Believe it or not there are still some places on this planet that aren’t serviced by non-stop daily flights and streets aren’t dominated by large hotel chains. Luang Prabang, Laos is one of those places and it’s a unique Southeast Asian experience that you shouldn’t miss.
Think ancient temples and dream-like sunsets, cheap cold beers, and even cheaper delicious food. If any or all of this sounds good to you, keep reading for some travel tips for Laos before you go.
Visas
Most travelers can get a visa on arrival, which costs about $30 to $40 USD. The price depends on nationality, UK and US citizens will pay $35. And this brings us to our first major point; cash is king in Laos. From arrival until you leave, be sure to carry cash. Some places will accept Visa or Mastercard, but almost all of your expenses will require cash payment. It’s good to split your currencies between Laotian Kip, U.S. Dollars, and Thai Baht.
An extra passport/visa photo is required for the visa process. however if you don’t have one you can get through by paying a little extra, $1 USD/50 Thai Baht.
You’ll also likely need to complete an extra visa form in addition to the one given on the airplane. Be sure to have a pen ready so you can move quickly and beat the rush of your fellow passengers.
Flights
Getting to Luang Prabang is easy, once you’re in Southeast Asia. If you’re not already in Southeast Asia, one of the best ways to find you’re jumping off spot in Southeast Asia is to enter LPQ into Google Flights and select non-stop only. You’ll then see where all of the non-stop flights originate from as little dots.
From almost anywhere in Asia you’re a one stop or direct flight from reaching Luang Prabang. You’ll probably want to have a stopover in a major hub.
There are a good number of daily flights from Bangkok and Hanoi as well as others from Chiang Mai, Kunming, Siem Reap, and Singapore. Bangkok, Singapore, or Hanoi are probably your best options because they’re easy stopovers with onward flights to Europe and North America.
Taxis
The Luang Prabang Airport is about 4km from the Old Town. A majority of hotels offer a free or low-cost transfer service. However, you can also find taxis and tug tubs outside of the airport. The rate will be around $7-$10 USD to your hotel. Be sure to negotiate the price before hopping in and also have a printed map to your hotel, preferably in Lao to eliminate any confusion.
Exploring Luang Prabang is best done by foot or by bicycle. Fortunately many hotels offer free bicycles for guest use. Some even off a free shuttle service to and form the old town.
Money
There’s one currency that goes a long way in Laos, and that’s the U.S. Dollar. As we previously mentioned, it’s best to carry a variety of Lao Kip, Thai Baht, and U.S. Dollars but everyone loves the dollar. However, Thai Baht is also very useful and some shops and restaurants will take Visa and Mastercard, but for any market shopping you’ll need cash.
There are ATMs available in case you’re strapped for cash. But as an idea of prices, an average meal from a good vendor stall will cost about 10,000 to 20,000 Laotian Kip, or about $1.50 USD.
Trekking
Beautiful scenery abounds in Laos, dramatic mountains, waterfalls, exciting caves, and lush green scenery will entice you to see as much of it as you can.
But don’t wander off on your own. Stick to the trails or hire an experienced guide. No, it isn’t tourist trap for cash. Over 270 million cluster bombs were dropped over Laos during the Vietnam War and about 80 million remain undetonated.
]But don’t let this scare you off from seeing the stunning scenery. it’s just an important thing to keep in mind before considering any wandering off into nature.
Seasons
The tourism high season is between the month of November to March when the temperature is slightly cooler and the rainfall minimal. However, if you’re not scared of some humidity, April to August is a great time to visit too.
During the more humid months there are less tourists around and everything is a little more charming. Also, as the plants get more water around this time everything much more green.
Plus, you’ll find lower rates for hotels and tours.
Connectivity
There are plenty of 4G/5G SIM cards for sale at the airport and around town. Also, most hotels offer WiFi and don’t worry, you can access WhatsApp, Netflix, Skype and all of your other apps.
