10 Reasons to Visit Laos: Including Travel Tips

There are many reasons to visit the beautiful country that is Laos. However, within this blog post, I go into further detail to convince you why this incredible South East Asian country should be on everyone’s travel list.

Laos is an amazing country diverse in landscapes, culture, experiences and so much more. There really is something for everyone to enjoy in this magnificent hidden gem of a country.

I’ve discovered that it’s still one of the least travelled Asian countries. However, this shouldn’t deter you as there is so much to see and do, you’ll be surprised more travellers don’t make their way through.

Finally, Laos has a special charm about it making it one of the best places to visit within the South East Asian region, and I recommend it to all travellers.

So, continue reading to discover all of the best reasons why you should visit Laos!

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that I may earn a small commission on purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Moreover, you can read my full affiliate disclosure here.

Where is Laos?

Laos is a South East Asian country and the only landlocked country within the region. Moreover, Laos borders China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar.

The country is quite large at the top and narrows down towards the south in between Vietnam and Thailand. And, the capital of the Laos is Vientiane.

Is Laos Worth Visiting?

In short, yes absolutely! I didn’t think that I’d like Laos as much as I did, but it has truly become one of my favourite countries to travel.

Laos is a very authentic place and offers the attitude of not trying to become anything else. Which, I think is fantastic! It is uniquely itself.

Laos has a stunning mountainous landscape with loads of limestone karsts, strikingly green rice fields, unruly jungles, ethnic villages and numerous small townships.

What Is the Best Time of Year to Visit Laos?

Typically, the best time of year to visit Laos is between October and April. Moreover, this is when the weather is most consistent with the warmest and driest days.

Nonetheless, travel within the country is fantastic even during the wet season and is fairly easy to adapt to. However, you just need to find comfort in humidity as it can get extremely warm from April to October.

Where Can I Find the Best Laos Itinerary?

Luckily enough for you, I spent a fair bit of time creating the ultimate Laotian itinerary. Moreover, this includes everything you need to know from language, currency, culture, food, the best places to visit and how much time to spend in each location.

This itinerary is based on a 2-week journey, which is the perfect amount of time to enjoy exactly what you need out of Laos! Be sure to check out the blog post linked below.

10 Reasons to Visit Laos

The Landscape Is Insanely Beautiful

One of the best reasons to visit Laos is without a doubt the gorgeous landscape. Moreover, it’s a dynamic place with many variations of landscape throughout the country.

Think aqua waterfalls and lagoons, thick unruly jungles, busy streets filled with locals, rice paddies, limestone karsts, major rivers and wildlife.

Laos is one of those places that is a photographer’s dream. It’s truly one of the most photogenic countries and you’ll be amazed by the sheer beauty of it!

Tip: Luang Prabang is one of the prettiest places in Laos. The French colonial architecture set alongside the Mekong and easy access to gorgeous waterfalls, viewpoints and landscapes make it a must-visit location!

The People Are Friendly

Laotian people are like many of the other Asian countries, ultra-friendly! Laotian people will truly go out of their way to ensure that visitors are comfortable and enjoy their time in Laos.

I had many positive shopping experiences, loads of great conversations and felt extremely safe as a solo female traveller exploring the country.

And, surprisingly enough, many Laotian people can speak perfect English! This was something that really surprised me about Laos, as I was expecting very little to no or broken English.

Nonetheless, this makes travelling through the country a little easier as communication runs a bit smoother.

Tip: Try picking up a few Laotian words to show respect. So, I advise that you at least know how to say hello and thank you at the bare minimum.

Laos Has the Most Stunning Waterfalls

In all honesty, I’ve seen a number of waterfalls in my time, but Laos waterfalls have to be some of the best. I genuinely couldn’t believe my eyes when I stood in front of the stunning Kuang Si waterfall.

It’s a massive waterfall and the water is the most beautiful shade of aqua. Living in Australia, I thought I’d seen some of the most beautiful waterfalls, but I sure was wrong!

And, you can swim at Kuang Si Falls! I almost think that this waterfall makes the trip to Laos worth it on its own. Additionally, there are some really beautiful blue lagoons to visit. And, while these aren’t waterfalls, they make for the most stunning swimming hole.

Some waterfalls that I recommend checking out include:
-Kuang Si Waterfall
-Tad Sae Waterfall
-Li Phi Waterfall

There Are Tonnes of Adventure-Based Activities

I was thoroughly impressed with just how many adventure-based activities there are in Laos. You can really try anything in this incredible country and all of it is totally worth a crack!

From hiking in the jungle to sunrise hot air balloon rides, there really is something for everyone to enjoy! And, one of my favourite memories from my 6-month South East Asian journey was my jungle hike in Luang Namtha.

I hiked with two German travellers and two Laotian guides through the Nam Ha National Protected Area for two days. It was truly the highlight of my time in Laos! We stayed overnight in a village and then kayaked down the Nam Ha River.

Some other activities that you can get around while in Laos include:
-Hot air balloon ride in Vang Vieng
-Hiking Nam Xay’s viewpoint
-Exploring lagoons
-Mekong River cruise
-Chase waterfalls

Everything Is Uber Cheap

Laos is an extremely cheap country to travel around, making it the perfect spot to visit for any broke backpacker or traveller. Therefore, the cheap travelling factor takes the cake as one of the best reasons to visit Laos.

