Welcome to my Laos in one week itinerary and travel guide in which I’ll take you on an unforgettable journey starting in the laidback capital, Vientiane. From there, hop on a bus to Vang Vieng, Laos’ adventure capital, where thrilling outdoor activities await.
Next, hop on a scenic by high-speed train, to the charming French colonial town of Luang Prabang, with a visit to the breathtaking Kuang Si Falls.
To make your trip planning seamless, I’ve included practical travel tips on the best time to visit, visa requirements, accommodation options, transportation, and more. Dive into our comprehensive guide and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime in Laos!
Day 0 | Arrive in Laos
To follow this one week in Laos itinerary arrive in the country’s capital Vientiane. If you’re arriving in Luang Prabang though, simply follow the itinerary in reverse order.
If you have time, then tonight head directly to the river to check out the night market and the colourful Amusement Park. Otherwise call it a night and start fresh on day 1 of your Laos itinerary.
Where to stay in Vientiane – SYRI Boutique Guesthouse (mid-range)
Day 1 | Vientiane – Explore Laos’ Capital
Pha That Luang temple
Start your first full day in Vientiane by taking a taxi to the Pha That Luang temple. This 45m high golden temple is the largest in Laos and it shines bright in the sunlight. Next to the golden stupa you find different temples and a large resting Buddha.
This area is certainly where all the activity happens during the weekend. With a bit of luck you might encounter a ceremony here, where the Lao walk around the temple a couple of times. Or perhaps you’ll even be invited to join for lunch inside the temple.
Patuxai & Wat Si Saket
Walk back to town, or find a taxi to take you to Patuxai, which is basically an Arc de Triomphe replica. You can even climb to the top for a viewing platform. From there continue to Wat Si Saket and Haw Pha Kaeo, passing That Dam along the way.
Wat Si Saket houses thousands of Buddha images, made from wood, stone, and bronze, dating from the 16th to 18th centuries. Inside the temple’s cloister walls you can see thousands of niches along the walls holding tiny Buddha statues.
Buddha Park
Take bus 14 from the Talat Sao Bus Station, or find the bus stop 200m away from Haw Pha Kaeo in the direction of Buddha Park. It takes about an hour to get there, so leave on time because it closes at 5pm. Instead of the bus, charter a tuk tuk with friends or other travellers for more convenience.
Buddha Park is a bit of a weird place, but totally worth your time and effort. Great place to walk around the bizarre and seemingly endless amount of Buddha statues. Some of which you can even climb on top of, or descend into.
Street Food & Late Night Drinks
Back in town make your way to the Wanwan Food Park Center Point. You’ll find all sorts of street food here, so take your pick for dinner. Afterwards join the backpackers for a beer at Sugar Bar. Or if you fancy something a little more swanky grab an excellent cocktail at hidden away Cocoon Bar.
Read next: A Complete Guide To The Best Things To Do In Vientiane
Day 2 – 4 | Vang Vieng – Adventure Capital
On the second day of this one week in Laos itinerary you’re travelling to Vang Vieng. But you can use the morning to explore a little more of Vientiane.
COPE Centre
Wake up early to visit the COPE centre where you can learn about Laos’ dark history. During the US’ interference in the region, because they wanted to fight communism in Vietnam, they also dropped a lot of cluster bombs on Laos. Very sad, and the implications are still visible everywhere today.
Large parts of Laos are still off-limits to this day because of unexploded bombs. But most of all the history is still visible because many Lao miss one or more limbs. The COPE Centre is helping victims of these bombs with protheses and by helping to find remaining bombs.
Wat That Khao & Wat Si Muang
After your visit to the COPE Centre take some time to check out two nearby temples. Start at the Wat That Khao, a temple very much off the tourist trail. Don’t expect anything spectacular, but enjoy the authenticity of the place and the resting Buddha.
Closeby and on your way back to town step onto the grounds of Wat Si Muang. This colourful temple is very well kept and large parts were undergoing reconstruction works when I visited (in 2023).
Back in town have a coffee and a croissant at Le Trio. This roaster is a coffee destination in itself where the beans are roasted in the back of the cafe. The espresso machine is an almost antique La Victoria Arduino and coffee from it is excellent.
