity, a question about one of the arrangements, or a change or destination, Alisa was helpful, thoughtful, and knowledgeable, providing me with updated options in an extremely timely manner. In the end, despite the fact that I changed my mind on location multiple times, I ended up booking a 17 day trip to Thailand for this upcoming November. I am extremely excited to experience everything that Alisa planned for us. I recommend Asia Highlights to everyone and look forward to using them again on any other trips to Asia in the future. Thank you Alisa and Asia Highlights! More
Britt Rosen,
Mar 2023
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Three weeks encompassing Vietnam
A special shoutout to our last guide in Bangkok - Ms. Ka-Noon who spoiled us with her kindness and then got us through check in and security for our flight home in record time at that huge Bangkok airport. More
Deby,
Feb 2023
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Over the last 5 years we've used Asia…
Over the last 5 years we've used Asia highlights twice. And both times we've had fantastic vacations. Would not want to do it any different when we travel to Asia from now on. Sharon was fantastic. She was a wonderful agent who helped us nail down our trip and make everything go as smooth as possible. More
Todd Atwell,
Feb 2023
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Family Trip to Thailand
Our trip to Thailand comprised three generations of the family , ten people and an age range of 4 to 70 so a potentially difficult brief.Our itinerary over two weeks involved four locations, and a number of different trips and tours.From out arrival at an extremely busy Bangkok airport Asia Highlights were terrific.In each location we were met by a smiling , knowledgeable and professional guide who simply made everything easy and stress free for everyone.Our transportation was clean and comfortable . Transport was always ready for us at the agreed time and the drivers were excellent.There were so many highlights enjoyed by all the age groups. The floating houses , railway market and elephant sanctuary were particular favourites.We had one minor glitch with the accommodation in Phuket which was immediately dealt with by Tip. I think we would have struggled to resolve the problem by ourselves. So, thank you Asia Highlights , Cathy, Tip and tour guides Tanny, Sam and Lisa. It was a memorable holiday and we will be back. More
Roger Pyle,
Feb 2023
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Trip of a lifetime from Asia Highlights!
I recommend highly Asia Highlights as a travel company. Our travel consultant Albee took the time to connect with us during the planning process to make sure we were comfortable with our itinerary. When we arrived, we were met by our guide and all the details were attended to. They picked great hotels and tours. I often describe our trip as the trip of a lifetime! Would definitely use them again when we come back to Asia More
Nancy Parker,
Feb 2023
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Asia Highlights and Albee - highly recommended
Asia Highlights is very reliable agency and Albee is an amazing representative of the company. From the moment when we contacted her until our departure, the whole support we received was 6* level. She prepared our trip offer within few hours and afterwards she was extremely flexible to adjust as per our needs. In the period between the offer and the trip, Albee was always available for all our questions and supported us on the best possible way. During the trip she was again flexible to add new activities/transfers and this went on the smoothest possible way. Thank you, Albee and Asia Highlights. Definitely we will approach you again for our next Asian trip More
AZ,
Feb 2023
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5 STAR CUSTOMER SERVICE BY MONICA
Monica is a very sweet young lady who speaks excellent English via email/WhatsApp, and knows the importance of excellent customer service. More
Trent,
Jan 2023
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We had an awesome experience with Asia Highlights
We started our trip in Bangkok, where Mr. Prassert our tour guide, met us. He was on time and the van was clean and well-maintained. Mr. Prassert was our guide for the 4 days we spent in Bangkok. He was helpful, kind, and willing to accommodate our pee and coffee breaks. The driver was safe and punctual. Next, we went to Chiang Mai.Gemma exceeded every expectation we had for our tour of Chiang Mai! She had a great attitude that made exploring the city fun and exciting, as well as an abundance of knowledge and experience. She was always spot on with figuring out logistics and coming up with unique ideas that suited our interests and schedules. Gemma was incredibly generous with her time and even walked us to security at the airport to make sure we could carry all of our luggage. That’s just one example of how far out of her way she went to make our trip easier and more enjoyable. Gemma was sincerely interested in making every minute of our trip count. We’re very grateful to have met her and feel like we have found a friend in Gemma! Our driver in Chiang Mai was also great and very accommodating to our changes in schedules. More
Lois Paskow,
Dec 2022
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Thailand & Cambodia 2022
Albee went above and beyond to make our trip perfect. She rearranged flights due to a mistake of mine. She made sure we were still picked up and escorted to the airport. I felt comfortable and safe with all our reps. She did an excellent job and I highly recommend her booking your next trip. Thank you, Albee. More
Karen Brooks,
Dec 2022
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Perfect vacation thanks to Albee we…
I can’t say enough about how much we appreciate all the efforts, attention to details and immediate responses to all questions that Albee and her team provided. The Asia Highlights team deserves more stars than the maximum allowed because of continually going above and beyond all expectations. Thanks Albee for making our vacation through south east Asia absolutely perfect!!! More
Michael Sharp,
Dec 2022
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2023 Chiang Mai CAD Yipeng Festival
We got early bird ticket and Bella was assisting us through whatsapp. Easy, competitive price, front row tickets. Thanks Bella, for being patient explaining everything to me. Highly recommended. More
lily hartati,
Dec 2022
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Bella has been an outstanding customer service rep
Bella has been an outstanding customer service rep. She was responsive and knowledgeable. Buying tickets from their website was super easy and the whole process was straightforward. Highly recommended. More
Khai,
Nov 2022
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I was ever so grateful to have a point…
I was ever so grateful to have a point of contact while in a foreign country for the first time, alone, that helped me through the Ins and outs of getting to and from my destination. Albee was readily available which brought me much comfort and feeling of safety. If in this part of the world again, I will not hesitate to use your services.. More
Omega,
Nov 2022
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Memorable Experience!!!
I booked tickets to the Chiang Mai Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Nov 2022. Bella was extremely responsive and helpful!! More
Bowen,
Nov 2022
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Personalized
It is the attention to detail and what we specifically wanted to see that made the reservation experience so exciting. More
Peter Bongiovanni,
Nov 2022
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Best Times to Visit Laos

