Laos

Welcome to Laos

In the very old days, around the 14th century, when the country was called Lan Xang or “One Million Elephants” Laos was at its peak. It was one of the most important states in Southeast Asia and so many of the countries most popular traditions date from around that time.

Laos is a country with a surprisingly sophisticated culture and is a great deal of fun to visit. It is simple and relaxed with a community of people who, much like the Cambodians, pride themselves on their good sense of humour and friendly personalities.

You will feel to a certain extent that you have travelled back in time when you visit Laos. The old French Colonial architecture is still very dominant in the larger towns and you get a real sense of exactly what it must have been like 100 years ago. The smell of Laos coffee, croissants and fresh baguettes is unmistakable from town to town.

The mighty Mekong river runs through the heart of Laos and you will marvel as you try to get your bearings in the Four Thousand Islands area in the South (Si Phan Don).

All in all a trip to Laos is good for the soul and we highly recommend taking your time to enjoy this beautiful and peaceful country.

We have a huge selection of cheap holidays to Laos available for you to search through. Simply select a resort from the ones shown below and then run a search using the green search box located in the top left hand corner of the page.

Can't find what you are looking for or too busy to search? Call us today for our best deals on 08456 777 080 or click here to send an enquiry and we will be in touch.

*TOP TIP* - Visit our new 'Travel Junky Tours & Activities' website and spice up your holiday!

Here are some interesting facts for you...

Official Name - Lao Peoples Democratic Republic
Capital City - Vientiane
Language - Lao
Religion - Buddhist, Animist, Baha’I Faith, Islam, Christian
Currency - Kip (LAK) KN
Time difference from GMT +7
Electricity & Voltage - 230V 50HZ
Weights & Measures - Metric
Country Dialling Code (+856)
Population - 6,520,000

Weather in Laos
The weather in Laos revolves around the yearly monsoon cycle and it produces three distinctive seasons. The southwest monsoon arrives between May and July and will continue through to November bringing much rain and so the weather will be much cooler to visit around this time.

From November through to March Laos is dry and still quite cool; a slight breeze will still blow from the tail end of the north east monsoon. Down in the Mekong Valley the humidity and warmth is more so that up in the mountains.

Laos Passport & Visa Information

Travellers to Laos must present a passport valid for at least 6 months after the date of return.

A visa is required by all nationals visiting Laos and is collected at the airport on arrival. You are advised to take some loose passport photos with you to attach to your visa application form to avoid delays in processing and also extra charges for photocopying your passport.

A 15 day visa can now be obtained from Vientiane International Airport, Luang Prabang International Airport or Friendship Bridge however visas are not extendable. A 1 month visit visa is available from the Laos embassy on the basis that the applicant has a guarantor living in Laos. Business visas valid for one month can be obtained from the Laos embassy and authorisation must be provided by the organisation that will be visited prior to application. A 5 day transit visa is available for all nationals passing through Laos to other destinations; this can be obtained from Vientiane International Airport and proof of the onward journey within 5 days must be provided.

Important: The information that we display is for guidance only, we recommend that all travellers visit the official British Government website for international travel advice by clicking here

Note: For specific information on visas travellers are advised to contact the Embassy of the Peoples Democratic Republic of Lao in France by clicking here

Important: The information that we display is for guidance only, we recommend that all travellers visit the official British Government website for international travel advice by clicking here