Fourteen days is the length where Laos stops being a choice between north or south and lets you have both, as long as you accept that the middle of the country is a travel day or two, not a sightseeing stop. The route below treats that honestly.
The recommended route: the slow boat, the railway, then south
| Day | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Huay Xai to Luang Prabang | The Mekong slow boat, with a night in Pakbeng | A simple Lao-Thai border-town dinner in Pakbeng |
| 3 | Luang Prabang | Kuang Si Falls, Mount Phousi at sunset | Or lam, the city's buffalo-skin and eggplant stew |
| 4 | Luang Prabang | The morning alms (optional) and a boat to the Pak Ou caves | Luang Prabang sausage (sai oua) grilled riverside |
| 5 | Luang Prabang | A free day: the old town, the Royal Palace Museum, the night market | Sticky rice with jaew from a market stall |
| 6 | Vang Vieng | Train from Luang Prabang (about 1 hour) | A riverside dinner under the karsts |
| 7 | Vang Vieng | Kayaking, a water cave and the Blue Lagoon | Fresh river fish, grilled |
| 8 | Vang Vieng | A hot-air balloon flight at sunrise (ask the operator about its safety record first), the Nam Xay viewpoint | A last Beerlao by the Nam Song |
| 9 | Vientiane | Train onward (about 1 hour); Pha That Luang, the COPE Visitor Centre | Lao-style laap |
| 10 | Thakhek | Bus from Vientiane, about 6 to 9 hours | A village noodle soup |
| 11 | Kong Lor | The Kong Lor Cave boat passage, then back to Thakhek | Fresh river fish, grilled |
| 12 | Pakse | Bus from Thakhek, about 5 to 7 hours | A Lao-Vietnamese-influenced noodle soup |
| 13 | Don Det | Bus and boat from Pakse (about 3 to 4 hours) | Fresh Mekong fish |
| 14 | Don Det | Cycle to Don Khon (Khone Phapheng falls is a separate half day by boat and tuk-tuk), then travel back to Pakse to depart | A slow riverside dinner |
Day 11 can be a guided day tour to Kong Lor from a Thakhek base rather than a full multi-day loop by motorbike, which suits anyone without a motorbike licence or the time for the longer version. The full route, and the honest case for riding it properly instead, is in our Thakhek Loop guide. For the last two days, our 4000 Islands guide and southern Laos route guide have the detail.
Before you build a trip around the slow boat, know that the Huay Xai crossing sits 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 the current situation in our Laos visa and safety guide; it's also why our own Laos trips no longer cross there.
Other ways to spend 2 weeks in Laos
The railway loop, unhurried
Luang Prabang, Nong Khiaw, Vang Vieng and Vientiane at a slower pace than the route above, using the railway throughout.
Best for A relaxed first trip, no boat and no south
Laos and northern Thailand
Chiang Mai, Pai and Chiang Rai first, then Laos, usually by a short flight from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang rather than the border crossing.
Best for Combining two countries in one trip
The unhurried railway loop stays in the north the whole time and suits a first trip to Laos, or anyone who'd rather not spend two of their fourteen days on a bus to the south.
| Day | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | Luang Prabang | Kuang Si Falls, Mount Phousi, the Pak Ou caves, a free day | Or lam and sai oua |
| 5 to 7 | Nong Khiaw | Van from Luang Prabang (about 4 hours); a boat up the Nam Ou to Muang Ngoi | River fish grilled riverside |
| 8 | Vang Vieng | Van back to Luang Prabang, then the train on (about 1 hour) | A riverside dinner |
| 9 to 10 | Vang Vieng | Kayaking, the Blue Lagoon, a balloon flight | Fresh river fish |
| 11 to 14 | Vientiane | Train onward (about 1 hour); Pha That Luang, the COPE Visitor Centre, free days by the Mekong | Lao-style laap |
Laos and northern Thailand suits anyone planning both countries in one booking rather than treating Laos alone. Most people now fly Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang instead of taking the slow boat, for the reason given above.
| Day | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | Chiang Mai | Temples, a Thai cooking class, the Sunday Walking Street market | Khao soi |
| 5 to 6 | Pai | Minivan from Chiang Mai (about 3 hours); Pai Canyon, the Land Split | A northern-style khao soi stall |
| 7 to 8 | Chiang Rai | The White Temple and the Blue Temple; about 3 to 3.5 hours each way from Chiang Mai by road, or fly | Northern-Thai nam prik ong |
| 9 | Luang Prabang | Fly from Chiang Mai | Or lam |
| 10 to 12 | Vang Vieng, Vientiane | Train south (about 1 hour each leg) | Sai oua, then laap |
| 13 to 14 | Vientiane | Free days, or an extra night in Vang Vieng | A final Beerlao by the Mekong |
Check current border and visa rules for both countries before you plan a crossing; our Laos visa guide and Thailand visa guide have the current requirements for each direction.
Choosing between them
| Choose | If |
|---|---|
| The slow boat, the railway and the far south | You want to see the whole country and don't mind a couple of long travel days in the middle |
| The unhurried railway loop | It's your first trip to Laos, or you'd rather spend all fourteen days in the north |
| Laos and northern Thailand | You're booking one trip across both countries rather than Laos on its own |
What 2 weeks in Laos costs
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Dorm bed | About US$5 to US$18 a night (100,000 to 400,000 kip) |
| Street meal | About US$1 to US$4 |
| Mekong slow boat, Huay Xai to Luang Prabang | About US$18 to US$22 (400,000 to 500,000 kip) |
| Laos-China Railway, 2nd class, Vientiane to Luang Prabang | About US$16 (360,000 kip) |
| Bus, Vientiane to Thakhek | Roughly US$10 to US$25, depending on the bus class and where you book |
| Kong Lor Cave boat | Sources disagree on the price, so ask in the village |
| Bus and boat, Pakse to the 4000 Islands | About US$6 to US$11 |
Most backpackers spend about US$20 to US$35 a day on a bed, food and local transport. The one-off costs above come on top. Prices are in US dollars and move with the kip, so treat them as a guide. See how much does Laos cost for the fuller breakdown.
Best time for 2 weeks in Laos
November to February suits every part of this route: the Mekong is calm for the slow boat, the north is cool and dry, and Kong Lor's water level is easiest for the boat passage. Avoid April, the hottest month nationwide, and expect haze in the north from March. The rainy season runs from May to October, when floods and landslides can disrupt river trips. If your trip falls in October, check our Laos festivals calendar for Boun Ok Phansa, the boat races on the Mekong that mark the end of Buddhist Lent.
Getting around in 2 weeks
The Laos-China Railway carries you through the north: fast trains link Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane in about two hours end to end, and domestic tickets are released only a few days ahead (reports say 3 to 7) on the LCR Ticket app. South of Vientiane there's no railway yet, so Thakhek and Pakse mean a bus, and the last stretch to the 4000 Islands is a bus and a short boat crossing. See getting around Laos for fares and how to book.