Laos is a great destination all year round. It has two seasons that make up its tropical monsoon climate: the dry season from November to April, and the rainy season from May to October.
The best time to visit Laos is between November to April, during the dry season. The weather is comfortable for outdoor activities, including trekking, kayaking, rock climbing, and river rafting. Because it is the high season of tourism in Laos, more people can be seen in the top attractions, but there won't be as large crowds as in Thailand. Trip costs during high season are a bit higher than normal.
We promise you enjoy 100% refund of any payments made to China Highlights prior to 3 weeks before departure (detail⇒).
During the rainy season, you can expect much more rain in Laos, and few people choose this time to visit Laos. It is a good chance to save money and enjoy a less crowded trip if you are on a tight budget.
Similar to Songkran Festival celebrations in Thailand, Laos people celebrate their New Year between April 14th and April 16th. If you want to experience the Lao New Year, visit Laos during that time. Read more about the best time to visit Laos
Best Places to Visit in Laos
Although a beautiful landlocked country, Laos is the least-visited destination in Southeast Asia. Travelers who visit Laos are impressed by the various limestone mountains, spectacular waterfalls, and historical buildings as well as the delicious Thai and Indian flavors of local Laos food.
1. Luang Prabang: History, Culture, Temples

Your (likely) entry and exit point to Laos, Luang Prabang, is one of the most popular spots to visit in Laos! Walk through the old town, visit the morning market, and explore Xieng Thong Temple and the Royal Palace Museum. Luang Prabang is also a great place to sample Laotian cuisine, and a starting point for bike rides into the countryside, trips to waterfalls, and boat rides up the Mekong.
Spend some hours to visit the Elephant Village Sanctuary if you have seen the highlights of Luang Prabang. The Village mainly functions as a center for conservation of elephants. There you can see the elephants in a peaceful, natural living environment. It is a fun activity to feed and wash the elephants, especially if you are traveling with kids.
2. Vientiane: Capital, Temples, Night life

As the capital of Laos, the city displays an interesting combination of ornate Buddhist temples and interesting French colonial architecture. Recommended sights to visit include Wat Si Saket temple, Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan), and Pha That Luang, a massive golden temple. There is enough to keep you exploring for a few days.
3. Vang Vieng: Karst Landscapes, Trekking

Often referred to as a backpackers' paradise, Vang Vieng is a small town halfway between Vientiane and Luang Prabang. You'll find beautiful karst landscapes and plenty of outdoor activities to do there that range from rock climbing to trekking, kayaking, and rafting.
4. Pakse: Khmer Ruins, Waterfall, Temples

Located near the Thai border, Pakse is a charming town that is a wonderful base to explore the Laotian north from. Some people stay a day to visit the town and head off to Thailand, but you can also go on many beautiful trips into the local area to visit, for example, the amazing Khmer ruins at Wat Phu and the stunning islands near the Cambodian border called Si Phan Don.
How Long to Stay in Laos — Sample Laos Tour Itinerary

