A trip to Laos follows the Mekong almost from end to end: from the Golden Triangle to the Khone Falls, the river crosses the country, then forms its border with Thailand. 9 stops, from the northern slow boat to the southern islands.
Photo by Frank Eiffert on Unsplash
The river enters Laos at the Golden Triangle and leaves at the Khone Falls, which cut navigation to Cambodia. Between Vientiane and the 4000 Islands, it forms the border with Thailand.
The gateway from Thailand, across from Chiang Khong. Where the slow boat leaves.
Our guide to Huay Xai →Next : Slow boat · 1 day
A village stacked on the riverbank, the slow boat's overnight stop.
Our guide to Pakbeng →Next : Slow boat · 1 day
The former royal capital, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The stop not to cut short.
Our guide to Luang Prabang →Next : Train · about 2 h or Cruise to Vientiane · Mekong Star
The capital, facing Thailand, along a riverbank turned into a promenade.
Our guide to Vientiane →Next : Bus · 6 to 8 hours
Starting point for the Thakhek Loop and Kong Lor Cave.
Our guide to Thakhek →Next : Bus · 2.5 to 5 hrs
A quiet colonial old town, with a bridge to Mukdahan in Thailand.
Our guide to Savannakhet →Next : Minivan · 4.5 to 5 hrs
The southern hub, where the Xe Don meets the Mekong. Base for the Bolaven Plateau.
Our guide to Pakse →Next : Songthaew · 1.5 hours or Cruise from Pakse · from 2028
Wat Phou, a Khmer temple and UNESCO World Heritage site.
Our guide to Champasak →Next : Minibus and boat · 3 hours
Inhabited islands and the Khone Falls, just before the Cambodian border.
Our guide to Si Phan Don, the 4000 Islands →Six Laos must-sees away from the Mekong, each from the nearest stop. Letters refer to the stops map.
Photo by Nicholas Moreau on Pexels
A small town on the Nam Song, among limestone peaks, known for outdoor activities. It sits on the Laos-China Railway between Vientiane and Luang Prabang, with six fast trains a day each way.
From Vientiane · train, 52 min to 1 hr 15
Photo by Max Mishin on Pexels
A tiered waterfall, 60 m high, above turquoise pools south of town. Entry 60,000 kip, 8 am to 5:30 pm. The water is at its bluest from December to May; in the rainy season it often turns brown.
From Luang Prabang · 30 km, 40 to 50 min
Photo by Teodor Kuduschiev on Unsplash
A village on the Nam Ou, a Mekong tributary, among limestone mountains. From there, a boat runs upriver to Muang Ngoi Neua in 1.5 to 2 hours. Since the Nam Ou dams, boats no longer run from Luang Prabang. Best from November to February.
From Luang Prabang · bus or minivan, 4 to 5 hrs
Photo by Jakub Hałun on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Iron Age stone funerary jars around Phonsavan, a World Heritage site since 2019. On the sites, stay between the demining markers: white side, cleared ground; red side, not. Site 1 is about 10 km from town.
From Vientiane · flight, or 8 to 10 hrs by bus
Photo by Jakub Hałun on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Nam Hin Boun runs through the mountain for over 7 km, under vaults 100 m high; you travel it by boat, 130,000 kip per boat of three. November to March; by March, low water sometimes means getting out.
From Thakhek · bus, about 5 hrs, or the Loop by motorbike
Photo by Supanut Arunoprayote on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
A plateau above 1,000 m, between the Annamite Range and the Mekong: the coffee farms of Paksong, the 120 m twin falls of Tad Fane, and Tad Yuang, open 8 am to 5 pm.
From Pakse · Route 16E, 1.5 hrs to PaksongNovember to February: dry and cool, the best time. March and April: heat and smoke from crop burning. May to October: the monsoon, a high river and green landscapes.
| J (current month) | F (current month) | M (current month) | A (current month) | M (current month) | J (current month) | J (current month) | A (current month) | S (current month) | O (current month) | N (current month) | D (current month) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our takeall of Laos | Ideal | Ideal | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Difficult | Difficult | Fair | Good | Ideal | Ideal |
| The Mekongat Luang Prabang | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Rising | Rising | High | High | Falling | Low | Low |
| Festivalsmain ones | Pi Mai | Boun Ok Phansa | That Luang |
| Month | Our take | River | Festivals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan (current month) | Ideal | Low | |
| Feb (current month) | Ideal | Low | |
| Mar (current month) | Fair | Low | |
| Apr (current month) | Fair | Low | Pi Mai |
| May (current month) | Fair | Low | |
| Jun (current month) | Fair | Rising | |
| Jul (current month) | Difficult | Rising | |
| Aug (current month) | Difficult | High | |
| Sep (current month) | Fair | High | |
| Oct (current month) | Good | Falling | Boun Ok Phansa |
| Nov (current month) | Ideal | Low | That Luang |
| Dec (current month) | Ideal | Low |
Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and change every year. Mekong level: Mekong River Commission, median of 2020-2025.
Best time to visit Laos, month by month →2 days · Laos
21 days · from Luang Prabang to Phnom Penh
5 days · Pakse, Champasak, Don Det
e-Visa online for $50, or visa on arrival paid in US dollars, cash, for 30 days. On the Mekong, the e-Visa is only accepted at Friendship Bridges I (Vientiane), II (Savannakhet) and IV (Huay Xai): elsewhere, you need a visa on arrival. Digital arrival form required at some crossings, including Bridge I.
e-Visa and crossings: official portal laoevisa.gov.la and Lao immigration department, checked October 8, 2026. Visa on arrival: no official fee published; travelers paid around $40 in 2026.
Laos visa guide →The currency is the kip (LAK): since January 2025, it has been the only currency allowed for most purchases. US dollars are mainly useful to pay for a visa on arrival. BCEL ATMs charge 30,000 kip per withdrawal with a foreign card.
Budget and money, country by country →Laos-China train between Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane; slow boat in the north; buses and minivans elsewhere. Avoid night roads.
Unexploded ordnance in rural areas: stay on busy roads and trails, especially near Vietnam. Be careful with drinks served in Vang Vieng bars.
French government (France Diplomatie), updated September 15, 2026
Laos safety and health →$25 to $35 a day traveling simply, $50 to $75 in comfort, excluding flights. The slow boat costs 400,000 to 500,000 kip for both days.
Nomadic Matt, February 2026
Budget for Laos →