Laos Packing List: Everything You Need to Travel Laos

This Laos packing list will advise you on everything you need to travel around the country for a short or long-stay trip. Moreover, you will discover plenty of travel information including visas, vaccinations, travel cards and so much more.

Laos is a wonderful country within South East Asia, but it tends to be skipped by many travellers visiting the region. Therefore, there isn’t loads of Laos travel information floating around on the internet, so, it’s time to change that!

Let’s dive into everything you need to know so that you can get your show on the road and get prepared for your trip to Laos.

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The Ultimate Laos Packing List

Packing for the Climate

The climate in Laos changes throughout the year, however, it’s a tropical climate meaning it tends to stay warm, humid and wet during most parts of the year.

The wet season runs from May to October and the dry season runs from November to April. When we talk about packing for the climate, I highly recommend that you pack lightweight, breathable and loose-fitted clothing.

Moreover, there are loads of mosquitoes hanging around, especially at dusk, so I advise that you wear loose-fitting pants to save yourself from getting bitten. Let’s check out some of the clothing options for my Laos packing list.

Laos Clothing Packing List Idea:

2 Loose-fitting pants
5 T-shirts
2 Pairs of shorts
1 Long sleeve top
1 Jumper / Jacket
1 Raincoat
7 Pairs of underwear
3 Pairs of socks
1 Hat
1 Sarong
1 Pair of flip-flops/thongs
1 Pair of runners/sneakers
1 Pair of hiking shoes

Keep the clothing lightweight and comfortable and you’ll have no problem travelling Laos any time of year. Additionally, only one jumper is necessary for a layer of warmth if the temperature is to dip low.

The temperature in Laos is consistently warm with a humid feel for most of the year

Passport and Visa

In terms of arriving into the country, like many others, you must have 6 months of validity on your passport. For the most part, many countries won’t let you in when the time on your passport is running low, so be sure to have plenty of time left!

Visas are very easy to acquire when coming to Laos, and I received my visa on arrival. Moreover, these are tourist visas that run for a period of 30 days. However, you can extend your visa if you wish to stay in the country longer.

Finally, the price of the visa varies from 30 to 45 USD depending on your country of origin. You will pay this fee at immigration upon arrival into the country.

Vaccinations

Before visiting Laos, you will definitely want to do some research into some of the vaccinations that may be necessary. Laos is an underdeveloped country, and unfortunately, there is a high risk of dangerous diseases and illnesses prevalent in all parts of the country.

Keep yourself and others safe by considering some of the vaccines mentioned below. Besides, this will save you the worry of getting sick overseas with some of the most dangerous illnesses found in Laos.

Some of the vaccinations you may want to consider include:

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Typhoid
Malaria
Yellow Fever
Japanese Encephalitis
Rabies

Finally, if you want to learn more about vaccinations, feel free to check out this site here for additional information.

Medication

Depending on your needs and what you deem necessary, this will vary from person to person. However, I recommend taking a few things with you in case you need to make use of them.

Before your trip, be sure to stock up on plenty of prescribed medications that you may need throughout your trip. This also includes contact lenses.

Keep in mind, it can be tricky to get ahold of prescriptions in Laos, so I would advise coming prepared with everything you need for the duration of your stay.

Nonetheless, the list below includes some of the general items you may like to consider to make your trip a little bit more comfortable. It will give you peace of mind to be prepared in case any situation arises where you need to make use of them.

Prescriptions
Paracetamol
Vitamins (Any that you deem necessary)
Electrolyte tablets
Antiseptic location
Diarrhoea medication
Insect repellent
Antimalarials
Anti-itch cream for bug bites
Bandaids

Toiletries

Keep yourself feeling comfortable throughout the duration of your trip by packing the required toiletries. Moreover, you can downsize all of these products into smaller containers to make them lighter for travelling.

One of my favourite tips is to use shampoo and conditioner bars. Moreover, they pack down much smaller and last a heap longer than traditionally used liquid soaps.

