Vientiane and Luang Prabang Itinerary

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Are you planning a visit to South-East Asia and contemplating visiting Laos (in all probability mixed with a visit to Thailand or Vietnam)? Don’t fear, we’ve received you lined. On this article, I’ll share our itinerary for five days in Laos, visiting Vientiane and Luang Prabang!

In fact, you want at the least a few weeks to see all Laos has to supply. However realistically, except you’re backpacking in South-East Asia or are working remotely with a really relaxed schedule, you gained’t be capable of spend weeks in every nation. For those who solely have 25 days of annual go away, simply as we do, it’s a must to be savvy, mix a number of international locations in a single journey, and attempt to see among the fundamental highlights inside a really restricted timeframe.

Right here’s a really temporary overview of our itinerary for five days in Laos:

Day 1: Attending to Vientiane and exploring the town, an evening at S2 Trendy Boutique Resort

Day 2: Flying or taking a prepare to Luang Prabang, 2 nights at The Belle Rive Resort

Days 3-4: Having fun with Luang Prabang, a day journey to the waterfalls & rice farm

Day 5: Exploring the remainder of Luang Prabang, flying again

Earlier than we begin with the detailed itinerary, listed below are some often requested questions on Laos.

Issues to know earlier than travelling to Laos

Is Laos secure? How secure is it to journey round Laos?

For those who’re questioning whether or not Laos is secure, I’d say that essentially the most touristy cities and cities are secure! At no level throughout our journey did we really feel unsafe or really feel that there was a must lie about the place we stay or go away branded purses on the lodge (that occurs in lots of locations, together with Jose’s hometown, Mexico Metropolis).

Individuals have been additionally very pleasant, and at no level, anybody tried to rip-off us and even inflate costs! Everyone was useful as properly. Travelling round Laos was a stunning expertise and we hope to return sometime.

Easy methods to get to Laos?

Laos doesn’t have the perfect transport connections on this planet, and it isn’t simple to fly there straight from Europe or the Americas. That’s why most individuals mix visiting Laos with Vietnam or Thailand, as each Vietnam and Thailand have good flight connections with Laos. Flight costs aren’t low cost, although. You’ll be able to test the costs and availability right here >

There’s additionally a pace prepare from China, nevertheless, it is likely to be tough to journey to China proper now (I ponder if they’ve resumed issuing journey visas).

Some individuals journey to Laos by ferry – there are excursions from Thailand, nevertheless, we don’t know a lot about this fashion of travelling to Laos.

Are you able to pay by card in Laos? Are US {dollars} accepted?

One other often requested query about Laos is whether or not you possibly can pay by card in Laos or pay by US {dollars}. Playing cards aren’t broadly accepted in Laos – just a few lodges and only a few eating places settle for playing cards, each in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. Nevertheless, there are ATMs you’ll find in main airports and likewise throughout Luang Prabang city centre (there are just a few, however the city centre will not be too large, both).

As for the US {dollars}, some distributors might select to simply accept them, however some gained’t take them. It’s all the time good to go away a sum in {dollars} and the remainder commerce to the native forex; within the case of Laos, it’s kip.

Easy methods to journey inside Laos? Travelling between Vientiane and Luang Prabang

Lastly, many individuals are questioning methods to journey between Vientiane and Luang Prabang. The gap by land is sort of massive – except you might be on a really strict finances, I don’t suggest travelling by bus. There’s a pace prepare that China constructed just lately and common flights between Vientiane and Luang Prabang. The prepare station is sort of removed from Vientiane; getting there takes 45-60 minutes. As of the start of 2023, shopping for prepare tickets on-line was inconceivable. A ticket workplace within the centre of Vientiane didn’t settle for money or card, only a native fee app you possibly can’t set up as a foreigner. Some individuals ask locals to purchase them tickets and provides them cash in money as a substitute. We additionally learn that some lodges can buy prepare tickets for you as properly.

The issue is that the gross sales of prepare tickets begin solely 3 days upfront and get bought out fairly rapidly!

