Laos

Authentic experience: Laos is a place famous with ancient and holly temples and pagodas. If you are a person that is interested in discovering religions, Laos will satisfy you from your first sight. Visiting Laos in a luxury holiday, you will have chance to enjoy 2 into 1. One side is a very ancient pagoda that has lived for hundreds years, one side, you will be live in a modern and deluxe life with our luxury services.

Private & luxury transport: Privatization is one of the first reasons that decides travelers to choose a luxury trip. Therefore, a private vehicle is an indispensable condition. Private standard car as usual or a private luxury transport such as cruise, yacht or a helicopter to get to your destination are all your choice.

Services - Incredible services for your luxury holiday:  24/7 Concierge service is a point that will impress you. Every time you need help, Luxury Travel will always be ready to support you.

High-end accommodation: Luxury Travel will directly research areas, and evaluate all accommodation to find the best hotel and resort for you. Moreover, because of longstanding relation with supplier, we ensure that you will get competitive prices but high-quality accommodation.

Superb food: If you are the one who is attracted to new cuisine, Laos traditional food will be available in your table as long as you request. However, if you miss your country’s food, the great chef from Luxury Travel will bring your taste to come back home. 

Unique experience: A unique experience is an experience that no one has tried before, which is now no longer a distant thing if you create your own trip. Discovering Laos special foods such as milk buffalos or trying crossing bamboo bridge and thousands of unique things are waiting for you in a luxury tour.

Lower scams: In a private luxury tour, you are always fully equipped with knowledge and local review before taking part in your trip. Local experts and knowledgeable staffs always accompany with you to provide tips tricks to avoid any common scams that may happen to you. Therefore, you will know how to prevent scams with useful tips and excellent tricks.

Flexible timeline to explore off the beaten path places: When you own a luxury tour, you are the boss of your timeline. Besides discovering the Laos famous places, you can require luxury tour operator to explore unusual places to make you trip become more memorable.

Privacy: Many travelers stick a tour with “travelling with many strange people”. However, in a luxury tour, your privacy is the biggest concern of a luxury tour operator. Because of being a tailor-made tour, the tour operator will put your privacy on top. You will be provided from private transport to private accommodation.

Advice from local experts: Your trip cannot be perfect

without local experts. Why? Because they are the one who is knowledgeable the most about all destinations. With travelers who prefer off the beaten path places, local expert can take them to hidden places that even have not found in social media. They not only help you to find your most suitable places but also give you many advices to avoid scams and enjoy your trip. Moreover, they know clearly about accommodation and food, therefore, describe your hobby and demand and the local experts will handle the rest!

24/24 personal support: Unpredictable things may happen or some ideas are being fleeting insides your head during your trip. As a result, the 24/24 personal support is very necessary. Every time when you need help, dedicated agent will not let you wait.

Laos’s weather is divided into 2 seasons: dry season and wet season. The rainy season starts from May and ends at October. Maybe you love hearing white noise – rains, but rain can make a real mess when the road becomes slippery and dirty, which may obstruct your trip.

If you love basking, you can visit Laos in summer time. However, in March, April, May and June, the weather is extremely hot with temperature from 35°C and above. If you still eagle to explore Laos in summer, you can travel to the north for slightly cooler weather.

The best time that many tourists choose to visit Laos is from November to February. In this time, it is warm and dry, which is an ideal time to explore Laos. In the daytime, the temperatures are agreeably fresh and warm, evenings are a little bit cooler. Laos is covered by green, especially in the countryside and natural places. January and February are suggested time to travel on the river. The wave of river is gentle, the water is fresher and the feeling of daily life at the bank of the river is more tranquil. 

Town of Luang Prabang (1995): Town of Luang Prabang was in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since it was recognized as the best place of Laos traditional architecture. These structures were built during the 19th and 20th centuries by European colonizers. Town of Luang Prabang is the combination of traditional Laos architecture with French colonial period structure. Thanks to being in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this town is preserved exemplarily before investment of urban extension may sink it down.

Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape: This landscape is more than 1,000 years old and it expresses the connection between nature and human in Hindu belief in combination with Kmer architecture. The landscape follow a geometric shape of temples and shrines stretching from the mountain to the bank of river. The two cities were located at the bank of Mekong river and recognized to be a part of the UNESCO list in 2001.

Luang Prabang: Luang Prabang is an ancient town that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It lies in at the mountainous place in the north of Laos. Luang Prabang is an exceptional combination of Laos urban architecture and Europe colonizer era. The special of Luang Prabang structure expresses not only in styles but also in materials. The majority of the whole structure is made of wood but the temples are made of stones.

