Preparing Your Trip to Laos — Practical Guide by Asia Safari

Traveling to Laos is not the same as traveling to Europe. Visa, vaccinations, currency, insurance, ideal period… There are a few essential points to anticipate in order to travel with peace of mind. The Asia Safari team, based in Vientiane since 2002, provides you with direct, unfiltered advice.

1 / When to Travel to Laos?

When to go to Laos? The country’s tropical climate is characterized by monsoons that generate 2 main seasons, with variations depending on whether you are in the plains, in the north, south, or in the mountains.
From October to May, dry season with pleasant temperatures (20/30°C on average) until February. In March, the temperature rises.
From April to September, green season with beautiful landscapes in August and September, particularly heavy rains in the south of the country accompanied by high heat especially in April and May (30 to 35°C).

2 / How to Get to Laos?

There are no direct international flights to Laos. The airports of Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Pakse receive flights from all over Asia. One of the most popular air routes from Europe is to fly to Bangkok then Luang Prabang or Vientiane, the main entry points to the country.

3 / What Are the Visa Requirements for Laos?

Your passport must be valid 6 months after the return date. A visa is mandatory (except for Swiss citizens traveling less than 15 days), it can be obtained from the Laos embassy in France. For a last-minute departure, it can be obtained at border entry points to Laos or at the airports of Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Pakse. No vaccination is mandatory except for yellow fever for travelers coming from infected areas (check requirements).

4 / Laos with Family?

Children are welcome and accepted with no age limit. Between 5 and 12 years old, they have access to reduced rates if they share their parents’ room. Certain activities will delight young explorers, with elephants (Luang Prabang, Pakbeng), by tuk-tuk, by pirogue, in the waterfalls and Kuang Si falls.

5 / What to Do in Laos?

Don’t limit yourself to a simple stay in Luang Prabang or a cruise on the upper Mekong. Northern Laos, land of ethnic minorities, offers a complete change of scenery in a region still unaccustomed to foreigners. You can travel on foot, by motorbike, by 4×4, sleep in the beautiful ecolodge of Muang La Lodge before returning to civilization at the end of a navigation on the Nam Ou, the most beautiful tributary of the Mekong. In season, the south reveals its treasures around Champassak, on the banks of the Mekong or aboard a cruise boat named after the famous temple, the Vat Phou.

6 / Cost of Living in Laos?

The cost of living in Laos is not very high except for heavily taxed imported products. The cost of accommodation in Laos depends on the climate. Prices are lower in the green season, a favorable season for discovering the mountains of the North (Muang La). The local currency in Laos is the kip, but you can also pay in US dollars. The euro can be easily exchanged in banks in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. International bank cards can be used to withdraw kips, baht, or US dollars at bank counters (very few ATMs).

BOOKING YOUR TRIP IN 5 STEPS

1 / Send us your request/message via the contact form at your disposal.

2 / To clarify your expectations, needs, and get to know you better, an advisor will send you a questionnaire to initiate the exchanges prior to creating your itinerary and quote.

3 / Your decision is made, you’re going! A 30% deposit will be requested to confirm your booking. Cancellation terms will be sent.

4 / A booking update will be communicated to you regularly. At this stage, make sure to book your international flights, obtain a visa, and purchase cancellation/repatriation insurance.

5 / The balance of the trip will be requested 30 days before your arrival in Asia. You will then receive your travel documents (vouchers, flight tickets, country information…). Secure payment by bank transfer to our account in Laos.

Flights and Access to Laos

As a local inbound travel agency, we handle the booking of domestic and regional flights
and private ground transportation included in your itinerary.

Air Access to Laos

International Flights

Three international airports: Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Pakse. Vientiane airport is 15 minutes from the city center, same for Luang Prabang.

Paris

– Air France, Lao Airlines, Thai Airways International: Paris-Bangkok-Vientiane or Luang Prabang

– Vietnam Airlines: Paris-Hanoi-Vientiane or Luang Prabang

Hanoi

– Lao Airlines: Hanoi-Vientiane (3 flights per week), Hanoi-Luang Prabang

– Vietnam Airlines: Hanoi-Vientiane (7 flights per week)

Ho Chi Minh

– Vietnam airlines: Ho Chi Minh City-Phnom Penh-Vientiane (daily flights)

Phnom Penh

– Vietnam Airlines: Phnom Penh-Vientiane (daily flights)

– Lao Airlines: Phnom Penh-Pakse-Vientiane (2 flights per week)

Siem Reap

– Lao Airlines: Siem Reap-Pakse-Vientiane (5 flights per week)

– Lao Airlines and China Eastern Airlines: Kunming-Vientiane (3 flights per week)

Domestic and Regional Flights in Laos

Airlines: Bangkok Airways, Air Asia, China Eastern Airlines, Lao Airlines, Thai Airways International & Thai Smile, Vietnam Airlines.

– Luang Prabang (3 flights per day)
– Houay Xai (3 flights per week)
– Phonsavan (5 flights per week)
– Sam Neua (3 flights per week)
– Oudomxai (3 flights per week)
– Luang Nam Tha
– Pakse (1 daily flight)

– Vientiane (3 flights per day)
– Phonsavan (3 flights per week)
– Luang Nam Tha
– Pakse (2 flights per week)

Lao Airlines Plane

Land Access and Entry to Laos

Border Crossings – Land Access to Laos

By river (Mekong):

· Houay Xai border post (Bokeo province)

Chiang Khong (Thailand, main pier at Tha Bak) / Houay Xai
Take a long tail boat (on foot) or a car-ferry.