That’s why we opted for an inside flight. It’s the most costly choice (2 instances dearer than the prepare), however at the least you should buy tickets upfront and it’s additionally sooner for those who solely have just a few days in Laos. The prepare takes round 4 hours, whereas the flight is round 45 minutes. The airport in Vientiane is tiny, so that you don’t want to return hours upfront, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier than the flight is greater than sufficient.

We didn’t purchase return tickets as Luang Prabang additionally has worldwide flights. We flew from Hanoi to Vientiane and had a return flight from Luang Prabang again to Hanoi.

Learn our 7-day itinerary for Vietnam on this submit >>>

Okay, with out additional ado, let’s begin with the 5-day itinerary for Laos: Vientiane and Luang Prabang.

Our itinerary for Laos: Vientiane and Luang Prabang in 5 days

Day 1: Exploring Vientiane

Vientiane, the capital metropolis of Laos, is understood for its quiet and relaxed environment with little visitors, in contrast to the bustling and vibrant metropolis of Hanoi in Vietnam (the town we had flown to Laos from).

The place to remain in Vientiane

For our in a single day keep, we opted for the S2 Trendy Boutique Resort, which was moderately priced however positioned fairly removed from most points of interest. Nonetheless, as a result of metropolis’s appreciable distances between locations, it’s essential to depend on taxis no matter the place you might be staying.

Alternatively, these two lodges are nonetheless removed from the principle points of interest, however are nearer to the town centre with plenty of eating places and the night time market close by: Lao Orchid Resort or Le Charme Vientiane Resort.

Issues to do in Vientiane in someday:

Vientiane, in contrast to Luang Prabang, doesn’t have that many points of interest. It’s not a really touristy metropolis and plenty of guests overlook Vientiane in favour of Luang Prabang. Nevertheless, I believe Vientiane is fascinating, and we needed to see multiple place in Laos.

Listed below are among the finest issues you are able to do in Vientiane in simply someday (properly, someday might be sufficient to see most of Vientiane anyway).

Pha That Luang: an important nationwide monument in Laos and a logo of the nation’s Buddhist religion. It’s a surprising golden stupa and it’s believed to include a relic of the Buddha.
Patuxai – a monument inbuilt honour of those that fought for independence from France and mockingly, it appears a bit just like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It’s attainable to climb to the highest for gorgeous metropolis views.
Wat Si Saket: an attractive temple, which is without doubt one of the oldest in Vientiane and contains a gorgeous courtyard stuffed with hundreds of Buddha statues.
Buddha Park – an element that’s house to greater than 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues, together with a large reclining Buddha.

Additionally, the night time market within the coronary heart of the outdated city, proper subsequent to Mekong is an thrilling market to go to, nevertheless, there isn’t a lot to purchase there except you’re searching for very inexpensive faux branded garments with misspelled logos. There are many locations to eat close by, in order that is likely to be a bit extra fascinating!

5 days in Laos: Vientiane and Luang Prabang itinerary

Days 2-5: Luang Prabang

On the morning of the subsequent day, we took a brief inside flight to Luang Prabang. I defined our causes for taking a aircraft moderately than the prepare earlier on this article, however lengthy story brief, flight tickets have been the one tickets we might purchase upfront and due to this fact assured our journey for at the present time.

The place to remain in Luang Prabang?

We stayed on the Bel Air Resort with pretty river views, nevertheless, the situation wasn’t supreme as a result of each time we wanted to go to the city centre, we needed to cross a bridge that was in shambles and on the verge of collapsing (The Outdated French Bridge).

As a substitute, I like to recommend staying on the following locations:

Luxurious choice: 3 Nagas

Mid-range lodge: The Belle Rive

Reasonably priced lodging: Villa Ouis

The most effective issues to do in Luang Prabang in 4 days: (properly, 3.5 days)

Whereas 4 days in Luang Prabang (which is just a bit larger than a village) appears like a whole lot of time, it’s really not! There are such a lot of issues you are able to do in Luang Prabang. If you wish to see the entire checklist, I wrote this text concerning the 18+ superb issues to do in Luang Prabang >>

Right here, on this article, I’ll give attention to the actions and issues we now have loved essentially the most in Luang Prabang:

Go to the Unesco-protected Outdated City of Luang Prabang & night time market on Sisavangvong Street

Luang Prabang grew to become a UNESCO world heritage web site in 1994. The most effective issues you are able to do in Luang Prabang is to put on comfy sneakers and head for a stroll or a motorcycle experience across the Outdated City – there are many stunning picturesque streets with pretty retailers, stalls and eating places.

Sisavangvong Street is essentially the most well-known, busy and in style avenue in Luang Prabang. It will get particularly crowded within the night, round 6pm, when the night time market opens. The night time market in Luang Prabang has loads of stalls promoting garments, souvenirs and artwork. It’s primarily aimed toward vacationers, however it’s a must-visit attraction anyway.

You may as well attempt native avenue meals there (proper at the beginning of the Night time Market, there’s a everlasting avenue meals market. The most well-liked dish in Laos is Laap – a meat or fish salad, which is scrumptious however very spicy. Most dishes in Laos are very, very spicy!).

Sundown cruise alongside the Mekong River

A Mekong sundown cruise is without doubt one of the finest issues to do in Luang Prabang. Head to Khem Khong Avenue and also you’ll discover many boat homeowners providing their providers. We simply discovered a flyer for a $5.5 per particular person sundown cruise from Svan Mekong Cruises and booked it!

We have been so fortunate that there have been no different vacationers moreover us that day, and we ended up having a non-public cruise!

If you would like a fancier expertise, you possibly can e book a dinner cruise with a 3-course dinner right here >>

18 amazing things to do in Luang Prabang, Laos (+our impressions)

Go to the Kuang Si waterfall

Kuang Si waterfall is without doubt one of the fundamental points of interest of Luang Prabang, 45 minutes away from the city. You’ll be able to both get there by motorcycle, purchase a tour or rent a taxi that can anticipate you there for 3-4 hours for $20 for a day. Alternatively, you possibly can get there by boat for those who purchase a tour.

It’s good on your third day in Laos, when you’ve gotten a full day in Luang Prabang! You may as well mix it with visiting the buffalo farm or the rice farm – each of them are on the way in which again to Luang Prabang!

Stroll the bamboo bridge throughout Nam Khan River

The bamboo bridge is barely open 6 months a 12 months and will get rebuilt yearly because it will get destroyed as soon as the water ranges rise. That you must pay 10,000 kip ($0.6) per particular person to cross the bridge, however it’s completely price it.

Climb the Mount Phou Si

Climb Mount Phou Si – there are many stairs to climb, nevertheless, the views from there are properly price it. The ticket to enter the higher a part of Mount Phou Si prices circa $1 per particular person.

Go to the gorgeous temples in Luang Prabang

See essentially the most stunning temples in Luang Prabang – Luang Prabang has so many gorgeous temples, monasteries and stupas. Probably the most stunning is undoubtedly Haw Pha Bang, positioned proper on the backside of Mount Phou Si.

Observe the Alm Giving ceremony with the Buddhist monks

For those who’re an early hen and wish to observe a singular, stunning ceremony essential to locals, head to the Outdated City round 5:30am. It’s a ceremony the place native Buddhists supply the monks alms (home made sticky rice). Nevertheless, except you’re a Buddhist, you must chorus from collaborating; as a substitute, you possibly can quietly observe the ceremony. You may as well take photographs (and not using a flash), however ensure you’re not in the way in which and never obstructing anybody.

Loosen up and revel in Luang Prabang

Regardless that there are such a lot of issues to do in Luang Prabang, it’s a good vacation spot for stress-free. It’s quiet, the distances are small, and nobody is dashing anyplace.

Many lodges and resorts have swimming swimming pools, the place you possibly can spend just a few hours on a lounger suntanning and studying a e book.

After virtually 4 days in Luang Prabang, I hope you’ll really feel properly rested and prepared for an extended journey house.

Abstract: 5 days in Vientiane: the itinerary for Luang Prabang and Vientiane

I hope you loved this itinerary for 5 days in Laos, visiting the perfect of Luang Prabang and Vientiane. Each Vientiane and Luang Prabang have issues to see and do and I like to recommend visiting each of those locations as they’re very totally different. Luang Prabang, nevertheless, is undoubtedly extra spectacular than Vientiane!

I hope you loved this submit and may you’ve gotten any questions, ship me a message on Instagram @lizatripsget!