River Cruises in Laos

The Mekong River is one of Asia's iconic waterways and Laos offers several options for a Mekong River Cruise.

Pandaw Cruises introduced a wonderful Mekong River Cruise in Laos in 2015 which is proving extremely popular.

One of the most popular is the two day journey from the north of Thailand via Pakbeng to Luang Prabang. This is very beautiful corner of Laos where the Mekong winds languidly between limestone cliffs.

Further south the Mekong is wider as it cuts through the plains of Central Laos.

The Vat Phou teak river cruiser is a great way to discover this region of Laos in a 3 day Mekong Cruise.

Nature & Wildlife Holidays

Laos is blessed with magnificent limestone mountain scenery in the north where the mighty Mekong is fed by various tributaries.

The high rolling grassland of the Xieng Khuang Plateau in the Northeast is home to the so-called 'Plain of Jars'.

Wildlife viewing in Laos isn't prolific but there are some interesting trips, including seeing Irrawaddy Dolphins in the south and visiting a bear sanctuary in the north.

Active Holidays

Laos offers plenty of opportunities for a more active style of holiday, especially in Vang Vieng, the adventure capital of Laos. In Vang Vieng, enjoy trekking, cycling, kayaking and even rock climbing.

Trekking is also a great option in the Northwest of Laos in the Nam Ha National Park.

A stay at Muang La Resort, north of Luang Prabang is a great option for those looking to enjoy some soft adventure activities in the north of Laos.

Undiscovered Laos

Getting off the beaten track in Laos is relatively easy as most areas of Laos are little visited. The Northeast of Laos is the region least on the tourist map and any visit here can be considered off the beaten track.

The Far north of Laos by the border with China is little explored and the central Mekong Valley travelling overland from Vientiane to Laos' second city Savannakhet is also suprisingly off the tourist trail.

This is Laos' Hilltribe region and a great area for trekking and cycling, especially around Luang Nam Tha in the Nam Ha National Park.

To the south, Muang La offers a great location from which to explore this diverse region.

A great river journey here is from Chiang Rai in Thailand on an overnight trip down the Mekong to Luang Prabang.

Vang Vieng

Vang Vieng has been something of a backpackers mecca for years, but this small picturesque town on the banks of the Nam Song River is now emerging as a more mature destination, offering something more than a hedonistic adventure stop for Gap Year kids.

Vang Vieng makes a convenient stop on the winding overland route from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, itself one of the most beautiful stretches of road in Laos.

Vang Vieng appeals to thos looking for activity, with trekking, kayaking, cycling and rock climbing all on the menu. With a couple of nice boutique hotels, Vang Vieng is now definitely a great option on a tour of Laos.

Southern Laos

Southern Laos is one of the most interesting regions of Laos, with historic sites, ancient temples, the Mekong River, waterfalls, diverse cultures and beguiling landscapes.

With Luang Prabang and the far north grabbing most of the headlines, Southern Laos is only now slowly emerging as an area of great interest to rival the attractions of the north.

Wat Pho offers a World Heritage Temple site dating back 1500 years, Don Khone Island reveals a glimpse of sleepy Lao River life and the Phapheng Waterfalls is the largest cascade on the lower Mekong.

Cruising on the Wat Pho River Cruiser is a great way to see this region of Southern Laos in comfort.

The lively town of Pakse is the main gateway to Southern Laos and is not without it's charms as more and more people are discovering.

Money

The kip is the currency unit of Laos. US dollars, Euros and Thai baht are also accepted in many places and are certainly more convenient to carry than great wads of the local currency.

Banks, hotels, and jewellery shops all offer currency exchange.

Banks are open Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 15:00.

In Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Pakse, and other major towns you can find ATM's to withdraw money (Lao Kip).

Visa Card and Mastercard are now accepted at the larger hotels in Vientiane and Luang Prabang.

NOTE: Should you wish to pay a bill expressed in Lao Kip with USD, ask for the exchange rate or ask your guide for assistance.

For everyday expenses, we recommend carrying a mix of US Dollars and Kip.

For larger items or when the exchange rate works in your favour, use US Dollars.

For tuk tuks, local food stalls and small purchases, it's best to use Kip. Make sure you always have a stock of small notes so that you don't have to worry about change especially in the countryside.

The BCEL Bank can change American Express Travellers' Cheques for Lao Kip or US Dollars in cash. Note that a 3 % or 5% commission is charged.

Very few shops, hotels or restaurants accept Travellers' Cheques and they can be difficult to exchange outside of the main cities.

