Our local travel agency in Laos

At Asia Safari Laos, our mission is to make travel in Laos more sustainable, more accessible, and more inclusive, by offering our clients high-quality, environmentally friendly, and affordable travel experiences, while supporting the conservation and development of the destinations and communities we visit.

Asia Safari — Your Local Travel Agency in Laos since 2002

Founded in Vientiane in 2002 by Jean-Paul Duvergé, Asia Safari designs tailor-made trips in Laos and Indochina for English-speaking travellers. The agency draws on the experience of its founder, who has worked in Laos since 2000. No catalog. No intermediary. Just a passionate local team that knows the country like the back of its hand.

Why Asia Safari?

The name Asia Safari was born from the field, not from a brainstorming session.

When we arrived in Laos in the early 2000s, adventure tourism was still in its infancy. We then envisioned expeditions to remote areas, with mobile camps in the heart of nature — tents pitched in the middle of forests and isolated villages, in a spirit directly inspired by African safaris.

Those years in the field changed everything: new itineraries traced on foot, by pirogue or on elephant back, bonds forged with local communities who still trust us today, a knowledge of the country that cannot be acquired from guidebooks.

When we founded the agency in 2002 to create tailor-made journeys in Laos, keeping this name felt natural. It says who we are: a team passionate about being out in the field, with twenty-five years of experience exploring the country from the northern mountains to the islands of the Mekong.

Today, every trip we design carries this heritage — the desire to explore, to go a little further, to reveal a Laos that few travelers have the chance to see.

The creation of Muang La Lodge

In 2007, after 5 years of exploration in the north of the country, Jean-Paul Duvergé’s, Asia Safari’s founder, African dream took shape. The agency expanded its offerings with an accommodation facility (10 rooms) built at the foot of the mountains in Oudomxay province. A key base for discovering the region of the Akha, Khamu, and Ikos minorities and experiencing a way of life on the banks of the Nam Pak: the native staff from neighboring villages, attached to the Lodge for many years, are a true source of well-being. The cuisine made from local products is worthy of Asia’s finest tables, and the traditional bathing ritual is unique in Laos.

A collection of authentic places in Laos

In this country that does not lack creative entrepreneurs, the Asia Safari group creates, innovates, surrounds itself, unites, and cultivates its taste for exclusive “homemade” cultural experiences.

In addition to Muang La Lodge, its first hotel creation, the Asia Safari group’s attraction to authenticity is expressed with two more recent creations: the Residence Bassac in Champassak, a stone’s throw from the Mekong, a hotel with an “Indochina” charm and its menu of experiences to discover the essentials of southern Laos. The Soum Noum restaurants signify a curiosity for all world cuisines and a touch of international flavors to be enjoyed on its two terraces, in Luang Prabang and Champassak.

An Experience-based Approach to Travel

Since 2002, Asia Safari has been designing original itineraries in Laos and Indochina, helping you discover the places, cultures and local life at your own pace. Each proposed itinerary is an invitation to step aside and approach travel through the EXPERIENCE, whether it be tradition, spirituality, culture, gastronomy… by focusing on encounters with locals.

To each their own Experience

Are you more in search of adventure? Of relaxation? Are there two of you? With your children? Your friends? Our approach to travel is reflected in the staging of EXPERIENCES designed to rejuvenate you through contact with Lao culture. Moments of life that take into account everyone’s expectations…

ACTIVE no respite. Entrust us with your thirst for discovery, we will fill your days

SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS: on foot, by bike or on the water, we tailor our suggestions to your ability and the challenges you want to take on.

EPICUREAN the pace of travel slows down to favor a place, an address, to settle down… Take your time!

WITH CHILDREN: tuk-tuk rides, waterfalls, boat trips and elephant observation, depending on the itinerary… we adapt the activities and pace to your children’s ages and your family’s interests.

LOVERS IN EXILE you will be celebrating

ZEN-SEEKING 20,000 monks and a high concentration of temples populate this small country that lives in wisdom, under the eye of Buddha

CURIOUS ABOUT INDOCHINA… in the ancient kingdom of a Million Elephants, history can be read on the facades of numerous colonial villas

… AND ANCIENT SITES: in Champasak, discover Vat Phou and its cultural landscape, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The ensemble bears witness, in particular, to the Khmer history of southern Laos.

Asia Safari’s Indochina Combinations

For journeys combining Laos with Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam or China’s Yunnan province, we work with partners who specialise in their destination. We coordinate the planning of your trip or put you in touch with the partner best suited to your project.

Expertise and personalized follow-up: Before, During, and After

BEFORE YOUR TRIP: your enquiry helps us understand your interests, travel dates, budget and the needs of everyone travelling. Using the questionnaire on our website and our conversations with you, we prepare a personalised proposal and refine it together.
DURING YOUR TRIP: our local team coordinates the services included in your itinerary and remains available throughout your stay. You receive a contact number on arrival. If anything unexpected happens, we assess the situation with you and arrange the necessary adjustments with our partners.
AFTER YOUR TRIP: we collect your impressions through a satisfaction questionnaire. We read your feedback carefully and use it, together with the service providers involved, to improve our itineraries and services.