Take the bus to Vang Vieng
Head back to your hotel to get ready for your pick-up. The fastest and cheapest way between the two cities is to take a bus or shuttle along the new highway. There’s also a train, but since the train station is located far from the centre, taking the train is an inconvenient choice.
Book your bus ticket from Vientiane to Vang Vieng through your hotel, or get it online here at 12go.asia.
After check-in to your hotel head into town for sunset drinks at the PullMind Cafe. The views here are spectacular making it the perfect place to welcome you to Vang Vieng. Grab a bit to eat here, or head further down the street to Green Restaurant for a delicious pizza.
Where to stay in Vang Vieng – Vang Vieng Champa Hotel (mid-range)
Adventurous day with kayaking, tubing and zip-lining
On the third day of this one week in Laos itinerary you’re in for an adventure. Vang Vieng isn’t named the adventure capital of Laos for nothing after all.
So, today rise early and after breakfast be ready for your pick-up by Wonderful Tours. The tour takes you kayaking on the Nam Song river. Be prepared for quite a few rapids along the way. Trust me you will get wet!
After kayaking it’s time to explore a few caves and even venture into a cave tubing. When you’ve finished having your lunch prepare for the most spectacular activity of the day: ziplining! Don a helmet and safety gear, secure your camera or phone and zoom over the forest.
Cool down at Blue Lagoon 1
All done zipling, then it’s time to finish today’s activities at the Blue Lagoon 1. This Blue Lagoon is actually one of the many that you’ll find around Vang Vieng. If you follow this one week Laos itinerary, then you can visit more of them on the Vang Vieng Loop tomorrow.
Back in town at the end of the day I recommend having dinner at Mango’s. They serve some delicious Pad Thai and mango smoothies. And before going to bed try to find out why Vang Vieng is the party town of Laos.
Hot air balloon ride at sunrise
Get up super early, because on the 4th day of this one week in Laos itinerary you’re going up in the sky. The landscape around Vang Vieng is truly spectacular making it the perfect destination for a hot air balloon ride.
The feeling of going up in that balloon is really priceless and I would certainly recommend it to everyone. Vang Vieng is perhaps the most affordable place in the world for a hot air balloon ride, so don’t miss out and book right here.
Vang Vieng Loop viewpoints
The region around Vang Vieng is so beautiful that it beckons to be explored. So, after that hot air balloon ride and breakfast, rent a motorbike and go for a ride.
To the west of town you can follow the Vang Vieng Loop. There are a few amazing viewpoints, but the best views are at Nam Xay viewpoint. It’s a miracle how they managed to get a motorbike up there, but it makes for some great photo ops. It does require a tough 45 minute climb up a slippery path to reach the viewpoint though.
A somewhat easier 20-minute hike up Phapoungkham viewpoint is a great alternative if Nam Xay is too hard for you. And it’s even more miraculous how they managed to get an airplane to this viewpoint! On your way to the viewpoint you can enter caves and you can also find a pegasus (horse).
More Blue Lagoons to cool down
All those climbs and riding that motorbike make you hot an sweaty, so what better way than to cool down at more Blue Lagoons? Yesterday you went to Blue Lagoon 1, but there’s quite a few others around Vang Vieng. And luckily a few are on the Vang Vieng Loop.
The Blue Lagoons are all numbered and there should be at least 6 in total. Depending on who you ask, you get different answers from the locals for which ones are the best. My favourite was Blue Lagoon 3 because of the views from the stilted huts. You can eat a decent lunch here too.
Back in town drive by the Wat Si Sou Mang. It was quite dark when I entered the site and I thought I was trespassing when a monk approached. Instead he was very honoured that I visited the temple and promptly switched on the lights!!
Day 5 – 7 | Luang Prabang & Kuang Si Falls
You’re entering the final portion of this one week in Laos itinerary, but first make your way from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang.
Take the train to Luang Prabang
To reach Luang Prabang you can take the bus again, but I highly discourage that. It can take about 7 hours along winding roads with an incredible amount of potholes. So instead take the new train to travel between the two cities and enjoy the landscape views.
There are high speed trains and a few slower options, but each train only takes about 2 hours anyway. Vang Vieng train station is close to town, although in Luang Prabang it takes about 30-40 minutes to reach your hotel.
Have your hotel in Vang Vieng arrange your train ticket, or get it on 12go.asia.