Vientiane: Vientiane is known as Laos capital locating at the north-eastern bank of Mekong River. Vientiane will surprise you by its relaxing atmosphere that you rarely feel in other capitals, which will push you to a cold beer during the sunset time in a cruise to watch local daily life in the bank of Mekong.

Vang Vieng: Vang Vieng lies in a prime location between Luang Prabang and Vientiane. Locating on the bank of Song River, Vang Vieng will have a bright future of tourism if the local people keep the river as clean as possible and, limit noise around the landscape.

Pakse: Pakse used to be the capital of the Kingdom of Champasak during the French colonialism until 1946. Different from other places in Laos, this city concludes ethnic Chinese and Vietnamese, therefore, you can witness the unique culture here. With Pakse International Airport, Pakes becomes the connection to Vientiane, Siem Reap, and Bangkok.

Luang Prabang Yoga: Luang Prabang Yoga concludes two classes: morning class at Utopia and evening class at Sena Steakhouse. Yoga styles are Ashtanga, Hatha, Vinyasa and Yin.

Yoga in Vang Vieng: With the beautiful natural view, Yoga in Vang Vieng will give you much of an enjoyable moment when you attend in outdoor session. Yoga teachers here are evaluated as the most amazing and helped ones. The classes open from 7:30 am and close at 5 pm. Yoga style consists of gentle flow to meditation, Ashtanga, Yin and Hatha.

Vientiane Yoga Studio: Although the studio is located centrally, it is a quiet and authentic place. Many visitors came and could not forget the excellent atmosphere and the enthusiasm of teachers here. Vientiane also includes many style range from beginner yoga, flow to Tai Chi and Chakra Yoga. 

Luang Prabang: In Luang Prabang, you can experience trekking and climbing mountains to go to ethnic groups: Hmong and Khmu. The trails may make you feel tired but that is absolutely worth when you have experience of staying in a local people’s house and living with their lifestyle.

Luang Namtha: You can have trekking and kayaking combo when you want to try different experience in Luang Namtha. Luang Namtha is known for lush and dense jungles. You also can try to cook and have meals totally with bamboo and banana leaves. In the evening, you can enjoy local dance practice to have a complete memorable time in Luang Namtha.

Huay Xai: Huay Xai is not only popular with a wonderful natural view but also the hospitality of the local people.  Besides normal trekking, you can experience living in a houseboat or going upstream with a small boat.

Luang Prabang: There is no kind of cycling more wonderful than cycling through tranquil natural place, which you can experience in Luang Prabang. You can cycle to the morning market to explore cuisine here where people eat frogs, bats, squirrels. snake and others. You can drive to visit beautiful temples, handicraft shop to by local made souvenirs or cycle around simply for watching local people’s daily life.

Vientiane: Cycling is an activity that most of tourists choose to enjoy the beauty here, therefore, bike rental services are plentiful. You can visit highlight gems of Vientiane such as market, backstreet and especially breathtaking temples. Because of cycling, the atmosphere is very nice and fresh. However, be aware of the sun in Laos, and do not forget to bring your suntan lotion!

Savannakhet: Cycling in Savannakhet, you will not only enjoy the fresh and comfortable air but also enjoy the beautiful rice paddies in some ways.

Black Crested Gibbon: The Black Crested Gibbon is known as the fastest ape in the world and you can hear them sing very loudly at dawn. The male Crested Gibbon is black and the female is golden, they live in family groups. Their long limbs are their strength to live in high trees and you can find them in Bokeo.

Asiatic Black Bear: The Asiatic Black Bear is the mammals related to the north American black bear. You can easily recognize them with their distinctive white crest that exits on their chest. They are very good at climbing for collecting fruits. Because of habitat loss and hunting for gall bladders, they are facing to extinction. The Laos Wildlife Rescue Centre located in Vientiane Province are caring for nearly 20 bears and frequently open many volunteer projects for travelers to take part in taking care of bears.

Pygmy Slow Loris:

You will surprise with the cuteness of Pygmy Slow Loris by their big naïve eyes and fluffy coats. However, they are in danger because of being capture and sell illegally as pets. Therefore, they are taken care of many national parks in Laos.

Playing petanque with the locals: Just walking around some villages or town in Laos, you can easily see people playing this game. Petanque is similar with bocce or lawn bowls. This game was brought to Laos by French. Laos local people are very friendly, therefore, do not hesitate to be a part of the game.  

Observing the alms giving ceremony: Alms giving ceremony is a dispensable part of Luang Prabang and becomes a longstanding tradition in Buddhist culture in Laos. Around 200 monks will depart from main street of Luang Prabang and spread out to every side street. Local people always wake up early to prepare food for the monks and wait solemnly and quietly in the roadside.

