Laos Holidays

Those dramatic limestone cliffs around Vang Vieng aren’t just there for the views. They have become Laos’ main climbing area, with routes ranging from beginner-friendly walls to more technical climbs. Luang Prabang also has a smaller climbing scene that is worth checking out if you are spending a few days in town.

Tham Kong Lo is unlike anywhere else in Laos. A local boat takes visitors deep into the cave, passing through enormous chambers hidden beneath the mountains. If you are based in Vang Vieng, there are several smaller caves nearby that are much easier to reach.

The Bolaven Plateau loop starts and ends in Pakse, taking riders through coffee-growing villages, waterfalls and the cooler highlands of southern Laos. It is a route that is better enjoyed with plenty of stops instead of trying to finish it as quickly as possible. 

You don’t need much of a plan on Don Det. Rent a bicycle and follow the quiet tracks around the island, passing rice fields, wooden houses, riverside cafés and remains of an old French railway. Distances are short, so it is easy to explore at your own pace.

Looking across Vang Vieng from a zip line gives you a view that most people never see from the ground. Courses run between forested hills and limestone cliffs, with platforms hidden among the trees. 

The Mekong has a slower rhythm when you are travelling by kayak. Around Don Det and the 4000 Islands, you can paddle through quiet channels, weave past tiny channels and navigate gentle rapids surrounded by lush jungle scenery. 

When the rainy season arrives, rivers near Luang Prabang become suitable for rafting trips. Most excursions take place on the Nam Khan, where stretches of rapids are broken up by calmer sections surrounded by forest and mountains.

Northern Laos is criss-crossed with walking trails, and Nong Khiaw is one of the best places to explore them. Some routes lead to viewpoints, while others continue into remote ethnic villages where traditional ways of life are still part of everyday life. 

Heading into Luang Prabang feels like stepping back into a slower pace of life in the rest of Southeast Asia. Nestled right where the Nam Khan empties into the Mekong, the UNESCO Old Town is a dense little grid of French colonial shophouses and weathered Buddhist temples draped in bougainvillea. There is no frantic moped chaos here; even the stray dog seems to move in slow motion.

Every single morning before the sun clears the mountains, the mist hangs low over the streets when the monks file out of the wats. Hundreds of them walk barefoot in lines stretching down Sisavangvong Road, carrying alms bowls to collect sticky rice from the locals kneeling on the pavement. It is a profound, quiet daily ritual.

Of all the temples scattered around town, Wat Xieng Thong is the one you cannot skip. Built way back in 1560, its sweeping, multi-tiered roof almost touches the ground, and the back wall features an incredible, glittering glass mosaic of a Tree of Life that catches the morning light.

By dusk, the main drag shuts down to traffic and turns into the night market. It is pretty low-stress as far as Asian night markets go, and no one is aggressively grabbing your arm. Rows of red tents pop up selling hand-woven indigo textiles, silver trinkets and printed paper lanterns, alongside vendors dishing out coconut pancakes and grilled river fish.

If you want to dive deeper into the culture, taking a Lao cooking class is worth the afternoon. It usually starts with weaving through the chaos of the morning wet market to pick up galangal, lemongrass and fresh herbs before heading back to an open-air kitchen to pound out fiery jeow bong chili paste in a mortar and pestle.

For something a bit more tangible, pop into some of the small backyard weaving workshops hidden down the side streets. Watching an artisan work a massive wooden handloom, threading intricate geometric patterns that have been passed down through generations, gives you a real appreciation for the local craft that mass-produced market souvenirs just cannot touch. 

Set on the lower slopes of Mount Phou Kao, reaching Vat Phou means climbing a series of ancient stone terraces and stairways, and the walk through the trees is half the magic. This ruined Khmer temple in Champasak is far less crowded than Angkor Wat, where centuries-old Hindu carvings blend with the Buddhist shrines that followed.

Tucked right in Luang Prabang under the frangipani trees, it feels like everyone just stepped away yesterday. Inside, French parquet floors blend seamlessly with gleaming golden Buddhas, while the former king’s dusty old American sedan sits parked right out front. 

Vientiane burned down a lot, but this temple somehow survived all of it. Walking down the dim wooden cloisters is wild as there are literally thousands of tiny ceramic and silver Buddhas tucked into every single wall niche.