· Thakhaek border post (Khammuan province)

Nakhon Phanom (Thailand) / Thakhaek
Opening hours: 8am-6pm
Take a ferry at the pier

· Savannakhet Laos border post (Savannakhet province)

Moukdahane (Thailand) / Savannakhet
Take a ferry at the pier

By land:

· Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge: Nong Khai (Thailand) / Tha Na Leng (20km southeast of Vientiane)
Opening hours: 6am-10pm
Thai-Lao international bus from Nong Khai bus station to Talat Sao in Vientiane.

· Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge No. 2: Moukdahane / Savannakhet

· Vang Tao border post (Champasak province)
Chong Mek (Thailand) / Vang Tao
Opening hours: 5am-6pm
Thai-Lao international bus between Ubon Ratchatani and Pakse

· Nam Xoi border post (Hua Phan province)
Na Maeo (Vietnam) / Nam Xoi
Opening hours: 7:30am-11:30am and 1:30pm-4:30pm
Moto taxi between Thran Hoa and Na Maeo then Sawngthaew between Nam Xoi and Sam Neua

· Nam Khan border post (Xieng Khuang province)
Nam Can (Vietnam) / Nam Khan
Bus between Vinh (Vietnam) and Phonsavanh (Laos)

· Nam Phao border post
Cau Treo (Vietnam) / Nam Phao
Opening hours: 7am-6pm
Bus between Vinh and Lak Sao or Vientiane

· Na Phao border post (Khammuan province)
Cha Lo (Vietnam) / Na Phao
Opening hours: 7am-5pm
Bus between Dong Hoi (Vietnam) and Thakhaek (Laos)

· Dansavanh border post (Savannakhet province) > recommended
Lao Bao (Vietnam) / Dansavanh
Opening hours: 7am-11am and 1pm-6pm
Bus between Dong Ha (Vietnam) and Savannakhet

· Bo Y border post (Attapeu province) > to avoid
Bus between Pleiku (Vietnam) and Attapeu

· Tay Trang border post (Phongsali province) > recently opened

Bus between Dien Bien Phu (Vietnam) and Muang Khua

· Voen Kham border post (Champasak province)
Dom Kralor (Cambodia) / Voen Kham
Minibus or boat between Stung Treng and Voen Kham, or the 4,000 islands

· Boten border post (Luang Nam Tha province)
Mohan (China) / Boten

Opening hours: 8am-4pm (Lao post), 8am-5pm (Chinese post)

Bus between Mengla (China) and Luang Nam Tha

Air access to Laos – land access to Laos

International flights to access Laos

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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.

    The cost depends on the length of your trip, the season, the number of travellers, your accommodation and the services you choose. We prepare a personalised quote based on your wishes and budget, specifying the services included and any expenses to budget for separately.

    Entry requirements depend on your nationality, the length of your stay and your point of entry. Depending on your circumstances, you may apply for an e-Visa or a visa on arrival. The tourist e-Visa allows a stay of 30 days and can only be used at designated entry points. We help you check which procedures apply to your trip.

    Yes. We adapt the pace, destinations, accommodation and activities to your children’s ages and your family’s wishes. We focus on a balanced itinerary, with time to rest and suitable journeys between stops.

    Yes. You can plan your trip in English with our local team. Depending on your itinerary, we arrange visits with English-speaking guides and the support you need during your stay.

    A few days allow you to explore Luang Prabang and the surrounding area. Allow around ten days to combine Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane, or 15 to 18 days to include southern Laos. We adapt the itinerary and journeys to the time you have available and your preferred pace.

    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.

    We can combine Laos with Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand or Yunnan in China. We design the itinerary around your dates, interests and arrival point, then select connections suited to the route and each country’s entry requirements.

    To explore several regions in Laos and either Vietnam or Cambodia, allow around 15 to 18 days. A shorter combined trip is possible with fewer stops. Allow several weeks for a grand tour of multiple countries. We adapt the route to the time you have available and your preferred pace.

    Yes. We arrange the transport included in your itinerary: airport transfers, road journeys, trains, boats and domestic flights, depending on the programme. Your quote specifies the services included and any expenses to budget for separately.

    Absolutely. Asia Safari welcomes solo travelers as well as couples, families, or small groups of friends. Each trip is designed for you.

    Yes. Whether you prefer an active trip or a more leisurely pace, we design your itinerary with you, based on your interests, mobility and preferred level of comfort.

    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.

    Asia Safari is a local agency based in Vientiane, Laos. Founded in 2002 by Jean-Paul Duvergé, it has a French-Lao team that plans and coordinates your trip on the ground.

    You can contact us through the questionnaire on our website, by email or by phone. We send you an initial response within 24 working hours, followed by a detailed proposal within 48 working hours of receiving the necessary information.

    Yes. We design tailor-made trips for families and groups of friends, adapting the itinerary to the number of travellers, their shared interests and budget. For larger groups, we review your plans on request.

    Asia Safari accepts international bank transfers. Payment terms (deposit, balance) are specified in your personalized quote.

    Our local team can be contacted seven days a week during your stay. If anything unexpected happens, we assess the situation with you and coordinate any necessary adjustments with our partners on the ground.

    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.

    We plan your itinerary with local conditions in mind and explain the precautions relevant to your planned journeys and activities. Before departure, also consult official travel advice, which outlines the risks in different regions.

    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.

    The official currency is the Lao kip (LAK). Bring cash in kip for everyday expenses and stays in rural areas. ATMs are available in the main towns and cities; card acceptance varies by establishment.

    Before departure, check that your routine vaccinations are up to date. Additional vaccinations, including hepatitis A, and any preventive malaria medication should be discussed with your doctor or a travel vaccination centre, based on your health and itinerary. Also take precautions against mosquito bites.

    A few days allow you to explore Luang Prabang and the surrounding area. Allow around ten days to combine Vientiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang. A more extensive itinerary into central and southern Laos requires more time: we adjust its length to your interests and preferred pace.