13 DAYS | 12 NIGHTS
Laos is one of Asia’s most welcoming destinations for family travel. No crowds or stressful megacities, activities suitable for all ages, and a population of remarkable gentleness and kindness toward children. This 13-day tour, designed by Asia Safari specifically for families, blends cultural discovery, outdoor activities, and unforgettable encounters.
Experiences designed for families
Meeting the elephants
Laos is home to one of the last populations of Asian elephants. Asia Safari works with ethical sanctuaries—no training, no shows—where children can observe, feed, and bathe with elephants in their natural environment.
The Kong Lor Caves — An underground adventure
The Kong Lor cave, in Khammouane province, is a 7-kilometer underground river navigable by boat. A gentle adventure experience, accessible from age 6, that leaves a lasting impression on children.
Cycling and villages around Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang and its surroundings are ideal for family cycling. The roads are quiet, the villages are close, and the people are welcoming. Asia Safari provides bicycles suitable for all sizes, as well as a guide to ensure a safe route.
Encounters with village children
Asia Safari integrates visits to village schools and cultural exchange activities between children (drawing, traditional games, cooking) into this tour. These are moments of sincere sharing that go beyond classic tourism.
Your questions about family travel in Laos
At what age can children be taken to Laos?
From 3-4 years old for a tailored tour. From 8-10 years old, most activities are accessible without restrictions. Asia Safari adapts the pace and activities according to the children’s ages.
Is transport suitable for families with young children?
Asia Safari prioritizes comfortable private vehicles with air conditioning. Long journeys are broken up with stops. For young children, we advise limiting travel to a maximum of 3-4 hours.
Are there specific health risks for children in Laos?
Standard precautions apply: up-to-date vaccinations, mosquito protection, and bottled water. Asia Safari will provide you with a complete list before departure.
Can elephants be seen in an ethical setting?
Yes. Asia Safari only works with sanctuaries where elephants live in semi-freedom in vast forests—without training or shows. This is the best option for a respectful and memorable encounter.
HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR TRIP
Luang Prabang and the Pak Ou Caves
Kuang Si Falls
Themed day on rice production
Discovery of local handicrafts
Walk with elephants at Tad Sae Falls
By boat on the Mekong
Night in an equipped tent and traditional activities
Trek in Nong Khiaw and meeting ethnic minorities
Vang Vieng, its caves and sublime landscapes
Cruise and dinner on the Nam Ngum River
The adventure starts here!
Stop: Luang Prabang
Welcome by your English-speaking guide at the airport, transfer to your hotel.
Meet at the end of the day for an orientation tour of the former royal capital in a vintage vehicle. To welcome your arrival in Laos, a little surprise prepared by Asia Safari Laos is added to the ride…
Dinner at your leisure in one of the city’s many restaurants and overnight at your hotel. Early bedtime recommended!
Stop: Luang Prabang, Kuang Si Falls
Breakfast
Exploration at the first light of day… The monks leave their temples and cross the city to collect offerings from the villagers. A colorful and silent spectacle not to be missed! Following this, your guide will accompany you on a personalized discovery of several religious buildings (the city has over thirty), including the watermelon-shaped Tat Mak Mo or Wat Phraphoutthabat, the monastery of Buddha’s footprint.
After lunch at your leisure, you leave the peninsula for the “Kuang Si” falls. Besides being refreshing, they are superb! You can walk from one pool to another.
Return to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon. Dinner at your leisure and overnight at your hotel.
Stage: Luang Prabang
Breakfast
Morning themed around rice, the staple food in Laos. Its production will no longer hold any secrets for you: grain selection, sowing, transplanting cuttings… At each stage, you will learn to use the strength of a dear friend to every farmer: the water buffalo, an indispensable partner in the absence of modern tools. This lunchtime, you will dine on typical Lao preparations based on rice and sugar cane.
Possibility to continue with a visit to the ethnology museum or proceed directly to Ock Pop Tok, a social enterprise dedicated to preserving traditional Lao handicrafts. Here you can dye your T-shirt using ancestral techniques. Dinner at your leisure and overnight at your hotel.
Stage: Luang Prabang
Breakfast
You continue your family journey in Laos with a meeting at the elephant village on the banks of the Nam Khan River. In this peaceful retreat, you quickly become friends with the pachyderms, especially those rescued from logging. The Asian elephant will be your walking companion along the river toward the Tad Sae falls, whose turquoise water is an invitation to swim in its naturally formed pools (enthusiasts, don’t forget your swimsuit)!