Where to stay in Luang Prabang – Villa Chitchareune 2 (mid-range)
Sunset at Phu Si Hill and Night Market
After check-in to your hotel make your way into the city. Grab an iced-coffee at Family Bakery & Restaurant and then ascend the steep flight of stairs up Phu Si Hill for sunset.
The view is absolutely stunning, but be prepared to share it with all the other visitors in Luang Prabang. For me the amount of visitors took away the sunset vibe, but keep on reading for a much better option for tomorrow’s sunset.
When you’re done watching the sunset, head down the other side of the hill to reach the Haw Phra Bang temple. The temple is iconic for Luang Prabang and you can perfectly view it from the balcony on Sisavangvong Road.
This is also where the night market starts, but if it they’re still setting it up go for a walk along Sisavangvong Road. This is the main artery of Luang Prabang with plenty of shops, restaurants and bars.
Take a seat at Yuni Yupoun for drinks and a plate of Lao appetizers. Afterwards finish the day walking along the night market to shop for crafts, textiles and more food if you’re feeling peckish.
Rise early for the Almsgiving Ceremony & Morning Market
Next day, rise early for the Almsgiving Ceremony where the Lao offer some food to the monks. The Morning Alms is a longstanding tradition in Laos Buddhist culture that can easily be observed on Sakkaline Road every morning.
Be respectful and keep your distance if you’re not giving any food by staying on the other side of the road.
After this beautiful ritual continue to the morning market. You can see all sorts of fresh food here from fruit and vegetables to fish and poultry. The market is a colourful feast for the eyes, but sometimes you need a strong stomach if you’re not used to it.
Get your breakfast at the morning market, or if you prefer head to French Bakery Le Banneton. They do some tasty croissants here and excellent coffee.
Explore the French colonial city of Luang Prabang
Spend the rest of day 6 on your one week-long Laos itinerary exploring the French colonial centre of town. Start where you finished yesterday, at the Haw Phra Bang temple which is part of the National Museum and Royal Palace grounds.
The museum’s exhibits include royal religious artifacts, gifts from foreign dignitaries, and the Prabang Buddha statue, after which the town is named. Explore the throne room, the royal family’s living quarters, and the building next to the palace with the royal car collection.
Continue exploring the rest of the city by visiting a few more temples. Wat Xiengthong, Wat Sensoukharam, Wat May Souvannapoumaram and Wat Wisunarat are the most noteworthy of the bunch. Also peek inside the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, and the Heuan Chan Heritage House.
If during the day you’re thirsty for a cup of (iced) coffee, then you will certainly find a good place. The best (filter) coffee in town is served at LuLaLao Coffee where they also roast their beans on-site. For the best iced coffees head to Formula B and try their ‘Noir Heart’ with activated charcoal and vanilla.
Mekong River Sunset Cruise & Lao dinner at Bamboo Tree
If you’re like me and didn’t like the crowds on Phu Si Hill to watch the sunset, then certainly book a sunset river cruise on the Khopfa. The boat is equipped with two elevated decks, lounge chairs and beanbags. The vibe here is simply fantastic. Super chilled music, great service, and amazing views of the sunset. The 2-hour cruise costs 20 USD.
Back on land, make your way to Bamboo Tree Restaurant for dinner. Bamboo Tree is a restaurant and cooking school and the food served here is simply delicious. It’s the perfect place to sample typical Lao food such as lab, ho mok and or lam. If you can’t choose, then go for one of the tasting menus that are also served for 1 person.
A thing in Luang Prabang is to go late night bowling. Really? Yes really! Assemble a group via couchsurfing.com for example and take a taxi or tuk tuk to the bowling alley. Alternatively head for a night-cap at the bar of Viva Pasta. This place is frequented by locals and local entrepreneurs who might be interested in going bowling with you.
Day trip to Kuang Si Falls
On your final day in Laos rent another motorbike to go to the Kuang Si Falls. Driving through the gorgeous landscape here is such a treat. And so are the waterfalls that are more beautiful than I expected them to be at the end of the road.
The milky turquoise colour of the cascading waterfalls is just stunning. Perfect for a swim! For a bit of a challenge climb to the top of the waterfalls for more natural pools to swim at. The climb up (in flip-flops) is quite challenging on the slippery and muddy path, but the reward is worth it!
