Thinking about visiting Laos?
Honestly, best decision ever! While everyone else is busy fighting crowds in Thailand or Vietnam, Laos is over here just being its beautiful, sleepy, and incredibly charming self. It’s one of the few places left that still feels like “old” Southeast Asia—raw, authentic, and completely unbothered by mass tourism.
If you’ve only got one week in Laos, you have to be smart with your time. That’s why I’ve put together this 7-day Laos itinerary. We’re hitting the heavy hitters in the north like Luang Prabang, but also heading down south to the underrated waterfalls of Pakse.
Is it a bit of a whirlwind? Maybe. But it’s perfectly optimised so you get a mix of everything—nature, culture, and adventure. I’ve laid out all the details for you right here, from transport and hotels to the restaurants I’m still dreaming about. Let’s get into it!
One Week in Laos Route
You’ll be covering 4 cities in this itinerary:
Vientiane: To experience a laid-back capital
Vang Vieng: For mountains and adventure
Luang Prabang: For culture and slow life
Pakse: For ancient temples and epic falls
The route we’re suggesting in this travel blog is:
Vientiane- Vang Vieng- Luang Prabang- Pakse (as shown in the map below)
The rationale is that you land in the capital to get a sense of Laos then see all the cities close by in the North before flying south to Pakse. Pakse is a bit more raw than the northern cities which is why I’ve kept it at the end. IMO, you should get a good sense of the main tourist cities before heading here so you can appreciate it better.
Tips:
1. Laos doesn’t have great connectivity. You’ll probably have to fly through another country in Southeast Asia. So flights will likely be expensive from your home country. Therefore, it’s best to combine visiting Laos with a neighbouring country like Cambodia, Thailand or Vietnam. This’ll make visiting Laos a lot more affordable.
2. You might be tempted to fly into Luang Prabang to make your route more efficient. And yes it’s a great option, unless you’re from a country which doesn’t have a strong passport. Flying into the capital lets you have the smoothest immigration experience. In Luang Prabang, people have been held up by immigration for hours being asked questions and for money before finally being let go. Overall, Vientiane is a much safer bet.
7-day Laos Itinerary
Day 1: Vientiane – Capital of Laos
Vientiane is the capital of Laos. However, it doesn’t feel like a typical frantic capital but more like a big, riverside village filled with French bakeries and golden temples. While most people fly into Vientiane and immediately try to leave (like we had initially planned to as well), I suggest spending at least one night here to get a feel of Laos’ slow pace before you get super busy!
How to get around Vientiane: The most common cab app to use in Laos is LOCA (but it is not available in all cities on this itinerary). Use LOCA to book a ride from the airport to your hotel and do not forget to use the LOCA discount code you received with your Laos e-visa.
But for the remainder of your time in Vientiane, use the Kokkok Move app for the cheapest rides. On this app, you can enter the price you’re willing to pay and drivers will either accept or suggest their own prices which you can accept.
Where to stay in Vientiane: We stayed at Ibis Vientiane Nam Phu (3-star). It was perfect and in a really good location close to nice eateries.
Other options-
5-star: Souphattra Heritage Vientiane and Amari Vientiane
3-star (budget): Riverside Hotel
Hostel: Sailomyen Cafe & Hostel
How to spend the day in Vientiane:
On Landing: Buy an e-sim from Unitel as soon as you land because you will need connectivity to book a cab to your hotel. You’ll get 15GB for 4 USD for 8 days which is perfect for this trip and much cheaper than international e-sim companies.
Pha That Luang: This massive gold stupa is the icon of Laos and easily the most important national monument in the country. It’s said to house a relic of the Buddha (Buddha’s breastbone). While you can’t go inside the stupa itself, the surrounding gardens and temples are perfect for a peaceful stroll.
Patuxay Monument—This is Vientiane’s own Arc de Triomphe, but with a distinctly Lao twist—it’s actually a bit taller than the one in Paris and is covered in beautiful Buddhist carvings and Hindu deities. Make sure to stick around for the fountain show right nearby. The monument and the fountains are beautiful during the day, but they can be visited after dark also for a totally different, lit-up vibe.
Mekong night: End your night at the market with some street food and a sunset view.
Tip: If you’re short on time or don’t want to do too much this day, just check out the Patuxay Monument and fountain before heading for dinner.