Aboard a comfortable bamboo boat, you will take the return path while enjoying a lunch of Lao specialties served on board.
Return to Luang Prabang in the early afternoon. Dinner at your leisure and overnight at your hotel.
Stop: Luang Prabang, Kamu Lodge
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Departure for a one-hour cruise on the Mekong to Kamu Lodge, a camp located on the riverbank. En route, stop at the Pak Ou caves, lined with thousands of Buddha statues left by devotees over the centuries.
Arrival and check-in at the Lodge, in your large tent equipped with a shower room. Lunch is taken in a Sala in the middle of a rice field. Nap or… participation in traditional activities such as gold panning (you keep what you find), fishing (tasting at dinner), or visiting the surrounding Khamu village. Traditional archery competition before dinner.
Dinner and overnight at the Lodge.
Stage: Nong Khiaw
Breakfast
Free morning at the Lodge to walk around or enjoy the activities. After lunch at the Lodge, you will depart by boat and then by road to Nong Khiaw, which you will reach at the end of the day. Dinner at your leisure and overnight at the hotel.
Stage: Nong Khiaw
Breakfast, Lunch
We continue discovering Laos with the family with a day of hiking starting from Nong Khiaw. A small path along the Nam Ou River will take you to Hat Sao, which you will reach in a 1-hour walk, a small village populated by the Lao Lum and Lao Thung minorities. From there, the forest is completely preserved until you reach cool waterfalls where you can swim. Free time to enjoy the falls before a picnic lunch.
Return to the Nam Ou River to reach Nong Khiaw aboard a traditional motorized boat. Dinner at your leisure and overnight at your hotel.
Stop: Nong Khiaw, Luang Prabang
Breakfast
This morning, you will set off by bike or on foot to discover the Nong Khiaw caves, a final opportunity to immerse yourself in the region’s mountain landscapes.
After lunch (at your leisure), you will take the road (3 hours) to Luang Prabang. Free time. Dinner at your leisure and overnight at your hotel.
Stop: Vang Vieng
Breakfast
Departure for Vang Vieng, the center of the country. The road is superb. Stops at the very colorful markets in the villages of Phoukhoune and Ban Houn Xay.
Lunch at your leisure at the restaurant of your choice. It is at Phatang that you can admire the high karst cliffs covered in lush vegetation that signal the arrival in Vang Vieng.
At the end of the day, check-in at your hotel. Dinner at your leisure and overnight at your hotel.
Stop: Vang Vieng
Breakfast, Lunch
Start of the trek at the village of Phathao, located 12km north of Vang Vieng. The hike allows you to reach the mountain range via a short climb rewarded by the beauty of the panorama. Picnic lunch.
The Tham Hok cave, known for its stalactites and stalagmites, is among the most beautiful in the region. On the way back down, you will have the opportunity to relax and swim in a small paradise of natural pools bordered by rapids. Dinner at your leisure and overnight at your hotel.
Stop: Vientiane
Breakfast
In the middle of the morning, departure for Vientiane, the country’s capital, which is unlike any other Asian capital as it has managed to preserve its human scale. Lunch at your leisure en route in a floating restaurant on the Nam Ngum River. This local “riverboat” is very popular with residents. A change of scenery guaranteed.
Arrival in Vientiane in the late afternoon. Check-in at your hotel located in a central district on the banks of the Mekong. Dinner at your leisure and overnight at the hotel.
Stop: Vientiane
Breakfast, Lunch
This morning you have an appointment at the Panyanivej center, an ecological farm located outside the city, managed by young farmers with whom you will share a moment of their daily lives.
Introduction with some practical work on the theme of rice (depending on the season) incorporating traditional methods. This will be followed by collecting duck eggs and a fishing session for the lunchtime barbecue.
On the way back, a stop is planned at the local fresh produce market, which provides an interesting showcase of the great variety of Lao food.
Return to your hotel by tuk-tuk. Dinner at your leisure and overnight at your hotel.
Stop: Vientiane
Breakfast
End of the family trip in Laos. Free time before your transfer to Vientiane International Airport.
Our selection of Hotels
Included
- Accommodation in a room for 2 people
- For each participant not sharing a room, add the individual supplement
- All meals mentioned (breakfast and/or lunch and/or dinner)
- All transfers mentioned, in private cars or air-conditioned minibuses
- All excursions mentioned in the program
- All entrance fees to sites
- The service of French-speaking guides for the different stages
- The guide: our quotation includes the salaries and travel expenses of a guide residing in Luang Prabang. If Luang Prabang guides are not available, we bring guides from Vientiane. This incurs an additional cost which will be communicated to you if applicable.
