LAOS: Snapshot -- one week explorer

Introduction

This is the type of trip that just about anyone who has been to Laos has done at one time or another. Entering by land from either Vientiane or Huay Xai, this is a quick hop, skip and a jump through the country, that will leave you planning your next, far more comprehensive Laos holiday before you've even left.

This route allows you to take in the spectacular Mekong scenery as you travel down the river by slow boat to the unforgetable Luang Prabang, before pushing on south, first to the backpackr ghetto of Van Vieng and then onwards to the Lao capital, Vientiane.

This isn't an "off the beaten path adventure", but remember the beaten path is so beaten for a good reason!

One advantage of using a trip like this as a base, is that there's lots of potential for sidetrips, and that one-week stay can easily stretch out into a month.

Suggest trip length

The suggested minimum time for a trip like this is one week, though two weeks will be a far more comfortable pace.

Sample plan

1) Huay Xai -> Pakbeng (riverside town, stunning scenery)
2) Pakbeng -> Luang Prabang (temples, colonial architecture, trekking, atmospheric town)
3) Luang Prabang -> Vang Vieng (stunning scenery, backpacker scene)
4) Vang Vieng -> Vientiane (capital, temples, riverside setting)

Save some time

One day: Take a speedboat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang (not recommended)
Two days: fly from Luang Prabang to Vientiane

Take a side trip

Two days: Strike north from Luang Prabang to Nong Kiaow.
Two day: Head east to the Plain of Jars and Phonsavan

Combine trip plans

This trip links in easily with the Northern Thailand Explorer.

Map

Sample Trip Times (in hours)

To help you work out how you'll get around, we've listed the trip durations for the various forms of transport available. Note that with the exception of flight times, these are average trip times, so no hate mail if you take the slow train.