By Liam Isola Laos, the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, is one of the least-visited countries in the region. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth a stop, and in my opinion, it is one of the most underrated countries in the world, and an essential stop on a SE Asia trip. So, today we’ll discuss our Laos two-week itinerary.
While Laos is not a particularly big country, it is quite long. That makes seeing the entire country in one week difficult. Unless traveling at an incredibly rushed pace, you may want to focus on a couple of regions of the country with just one week. So, I think it is best to give yourself two weeks to take it all in.
Laos Two-Week Itinerary: Luang Prabang – 3-5 Days
In my opinion, Luang Prabang is the most beautiful city in Laos. It was the royal capital of Laos until 1975. As a result, it has stunning architecture and a relaxed pace of life.
To arrive, the most scenic route is taking the two-day slow boat ride on the Mekong River from the Laos-Thailand border. There are buses to the border from the Northern Thai city of Chiang Rai.
There were a few people from my hostel in Chiang Rai who also made the journey, and we ended up traveling together for a week. The trip itself is incredibly beautiful, as you’ll see golden hour light and animals like water buffalo on the banks of the Mekong.
You can also fly into Luang Prabang from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Vientiane, Siem Reap, or Hanoi.
Once in Luang Prabang, check out the sunset at Phousi Hill. The backdrop of the Mekong River, mountains, and clouds illuminated by the setting sun is quite the sight to see.
Also, make sure to head down to the Night Market in the center of the city after watching the sunset. It’s a massive market, where you can find all sorts of clothes, produce, and prepared food. As a big eater, I enjoyed the vegetarian buffet.
Visiting the UXO Museum (free) is quite a sobering activity. It tells the story of the unexploded ordnances that remain after the illegal American bombing campaign during the Vietnam War. It’s an essential stop, and donations are encouraged.
Take a day trip to the Kuang Si Waterfalls, about an hour away from Luang Prabang. You can swim in the striking turquoise waters and have a relaxing day.
Luang Prabang is a great city to stroll in, and other things to do include visiting the Royal Palace and various temples.
Vang Vieng: 2-3 Days
With a new high-speed train that connects Luang Prabang to the rural town of Vang Vieng, why not visit? When I visited in 2019, the trip was bumpy and six hours long. Now it’s much more accessible due to the train. That’s even more reason to add it to your Laos two-week itinerary.
Vang Vieng used to be a notorious backpacker party spot, and that vibe still somewhat exists. There are plenty of things to do here, even if you’re not looking to partake in the nightlife. Or in Vang Vieng’s case, the “daylife”, as boozy tubing on the Nam Song River is one of the most popular activities.
In my younger and dumber days, I did boozy tubing. I did it through the infamous Nana Backpacker Hostel, which got shut down last year. If you stay sober, it can be a fun and relaxing activity, but I wouldn’t recommend drinking alcohol while tubing on a fast-moving river.
Controversies aside, the scenery is what makes Vang Vieng iconic. You can hike to viewpoints like Pha Ngern from the center of the city. My group rented motorbikes to go even higher and see the Nam Xay viewpoint, which is one of the most photogenic places in the entire country.
Around Vang Vieng, there are waterfalls, caves, and plenty of trails to enjoy. It’s also one of the cheapest places in the world to take a hot air balloon flight!
Vientiane: 2-3 Days
Vientiane is the capital of Laos and a natural stop on a Laos two-week itinerary. It is located on the Mekong River and along the Laos-China railway route, which opened in 2021. It’s around an hour away from Vang Vieng by train and is worth spending a couple of days in.
Some streets in central Vientiane look incredibly European, which can be attributed to the city being the capital of the French Protectorate of Laos. There’s a lot of French colonial architecture strewn about, along with some impressive temples.
The most iconic Buddhist site is the golden stupa Pha That Luang. Closer to the center of the city, check out the temples Wat Si Saket and Wat Si Muang, as well as the Presidential Palace. Then, head up to the Patuxay victory monument.
With another day in Vientiane, you can head to the southeastern part of the city, where there’s the “Buddha Park”. This verdant area has hundreds of unique Buddha sculptures and is away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Even so, the center of Vientiane never feels too crowded and there are paths along the Mekong River to stroll on. Once the sun sets, grab food at the Night Market.
Thakhek Loop: 3-5 Days
You could end your Laos itinerary in Vientiane after spending just a week in the country. However, you would be missing out on one of the best experiences in Southeast Asia, in my opinion. The Thakhek Loop is a scenic route in central Laos best experienced on a motorbike for three to five days.
It starts in the town of Thakhek, which is around nine hours away from Vientiane by bus. There are plenty of places to rent motorbikes and get information on the loop in town. The route runs through picturesque rural villages, and you’ll stop at caves, waterfalls, swimming holes, and viewpoints along the way.
I got sick in the middle of the trip, but this was still, by far, my favorite thing to do in Laos. The night before I started the trip, I stayed at Naga Hostel, which was one of the best hostel experiences I’ve ever had.
The owner invited me into his neighbor’s house, who started sharing food and beer with us immediately. Despite the language barrier, it was an unforgettable experience. He also introduced me to another guy staying at my hostel who was doing the Thakhek Loop the next day.
I joined his group, and the six of us had a blast over the next few days. We took a boat ride in Konglor Cave, rock jumped at Song Sa Waterfall, and got invited into a local’s home.
The scenery on the route is similar to the mountains surrounding Vang Vieng, and I wouldn’t hesitate to do the journey again. You can get information on the guesthouses and specific points of interest along the route from your hostel or motorbike rental shop.
Laos Two-Week Itinerary: Si Phan Don – 3-5 Days
After a lot of riding, it is finally time to relax on the final stop of the Laos two-week itinerary. Before you can do that, you’ll need to take an overnight bus journey, though.
So, once you’re done with the Thakhek Loop, you can buy a bus ticket to Pakse, the gateway to Si Phan Don. Si Phan Don means 4,000 islands, and the islands are located in the Mekong River in southern Laos.
There are a few options for tourists to stay in this area. You can take a minivan from Pakse to Don Khong, the largest of the islands, but still a very sleepy place.
You can also head to Don Det, which is only accessible by ferry, after a bus trip to Ban Nakasang. Don Det, where I stayed, has more of a backpacker and party feel.
A couple of friends and I went sunset tubing in the Mekong, without alcohol this time, and it was one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. I’d also recommend renting bikes and riding around both Don Det and Don Khon.
Don Khon is south of Don Det and connected via an old French railway bridge. The fast-moving Li Phi Somphamit Waterfalls in Don Khon are well worth a stop.
Meanwhile, Don Som is another sleepy island just a short ferry ride away from Don Det. No matter which of the islands you choose, you’ll be able to relax along the banks of the Mekong, far away from anything resembling a city.
Laos Two-Week Itinerary: What’s Next
You can reverse this Laos two-week itinerary if you’re starting in Cambodia. I did the Don Det to Siem Reap trip, and it wasn’t too bad. So, I imagine the reverse trip is similarly manageable, even having to cross the border.
If you complete the reverse itinerary in Luang Prabang, you can either take the slow boat into Thailand or fly to another Asian destination from there.
The best time to go to Laos is during its dry season, which typically runs from November to March. So, book your trip soon!