Laos is a beautiful country in the southeast, sometimes overshadowed by its popular neighboring countries. However, this country has at least as much to offer as the rest. Precisely because it was much less popular and therefore less crowded, Laos was one of our favorite destinations during our trip through Southeast Asia.
The country is home to some very beautiful landscapes, lush green rice fields, dramatic mountains, and breathtaking views. You can also explore some very unique caves and chase the most powerful waterfalls. What’s extra fun is that you can explore the country and more remote areas during various motorbike loops.
If you ask us, Laos is a country full of beautiful places, fascinating culture, and a lot of adventure.
Overall, the best time to visit Laos is between November and March, during the dry season, when the temperature is pleasantly warm and sunny. In the mountain areas, it might get chilly at night in December and January. Know that the dry season is also a high tourist season and expect the biggest crowds.
Temperatures start to rise in April and from late May, the rainy season begins. You can expect higher temperatures and frequent rain showers.
The official currency in Laos is Laotian Kip (LAK) although US Dollars and Thai Baht are widely accepted as well. Note that US dollar bills must be in pristine condition (no wrinkles, tears, or stains), otherwise, they will not be accepted. Often the price in LAK is also slightly cheaper. You can pay by credit card in bigger restaurants, hotels, and shops in tourist areas, but not everywhere. Especially not in the smaller, local restaurants, bars, street food stalls, shops, and more rural areas. It is therefore always useful to have enough cash with you.
You will find ATMs in every tourist area and/or major cities where you can withdraw money, but not in the more remote places.
The official language in Laos is Lao, but it is spoken in many different dialects. English is generally spoken in the major tourist areas by people in the tourist industry.
Laos is a relatively safe country to travel, although there are certain areas you should avoid.
Of course, you always have to be attentive to crimes that can happen anywhere, such as pickpocketing and bag snatching.
Tourists are sometimes taken advantage of and get scammed. Some very common scams are scooter scams.
Do not drink tap water in Laos. You should only drink bottled water to make sure you don’t get sick. However, it is okay to brush your teeth with tap water but try not to swallow it.
In Laos, the dress code is casual but modest. You can wear shorts and flip-flops as long as you dress decently. It is expected to cover your shoulders and knees when you plan to go to public places, especially religious places. Note that it can be very hot and humid, so try to bring clothes with lightweight fabrics.
You can buy a local SIM card (e.g. at the airport) to be able to use mobile data at a low cost in the country. You can also buy a cheap sim card at the Seven Eleven supermarkets, that you find on every corner of the streets!
Another good option is to buy an e-SIM.
In Laos, it is common to negotiate the price of a product (not food) on the streets, in markets, and in small shops, but not in stores where there is a fixed price. By haggling a product will often cost you less than what they originally asked for.
Tipping is not customary in Laos, but it is highly appreciated to show your gratitude if you are satisfied with the service. If you like to tip, you can always leave a tip of 5% to 10%.
Most power plug sockets in Laos are of type F. The standard voltage is 220 V and the frequency is 50 Hz.
The time zone in Laos is Indochina time GMT+7 year-round.
