The Best 1 Week Laos Itinerary

I spent almost an entire month traveling around Laos in 2023 and to say that I was impressed, is an understatement.  The food, culture, local people, the way Laos has woven ancient traditions into todays modern world; it’s a truly magical country with beautiful people.  If you’re traveling to Laos, you could spend months exploring and still not see everything.  But if you don’t have the luxury of unlimited time (not a lot of people do), I suggest at least spending one week in Laos as an introduction to the country.

In this 1 week Laos itinerary you’ll get a taste of culture, a taste of nature, and a taste of adventure.  Laos is such an incredibly diverse country and this itinerary will reflect that.

 

Before reading further, don’t miss:

• Everything You Need to Know About Traveling to Laos
• The Best Packing List for Laos

 

How to Get to Laos/Where to Start

Laos has two international airports, one in Luang Prabang and the other in Vientiane.  These will most likely be the two airports you will be flying into if you travel to Laos.  I recommend using Skyscanner or this search engine to compare flight options and prices.

If you’re coming from another country in Southeast Asia like Thailand, Cambodia, or Vietnam you can also explore the option to travel by land and take a bus into Laos.  Use Bookaway or 12Go filter through options and compare prices.  However, because you’re limited on time – this is not how I would suggest getting to Laos.

For purposes of this trip, I recommend flying into Laos and starting your journey in Luang Prabang.

 

YOU WILL NEED A VISA TO VISIT LAOS – YOU CAN GET ONE HERE

 

Day 1 – Arrive to Luang Prabang

HIGHLIGHTS OF DAY 1:  SIGHTSEEING + SUNSET AT PHOUSI HILL

 

How to Get from the Airport to Luang Prabang

Getting to town from the airport is a breeze.  Once you land in Luang Prabang, the airport is only a 10-minute drive to the town and you can get a taxi at the airport for 100,000 LAK.  Waiting to get your taxi once you land at the airport is much cheaper than having your hotel send a taxi, and because it’s so easy, this is what I’d recommend.

 

BOOK A FLIGHT TO LUANG PRABANG HERE!

 

Where to Stay in Luang Prabang

There are tons of places to stay in Luang Prabang from hostels to luxury hotels.  Below you’ll find my favorite options across a variety of budgets!

• Avani+ – A luxurious five-star hotel with an incredible pool for those hot Laos days
• Maison Vongprachan Hotel – Perfect option if you’re looking for a quiet stay, more off the beaten path
• The Belle Rive Boutique Hotel – A boutique hotel in the historic downtown area
• 3 Nagas Luang Prabang – A luxury, four-star hotel in the historic downtown area

If none of these hotels suite you, I recommend using this booking platform to search for options.  I recommend staying as near to the historic old town as you can!

 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN LUANG PRABANG HERE!

 

Day 1 in Luang Prabang

 

SPENDING THE AFTERNOON IN LUANG PRABANG

Assuming you arrive to Luang Prabang early enough to sightsee, try to fit in as much as you can your first day.  Make it a priority to visit Wat Xiengthong (you’ll need to cover your shoulders and knees to visit), the Royal Palace (built in 1904 for King Sisavang), UXO Lao Visitor Center, and the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC) to learn about the history of Laos.

For lunch, I recommend Yuni Youpon where you can get Laotian food or international food; or for a less obvious choice head to Taste of Ceylon for Sri Lankan food.  (I ate at Taste of Ceylon three times and absolutely loved it each and every time).

 

SPENDING THE EVENING IN LUANG PRABANG

Before sunset, start making your way up Phousi Hill to watch the sunset behind the Mekong.  Make sure to give yourself plenty of time as the hill fills up fast and there isn’t a ton of spots to view the sunset from.

After the sunsets, grab the free boat or walk across the bamboo bridge (this depends on whether or not you’re visiting in dry or rainy season) to get dinner at Dyen Sabai.  This is an absolutely fabulous restaurant to try Laos cuisine!  If you’re wanting a cheaper, more local experience – head to the outdoor night market for dinner!