Restaurants and Bakeries
Bakeries: Cafe Vanille, Bakery by Boris, Roma bakery
Restaurants: We ate at Khop Chai Deu which was a nice place to hang out and try some Beer Lao and local cuisine. You can also go to Lao Kitchen for authentic local food.
Day 2 & 3: Vang Vieng– The Adventure Capital
Next, hop on the morning train or van to Vang Vieng – the infamous adventure capital of Laos. But just forget its old “party town” reputation; today it’s all about those insane limestone mountains and turquoise lagoons.
How to reach your hotel: From the train station you can take the shuttle to the city for LAK 50,000 (best if you’re alone) or use the LOCA app to book a cab for LAK 70,000 (best if you’re a group of 2 or more)
How to get around Vang Vieng: The best way to get around is to rent a scooter for 2 days. It only costs about LAK 100000-150000 per day (5-7 USD). However, if you don’t want to rent a scooter, you can do tours which can easily been booked from the various shops in town.
Or you can arrange a tuktuk to take you around. Speak with the tuktuk drivers around town or contact the tuktuk driver we’d spoken to – Mr. Som at +856-20 52656507. Please remember to negotiate a little because initial prices offered are often higher.
We ultimately decided to rent a car in Vang Vieng because we were not comfortable riding a scooter but still wanted flexibility. However, this is not a popular option because most of the spots to see around Vang Vieng are very close by and easily reachable by a two-wheeler plus 4 wheelers are expensive with fares starting at $50 a day. But if you do want to rent a car in Vang Vieng, you can reach out to Kolao Rental Car at +856 20 51999164
Where to stay in Vang Vieng: We stayed at Amari Vang Vieng– a 4-star hotel which is super central and the view is great.
Other options:
Riverside Boutique Resort: 4-star resort in an idyllic setting
ViengTara Resort: 3-star resort surrounded by paddy fields
Tmark Resort: 5-star resort at an affordable price
Inthira Vang Vieng: 4-star hotel right by the river with insane views. I didn’t book this because of some bad reviews but if views are a priority, this is fabulous.
Here’s how to spend your 2 days in Vang Vieng.
Day 2: Vang Vieng
Arrange tours and transport: Start your time in Vang Vieng by arranging tours, activities and transport for the next two days.
ViengTara Resort: Then head for lunch and a drink with a view of paddy fields and mountains. It’s absolutely stunning!
Take a longtail boat or kayak ride down the river: We missed this one and I regret it always because the views of the mountains arising from both sides are absolutely gorgeous as you float down the river.
Dinner at Happy Mango: This is a Thai restaurant with the best duck rolls (can be made veg with Tofu) and mango sticky rice. We loved the food here so much, we went twice!
Note: Instead of going to Vieng Tara Resort and taking a boat down the river, you can also go Tipsy Tubing- an activity that Vang Vieng is especially known for.
It’s essentially a floating party where you drift down the Nam Song river in a large tube, hopping between riverside bars for music, drinks and games. It’s excellent if you’re looking to party, chill and meet other travellers.
This activity can take anywhere between 3-5 hours. When the river is high, you’ll zip down faster, but in the dry season, it’s a very slow, lazy drift. Most people head out around 1 PM and are back by 6 PM. If you want a calmer experience, go earlier.
Just so you know, a few people have died tipsy tubing. There used to be dangerous swings and jumping platforms over the river which have been removed. People also got alcohol poisoning from drinking dodgy local spirts. So please stick to bottled beer! And remember, the currents can be strong, so if you’re not a strong swimmer, either skip this or ask for a life jacket from the tube rental office.
We had an extra day in Vang Vieng for this activity and yet didn’t end up doing it because my husband hurt his knee on the very first day of our Laos trip. But despite that, we enjoyed Vang Vieng very much and loved taking it slow.
If you really want to do Tipsy Tubing, you can either do it this day or add an extra day to your trip for it! Here’s a 4-day Vang Vieng itinerary that also includes tubing!
Day 3: Vang Vieng
Sunrise paramotoring OR a hot air balloon ride: Start your morning super early for a breathtaking ride over the karsts of Vang Vieng. We chose to do paramotoring as we’d already been on a hot air balloon twice that too in Turkey and Egypt which have some of the best hot air balloon experiences ever.
Paramotoring: We chose to do this with Terra Lao Adventure (Anthony/Tito) because they are known for their safety standards and we paid $80 for it. While it was amazing, I did think that the views were not in par with some other videos I’ve seen online, so you can also check out the other offers in town which can often go as low as $50 even.