Finally, I recommend packing everything into a clear toiletry bag. This makes it ultra-easy to sort through everything and find whatever you may need! Nonetheless, these are some of the products that I recommend bringing along:

Shampoo and Conditioner bars
Face cleanser
Soap
Deodorant
Toothbrush & Toothpaste
Moisturiser
Sunscreen
Makeup
Makeup remover
Hairbrush

Feminine Hygiene Products

When it comes to that time of the month, females need to be organised and have period products ready to go. For the most part, people tend to travel with tampons or pads, but these can get bulky and take up unnecessary space in your luggage.

Personally, I think one of the best ways to travel is with a menstrual cup. Moreover, they are very small, lightweight, and reusable and truly make it feel as though you aren’t even on your period.

Not to mention, this is definitely one of the most important items on your Laos packing list. You wouldn’t want to be caught stranded with little or no sanitary products when you need them most!

Finally, be sure to pack enough of what you need and add in a couple of extras in case of a surprise period. Period products can be tricky to find in Laos, so it’s best to be organised with everything you need.

Tip: Have a period tracker on your phone so that you can get an idea of when it may be due next. This is extremely helpful for travel so that you can prepare accordingly.

Travel Cards and Cash

When travelling to Laos, you will need to keep in mind that cash is king. When dining at restaurants, shopping at markets and paying for items, you will typically need to use cash.

Therefore, having travel cards to withdraw cash is a crucial piece of gear. And, I highly recommend travelling with multiple cards in case one gets lost, stolen or damaged. It’s best to always have multiple ways to withdraw cash so that you can find a way out of any situation.

The currency in Laos is the Laotian Kip (LAK) and you can find accurate conversion rates from your local currency on Google.

Electronics

This section will vary depending on what you deem necessary to bring on a trip to Laos. Also, it depends on how long you are travelling and whether you are visiting other countries.

For the most part, I would advise bringing only the items that you truly need and leaving behind those additional valuables in a safe place at home.

Some of the tech products that you may wish to bring include:

Mobile Phone
Laptop
iPad / Tablet
Earphones / Headphones
Camera
Speaker
Drone
Portable charger
Universal Power adapter
GoPro

Some of the items on this Laos packing list may not be necessary for your trip. So, be sure to adjust accordingly and only take what you need!

Random Travel Necessities

At the end of the day, there are a heap of additional miscellaneous items that you may wish to bring along with you. Moreover, these are the items that aren’t exactly essential but may make your trip a little bit more comfortable and run a little smoother.

Not to mention, some of these items make travel a bit more comfortable and can be used for safety and security.

Some of the items that you may want to consider bringing along include:

Filtering travel water bottle: Consider purchasing a GRAYL Geopress travel water bottle to filter safe drinking water anywhere in the world.
Packing Cubes: This fantastic invention keeps your luggage organised. No more mixing dirty clothes with clean clothes!
Luggage Locks: TSA-approved luggage locks are essential for keeping your goods locked up
Sleeping Mask: Sneak a nap on any bus or plane with a handy sleeping mask.
Loop Ear Plugs: Drown out the noise in airports, hostels, cities, bars and many other places with these Loop ear plugs. You’ll be thankful you got them when you get an incredible night’s sleep!
Passport sleeve: Keep that passport safe with a protective sleeve. Your passport is your most essential document, so be sure to take care of it!
Rain cover: For those of you backpacking in Vietnam, be sure to have a rain cover for your backpack. The last thing you want is to have your entire bag soaked! Moreover, they’re cheap, come in many colours and pack down to nothing!

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, this Laos packing list is a great way to get organised for visiting the beautiful country. I highly recommend taking this information into account and being entirely prepared with everything you need before visiting.

Be sure to stay on top of visa information and vaccinations, these are ultimately two of the most important aspects when visiting Laos. I would advise looking into all of them well in advance and ensuring you are prepared for your trip.

Finally, if you would like to discover more about Laos, feel free to check out this section of my blog. It’s the ultimate spot for travel content including itineraries, things to do, where to stay and so much more. Happy reading!