 

For more information about visiting Luang Prabang, don’t miss:

• The Best Luang Prabang Itinerary (1-3 Days)

 

Day 2 – Luang Prabang

HIGHLIGHTS OF DAY 2:  ALMS GIVING CEREMONY + KUANG SI WATERFALL + OCK POP TOK + GARAVEK STORYTELLING

 

Day 2 in Luang Prabang

 

SPENDING THE MORNING IN LUANG PRABANG

Get up early to watch the sacred Alms Giving Ceremony.  Depending on the time of sunrise, this ceremony runs everyday between 5 am-7 am and locals (and tourists) sit outside to give food to monks.  Lay people believe that they will gain merit by giving food to sustain the monks, thereby generating “good” in their future.

Once you’ve experienced this tradition, head to Coffee Express for a coffee and pastry before heading to Kuang Si Falls.

If you feel comfortable, I highly recommend hiring your own motorbike and driving yourself to Kuang Si Falls.  If possible, try to leave Luang Prabang by 8:30 am at the latest, as its an hour drive and tour buses begin showing up at 10 am.  This will give you a few minutes to enjoy the waterfall with relatively few visitors.

If you don’t feel comfortable going by yourself to Kuang Si Waterfall, join this tour!

 

For more information on visiting Kuang Si Falls, don’t miss:

• From Luang Prabang:  What You Need to Know About Visiting Kuang Si Waterfall

 

SPENDING THE AFTERNOON IN LUANG PRABANG

Before heading back to Luang Prabang, visit Ock Pop Tok Living Craft Centre.  “Ock Pop Tok” means “east meets west” which is the perfect name for this craft centre.  Since its inception in 2000, the two co-founders have merged traditions from the east with innovation from the west working to elevate the the profile of Lao textiles and contribute to its preservation.

Not only can you tour the facility and watch women weave, but you can also eat lunch at the incredible Silk Road Cafe.

 

SPENDING THE EVENING IN LUANG PRABANG

On your second night in Luang Prabang I suggest visiting Gravek Storytelling for a unique insight into the folks and tales of Laos.  This one hour show consists of one storyteller and one musician who are portraying the most famous folklores of Laos to a captivating audience.  The show is in English, runs every night from 6:30-7:30 pm, and costs $5/person.

For dinner, head to one of the many delicious restaurants in town (I suggest Manda de Laos or Bamboo Garden Restaurant).

 

Day 3 – Nong Khiaw

HIGHLIGHTS OF DAY 3:  BOATING + NONG KHIAW VIEWPOINT

 

How to Get to Nong Khiaw

Nong Khiaw is about 80+ miles north of Luang Prabang.  The quickest way to travel between the two places is by bus which will take around 3.5 hours.  When booking bus travel through Laos, my recommendation is to use 12Go.  On 12Go you can compare different bus options and prices allowing you the flexibility to choose the best choice for yourself.

One thing to note about bus travel in Laos – it could still use a lot of work.  The roads are bumpy and the ride is uncomfortable.  Plus at times they put tourists (instead of locals) in the middle seats where the seat doesn’t have a back and is very small.  After traveling all around Southeast Asia, in my opinion, Laos ranks as one of the worst countries to travel by bus (only second to Myanmar).

 

BOOK YOUR BUS TICKET TO NONG KHIAW HERE!

 

Where to Stay in Nong Khiaw

For such a small village, Nong Khiaw has a ton of options for accommodations ranging from hostels to nicer hotels.  When I visited Nong Khiaw, I stayed at the Ou River House.  The location was incredible but the rooms themselves were very rustic.  There was no air conditioning, the doors wouldn’t shut all the way (or lock), and the shower was over the toilet.  But when I woke up to the river view and limestone cliffs in front of me, it made the uncomfortable room worth it.  Plus, at Ou River House you have bikes and kayaks to use for free.

 

OTHER ACCOMMODATION RECOMMENDATIONS IN NONG KHIAW

• Nongkhiaw The Float House
• Mandala Ou Resort
• Nong Kiau Riverside
• Nam Ou View Villa

 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN NONG KHIAW HERE!

 

Day 1 in Nong Khiaw

 

SPENDING THE AFTERNOON IN NONG KHIAW

In my opinion, one of the reasons that Nong Khiaw hasn’t attracted tons of visitors is because it isn’t *quite* set up for tourism – yet.  Case in point – kayaking, paddleboarding, and boating down the Nam Ou River is a great way to spend time in Nong Khiaw, but there really isn’t a company that I can point you to and tell you “rent from here”.  Instead, Nong Khiaw really operates on word of mouth.  When you get to town simply ask the locals or someone at your hotel where to rent a kayak or a boat.  It’s as easy (and yet as complicated) as that!