Hot Air Balloon: For the safest hot air balloon experience go with Above Laos even though it might be slightly more expensive than others.
Breakfast at Hom Café: Again a cafe we visited twice cause the food was excellent. Do try the apple cinnamon pancake, it’s divine.
Blue Lagoon 3: There are several blue lagoons in Vang Vieng that you can swim in. Blue Lagoon 1 & 2 are the most popular because they’re easy to reach (7-10 km from town). Blue Lagoon 3 is a little further (20 km) with fewer people. It has a rope swing and zipline to jump into the water, tubes, rafts etc. making for a fun time in the water. There is also a cave you can visit here but the hike to it is a bit dodgy.
Lunch at Kiwi Kitchen: We really enjoyed the food and vibe! I tried a British Sunday Roast for the first time and loved it!
Sunset hike to Nam Xay Viewpoint: This is the most popular viewpoint in Vang Vieng (yes, the one with the motorbike on top). It’s short, about a 180 m climb as mentioned online but it felt like a lot more because it’s steep, rocky, strenuous and slippery. So it might take anywhere between 30 minutes to 1 hour to go up and about the same to come down depending on your fitness level. I highly recommend wearing hiking shoes for this one.
We actually did this hike for sunrise. Now, there are two bikes at the top – one for sunrise and one for sunset. While we got great photos at the sunrise bike, we got terrible ones at the sunset bike (better view) because the sun had already risen quite a bit by then and it cast a harsh shadow in our photos. Which is why I’ve added it as a sunset hike in this itinerary so you don’t make the same mistakes we did.
Dinner at Pizza Luka – super renowned for pizza in Vang Vieng and is only open in the evening for dinner.
Party/drinks: In the night, hit up Gary’s Irish Bar. It’s got a pool table and darts and thumping music at night. It’s a whole vibe.
Day 4 & 5: Luang Prabang– The Cultural Heart of Laos
Take the morning high-speed train to your next city- Luang Prabang! It is the cultural capital of Laos with over 30 buddhist temples. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its mix of French colonial architecture with local Lao temples which makes for a combination you can’t see elsewhere. Over and above that, it is located right by the Mekong River and surrounded by mountains. It’s really got it all – nature, culture, architecture, calm, aesthetics and fabulous food.
How to reach your hotel: From the train station, you can use the LOCA app to book a cab.
How to get around Luang Prabang: Most of Luang Prabang is walkable especially if you book a hotel in a good location. But if you ever need it, you can always hire the tuktuks around town. The only time you’ll really need transport is to go Kuang Si Waterfall which is 30 km from Luang Prabang. We will get into this a bit later.
Where to stay in Luang Prabang: We stayed at the 3 Nagas Hotel– a small charming boutique hotel with a fab location. It doesn’t have a pool or gym but we had the option to take the hotel shuttle to it’s sister property Sofitel Luang Prabang and use these facilities there (which is also an excellent hotel btw -we just didn’t love the location).
Other hotel options: Luang Prabang has so many good options it’s tough to even choose. To make things easier for you, I’ve picked out some hotels that are rated super well and are centrally located so you can simply walk around Luang Prabang!
5-star: U Luang Prabang
4-star: Pha Nya Residence, The Belle Rive Boutique Hotel
3-star: Villa Chitdara,Luang Prabang Oudomlith Villa & Travel
Hostel: White Elephant Hostel
Day 4 in Luang Prabang
Lunch at Manda de Laos: This is easily one of the most beautiful restaurants we’ve even been to. You’re literally dining on a deck overlooking three UNESCO-registered lily ponds. It’s super peaceful and feels like a hidden jungle oasis.
Royal Palace Museum: Right in the heart of town, this was the home of the Lao Royal Family. It’s a great way to see how the royals lived before 1975 (when the monarchy was abolished).
Arrange transport for Kuang Si waterfall– As mentioned before, Kuang Si waterfall is 30 km away from Luang Prabang. Since the plan is to get there at opening time the next morning to avoid crowds, you will need to arrange your transport this afternoon. If your budget is low, you can rent a scooter or take a shared tuktuk to the waterfall. However, if you want more comfort and flexibility you can also ask the tuktuk drivers all over town and can bargain to book either a tuktuk or a mini-van. This is what we did and the mini-van cost LAK 700,000 and thought the price was fair but you can do it in cheaper too if you bargain.
