Laos adventure tours

Travelling in Laos involves a lot of time spent getting from A to B, so don't be surprised when you find out most tours offer little more than a key destination like Luang Prabang. Because of the difficulty in getting around, many Lao tours are part of larger regional trips encompassing Vietnam, Thailand and sometimes Cambodia.

It's not unusual for Lao trips to include domestic flights as an hour in a plane can save you 24 hours on a bus, but steer clear of trips where all the links are by plane -- while a tad uncomfortable, getting around in the local transport is a part of the experience, and you should experience it at least once!

If you're touring in the north, a trip down the Mekong River to Luang Prabang is a highlight, but be sure you're operator isn't using the speedboats -- they're dangerous, noisy and spoil the atmosphere for everyone else. Virtually all tours visit Luang Prabang, but if you like to get into the boonies, make sure your trip is taking you other places in the north as well. If you're on a tour that covers both the north and south, make sure it is not too crammed in -- watch out for phrases like "long bus trip" that's code for excrutiating 20+ hours in a minibus -- where's the airport please?

If your Laos trip is a part of a larger regional adventure, compare time taken for flying and overlanding between countries -- it all depends on how you like to spend your holiday time!

Tours to Cambodia | Tours to Laos | Tours to Thailand | Tours to Vietnam
Family tours | Multi-country tours | Diving tours | Photography tours

Experience South East Asia with Explore! Whether you want to get active, explore tribal villages, discover sacred sites or simply chill-out, South East Asia has something for you. Explore! have been leading adventure tours to Thailand since 1981, and many of their tours include Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam or all three -- be sure to check out their Bangkok to Saigon overland adventure tour. Explore knows well just how child-friendly South East Asia is, and their Family Adventures are justifiably popular. More information

Lands of the Mekong Bringing together two of the region's emerging destinations, this two-week trip commences at the Thai frontier town of Chiang Khong, then journeys down the Mekong River to Luang Prabang. After trekking out of Luang Prabang the trip flies to Vientiane then onto Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The trip continues on then to Siem Reap for Angkor Wat and finishes in Bangkok, Thailand. Destinations: Chiang Khong, Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat, Bangkok. More information

Laos and Vietnam: Luang Prabang to Hanoi Beginning in the former Lao capital and now World Heritage Site of Luang Prabang this trip travels by road and by river via Muang Khua to the newest border crossing between Laos and Vietnam at Dien Bien Phu. from there, it heads to Lai Chau, then on to the hill station of Sapa for trekking. Last stop is the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi. Destinations: Luang Prabang, Muang Khua, Dien Bien Phu, Lai Chau, Sapa Hanoi. More information

Treasures of Indochina The Treasures of Indochina encompasses the three countries that once made up French Indochina. This tour enables you to experience and understand the diversity of the culture, people, geography and history of the three countries. Explored together, these countries create a tour rich in experience and memories. Destinations: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hue, Phong Nha Cave, Hoi An, My Son, Saigon, Cu Chi Tunnels, Mekong Delta, Siem Reap, Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Pak Ou Cave. More information

Images of Laos This unique photographic tour of Laos, accompanied by professional travel photographer Nathan Horton, aims to encourage keen amateur photographers, not only to get to know their cameras better but to engage with their subject matter in more meaningful ways. Beginning in Thailand's infamous Golden Triangle, this trip takes you down the scenic Mekong River, through Laos' unspoilt mountains and jungles, to the ancient capital, now World Heritage Site, Luang Prabang then continues over the dramatic central highlands of Laos to the present day capital of Vientiane. Destinations: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chiang Khong, Luang Nam Tha, Luang Prabang, Vientiane. More information

Northern Laos and the Golden Triangle An introduction to Laos - a fascinating and rarely visited country. Beginning in Thailand's infamous Golden Triangle we'll travel down the Mekong River, through Laos' unspoilt mountains and jungles to the ancient capital, now World Heritage Site, Luang Prabang. After exploring the City's beautiful temples and colonial architecture, we'll head over the dramatic central highlands of Laos to the present capital of Vientiane. Destinations: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chiang Khong, Luang Nam Tha, Luang Prabang, Vientiane. More information

We've not road-tested these tours ourself, rather they're offerings from companies who we work with on a commission basis. We believe these companies to have decent reputations and we welcome feedback from anyone on the providers below, as this will help other readers make more informed decisions.