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In Laos, you can visit gilded temples, admire dramatic karst scenery and forested mountains, and immerse yourself in local traditions and cultures, such as alms giving in Luang Prabang.

You could also experience what it’s like to work in a rice paddy, take a cookery class to learn all about local ingredients and culinary traditions, or set out along the Mekong on a river cruise.

For a more adventurous trip, you could get out into the jungle-clad hills and mountains on a caving and kayaking tour or go on a guided hiking trip to the 100 waterfalls.

Laos offers a wide range of places to stay from stylish boutique hotels to restored French villas and ecolodges in the mountains of the north. You’ll find the best choice of hotels in Luang Prabang and Vientiane where you can stay in a former royal residence with a spa and choice of swimming pools, or a historical former officers’ residence turned sleek, minimalist hotel. Outside the cities, and in the south, hotels are often simpler but comfortable and may have more traditional styling, but our specialists have found plenty of interesting options from simple guesthouses on the banks of the Mekong to traditional thatched bungalows set in tropical gardens.

Luang Prabang, Vientiane, and Vang Vieng are some of the best places to go in Laos, but you’ll also find plenty to explore in the lush hills of the far north and the small villages and temple ruins of the south. You could watch saffron-robed monks collect alms among gilded temples in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, visit caves and small villages in the dramatic limestone karst scenery around Vang Vieng, or explore the mysterious Plain of Jars where hundreds of giant urn-like stones dating back to megalithic times lie strewn across the plains. Hike through the mountains of the north from a base in Nong Khiaw or watch freshwater dolphins in the Mekong and enjoy the slow pace of rural life in the 4000 Islands. Our country specialists will be happy to discuss your interests and offer advice on the best places to go in Laos.

Flying to Laos from the west coast of Canada takes around 20 hours. From Toronto, expect the journey to take around 28 hours.

The time zone in Laos is UTC+7 hours. Laos does not observe Daylight Savings Time.

Train travel is one of the best ways of getting around northern Laos, while domestic flights are best for travel between the north and the south. The train is comfortable and reliable and links the capital, Vientiane, with Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, and further north. River travel is also possible in Laos, and boat journeys along the Mekong River allow you to visit remote communities in the hills more easily. Alternatively, we can arrange for you to have a private driver between destinations.

Your doctor can provide you with up-to-date immunization advice for Laos. You can also check the recommended vaccinations by visiting the . Checking that you’re up to date with all vaccinations recommended at home is also a good idea before you start your trip.

If you’re arriving in Laos from a country deemed to be at risk of yellow fever, you may also be asked to provide proof of vaccination against the disease. Check countries at risk with the World Health Organization (WHO) or speak to your doctor.

Use our travel tool to find up-to-date visa and passport requirements for Laos. Enter where you’re traveling to and from (including any stopover destinations en route or flight layovers), along with your intended travel dates and passport details, for a full list of requirements.

• Entry requirements travel tool