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Why choose Asia Safari for your trip to Laos?

With Asia Safari, you plan your tailor-made trip directly with a local English-speaking team. Our agency has been based in Vientiane since 2002. Its founder, Jean-Paul Duvergé, has worked in Laos since 2000. Our guides are Lao, our accommodations are hand-picked, and each itinerary is tailor-made. The result: a vibrant, fair trip, without unnecessary frills.

• Local English-speaking agency: we speak your language and know the country from the inside
• Zero intermediaries: you deal directly with the local team
• Truly tailor-made: no fixed catalog — each trip is unique
• Since 2002, Asia Safari has been creating tailor-made journeys in Laos, drawing on the experience its founder has gained in the country since 2000.

How does our tailor-made service work?

1. You send us your request (dates, budget, desires, profile)
2. We send you an initial response within 24 working hours, followed by a detailed proposal within 48 working hours of receiving the necessary information: your itinerary, accommodation and a quote specifying the services included.
3. We refine the proposal together, adjusting the itinerary, accommodation and activities to suit your expectations and budget.
4. We coordinate the services included in your itinerary on the ground: guides, transport, accommodation and activities.

When to visit Laos?

From November to February, the weather is generally drier and temperatures are milder. March and April are often hotter. The rainy season, from May to October, brings lush green landscapes; we adapt the itinerary and transport to local conditions.

Laos, the heart of your Indochina tour

Laos is often the surprise of a trip: uncrowded, authentic, with a quiet beauty. Asia Safari makes Laos much more than a stopover — we make it the central experience of your stay, before or after Vietnam, Cambodia, or Thailand.

Our travel ideas for Laos and neighbouring countries

Laos + Cambodia: from the temples of Luang Prabang to Angkor, shape a journey combining cultural heritage and Mekong scenery. A visit to Tonlé Sap can complement the itinerary, depending on your interests and the time available.
Laos + Vietnam: Two contrasting countries — the calm of Laos and the energy of Vietnam. From Hanoi to Vientiane or vice versa.
Northern Laos + Yunnan: from the landscapes of Yunnan to the mountains of northern Laos, the Laos–China railway can connect some of the stops on your journey. We plan the route with you, in either direction.
Grand Indochina Tour (40 days): Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand — a memorable trip for life.

Tips for preparing your multi-country tour

Visas: each country has its own rules — Asia Safari guides you through all procedures.
Duration: we adapt the number of stops to the time you have available. For a trip combining two countries, we consider the regions you want to explore, travel between destinations and your preferred pace.
Seasons: seasons vary by country — we help you choose the best window.
Budget: the cost of a multi-country trip depends on its length, the season, the number of travellers, accommodation and transport between destinations. We prepare a personalised quote specifying the services included and any expenses to budget for separately.

Our Story

Jean-Paul Duvergé has worked in Laos since 2000. In 2002, he founded Asia Safari in Vientiane to design tailor-made trips in Laos and Indochina. Today, the agency’s French-Lao team plans each itinerary with its travellers and coordinates arrangements on the ground with its local guides and partners.

What sets us apart

A team on the ground: based in Vientiane, we plan your trip using our knowledge of Laos and information from our local partners. We take the seasons, travel conditions and accommodation into account when designing your itinerary.
We speak your language: our team supports you in English, from planning your trip to assistance during your stay. English-speaking guided visits are arranged according to your itinerary.
Direct contact with our team: you speak with the people who plan your trip and coordinate its organisation on the ground. Your quote specifies the price of your trip and the services included.
Tailor-made journeys: our suggested itineraries are starting points. We adapt the destinations, pace, accommodation and activities to your dates, wishes and budget.

Our commitment

We give preference to local accommodation providers and partners. When visiting villages, we take care to respect residents and their customs. Our approach also aims to help preserve the cultural and natural sites that make Laos special.

Laos in figures

Laos covers 236,800 km² and had a population of around 7.9 million in 2025. Its capital is Vientiane, its official language is Lao and its currency is the Lao kip (LAK). Theravada Buddhism is the main religion. The country is in the UTC+7 time zone.

Laos must-sees

Luang Prabang: Former royal capital, a UNESCO World Heritage site, its golden temples, French colonial houses, and gentle way of life make it an undeniable favorite.
Vientiane: The human-sized capital — That Luang, Patuxai, and the banks of the Mekong are worth a visit.
Vang Vieng: Surrounded by limestone karsts, ideal for kayaking, caving, and hiking.
Southern Laos and 4000 Islands: Champassak, the Vat Phou temples (UNESCO), the Bolaven Plateau, and the Mekong islands.

Lao culture

Theravada Buddhism has an important place in Laos, alongside a variety of cultural traditions. In Luang Prabang, the monks’ morning alms round is a religious ritual to observe with discretion and respect. Boun Pi Mai, Lao New Year in April, and Boun Ok Phansa, which marks the end of the Buddhist rains retreat, are among the events that shape the year.

Nature and biodiversity

The forests and protected areas of Laos are home to a variety of wildlife, including Asian elephants, gibbons and sun bears. Rivers, mountains and plateaus offer many opportunities to explore nature.