The recommended route: Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane by train
This is the route almost every first-time visitor ends up on, and for good reason: three genuinely different towns, none more than a couple of hours apart by train, with enough in each to fill two or three days without padding. Luang Prabang gets the most time because it has the most to do (temples, the morning alms, Kuang Si Falls, a boat on the Mekong); Vang Vieng is built around the outdoors; Vientiane is a short, easy wind-down before you fly out.
| Day | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luang Prabang | Arrive; wander the old town, Mount Phousi at sunset | Or lam stew and Beerlao on the night market strip |
| 2 | Luang Prabang | The morning alms (watched respectfully, from a distance), Wat Xieng Thong, the Royal Palace Museum | Sticky rice with jaew (chilli dip) |
| 3 | Luang Prabang | A half-day trip to Kuang Si Falls' turquoise pools | Luang Prabang sausage (sai oua) at the night market |
| 4 | Vang Vieng | Train from Luang Prabang, about 1 hour; afternoon kayaking the Nam Song | Riverside dinner overlooking the karsts |
| 5 | Vang Vieng | A hot-air balloon at sunrise, then the Nam Xay viewpoint hike or a Blue Lagoon swim | Fresh river fish, grilled |
| 6 | Vientiane | Train from Vang Vieng, about 1 hour; Pha That Luang and a Mekong sunset | Laap, the national dish, at a local restaurant |
| 7 | Vientiane | Patuxai and the COPE Visitor Centre in the morning; depart | - |
The full day-by-day, with getting-there details for every leg, is in our Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane route guide.
Other ways to spend 1 week
Skip Vientiane, add Nong Khiaw
Luang Prabang for three nights, a fast trip north to Nong Khiaw's limestone cliffs, then back to Luang Prabang and the train to Vang Vieng, dropping Vientiane entirely.
Best for Karst scenery over a capital city
Arrive on the Mekong slow boat
Two days on the river from the Thai border to Luang Prabang, then the railway on to Vang Vieng for the rest of the week, skipping Vientiane.
Best for A scenic overland arrival from Thailand
| Version | Day 1 to 2 | Day 3 to 5 | Day 6 to 7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Add Nong Khiaw | Luang Prabang | Nong Khiaw, then back to Luang Prabang | Train to Vang Vieng |
| Slow boat entry | Huay Xai to Pakbeng to Luang Prabang (2 days on the river) | Luang Prabang | Train to Vang Vieng |
The slow boat leaves from Huay Xai, in Bokeo province, where Canada advises avoiding non-essential travel within 10 km of the Thai border, the UK asks for extreme caution and Germany advises against travel to Bokeo and Sainyabuli. Read your government's advice before you plan around it; our Laos visa guide sets out what each says.
Choosing between them
| Choose... | If you want... |
|---|---|
| The train route above | The easiest, most reliable week, with a capital-city finish |
| Nong Khiaw instead of Vientiane | Cliffs, a slower pace and fewer other travellers |
| The slow boat entry | A scenic overland arrival from Thailand, and don't mind a longer travel day |
What it costs
Most backpackers in Laos spend about US$20 to US$35 a day on a bed, food and local transport. A dorm bed runs 100,000 to 400,000 kip, a street meal 20,000 to 80,000 kip and Kuang Si Falls entry is 60,000 kip. The train tickets (below) and any balloon flight come on top, so budget for them in advance. See how much does Laos cost for the full breakdown.
Best time and getting around
November to February is the best window for this route: cool, dry weather for temple-hopping and Vang Vieng's outdoor activities, and clear skies for the balloon flight. Avoid April, the hottest month, and be aware that March brings haze from crop burning in the north. The rainy season runs from May to October.
The Laos-China Railway is what makes this itinerary work at a week's length. A 2nd-class ticket from Vientiane to Luang Prabang currently costs about 360,000 kip, and Vientiane to Vang Vieng about 170,000 to 190,000 kip. For the Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang leg, check the fare on the LCR Ticket app or at the station. Domestic tickets are released only a few days ahead (reports say 3 to 7, so check the app), and in high season they sell out fast, so book as soon as sales open. Buy through the LCR Ticket app (a Laos SIM makes registration easier, though a recent update lets you register with just an email address and a Visa card), at a station or town ticket office with your passport, or through a reseller such as 12Go or Baolau. Bring your passport for every journey: security at the stations is airport-style, so arrive 45 to 60 minutes early, and knives, lighters and aerosols get confiscated. Full details are in our Laos visa guide.