Plan B Café and Bakery– This place is adorable! It’s decorated with teddy bears everywhere, making it the perfect spot to cool off. Their cakes are top-tier, and the coffee is exactly the fuel you’ll need for the climb ahead.
Climb Phousi Hill– Everyone heads up here for sunset, so it gets packed. So I suggest going up an hour and a half before sunset. There are several routes, but take the one right in front of Plan B by Wat Siphoutthabat Thippharam. It’s the best way up because it’s lined with different Buddha statues and multiple viewpoints that most people miss. Grab your photos, find a spot, and then maybe head down just as the sun dips to beat the rush to the bottom!
Night Market: Now take the main route down from the hill (towards the Royal Palace) and you’ll be right at the entrance of the Night Market. It’s very chill walk with local crafts—no aggressive haggling here. Towards the end of the night market, there is a huge space full of food stalls- the perfect place to grab dinner.
Day 5: Luang Prabang
Alms Giving Ceremony: Wake up super early (we’re talking 5:30 AM) to witness this deeply sacred tradition where hundreds of saffron-robed monks emerge from the temples in a silent procession to collect food offerings from the locals.
It’s incredibly peaceful, but since it’s a living religious practice and not a “tourist show,” there are a few things to keep in mind: dress respectfully, keep quiet, keep your distance, don’t use flash and don’t participate in the ceremony if you’re not buddhist.
Kuang Si Waterfall: This waterfall is the crown jewel of the area, and once you see that milky turquoise water against the limestone, you’ll understand why. I recommend being here at 8 AM (opening time) to avoid the tour bus crowds that can often start arriving as early as 9:30 AM.
When you get here, take the straight path up to the waterfall. And when going back down, go via the walking trail. There several tiers of pools here you can actually swim in, so definitely bring your swimsuit but remember that the water can be quite cold.
At the end of your walk, stop by the Bear Rescue Centre near the entrance to see the rescued Asiatic Black Bears.
The walk to the main waterfall viewpoint and back is very easily doable even for those with slight mobility issues however, there are some stairs. For those of you who are more adventurous, you can definitely hike up to the source of the waterfall going up through all the different tiers of the falls. At the top, there is also a nice cafe with fab views and a zipline you can take to come back down.
Eat at Café Bennington: It’s a classic Luang Prabang cafe in a beautiful colonial building—perfect for a croissant or a coffee while people-watching.
Wat Xieng Thong: This is the most famous temple in town. The “Tree of Life” mosaic on the back wall is stunning. It’s incredibly intricate and a must-see for the architecture alone
Sunset Cruise: As evening approaches, head down to the Mekong river pier. You don’t need to book a fancy tour in advance—just walk down the pier, ask for a price, and hop on a boat. Watching the sun go down over the mountains from the water is magical.
Dinner at Bouang: End your time in Luang Prabang at this super vibrant Asian eatery on the main street
Day 6 & 7: Pakse – The Waterfall & Highland Escape
To make the most of your one week in Laos, catch a quick domestic flight down to Pakse. Pakse is where the vibe changes from golden temples to rugged, misty highlands. It’s the gateway to the Bolaven Plateau, a place famous for its incredible coffee and even more incredible waterfalls. And not to forget, the ancient temple Wat Phou that rivals anything else in Southeast Asia.
The city feels much more “local” and rugged that the Northern towns. It’s the perfect, slightly more “off-the-beaten-path” finale to your trip. However, if you’re wondering whether you should even go to Pakse, read the linked post to decide.
How to get around Pakse: Use the Xanh SM cab app to get around Pakse.
How to sightsee around Pakse: The agenda for your second day in Pakse is a 162 km drive which can be done by car or motorbike. Most people that rent a scooter break this drive down in 2 days. You can break it up into two days in this itinerary as well, but you can also do it in one day like we did in a 4-wheeler.
Having a 4-wheeler will be a lot more comfortable either way. So you can rent a car from Avis in Pakse or if you don’t want to drive, hire a minivan for the day like us. Call +856-2059598955 to arrange this. It cost us LAK 1,500,000 after a bit of haggling.
Where to stay in Pakse: We stayed at Champaksak Grand, a 4-star hotel by the river. It is one of the oldest hotels and very well-known in Pakse. It wasn’t centrally located but we did not face any issues because of that.
