One Week Itinerary: Laos

So you want to visit Laos but you only have a week. It can be hard to pack everything there is to see and do in a country in just a week; Luckily for you, I have made this one week itinerary guide to Laos based on my visit that can help you plan a trip. That way, you can make the most of your time!

Getting There

I currently teach English in the south of Thailand and traveled from that region to Laos. I took a flight from Hat Yai to Udon Thani, the nearest airport in Thailand to the Laos border. At the airport, there is a van service that will take passengers to the Friendship Bridge, the border crossing to Laos in the town of Nong Khai. The van schedule is coordinated with plane arrivals, so no need to book in advance or worry about missing it. Just walk out of the terminal and you will see the ‘limousine' counter directly in front of you to the right. A ticket to Nong Khai or the border is 200 baht per person and takes about 30-40 minutes.

Once at the border, you get stamped out of Thailand and buy a ticket for the short bus ride across the Friendship bridge. Once on the other side, you walk up to the ‘Visa on Arrival' window to pick up an application. When the application is filled out, drop it back off with the visa fee of 1,500 baht or $35 US dollars. After a short wait, you will be asked to take a picture and your passport will be returned to you with the visa inside. If you continue to walk you will exit the customs area and then catch a tuktuk or taxi to the city of Vientiane, the first stop  on the journey!

Good to know: The border closes at 10 pm daily. I caught an evening flight that got into Udon Thani around 6:30 PM. This left me plenty of time to get to the border and get across. During the day the border can get very busy with long wait times. When I crossed, around 7:30-8:00 PM, it was not at all busy and the process was very smooth.

Money

Before going on my trip, I did not convert any money to Laos kip. Most places will accept Thai Baht or US dollars. If you do pay with another currency, expect change back in kip. By paying with baht and getting back change, I was able to get some kip to spend at other places. To save the most money, you should pay with whatever currency is displayed (on the menu or tour sign) as it will be the cheapest before any conversion rates.

Vientiane

Getting There: Catch a van or tuktuk from the Laos side of the Friendship Bridge to your accommodation in the city. This should cost you no more than 400 baht. If you have more people, you can split the price. Don't be afraid to barter for a good price. The ride into town is about 30 minutes.

What to Do: You will not need more than one full day in Vientiane. I arrived late Friday night and spent the whole day of Saturday exploring. A few musts are the COPE Visitor Centre, the Patuxai Monument, the Great Sacred Stupa, Wat Sisaket and the Night Market. If you want to venture a little outside of the town, the Buddha Park is a fun place to wander and admire sculptures. For more details on things to do, read my post 10 Things to Do in Vientiane, Laos. 

Where to Eat: Vientiane has plenty of great restaurants concentrated in the area by the river. A stroll around the neighborhood by the river will have you stumble across more than one little gem. One of the top rated local restaurants is Rays Grille. Another popular coffee shop with baked goods is Joma. Some good street food includes any sandwich with the fabulous french bread or doner kebabs!

Where to Stay: A good area to stay in Vientiane is the same neighborhood near the river. There are plenty of hostels and nicer hotels close to the main attractions and restaurants. I originally booked a stay at Dream Home Hostel, but they messed up my reservation and had given away my room before I arrived. Instead, they brought me to the Golden Sun Hotel, where I spent two nights. The served complimentary breakfast and were a short walk from most attractions. For more details on my stay, read my post Golden Sun Hotel, Vientiane Laos: A Review. 

Vang Vieng

Getting There: During your day exploring Vientiane, make sure to book your transportation to Vang Vieng, the next city on your journey. The bus cost between 40,000 kip (bus) and 60,000 kip (van) per person and takes between 4-5 hours. The bus will stop at the bus station which is a few km north of the town. Tuktuks will be there waiting to bring you to your accommodation for 10,000 kip per person. Book a ticket for early morning so that you have part of the afternoon for exploring.

What to Do: Plan to spend the bulk of your trip to Laos in this small riverside town. I stayed for 3 nights and two full days. One of the top things to do is visit the Blue Lagoon and nearby cave. A day of tubing and bar hopping is also a popular activity. One of my favorite things I did was ride a hot air balloon at sun rise – breathtaking! For more details on things to do, read my post 10 Things to Do in Vang Vieng, Laos.

Where to Eat: Vang Vieng has lots of good, cheap places to grab food. There is an awesome Mexican restaurant called Amigos; for ‘happy pizza' (and other ‘happy' items) check out Milan pizza on the main street; A N D has good Laos food; plenty of noodle shops to try the traditional Laos meal; and as always there is good street food like sandwiches (the bread is seriously bomb) and pancakes.

Where to Stay: There are tons of hostels, hotels, and guest houses in Vang Vieng for any budget. For something fancier, look by the river. For something more budget friendly, look for anything along the main road. I stayed at the Vang Vieng Boutique Hotel which was right at the end of the main street, and a five minute walk to most attractions. They served complimentary breakfast, were incredibly helpful with recommendations, and had super comfortable beds. For more details on my stay, read my post Vang Vieng Boutique Hotel: A Review. 

Luang Prabang

Getting There: On your last day in Vang Vieng, make sure to book your transportation to the last stop on our trip: Luang Prabang. The bus cost between 80,000 kip to 100,000 kip depending on the time you want to leave. I left early in the morning so I would have part of the afternoon to explore Luang Prabang. The ride is between 6-7 hours. The bus will drop you at the bus station where tuktuks will be waiting to take you to your accommodation for between 10,000 and 20,000 kip.

What to Do: I spent two nights and one full day in Luang Prabang, but wish I could have stayed longer. I recommend staying two days and catching an overnight bus after the second day back down to Udon Thani for your flight home. This charming UNESCO World Heritage town has lots of shops selling authentic items made by Laos people like woven scarves that are absolutely beautiful. Top things to do include Kuang Si Falls, Golden City Temple, a climb up Mount Phousi, Tad Sae Waterfall and the Night Market. For more details on things to do, read my post 10 Things to Do in Luang Prabang, Laos.

Where to Eat: Some of the best food I ate on my trip was in Luang Prabang. Make sure to try Laos BBQ at Dyen Sabai across the Bamboo Bridge; try wood-fired pizza at Pizza Phan Luang; or snuggle next to a bonfire in the gardens of Lao Lao Garden. One of the most popular restaurants is Tamarind, but reservations are recommended. For cheap eats, check out the Buffet Street. In addition to these restaurants there are tons of cute little cafes, bakeries, and coffee shops where you can stop for quick bites and great people watching.

Where to Stay: Luang Prabang has lots of options for all budgets. Staying in the Old Quarter is more expensive; the opposite side of Mount Phousi has some hostels and guest houses, and further out of town are cheaper options. I stayed at the Namkhan Riverside Hotel. It had a great location within walking distance of most attractions, a complimentray breakfast, and the nicest little family running it. For more details on my stay, read my post Namkhan Riverside Hotel, Luang Prabang: A Review.

Getting Home

I took an early morning bus back down to Vientiane from Luang Prabang, but after 12 hours and a wasted day on a bus I wouldn't recommend it. Instead, enjoy another day in Luang Prabang and take an overnight bus back south. From Vientiane you can catch a taxi back to the Friendship Bridge and Nong Khai. If you are up for it, grab another cab straight to Udon Thani and the airport. Another option is to spend the day (and perhaps one night) in the city of Nong Khai. I found it to be a great stop at the end of my trip and a much needed break from traveling before catching a flight back to Hat Yai the following day.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.