Getting in and out of the Kuang Si area you walk through a bear rescue centre. Bears, mostly sun bears that have been rescued from captivity are kept here in much better circumstances. Another attraction here is the Butterfly Park, that is worth a visit on sunny days when the butterflies are most active.
Driving back to Luang Prabang make a stop at cool Banna Cafe that has all these cabanas set up in the middle of the rice fields. Perfect place for a mango smoothie.
Tip: If renting a motorbike is out of your comfort zone, then you can join a full day tour to the Pak Ou Caves and Kuang Si Falls.
Final night in Laos
You’ve almost reached the end of your itinerary in this Laos travel guide, but before you call it a day perhaps join a cooking class. Classes start at 4:30pm and take about 4 hours. You will learn how to cook Lao and afterwards you get to eat the food that you cooked for dinner. Isn’t that the perfect way to end your trip to Laos?
You can book your cooking class at Tamarind right here. But if you don’t think you have enough time to cook, but do like to eat more Lao food, then reserve a table at Tamarind.
Read next: 16 Things To Do In Luang Prabang + Travel Guide & Map
Laos One Week Itinerary | Map
For your convenience I’ve created a handy map on wanderlog. Use it to get an idea of the one week itinerary you’ll be following through Laos. I’ve highlighted each day of this Laos itinerary as a route with a different colour. And then there’s my suggested hotels, restaurants and other tips.
Laos One Week Itinerary | Travel Guide
Now that you have a perfect Laos one week itinerary, let’s take a look at some practical information in this Laos travel guide.
Visa Application for Laos
Most nationalities can apply for an eVisa to enter Laos on the official Lao eVisa website. The application process is pretty straightforward. After you’ve verified that you are from an eligible country you can create an account and start the application process.
Prepare a .jpg file of a 4x6cm photograph and a .jpg from your passport bio page and you should be good to go. Also determine where you want to enter the country.
You can apply 60 days in advance and once you entered the country your visa is valid for 30 days. It typically takes 3 business days to receive you eVisa in your e-mail. The price for most nationalities is $50 + fees and can be paid with Visa and Mastercard.
Where to stay on this Laos itinerary
If you follow the itinerary in this Laos travel guide then you might have already seen my hotel recommendations. I’ve listed them here for you again with a few more details. They are all mid-range and should cost €15 – €35 per night on average.
- Syri Boutique Hotel | Nice guesthouse with comfortable beds, friendly front desk staff and excellent travel services. Close to all the sights of the city.
- Champa Hotel | New hotel on the edge of town, but within walking distance to everything. The owner can arrange everything for you.
- Villa Chitchareune 2 | A lovely villa on the edge of Luang Prabang’s city centre. You’ll feel welcome from the moment you set foot on the premises.
Best time to visit Laos
The best time to travel to Laos is during the dry season, which runs from November to April. During this period, the weather is more pleasant, with cooler temperatures and less humidity, making it ideal for outdoor activities and sightseeing. The peak tourist season is from November to February though, when the climate is most comfortable.
Visiting in the shoulder months of October and April can also be a good choice, as the weather is still relatively dry, and you can avoid the crowds. The wet season, from May to October, brings heavy rainfall and higher humidity, which can make travel more challenging. However, the landscape is lush and green, and some travellers might appreciate the lower number of tourists and the vibrant scenery.
I travelled through Laos early November 2023, but it was still very hot and humid. The landscape was stunning everywhere though! And because it was harvest season, there was a lot of farming activity on the fields.
How many days do you need to visit Laos
If you follow the itinerary in this Laos travel guide you saw that the perfect amount of time is 7 full days to visit Laos. If you have fewer days, or a couple more, then follow my suggestions below.
5 days in Laos
If you only have 5 days to spend in Laos, then I suggest to skip Vientiane completely. Instead focus your time on Luang Prabang. Stay 2 instead of 3 days in Vang Vieng and decide whether you want to do the Vang Vieng Loop or spend time kayaking and zipling. You can still do the hot air balloon ride at sunrise.
6 days in Laos
Again skip Vientiane and focus your time on Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng. But you can spend two full days in Vang Vieng to do both the Vang Vieng Loop and the day full of activities such as kayaking and ziplining.