Taking part in a Baci ceremony: Baci ceremony is the ceremony that has existed for hundreds of years in Laos. Laos people believe that there are 32 organs in their body and each organ have a spirit. However, some organs often wander outside of their body, therefore, they use a white string that represents for 32 spirits to tie to their hands to take their spirits back to their body to bring them good luck and prosperity. 

Enjoying grilled bee honeycomb with larvae: This food looks like a weird corncob wrapped by banana leaf and grilled by coals. However, if you take your look closer, you can see bee larvae is still inside their honeycomb hexagons. In Laos and Cambodia, honeycomb as well as other foods from insects are very popular because of their cheap source of protein.

Homestaying with Hmong or Khmu family: Hmong and Khmu are ethnic minority group in Laos and you will be surprise with their friendliness and hospitality. Living with Hmong and Khmu people, you will not only learn about their special culture but also experience living as their lifestyle.

Swimming at Tad Lo: Tad Lo consists of 3 waterfalls: Tad lo, Tad Soung and Tad Hang. Tad Lo is popular with trekking. However, you can experience in your own way. You can swim here to feel the cool fresh of the water insides the marvelous jungle. 

Mok Pa: Mok Pa is a special food of Luang Prabang that is appreciated by many visitors. This food was made of fish, herbs and vegetables. Mok Pa is served mostly in a banana leaf to bring the sense of nature to enjoy.

Insect Protein: Eating food from insects such as caterpillars, crickets, grasshoppers, silkworm pupae, ant egg may make some tourists feel disgusted but it also makes many travelers feel excited by its uniqueness. Thanks to the way of cooking, you will no longer feel any discomfort when try this food.

Kaipen (Fried Seaweed): Kaipen is made of freshwater green algae collected from the Mekong River in the northern Laos. The algae will be pressed, seasoned and dried in the sun. Frying until crispy and then eating with bong is considered as the best way to try Kaipen. 

Lao Lao: This liquor will impress you from its name. In Laos, “Lao” has two meaning: alcohol and Laotian, so “Lao Lao” means “Laos Alcohol”. As suggested by the name, this is Laos’ traditional alcoholic drink. Lao Lao is made from rice and you will be amazed by handmade bottles with shocking price in the market. Many tourists will think that low price means low quality, but when you try this beverage, it will change your opinion.

Lao Hai - Lao Jar Liquor: Lao Hai is the traditional liquor of one ethnic group in Laos – Khomu. This alcoholic drink is fermented in jars and tasted with long reed straw. If you are person who are not good at drinking alcohol, feel free when try it because this liquor is a weaker version of Lao Lao.

Grilled Coconut: Grilled Coconut is a unique drink in Laos and it is always mentioned as one of 6-must-try Lao drink. Coconut is baked, then peel and remove the stigma. Making it chilled before drink will make this drink becomes one of the best choice for you when traveling to Laos in summer.

Do:

Exercising caution and wear helmets renting bikes: When traveling in Laos, many travelers really want to try driving a bike, especially travelers from Europe countries where driving motorbikes is not common. However, do not forget helmets when renting bikes or you will waste much of time for doing penalty procedures with police.

Dressing neatly and discreetly when visiting religious shrines or temples: Visiting shrines and temples is an activity that never be missed when travelling in Laos. However, shrines, temples and pagodas have principle for wearing, therefore, be sure that you will dress neatly and discreetly.

Gently crouch down when walking past someone who is seated, especially older people: When someone is seating and you want to cross them, do not forget to crouch down to express your politeness.

Don’t

Touching someone's head (even children): This is rude not only in Laos but in many other countries. However, you may forget it when you meet a child! Even those children are so cute, do not touch them especially their head.

Touching a monk or a monk’s robe: When observing alms giving ceremony, you will see many monks in the road receiving food. However, it is a every formal ceremony, therefore, do not touch a monk in anywhere.

Kissing and hugging in public: As other countries in Asia, kissing and hugging in public in Laos is extremely impolite.

About Luxury Travel

With 15 years working on exploiting tourism market in Asia, Luxury Travel is confident to be your best luxury tour operator. We always put the demand, interest and desire of guests on top and our priority is making your dream trip becomes true!

Laos is a country with many hidden place to explore, therefore, do not forget to call us for an unique experience in Laos. 