How many days to spend in Laos? It really depends on your travel budget and your vacation times. Most of our clients spend 3–5 days in Laos, covering Luang Prabang and one of Vang Vieng or Vientiane. The following are some of the most popular tour arrangements in Laos.
3-Day Luang Prabang Trip
Day 1: Visit the Royal Palace and its museum. Then explore Wat Mai Palace and walk the scenic and character-filed Sisavangvong Peninsula Road.
Day 2: Take part in one of Luang Prabang's most ancient rituals, and explore the morning market. Cycle out to Ban Xong Kong Village and visit the Elephant Village Sanctuary.
Day 3: Explore the Kuang Si Waterfalls and Kuang Si Butterfly Park as well as the Free the Bears rescued bear sanctuary.
If you want to explore Laos more deeply, you can add the following tour itineraries into your trip to makes it an 8-day tour.
A Typical 8-Day Trip Itinerary in Laos: Luang Prabang – Vang Vieng – Vientiane
Days 1–3: Luang Prabang (see above for the 3-day Luang Prabang itinerary)
Days 4 to 5: Vang Vieng
Explore tranquil Vang Vieng and all the natural beauty it has to offer. Featured activities in Vang Vieng include kayaking, tubing, rafting, and rock climbing.
Days 6 to 8: Vientiane
Pay a visit to Wat Si Saket temple, the Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan), and Pha That Luang (a massive golden temple). Explore the Vientiane night market one night to sample some of the local delicacies and pick up your souvenirs to take back home!
Top Southeast Asia Tour Itineraries Including Laos
Laos is a small country in Southeast Asia. If you are visiting Southeast Asia for the first time, we recommend you cover some of the other countries in your trip. Most of our clients prefer 2 to 3 weeks for their first Southeast Asia trip. The most popular tour itineraries usually include Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. Get some inspiration from our 14-Day Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos Tour — Sync with Indochina's Heartbeat.
For a trip of 20–30 days, you can enjoy an in-depth tour of the whole peninsula area (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos). Check out our 28-Day Grand Indochina Tour for more info. The above sample itineraries are just for your information. You are welcomed to contact our experienced 1:1 tour consultant for a tailor-made itinerary.
Travel Costs for Laos

Travel costs in Laos are lower than in other Southeast Asian countries. For the price of a mediocre restaurant in Western countries, you can enjoy a good meal at a high-quality restaurant in Laos.
- For backpackers, the budget is around 30–50 USD/day per person (hostels, street food, local public transportation).
- For a medium budget, it will cost around 50–80 USD/day per person (3-star hotels, sit-down restaurants, tuk-tuks, taxies sometimes).
- For a higher standard and a more comfortable experience, US$150–200/day per person is needed (4/5-star hotels, nice meals, private guide, and transfers).
How to Get To and Around Laos

Getting to Laos: Flights via Bangkok
The best way to get to Laos is by flight. There are airports in the major cities of Laos, including Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Pakse.
There are no direct flights outside of Asia. Most travelers come to Laos via Bangkok, Thailand. There are flights between Bangkok and Vientiane or Luang Prabang. It takes about 1 hour to fly from Bangkok to Vientiane and 2 hours from Bangkok to Luang Prabang.
Getting Around in Laos
When you are in Laos, the main ways to get from one place to another are buses, trains, private car/taxi, and a tour with a travel agency. Traveling by bus can be challenging in Laos, as the roads are not maintained well and it is hard to drive in the rainy season. The newly built high-speed railway, which runs through Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, and Vientiane is another option for long distance transport. The most comfortable way is by hire car or booking a tour with a travel agency.
Connecting to Other Southeast Asian Countries
For travelers who want to visit Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar, you can easily book a flight from Laos' capital city Vientiane or Luang Prabang. Contact us if you want to book a multi-destinations tour in Southeast Asia.
Traveling with Asia Highlights
As one of the leading tour companies in Asia, we have been providing travel services for more than 20 years to thousands of satisfied customers. Let us know your requirements and interests for a tailor-made tour of Laos to fulfill your holiday dreams. Contact us now.
Why Travel with Asia Highlights (98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+)
- Unique experiences tailored to your interests: Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.
- Hassle-free travel and peace of mind: Every aspect of your trip will be carefully planned and organized by your 1:1 travel consultant.
- Experienced and knowledgeable guides: Your guides will be local and love to work for travelers' smiles.
Get Inspired with Our Sample Itineraries
At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey — your dates, your destinations, at your pace. You can have any trip tailor made for your travel.