Excluded
- Domestic and international flights
- Drinks during meals and personal expenses
- Services not mentioned above
- Meals not mentioned above
- Bank or exchange fees related to payment for the trip
- Laotian visa fees (30 USD/person plus one passport photo). As a precaution, plan for 35 USD/person plus two passport photos)
- Your passport must be valid for 6 months after the exit date from the country
- Cancellation / assistance / repatriation and luggage insurance
- Tips
Personalized follow-up
Each client receives personalized follow-up:
- Your French-speaking Asia Safari advisor informs and assists you in your choices, targets your expectations before designing your trip
- From your arrival until your departure day, you benefit from Asia Safari assistance throughout the trip
- We are regularly in the field to ensure the reliability of our partners
- We invest in research and development to integrate novelty and originality into our offer
- We only employ experienced guides
Important
- The services, flights, and hotels offered are subject to availability at the time of booking
- Domestic or international flight schedules may be delayed or changed without prior notice
- Our prices are guaranteed by the payment of a 30% deposit of the total amount of your trip
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Why choose Asia Safari for your trip to Laos?
Asia Safari is not a generalist tour operator based in France. We have been on site, in Vientiane, for over 25 years. 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 French-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
- 25+ years of experience: founded in 2002, Asia Safari assists hundreds of French-speaking travelers every year
How does our tailor-made service work?
1. You send us your request (dates, budget, desires, profile)
2. We build a proposal within 48 hours — day-by-day itinerary, accommodations, all-inclusive price
3. You refine it with us until the trip is perfect
4. We manage everything on site: guides, transport, hotels, activities
When to visit Laos?
The best period is October to April — dry season, pleasant temperatures. The rainy season (May to September) is also possible: lush landscapes and fewer tourists, but some roads can be difficult. Asia Safari advises you according to the region and type of trip.
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 most requested Indochina combinations
Laos + Cambodia: A classic — temples of Luang Prabang and Angkor Wat, Mekong and Tonlé Sap. 15 days minimum recommended.
Laos + Vietnam: Two contrasting countries — the calm of Laos and the energy of Vietnam. From Hanoi to Vientiane or vice versa.
Northern Laos + Yunnan: For travelers seeking originality — travel from Yunnan to Laos via the Laos-China railway (inaugurated 2021).
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.
Ideal duration: allow a minimum of 12 to 15 days for a 2-country combination.
Seasons: seasons vary by country — we help you choose the best window.
Budget: prices vary greatly by country. Laos is cheaper than Vietnam or Thailand.
Our Story
Jean-Paul Duvergé arrived in Laos at the turn of the 2000s, fell in love with the country, and decided to stay. In 2002, he founded Asia Safari with a simple idea: to offer French-speaking travelers direct access to authentic Lao life, without the filter of large Parisian agencies. Since then, the agency has assisted thousands of travelers, built a network of trusted guides and partners, and refined its philosophy: rigorous tailor-made travel, serving authenticity.
What sets us apart
We are on site: Our team works from Vientiane. We know the roads, seasons, accommodations, guides — and what changed last week. No outdated brochures.
We speak your language: Asia Safari is a 100% French-speaking agency. All our communications, proposals, and guides speak French.
Zero intermediaries: You work directly with us. No central purchasing, no Parisian subcontractors. Fairer prices and higher service quality.
Tailor-made as our only model: We do not have standardized tours. Each trip is designed from scratch, according to your dates, budget, desires, and traveler profile.
Our commitment
Asia Safari actively supports responsible tourism in Laos: prioritizing local accommodations, tours that benefit village communities, respect for cultural and natural sites.
Laos in figures
Area: 236,800 km² | Population: approximately 7.5 million inhabitants | Capital: Vientiane | Official language: Lao | Religion: Theravada Buddhism (65% of the population) | Currency: Lao Kip (LAK) | Time zone: UTC+7
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 permeates all of Lao life. The alms giving (offerings to monks at dawn) in Luang Prabang is a daily ritual of great beauty. Lao festivals — Boun Pi Mai (Lao New Year in April), Boun Ok Phansa (Festival of Lights) — are exceptional times to travel.
Nature and biodiversity
Laos is 70% covered by forests. Its protected areas are home to rare species: Asian elephants, gibbons, sun bears. The rivers and plateaus offer natural settings of rare purity in Asia.