You can get by on a budget anywhere from 200,000 – 600,000 LAK per day ($20-$60 AUD). Depending on the kind of activities you do, you can get away with spending a little bit less. However, most activities are really cheap, and worth the price tag!

For the most part, the most expensive part of travelling is going from city to city. I found that train and bus tickets were around 180,000 LAK ($18 AUD) for a one-way trip. Nonetheless, you won’t need to make too many stops, and everything else is extremely cheap!

Hostels will set you back no more than 100,000 LAK per night and you can get meals from 15,000 LAK. I purchased a huge bunch of bananas that fuelled me for days for only 10,000 LAK!

Not to mention, Laos also made it into my top 10 cheapest backpacking destinations blog post linked below. Besides, if you’d like to find some more cheap places to travel, I recommend checking out that post!

Laos Is a Safe Place to Travel

As a solo female traveller, I’m constantly on the hunt for safe places to travel. And, one of the best reasons to visit Laos is the fact that it is an extremely safe country to travel.

I felt very comfortable going from town to town and wandering around (even at nighttime) within the different locations. However, I would always advise wandering with a trusted friend or new acquaintance, as safety in numbers is usually best.

Nonetheless, make good use of your intuition and follow your gut instinct at all times. And, follow reasonable safety measures to keep yourself safe while travelling!

Tip: When wandering the streets, take care of your valuable items. Many tourists are prone to petty crimes such as snatch and grabs. Moreover, this is typically more common in larger towns such as Vientiane and Luang Prabang.

A way to avoid items being stolen is to keep them out of sight, avoid pickpockets, wear a bum bag or hide valuables underneath your clothes. Therefore, avoid holding your phone while wandering in the street as someone on a motorbike may snatch it from your hand.

The Food Is Incredible

Another one of my reasons to visit Laos is the food! And, I know this is a huge reason as to why people love to travel in general. Experiencing food from different cultures is truly special and gives you an insight into some of the incredible creations that make up the history of a country.

Laotian food, like many Asian countries, consists of dishes that include noodles, rice, curry, soup and salad.

When spending time in Laos, you need to make sure that you try ‘Laab’ which is a minced meat salad. It’s a national favourite and is consumed regularly by the locals.

Additionally, some other dishes I recommend you try include Lao sausage, sticky rice, Kaipen and papaya salad. Nonetheless, there are loads of tasty meals to try, so get around a few of them while visiting!

Easy to Navigate

A huge positive to visiting Laos is the fact that the country is easy to navigate. Moreover, it’s quite easy to complete a simple loop while travelling, and, most of the good stuff is in the northern part of the country.

Therefore, you can reduce your travel time and stick to the main areas. This makes a short trip to Laos worth the time, and you can still enjoy plenty of sights and activities!

I entered Laos through the land border at Huay Xai (from Thailand) and then completed a loop. Finally, I exited the country boarding a flight from Vientiane back to Thailand. I had no issue crossing the borders along with getting visas.

Furthermore, most things within the country are close to the towns, so you don’t need to do a lot of travelling outside of the main towns. This makes it convenient for a few days in each location to get the most out of your time.

The Night Markets Are the Best Nighttime Activities

One of my favourite things about visiting Luang Prabang was the night markets. The night markets offer the best shopping experience with loads of unique and handmade items. And, I think this makes up an excellent reason to visit Laos.

Not to mention, this is the perfect spot to meet with friends for dinner, watch some live music, drink some local Lao beer and eat some tasty and freshly made food. Besides, this is the perfect opportunity to try a few of the local dishes and refuel after a long day of exploring.

Furthermore, you can head into the shopping area to check out some of the locally made goods for sale. Purchasing from these vendors supports the locals and helps to keep money within the small community.

I found loads of incredible items from handmade jewellery to homewares and stunning art to beautiful clothing. So, if you were thinking of doing some shopping, this is definitely the place to do it!

Laos Is Rich in Culture and History

Laos is one of the most underdeveloped countries in the South East Asian region. And, Laotian history is still extremely dominant and Western cultures haven’t overtaken, like many other countries.

There are 160 known ethnic groups within the country, however, it’s highly likely that there is much more spread within the country. And, one of the craziest facts is that there are over 80 languages from all the tribes.

I find it incredible that even native Laotian people can’t communicate with all different groups of villagers as there are different languages. Therefore, making Laos an extremely diverse culture.

If you like to learn more about history and culture, then Laos is a fantastic place to travel. Finally, I recommend checking out this website for more information on the ethnic groups of Laos.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, Laos is one of the most incredible countries within South East Asia and there are plenty of excellent reasons to visit. From tasty local food to wild adventures in the jungle, this country really has something for everyone.

Nonetheless, simply just the landscape of this magnificent country is enough to make any traveller say ‘wow’. Therefore, I strongly believe it should be on everyone’s travel list, as Laos is too good to miss!

Besides, a simple 2-week getaway to the country is the perfect amount of time to see and experience everything that you need.

Finally, if you would like to discover more from Laos, I recommend checking out this section of my blog. I am constantly updating this area with loads of fresh content to give you the best travel advice for exploring Laos.