Things to See in Laos: 12 Places Worth the Trip (and How to Combine Them)

Laos is Southeast Asia’s quietest country: landlocked, mountainous and green, with a gentle pace and a deep Buddhist culture. It is not a country of big-ticket attractions so much as of atmosphere, and the best way to see it is to link a few special places by short flights or scenic drives. Here are the things to see in Laos that are most worth the trip, and how to link them.

The northern highlights

1. Luang Prabang

The country’s cultural jewel: a UNESCO-listed town of temples, monks and colonial architecture on the Mekong. See things to do in Luang Prabang.

2. Nong Khiaw and Muang Ngoi

Riverside villages in a landscape of limestone peaks on the Nam Ou, with hiking, kayaking and village homestays.

3. Luang Namtha

Laos’s trekking capital, in the far north, with ethnic minority villages and the Nam Ha protected area.

4. Plain of Jars

Thousands of ancient stone jars scattered across the high plateau around Phonsavan, a UNESCO World Heritage site, whose purpose remains a mystery. The area was heavily bombed in the 1960s and 70s; visit marked, cleared sites with a guide.

Central Laos

5. Vientiane

The relaxed capital, with the golden stupa of Pha That Luang, the Patuxai victory monument, Wat Si Saket and a riverside promenade. One or two days is plenty; see our pages on Vientiane and Pha That Luang.

6. Vang Vieng

A town set among dramatic karst peaks beside the Nam Song River, popular for hiking, caving, kayaking and the turquoise Blue Lagoon pools.

Southern Laos

7. Pakse and the Bolaven Plateau

Waterfalls, coffee plantations and ethnic villages on a cool volcanic plateau east of Pakse.

8. Wat Phou, Champasak

A ruined Khmer temple complex at the foot of a mountain, with origins that pre-date Angkor Wat and a UNESCO World Heritage listing, in a quiet, atmospheric setting. See Wat Phou.

9. Si Phan Don (the 4,000 Islands)

A wide stretch of the Mekong with islands, sandbars and waterfalls. Only the larger islands, including Don Khong, Don Det and Don Khon, are inhabited. This is a place to slow down: bicycle rides, riverside hammocks and sunset boat trips. In the rainy season some small islands flood.

More places worth the trip

10. Kuang Si Falls

About 45 minutes from Luang Prabang, a series of turquoise limestone pools descends through the forest. Swim in the lower pools, climb to the main falls and visit the bear rescue center at the entrance, which cares for Asiatic black bears rescued from poachers. Go early or late in the day to avoid the crowds.

11. Kong Lor Cave

In the karst country of Khammouane province in central Laos, the Nam Hinboun river flows for several kilometers through a mountain. Boatmen take visitors through the cave by longtail boat and lamp light, past huge chambers of stalactites. It is often visited as part of the Thakhek Loop, a multi-day road trip through limestone valleys, caves and villages.

12. The Mekong slow boat

The two-day boat journey from Huay Xai, on the Thai border, to Luang Prabang, with an overnight stop in the river village of Pakbeng, is one of the classic journeys of Southeast Asia. Public boats are basic but sociable; private and luxury river boats offer cabins, meals and comfortable seats. The scenery of forested hills, sandbanks and riverside villages changes slowly, and that is exactly the point.

How to combine them

• 5 days: Luang Prabang with Kuang Si and Pak Ou.
• 7 to 8 days: Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane.
• 10 to 12 days: add Nong Khiaw or the Plain of Jars, then fly south to Champasak and the 4,000 Islands.

A typical 6-day route splits two nights each in Vientiane and Luang Prabang plus time in Vang Vieng. Roads are slow, and domestic flights save days.

Southern highlights in more detail

In the 4,000 Islands, Khone Phapheng is often described as the largest waterfall in Southeast Asia by volume: not tall, but a thundering series of rapids across the whole width of the Mekong. On Don Khon, you can cycle along the old French railway embankment to the Li Phi falls and quiet beaches. On the Bolaven Plateau, the twin falls of Tad Fane plunge into a forested gorge, and family coffee farms offer tastings of Lao arabica and robusta.