The Ou River House has free kayak rentals (with stay) and the option to rent a boat for 1 hour for 200,000 LAK.

 

SPENDING THE EVENING IN NONG KHIAW

Before sunset, I suggest hiking to the viewpoint – Nong Khiaw Viewpoint (also known as Ph Daeng Peak).  Not only do you get incredible views over Nong Khiaw, but there are two different viewpoints depending on whether you want do a short hike or a longer, more intense hike.  The shorter hike will take you about 20-minutes to reach the viewpoint and the longer hike will take about 1.5 hours.  This hike is relatively challenging but there are tons of resting points on the way up if you get tired.

The cost to access the viewpoint is 30,000 LAK which you’ll pay at the start of the hike.

Once you’ve completed the hike, head to Q Bar & Restaurant for happy hour (6 pm-8 pm) where you can get two drinks for the price of one.  And for dinner, I recommend eating at the family owned restaurant Oxin Restaurant.

 

For more information on visiting Nong Khiaw, don’t miss;

• A Complete Guide to Nong Khiaw, Laos

 

Day 4 – Vang Vieng

 

How to Get to Vang Vieng

Getting from Nong Khiaw to Vang Vieng can prove to be a bit challenging.  But don’t worry – it’s doable!  For starters, you’ll need to take a bus from Nong Khiaw back to Luang Prabang before taking the train or another bus from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng.  Also, you’re unable to book a bus ticket online from Nong Khiaw to Luang Prabang so once you arrive to the bus station in Nong Khiaw, I recommend purchasing your bus ticket for the next day to leave Nong Khiaw.  If you don’t do this, you’ll just have to show up to the bus station early the morning you want to leave and hope that there’s a seat available.

Once you get to Luang Prabang you can either take a bus or take the high speed train to Vang Vieng.  (I recommend the train).  You can purchase a ticket here.

 

BOOK A TICKET TO VANG VIENG HERE!

 

Where to Stay in Vang Vieng

Vang Vieng has tons of accommodations from hostels to nicer hotels.  I stayed at the Confetti Garden Hotel and would recommend it.  The rooms are comfortable, there’s a pool, and you’re close enough to town to walk (about 5-10 minutes) but far enough away that its quiet at night.

For more accommodation options in Vang Vieng, I’d recommend…

• Silver Naga Hotel
• Inthira Vangvieng
• DokPhut Guesthouse

 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN VANG VIENG HERE!

 

Day 1 in Vang Vieng

Because it’s a long travel day, I don’t suspect you’ll have much time for activities when you arrive to Vang Vieng.  However, if you do, I recommend this kayak tour down the Nam Song River.  For dinner, head to at A.M.D. Restaurant – a family run restaurant where you can get delicious Laotian food.

 

Day 5 – Vang Vieng

HIGHLIGHTS OF DAY 5:  BLUE LAGOON 2 + HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE

 

Day 2 in Vang Vieng

 

SPENDING THE MORNING IN VANG VIENG

One of the coolest things to do in Vang Vieng is to visit the blue lagoons.  There are six in total, but I recommend focusing on blue lagoon 2 and blue lagoon 3 (if you’re up for the challenge of getting there).

 

For more on visiting the blue lagoons in Vang Vieng, don’t miss:

• Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Blue Lagoon 1 & 2 in Vang Vieng

 

SPENDING THE AFTERNOON IN VANG VIENG

During the afternoon, head back to town for lunch and visit Tham Chang cave.  If you need an afternoon pick me up – head to Naked Espresso for a coffee and pastry.

 

SPENDING THE EVENING IN VANG VIENG

Another unique thing to do in Vang Vieng is to take a hot air balloon ride.  In fact, this is the cheapest place in the entire world where you can do so!  While you can ask your hotel or one of the tour companies for a hot air balloon ride, I recommend going with Above Laos.  It is more expensive, but the experience is incredible.  Not only did we get over an hour of flight time (this widely varies based on the weather), but we also got champagne and treats at the end of the ride.