1.    LAO VISA EXEMPTIONS: 
Citizens of the following 15 countries can visit Laos without a visa, including all ASEAN nationals. According to the Ministry of Public Security of Laos, the maximum allowed period of stay depends on nationality.
Brunei (14 days), Cambodia (30 days), Indonesia (30 days), Japan (15 days), Luxembourg (15 days), Malaysia (30 days), Mongolia (30 days), Myanmar (14 days), Philippines (30 days), Russia (30 days), Singapore (30 days), South Korea (30 days), Switzerland (15 days), Thailand (30 days), Vietnam (30 days).
2.    LAO VISA ON ARRIVAL: 

2.1.    Who are eligibile to apply Laos Visa on Arrival?
Most foreign citizens are eligible for a Laos Visa on Arrival, but it's always best to check the latest visa requirements and regulations with the nearest embassy or consulate before traveling. Some countries in the list here are not eligible to apply Laos Visa on arrival: 
2.2.    Lao Visa on Arrival Port of Entry

• International airports

-    Wattay International Airport in Vientiane Capital;
-    Luang Prabang International Airport in Luang Prabang Province;
-    Pakse Internatioanl Airport in Champasack Province;
-    Savannakhet International Airport in Savannakhet Province.

•  Border checkpoints: 

+ Thailand – Laos
-    Chiangkhong – Houixay, Chiang Rai to Bokeo Province;
-    Nakaxeng – Kaenthao, Loei to Sayabouly Province;
-    Houi Koln – Nam Ngeun, Nan to Sayabouly Province;
-    Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge I, Nongkhai-Vientiane Capital;
-    Tha Naleng train station in Vientiane;
-    Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge II, Moukdahan-Savannakhet Province;
-    Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge III, Nakorn Phanom-Khammouane Province;
-    Chongmek – Vangtao, Ubol Ratchathani to Champasack Province;

+ Cambodia - Laos
Dong Calor – Veun Kham, Cambodia to Champasack Province.
+  Vietnam – Laos
-    Nameo – Banleui, Thanh Hoa to Huaphanh Province;
-    Namkan – Namkan, Nge An to Xieng Khouang Province;
-    Keoneua – Nampao (Lak Sao), Ha tinh to Bolikhamxay Province;
-    Laobao – Dansavanh, Quang tri to Savannakhet Province;

+ China-Laos
           - Mohan – Botene , Yunnan to Luang Namtha Province.
2.3. Requirement Documents:
+ Validity: At least 6 months upon arrival
+ 02 recent color photo 4X6
+ At least 1 blank page for visa sticker
+ Visa application form

2.4. Lao visa on arrival fees:
The visa fee depending on the traveler's nationality and the length of stay, but it costs around US$ 30 - US$45. The fee can be paid in US dollars or Thai baht, and credit cards are not accepted.

Note: A Laos Visa on Arrival allows travelers to enter Laos and stay for up to 30 days without having to obtain a visa before traveling.

3. LAO E-VISA:
3.1.    Who are eligible ?
Lao eVisa facility is available for these following countries: 
Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Luxembourg, Nertherlands, New Zeland, Ireland, Paraguay, Portugal, United Kingdom, United States,  Switzerland, Spain, United Arab Emirate 
For in details, you can see in the list here

3.2.    Lao eVisa Port of Entry
E- Visa can be used to enter through these following designated ports:      
Wattay International Airport (Vientiane Capital)
Lao – Thai Friendship Bridge I (Vientiane Capital)
Luang Prabang International Airport (Luang Prabang)
Lao – Thai Friendship Bridge II (Savannakhet Province)
Pakse International Airport (Champasack Province)
Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge IV (Bokeo Province)
Boten International Checkpoint (Luang Namtha Province)
Boten Railway Station (Luang Namtha Province)

3.3.    Requirement Documents
If you are applying for the eVisa, you have to upload the following documents:

• Passport Photo size 4x6 cm (have been taken no longer than 6 months).
• Passport cover page.
• Passport bio page.

Note: Please upload the photo of your passport that covers the whole bio page including its MRZ (two lines at the bottom of the page)
3.4.    How to apply eVisa? 
You can apply Laos eVisa here: https://laoevisa.gov.la/index

• Step 1: Provide the application details and upload the necessary documents.
• Step 2: Review your application and pay the fee online.
• Step 3: Download the eVisa Approval Letter.

As soon as you arrive in Laos with the eVisa approval letter, follow the steps mentioned below:

• Go to the Immigration area and enter the dedicated  eVisa lane.
• Present your passport and eVisa Approval Letter to the Immigration officer.
• Get the final Immigration approval and enter Laos.

Note: Laos E-visa is non-refundable. The process takes around 3 business days. 

3.5.    E- Visa Fees
The eVisa payment is the last step of your application process after submitting your details and the required documents.
 Applicants should note that the eVisa Fee is non-refundable. The price will be different for each country. Please click here to calculate your eVisa Fee.

3.6.    Validity of Lao eVisa 
The eVisa for Laos is a single-entry online visa which allows a maximum stay of 30 days in Laos and is valid for 60 days from the date of approval.