People call it Vientiane’s “concrete Arc de Triomphe.” Up close, it is a bit rough around the edges and lined with souvenir stalls, but climb to the top and you get a great, sweeping view of the city’s chaotic traffic circles.

It is not really a traditional museum. It is a quiet, heavy place in Vientiane that shows the ongoing reality of unexploded ordnance in Laos through simple prosthetic workshops, old photos and rows of repurposed bomb casings.

You sit really low in a narrow wooden motorboat in Khammouane Province, and your guide just turns on a headlamp to steer you through seven kilometres of pitch-black underground river and massive, echoing rock chambers.

If you are visiting Laos in April, you will find the whole country celebrating. Streets turn into giant water fights, temples welcome worshippers for blessings and families gather to mark the new year. Luang Prabang is especially famous for its lively celebrations. The festival takes place every year from 14–16 April.

Set around the ancient Vat Phou temple in Champasak, this is one of the country’s biggest religious festivals. Pilgrims come to pray, while traditional music, dance performances and local markets create a festive atmosphere. It is usually held in February during the full moon.

Boun Bang Fai is also known as the Rocket Festival. Before the rainy season begins, villages launch large homemade rockets into the sky to ask for good rains for the rice harvest. The day is filled with music, dancing and friendly competitions. It is celebrated mainly in May, although dates vary by region. 

The festival marks the beginning of Buddhist Lent. People visit temples early in the morning with food and everyday items for monks, and many spend the following months focusing more on prayer and merit-making. It is observed in July during the full moon.

After three months of Buddhist Lent, temples become busy again with prayers and candlelit ceremonies. In many places, people also float decorated boats or candles on rivers to mark the occasion. It takes place in October during the full moon.

The celebrations continue after Boun Ok Phansa with exciting longboat races on rivers across Laos. Crowds gather to cheer on local teams while food stalls and cultural performances add to the atmosphere. It is held in October, usually the day after Boun Ok Phansa.

Thousands of people travel to Pha That Luang in Vientiane to pray at Laos’ most important Buddhist monument. The festival includes alms giving, candlelight processions, cultural performances and local fairs. It is celebrated in November during the full moon.

Held in Xayaboury Province, this festival celebrates the close bond between elephants and the Lao people. Visitors can watch elephant parades, blessing ceremonies and cultural performances while learning about elephant conservation. It is usually held in February.

Temples across Laos fill with worshippers for one of the country’s most important Buddhist festivals. The evening is marked by peaceful candlelight processions, with people walking around temple halls carrying candles, incense and flowers. It is observed in February during the full moon.

This important Buddhist festival commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha. Throughout the day, people visit temples to make merit before joining candlelight processions in the evening. It is celebrated in May during the full moon.

Tubing on the Nam Song River has changed a lot over the years. These days it is more about floating past limestone cliffs and rice fields than chasing the party scene that once made headlines. Rent a tube in town, stop at a riverside bar if you feel like it, or simply let the current carry you through one of the prettiest stretches of central Laos.

Don’t expect loud clubs or streets packed until dawn. After dark, Luang Prabang settles into an easy rhythm, with cafés overlooking the Mekong, small bars pouring local drinks, and the night market keeping the centre lively. If you are still around after dinner, you might even catch a traditional dance performance before wandering back through the quiet streets. 

Ask almost anyone who has travelled through Laos about Beerlao and it will probably come up with a smile. It is usually served ice-cold, often with ice in the glass, and pairs perfectly with grilled river fish, laap or a sizzling Sin Dad barbecue. You will spot the familiar yellow crates stacked outside restaurants and corner shops all over the country.

Seeing Laos from the Mekong gives you a completely different feel for the country. Boats pass fishing villages, children playing along the banks, patches of forest and tiny temples that you would never notice from the road. The slow boat between Huay Xai and Luang Prabang has become a favourite journey for travellers who don’t mind taking their time. 

Not all of Vang Vieng’s Blue Lagoons feel the same. Lagoon 1 is the busiest, with rope swings, cafés and plenty of people, while Lagoons 3 and 5 are quieter if you would rather escape the crowds. Whichever one you choose, the cool turquoise water is a welcome break after exploring the dusty countryside.