Laos Travel Guide

Everyone needs a little help now and then, especially when planning a dream holiday so we're here to help with our travel guide to Laos. Find out more about the best time to go and the top sights you should see when you're there. Discover what plugs you'll need to take with you and how easily you'll find WiFi out there. We also cover the essentials with details on what visa you'll need and provide a round-up of the multi-country tours we offer to Laos and its neighbouring countries.

Vangvieng Laos Tours On The Go Tours

Best Places to Visit

Don't visit Laos without seeing these top sights from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng

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Best Time to Visit

Plan the perfect time to visit with our guide to the seasons and climate in Laos

Currency

Top Travel Tips

A crash course in the essentials from health advice to currency, food to shopping

Visas

Tourist Visas

Visa requirements for Laos and information on getting your visa before you go

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Multi-country Tours

Combine Laos with other Southeast Asian countries including Cambodia & Vietnam

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Traveller Reviews

See what our travellers say about our tours to Laos and what makes them so good

Plan your trip to similar destinations!

Get to know Laos

Recommended Reading

  • The Coroner’s Lunch
    by Colin Cotterill
  • Another Quiet American: Stories of Life in Laos
    by Brett Dakin
  • Bamboo Palace: Discovering the Lost Dynasty of Laos
    by Christopher Kremmer
Did you know...?

Facts about Laos

  • In Laos the New Year is a big deal and is celebrated for three days from April 13th-15th.
  • The oldest modern human fossil was found in Lao and is estimated to be 46,000 years old.
  • Laos is home to the Khone Papeng waterfall, the largest waterfall in the entirety of Southeast Asia.

Laos Travel Advice for South African Travellers

The safety of our travellers is paramount and we closely monitor travel advisories to Laos. We recommend that you check the latest travel advice from the consular in South Africa before you travel.

Flying to Laos from South Africa:

Flight times between South Africa vary between 19-21 hours depending on which city you depart from and which route you fly. Several airlines operate the route between South Africa's major cities and Vientiane, the international transport hub of Laos, with at least one transit stop en route. From Cape Town some of the best options are with Singapore Airlines via Singapore and Bangkok and Emirates via Dubai and also Bangkok. From Johannesburg you may also wish to consider South African Airways via Hong Kong and Hanoi, or Etihad via Abu Dhabi and Bangkok. Check out Travelstart for flight deals from South Africa to Laos.

Useful Online Resources:

The official Laos Tourist Organisation site and the latest Laos Weather Updates from the BBC.