The use of credit cards is still not widespread in Laos. Most upscale hotels and many shops and restaurants in Luang Prbang and Vientiane accept VISA and Mastercard but in other parts of the country often only cash is accepted.

Health & Safety

Laos is a very safe country for travelling if you follow the usual precautions.

Nevertheless and as a global rule, never leave your belongings unattended and always maintain eye contact or a firm grip on cameras and shoulder bags.

In some tourist sites you may encounter some insistent souvenir sellers. A polite but firm "No, thank you" usually will suffice.

Medical facilities are rather limited in Laos but you can easily find good medical facilities in the main Thai towns and along the Thai-Lao borders.

It is essential to take out a good medical insurance policy before travelling in case evacuation is needed (usually to Bangkok or Singapore).

If you are on any medications, please bring an adequate supply of pills with you as it can be difficult to find within the country.

The Australian and the French embassies have international clinics which can treat light injuries and minor pains. These clinics are open during the day time only and closed during the week end.

To see the latest travel advice we recommend the Foreign Office Travel Advisory website.

Bear in mind that the FCO advice does tend to err on the side of caution, but nevertheless is a good guide to health and safety considerations if taken within context.

Vaccinations

We aren't medical experts and prefer to leave medical advice to those more qualified.

Some GP's will offer very good advice, but many will not be as up to date on travel health issues. The main vaccinations for travellers are usually available at GP surgeries.

We find MASTA Travel Clinic extremely good and very thorough and those looking at doing any amount of travelling in South East Asia would do very well to contact the nearest MASTA clinic.

Bear in mind that many vaccinations need to be planned well in advance of travel.

Traditionally jaews have accompanied meals in poor villages to break the monotony of eating endless amounts of plain sticky rice, but nowadays are being enjoyed by more and more tourists.

For celebrations, a pun pa is a festive meal meant to be shared.

A whole steam fish, marinated in local herbs and stuffed with lemongrass, is served with a variety of fresh vegetables, herbs, and sauces.

Diners create their own individual parcels of lettuce wraps seasoned to taste!

If laap is the national dish of Laos, then Beer Lao is certainly the national drink of Laos!

This delicious beer was, up until recently, the only type of beer available in the country and regardless of how remote in the jungle you were, the villagers always seem to have a bottle ready to share.

For something a bit stronger, lao lao is the traditional rice wine. Made in the villages, this strong alcohol is made by fermenting rice and is often consumed at weddings and other celebrations.

In the southern Boloven Plateau, Laos grows fantastic tea and coffee.

The locals drink their coffee strong, often with a hefty dollop of sweetened condensed milk. Green, loose-leaf tea is served as an accompaniment although higher-end teas are beginning to appear.

Most hotels now have IDD phones in rooms and it is possible to send faxes from hotels and post offices although be warned these services are expensive in Laos.

Away from the major cities it may not always be possible to make international calls.

If you have worldwide coverage, you can bring your mobile phone and use it to make domestic or international calls.

Check with your mobile phone provider for the fares before using it abroad though as it may cost you an arm and a leg.

Insurance

We highly recommend that all travelers to Southeast Asia purchase Travel Insurance which covers medical evacuation by air.

In case of an emergency, be sure to collect all receipts and invoices, as well as a copy of the medical report, for your insurance company.

We also recommend carrying your medical insurance registration number to speed up the insurance process in case of emergency.

Cultural Considerations

Visitors to Laos should not wear shorts, short skirts or other skimpy clothing when visiting religious buildings and shoes should be removed before entering a private home.

To more remote destinations such as Sam Neau, Sayabuli and Phongsali, Lao Air (LLM) offers scheduled flights in small Cessnas as well as helicopters.

Lao Airlines has a fleet of ATR's and 4 Airbus A320's.

Do I need to tip?

Tipping for good service is not expected but is always appreciated in a country where the average annual income is very low compared to Europe.

It is customary to tip tour guides and drivers at the end of a tour. Hotel and station porters also expect to be tipped.

Do not let a guide talk you into tipping more than you plan to. It is totally up to you who you tip, when and how much.

Population

Laos has 6.5 million people.

Language

The national language of Laos is Lao, which is closely related to Thai and is spoken in many different dialects. Lao, like Thai, is a tonal language.

French is still spoken by many government officials and educated members of the older generation but Thai and English are popular with younger people.

Religion

As in the neighboring countries of Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia Theravada Buddhism is the dominant religion and saffron-robed monks are a common sight in Laos.

There are also a small number of Catholics and Protestants.