Laos - Travel Information on Laos

The landlocked country of Laos has now been open to foreigners for the past six years. Because it had been closed to outsiders for so many years before that, it's agricultural society and leisurely pace of life have largely been left intact.

Although many areas are still inaccessible with little infrastructure, Luang Prabang and Vientiane are easy to get to and are the main points of interest for most visitors. Luang Prabang is a famous UNESCO World Heritage Site and world famous for its beautiful former Royal Palace and temples. In the town you can also see impressive examples of traditional wooden and French colonial architecture. Climb up to Wat Phousi in the late afternoon for a panoramic view of the town and the Mekhong River.

Kuang Si Waterfall

The Mekong River runs through Laos and defines its border in many places. There are many other rivers in Laos and the majority of the country is covered by forest. It can easily be said, to be the least spoiled country in Asia. It is also the most sparsely populated, with 5 million people in a country half the size of Thailand.

People in Laos are of varied descendency. Lowland Lao mostly populate the major towns. Rural areas are populated by Lao subgroups and easily distinguishable hilltribes. In the Luang Prabang area many Hmong and Akha can be seen. One of the best places to see the local people is at the morning market. Luang Prabang has fascinating morning markets, where you can see a spectrum of the local culture and have endless opportunities to take photographs.

View of the Mekhong River.

Lao rural scene.

Most tourists enter Laos by flying to Luang Prabang or Vientiane, or by crossing the Thai border at Nongkhai or Chiang Khong. At present you can fly from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang or Vientiane by Lao Aviation. There are flights going from Bangkok to Vientiane by Thai Airways. In the near future it should be possible to fly to Laos using the Thai airline services of Bangkok Airways and Angel Air. When these services start we will include the details.

Tourists entering Laos need a visa, either 15 or 30 days. Visas can be obtained in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and on the border at Nongkhai and Chiang Khong. Alternatively, you can have the visa stamped in your passport upon arrival at Luang Prabang or Vientiane Airports. NB for all people joining our tours, your visa will be stamped in your passport upon arrival - therefore you do not have to send documentation ahead or wait around applying for a visa. Visa fee is included in the price of the trip.

Tourism in Laos has only been operating for a few years, therefore you should not expect to see the same sort of facilities and infrastructure as in Thailand. Vientiane and Luang Prabang will offer you a similar standard of comfort as in Thailand regarding accommodation and restaurants. However, you will find things such as communications and financial services of a much more basic standard.
The big attraction of Laos is in its laid back atmosphere and how secluded it feels from the rest of the world. Mostly attributable to the fact it was a country closed to foreigners for almost 20 years.

If you would like any further information about Laos in general or our tours to Laos, please contact us at info@wayfarersthailand.com

Wayfarers Travel
20 Tapae Rd.,Soi 4
Chiang Mai 50100
Thailand
Tel. (66 53)208271
Fax (66 53)279423
E mail info@wayfarersthailand.com

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