Other suggestions:
Le Jardin Hotel: Beautiful 4-star hotel. Location isn’t the best though.
Intouch Riverside Hotel: 3-star riverside hotel with fab views in a good location
Pakse Hotel & Restaurant: An affordable 3-star hotel in prime location with a fabulous rooftop restaurant and bar.
Sanga Hostel: A hostel in a prime location. It is very well-rated, has excellent food and a very caring host to make your stay perfect!
Day 6: Pakse
Arrange Transport: After arriving in Pakse and checking into your hotel, firstly arrange your vehicle if you haven’t already.
Wat Phou Salao: In the evening, head to Wat Phou Salao for best view of the city. It’s famous for the massive Golden Buddha that sits on top of a hill that gazes out over the Mekong River. Watching the sunset from up there is the perfect way to end a day in Pakse. You can hike the stairs for a workout, take a quick tuk-tuk to the top, or ride your own rented vehicle up to the top!
Day 7: Pakse
Tad Fane and Ziplining: Start your adventure at Tad Fane waterfall which is the highest waterfall in the country. And if you’re feeling brave, you can zipline across this waterfall.
This zipline was the main reason we came down to Pakse and it was absolutely worth it. It is an absolute rush flying hundreds of meters in the air with the twin falls crashing down below you.
The adventure costs $40 and is a series of 4 ziplines. Do also pay $8 to get your video shot on the zipline. You can also choose to have coffee on the zipline for $60.
Lak 40 café: After the adrenaline spike, grab a cup of local coffee at this coffee farm and cafe. The area is famous for its beans, and this is the perfect spot to taste them as the coffee is really good!
Tad Gneuang: This waterfall is a total crowd-pleaser because it’s so accessible and dramatic. There’s a beautiful wooden bridge that takes you right across the top of the falls, but the real magic happens when you walk down the stairs to the bottom through multiple viewpoints. But even if you just get to the first viewpoint like we did, you’ll love it.
Tad Champee: This waterfall has a much more “secret garden” feel. There’s also a large, calm pool at the base where you can get on a raft or just jump in for a swim. It’s way more laid-back and quieter than the other falls and has almost zero facilities!
Lunch at Cafe Vida: Head back to Pakse for lunch. Try Cafe Vida for a quick yet delicious bite.
Wat Phou: You can’t leave without visiting Wat Phou. It’s a Khmer Hindu temple complex that is actually older than Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Walking up the ancient stone stairs surrounded by frangipani trees feels incredibly spiritual—it’s literally like stepping back a thousand years. And unlike Angkor Wat, there will hardly be anyone around.
Dinner at Sanga Hostel: This was our last and one of best and most inexpensive Lao meals we had during the trip. Highly recommend it!
Day 8
If you’re renting a scooter, you might like to use this morning to go to Wat Phou as the previous day might do a number on your back.
Then fly out to your next country or your home country.
Land Border Crossing into Thailand: We did a land border crossing into Thailand, as this was significantly cheaper than flying from Pakse.
We booked a van service to take us to Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand. The whole crossing was very smooth even though we did have to change a few vehicles. Then from Ubon Ratchathani we flew to Bangkok.
Happy to answer any questions you may have about this in the comments below.
Alternate Routes
This itinerary can also be done in the following ways:
Vientiane- Pakse- Luang Prabang- Vang Vieng
You go from Vientiane (north) to Pakse (south) first. Take a flight or an an overnight bus depending on your budget and travel style. The only reason I’d recommend this route is that the flight from Pakse to Luang Prabang is cheaper than what I’ve suggested earlier.
Luang Prabang- Vang Vieng- Vientiane- Pakse
This is the most optimised route as you never need to repeat any city. You can fly into Luang Prabang (north most city on this itinerary) and fly out of Pakse (south most). This route is also great for backpackers on extended South East Asia trips who’d rather cross land borders than take flights.
Wrapping it up…
Laos is one of those places that stays with you long after you leave. Even with just a Laos itinerary of seven days, you’ll get a taste of why people fall so hard for this country.
It’s not about ticking boxes; it’s about the morning mist over the Mekong and the mountains, the slow life, the fabulous food, the smiles of the people you meet.
And even though the facilities here are basic and it’s all a bit raw, I’ve never heard anyone say they didn’t enjoy their time here. Here’s hoping, you’ll love it too. Safe travels!