With Above Laos you can opt for the sunrise and sunset tour (the sunset tour is much less popular so you have a better chance of having a more empty balloon).  The sunset tour starts at 3:30 pm and goes until about 6:30 pm.  You need to make reservations ahead of time which you can do on the Above Laos website.

If you’re not keen on a hot air balloon ride, another popular thing to do in Vang Vieng is to hike to the Nam Xay Viewpoint.

For dinner, head to Happy Mango – a delicious Thai restaurant!

 

Day 6 – Vientiane

HIGHLIGHTS OF VIENTIANE:  BUDDHA PARK + FOOD TOUR

 

How to Get to Vientiane

From Vang Vieng, I recommend taking the train to Vientiane.  This will take about an hour and you can purchase tickets here.

 

BOOK YOUR TICKET TO VIENTIANE HERE!

 

Where to Stay in Vientiane

When visiting Vientiane, I recommend staying as close to the Mekong River, near the Vientiane Night Market as possible.  I stayed at the Riverside Hotel and it was a great area.

Other hotels that I’d recommend in Vientiane include…

• La Seine Hotel
• Lao Plaza Hotel
• Laotel Vientiane

 

Day 1 in Vientiane

 

SPENDING THE AFTERNOON IN VIENTIANE

There isn’t a whole lot going on in Vientiane, so you’re really able to see most of the highlights in an afternoon.  Highlights of Vientiane include…

• Wat Sisaket
• Wat Si Muang
• Buddha Park
• Wat That Khao

Because you’re limited on time, there are a couple of tours I’d recommend so you can get the full experience of Vientiane.  First would be the half day city tour; and second would be this cuisine and culture tour.

 

SPENDING THE EVENING IN VIENTIANE

Once night falls, head for dinner and drinks at 525 Eat & Drink.

 

Day 7 – Depart Vientiane

Depending on where you are in Laos, a taxi to the airport should only cost around 165,000 LAK.  You can get a ride from your hotel or request a ride using the app LOCA.

 

FAQ

Q:  “Is Laos worth visiting?”

• A:  Absolutely.  Laos is such a diverse, beautiful, affordable country; and as of 2023 it’s still relatively untouched by the crowds of tourists that flock to Thailand and Vietnam (although I can only imagine that will change due to the high speed train that was just built connecting Laos to China).  Laos is truly a one of a kind country.

Q:  “What are the best places to visit in Laos?”

• A:  In my opinion, you can’t go to Laos without visiting Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng.  From there, you can create the experience you want.  If you want a jungle experience, head north to Nong Khiaw and west to enjoy The Gibbon Experience in Ban Houayxay.  If you want to hang out by the water, head south to 4000 Islands.  My favorite thing about Laos is the diversity!

Q:  “Is 1 week in Laos enough?”

• A:  If you have more time, I’d definitely extend your trip.  However, in one week you can get a good taste of Laos – meet some of the locals, try the food, and see the beauty of the country.  So if you only have one week, I would still visit Laos; but if you are able to spend more time, I’d spend more time.

Q:  “Is Laos cheap?”

• A:  For the most part, Laos is a very affordable country.  However, in Luang Prabang it’s getting quite expensive.  As always – the more rural you go, the cheaper it will be.  And on the flip side, the more touristy things you do, the more money you’ll spend.

Q:  “What is the best month in Laos?”

• A:  Laos has a tropical climate characterized by dry season and monsoon season.  Monsoon season, or rainy season, lasts from May-mid-October; and dry season lasts from mid-October-April.  During Laos’s coldest months of December and January, temperatures hang out around 70 F (this can vary if you’re north in the mountains vs south).  During Laos’s hottest months of March and April, temperatures hang out around 90 F.  The average temperature in Laos throughout the year is 80 F.  December sees the highest number of tourists coming to visit Laos.

 

Laos Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Laos

 

Laos is one of my favorite countries in Southeast Asia.  If you’re considering visiting, I hope that this post has convinced you to.  If you have any questions about this 1 week Laos itinerary, let me know in the comments below!

 

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For more information on things to see and do in Laos, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppinlaos” or under my highlights for “Laos”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Laos” highlight

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