Combining Laos with its neighbors

Laos fits naturally into a wider journey. From Thailand, cross the Mekong at the Friendship Bridge to Vientiane, or take the slow boat from the north to Luang Prabang. From Vietnam, short flights link Hanoi with Luang Prabang and Vientiane. From Cambodia, the south of Laos is close to the border, or you can fly between Siem Reap or Phnom Penh and the Lao cities, depending on current schedules. A classic two-week Indochina journey combines four nights in Laos with Vietnam and Cambodia.

Is Laos good for a first trip to Southeast Asia?

Yes, especially as part of a route with Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia. It is calm, safe and easy to enjoy, though slower to travel around than its neighbors.

Is the Mekong slow boat worth it?

Yes, if you enjoy slow travel. The two days between Huay Xai and Luang Prabang are relaxing and scenic, and private boats make the trip more comfortable.

A sample 10-day route

Days	Plan
1–2	Vientiane: That Luang, Wat Si Saket, COPE visitor centre, Mekong sunset
3	Train to Vang Vieng: karst views, caves and kayaking
4–6	Train to Luang Prabang: temples, alms round, Kuang Si Falls, Pak Ou Caves
7	Fly south to Pakse
8	Wat Phou and Champasak
9–10	The 4,000 Islands: Khone Phapheng Falls, cycling on Don Khon, sunset on the Mekong

Getting around Laos

The Laos–China Railway has made the north much easier: trains connect Vientiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang in a few hours, compared with most of a day by road. Book tickets ahead and bring your passport. For the south, domestic flights link Vientiane and Luang Prabang with Pakse. Roads to the Plain of Jars, Nong Khiaw and Luang Namtha are winding and slow, so allow plenty of time and use a private driver for comfort.

Understanding the past: COPE and UXO

To understand modern Laos, visit the COPE Visitor Centre in Vientiane, which supports people with disabilities, many of them survivors of unexploded ordnance (UXO) accidents, or the UXO Lao information center in Luang Prabang. Both explain how the bombing of the 1960s and 1970s still affects rural communities today, and how clearance work continues.

When to go

November to February is cool and dry and the best time to travel. March to April is hot and often smoky; May to October is the green season with heavy rain, especially in the south. See our best time to visit Laos.

Practical notes

• Visa: many nationalities, including US citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival at major airports and border crossings; fees reported by guides are roughly US$35 to US$40 in cash. Confirm current rules.
• Money: the Lao kip is not convertible outside Laos; change what you have left before departing. US dollars and Thai baht are widely understood.
• Unexploded ordnance: stay on marked paths in rural areas.

See Laos on a private tour

Explore our Laos tours, including Highlights of Laos, or combine it with Cambodia on Laos and Cambodia Highlights. Browse more places to visit in Laos.

Planning more of the trip? Read our guides to Laos Facts for Travelers.

Things to see in Laos: FAQ

What is Laos best known for?

Luang Prabang, the Mekong, waterfalls and its quiet Buddhist culture.

How many days do you need in Laos?

One week for the north and center; ten days to add the south.

What are the top attractions in Laos?

Luang Prabang, Kuang Si Falls, the Plain of Jars, Wat Phou and the 4,000 Islands.

Is Laos worth visiting?

Yes, if you enjoy slow travel and gentle landscapes.

What is the best way to get around Laos?

Short flights between regions and private drivers on the roads.

How do I get from Vientiane to Luang Prabang?

By train on the Laos–China Railway, which takes a few hours, or by a short flight. The road journey is much longer.

What is the best place to see in southern Laos?

The 4,000 Islands and Wat Phou in Champasak, with the Bolaven Plateau for waterfalls and coffee.