Laos is a special place and is extremely underrated. Filled with rich culture, unique history, and beautiful nature. If you are planning a trip to South East Asia, you need to seriously consider Laos. We spent two weeks exploring, which if you are on a tight schedule will definitely give you a good amount of time to see the main places. If you have longer, great! Here is our Laos two week itinerary and guide showing the places and attractions you don’t want to miss.
Just to mention the trains in Laos are a great option to get around Northern Laos. This railway was completed in 2021, and is an affordable and easy option connecting Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane. You can book your tickets on 12Go Asia.
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Luang Prabang
We started our Laos two week itinerary in Luang Prabang. After taking the slow boat down the Mekong River for two days from Thailand this was the perfect town to stop off for a few nights and take in the beautiful town situated on the river. We have a full review and guide of taking the Slow Boat From Thailand To Laos. It was a truly memorable experience which we would recommend.
Luang Prabang is truly charming, it’s very laid back and you can easily spend time chilling here. You also won’t struggle to find some tasty Laos food and beer in Luang Prabang, whether at the night market or in a local restaurant on the Mekong River. There are also plenty of affordable guest houses to stay in the historic town, which will cost you from £20 per night, often with breakfast! Luang Prabang has so much to offer, here are the places you must visit.
Kuang Si Waterfall
This is one of the most well known attractions in Laos, and it’s certainly impressive. We’ve seen our fair share of waterfalls, and this is one of the best. The water is a bit cold, but it’s well worth braving to swim in the beautiful natural pools. A shared shuttle will take about an hour and cost around £10 return per person, and the entrance fee is only £2.
Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre
Located in the same area as Kuang Si Waterfall, you will get to visit Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre. They are working hard to rescue bears across Asia and give them a happy life. We loved seeing this and learning about the work the rescue centre is doing.
Luang Prabang Night Market
This was a good-sized market, located near the centre of Luang Prabang. It comes to life every day from 5pm and is a great place to walk around, buy a souvenir and enjoy some local street food. We bought a souvenir from a local which was made from the metal from an old bomb.
UXO Lao Visitor Centre
Some of Laos’s history is definitely sad, and you can see the impact it still has today. We were shocked to learn that Laos is the most bombed country in history. In Luang Prabang you really should visit the UXO Lao Visitor Centre to learn more about this. Entrance is free, though you should leave a donation.
Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng is the next destination. It is a fairly small town, popular with backpackers, and offers lots of adventure. You will again find markets, local food and beautiful nature. There are also great spots to enjoy a drink while watching the sunset. Here’s what we did and recommend.
Blue Lagoons
There are a few Blue Lagoons in Vang Vieng, which are large natural pools which you can enjoy relaxing at and swimming in. We opted for Blue Lagoon 1, which was about a 30-minute scooter ride from Vang Vieng. This was the closest one, and therefore can get busy, however it was stunning.
Kham Cave
Also located at Blue Lagoon 1, Kham Cave is a must visit. About a 10 minute hike from the Lagoon and you will enter a special cave which has a large reclining bronze Buddha that makes it feel very sacred.
Nam Xay Viewpoint
We actually found this by accident, and it ended up being one of our favourite attractions in Laos. The hike is moderate, especially with the heat, but should take less than an hour to reach the top. The views were truly spectacular, and you will feel on top of the world. There is also a small spot to grab a drink when you reach the top.
Tipsy Tubing
Tipsy Tubing has got lots of attention over the years. Even though it’s getting less popular, we still wanted to see what it was all about. Simply, you take a large rubber tube and float down the Nam Song River. Along the way you can stop off at bars on the river and party with other travelers. You can also rent a kayak easily to explore the river.
Vientiane
Vientiane is the capital of Laos, and though it’s not a massive city it will be a change from Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang. It’s still worth seeing for a couple of days, however we much preferred the nature of Laos which other places offer. This is what you don’t want to miss in Vientiane.
Pha That Luang Temple
This was a golden temple, situated in a large courtyard. It’s the national symbol and most sacred monument of Laos, so it’s definitely worth visiting. When we were there we were lucky to experience the That Luang Festival which usually falls in November.
COPE Visitor Centre
This is another must, allowing you to take some time to educate yourself more about the history of Laos. It focuses largely on the impact caused by the unexploded bombs which are still being found today in Laos, and the rehabilitation of people who have been injured due to the bombing. Entrance is again free, though you should leave a donation.
Vientiane Night Market
This night market is located by the Mekong River and is open everyday from around 6pm. We must be honest, it’s not the best night market we have seen, but it’s worth a visit to look around the stalls and grab something to eat in the evening.
Buddha Park (Wat Xieng Khuan)
We didn’t make it to the Buddha Park, but it was the next thing on our list if we had another day. It’s a large space, home to hundreds of Hindu and Buddhist statues.
Our search for USD $
A little side story from our time in Vientiane was an unbelievable hunt for USD $ in the Laos capital. We had read that USD $ was the main currency accepted for a visa on arrival in Cambodia, which was our next destination after Laos. Therefore, we wanted to exchange some money into USD $ so we had it ready for this.
Perhaps things have got easy, however this turned out to be quite a mission – as Laos is trying to phase out the use of USD $. We tried over 30 places to change money, and it was nearly impossible. One bank was fairly helpful, though from what we understood, they still required a government letter stating that they were allowed to issue us with USD $.
After asking around for two days, a few people directed us to Talat Sao Mall. We asked around lots, but it again looked impossible. After a while, one person directed us to ask around the outside of a small corner shop. With nothing to lose, we gave this a last shot and there we met an older lady with a large handbag of foreign notes willing to slyly exchange some USD $ for us. It felt dodgy, but we were only exchanging a small amount and it left us with a good story!
Si Phan Don (4000 Islands)
Last, but not least on our Laos two week itinerary is Si Phan Don, known as 4000 islands. This one you don’t have the luxury of the train so you will have to consider if you want to get buses or possibly a flight to nearby Pakse. The bus is around 17 hours, but you could always break this up and stop for a night along the way.
Si Phan Don is a tranquil place along the Mekong River, with countless small Islands and stunning landscapes. With laid-back vibes and small traditional villages, it’s the perfect place to end your time in Laos. Make sure you check out the below.
Khone Phapheng Falls
This is the main attraction, and is truly an amazing waterfall. It is the widest waterfall in the world spanning 10km across the Mekong River. The visitor centre costs under £2 per person.
Don Det
Don Det is a beautiful Island which you can stay on and appreciate the surroundings, and enjoy some local cuisine. It’s also a great location to rent a kayak to explore more!
Final Thoughts
Laos is such a special place, and we have some amazing memories from our time there. The stunning nature and laid-back vibe made it truly magical and offered a slower pace to other parts of South East Asia. We would love to go back, and we hope our Laos two week itinerary has inspired you to visit this beautiful country!