8 days in Laos or longer
With 8 days in Laos, you can follow the same itinerary, but take it a little slower. With more days you can start thinking about visiting another region. For example you can fly to Pakse and explore the south around Si Phan Don. Or alternatively do The Loop in Cental Laos.
Tip: Are you in Southeast Asia for a longer period of time? Then fly from Luang Prabang to Siem Reap and follow my Cambodia 2-week itinerary.
How to get to Laos
The itinerary in this Laos travel guide starts in Vientiane and ends in Luang Prabang. Below find some details on how to reach these destinations by air and overland.
Getting to Laos by air
Both Vientiane (VTE) and Luang Prabang (LPQ) have international airports. There aren’t that many airlines that service the airports though.
You can fly to Vientiane on AirAsia, China Southern, China Eastern, Thai Airways and Vietnam Airlines for example.
Luang Prabang is serviced by even fewer airlines, but a great connection is with Vietnam Airlines to Siem Reap in case you want to continue your Southeast Asian adventure in Cambodia.
Getting to Laos over land from Thailand
If you’re backpacking around Southeast Asia you can also reach Luang Prabang overland from Chiang Rai. The slowboat trip takes 3 days and 2 nights and is a true adventure. You can book it right here.
Getting Around in Laos
Getting around Laos by train
Recently China opened a high speed railway connecting Vientiane to China. On the way it stops in Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang. The train reduces travel times between most cities a lot compared to travel by bus or car.
Some stations are very far away from the city centres though, so if you opt for train travel, do keep that in mind. Especially Vientiane and Luang Prabang train stations are quite a bit out of town. Vang Vieng however is very close to town.
My recommendation is to only use the train between Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang. And that’s because the new highway between Vientiane and Vang Vieng is faster than the train between these two cities.
How to book train tickets – It’s pretty much impossible to book train tickets yourself on the official LCR website. That’s because you need to have a Lao ID and phone number.
Instead get the ticket yourself at the station, or ask your hotel to arrange it for you. Alternatively, you can use 12go.asia to obtain a ticket. But read the conditions carefully and be flexible.
Getting around Laos by bus
There are buses and shuttle services all around the country. Check with your hotel front desk which destinations you can reach from there. Alternatively, book your journey on 12go.asia.
Get Travel Insurance for Laos
If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. Honestly, it might sound cliché, but I firmly believe it’s true. Travel insurance gives me peace of mind, because if something happens I don’t have to worry about expensive bills.
I always have travel insurance, 365 days a year, because I travel quite a lot. And it usually turns out cheaper than taking out separate policies for each trip. Find my recommendations for travel insurance below:
- Under 50 years old? | My recommendation is to check out Heymondo Annual Multi-Trip travel insurance. It covers all your trips for a year up to 60 days per trip. You can also get insurance through Heymondo for trips with specific travel dates. As a reader of Next Journey Ahead you get 5% off your Heymondo travel insurance.
- Over 50 years old? | Older than 49 and travel a lot? Then you want to check out World Nomads travel insurance. They also offer annual travel insurance, or you can insure trips with specific travel dates.
- Digital Nomad? | If you’re always on the move then I recommend checking out the Nomad Insurance of SafetyWing. This insurance company offers subscription based insurance. That means it renews every month until you cancel. But you can also insure specific travel dates.
Staying Connected in Laos with an eSIM
In all my travel guides my advice is to check before you travel whether your phone and data provider also got you covered in Laos. If not then you can buy and install an Airalo eSIM in your phone. I always use Airalo when my data plan from home doesn’t cover my travel destination. No more swapping of physical SIM-cards.
You can buy the Laos eSIM right here. Or for even better value the Asia eSIM right here that also has coverage in Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and other Asian countries.
Tip: If you rely on Google Maps to get around, then download the map before your visit to save data.
Final Thoughts on One Week in Laos
One week in Laos is the perfect amount of time to explore the north of the country. The country is diverse with both culture, nature and adventure activities. But take time to meet the locals and try their delicious food.
Have you been to Laos, or do you have any questions? Then leave a comment below, or reach out to me on Instagram. Also sign up to my newsletter for regular updated such as city guides and travel itineraries.
Planning your trip to Laos? Then check out my Laos Travel Guide, or keep on reading with the latest articles:
