Laos for First Timers

Every place below is pinned on the interactive map with its exact location. You can browse it for free, and copy the whole map into your own Ikuzo account to adapt it to your trip.

Luang Prabang

Kuang Si Falls

Laos' most famous waterfall, a series of turquoise travertine pools about 45 minutes from Luang Prabang. Go early morning to beat the tour buses and bring a swimsuit for the lower pools.

Mount Phousi

The 100 meter hill in the middle of Luang Prabang, climbed via 300 plus steps for a 360 degree view over the town and the Mekong. Sunset is beautiful but crowded, sunrise is much quieter.

Wat Xieng Thong

The most beautiful temple in Luang Prabang, built in 1560, with sweeping roofs and the famous tree of life mosaic. Dress modestly, shoulders and knees covered.

Royal Palace Museum

The former royal residence, now a museum of Lao royal history and home of the sacred Prabang Buddha. Bags and cameras must be left in lockers at the entrance.

Morning Alms Giving (Sakkaline Road)

Every day around sunrise, hundreds of monks walk this street collecting alms. Watch quietly from across the road, never touch the monks, and only participate if you do it respectfully.

Luang Prabang Night Market

Sisavangvong Road fills with handicraft stalls every evening from about 5pm. Prices are fair and haggling is gentle here, and the food alley at the west end is great for cheap dinner.

Pak Ou Caves

Two river caves packed with thousands of Buddha statues, reached by a scenic 2 hour boat ride up the Mekong. Most people combine it with a stop at the Whisky Village.

Wat Mai

A former royal temple next to the palace, known for its five tiered roof and golden bas relief facade. Easy to visit together with the Royal Palace Museum and the night market.

Tad Sae Waterfall

Quieter alternative to Kuang Si, with wide limestone terraces best from August to November when water levels are high. Access is by short boat ride from Ban En village.

UXO Lao Visitor Centre

Small free exhibition on the unexploded bombs that still affect Laos, the most bombed country per capita in history. Sobering and worth 30 to 45 minutes to understand the country.

Whisky Village (Ban Xang Hai)

Riverside village famous for lao lao rice whisky, often with snakes or scorpions in the bottle. A quick free tasting stop on the boat trip to the Pak Ou Caves.

Nahm Dong Park

Jungle park 30 minutes from town with waterfalls, bamboo bridges, ziplines and a nice cafe. A relaxed half day if you want nature without the Kuang Si crowds.

Vang Vieng

Blue Lagoon 1

The classic Vang Vieng swimming hole with rope swings and the Phu Kham cave above it. About 7 km from town by bicycle, scooter or buggy, and busiest after lunch.

Tham Chang Cave

The easiest cave to visit in Vang Vieng, with stairs, lighting and a viewpoint over the Nam Song valley from the entrance. Walkable from town, good for a hot afternoon.

Nam Song River Tubing

The famous lazy float down the Nam Song, now much tamer than in the party days. Rent a tube at the office in town, start early afternoon so you finish before dark.

Pha Ngern Viewpoint

A steep 40 to 60 minute climb rewarded with the best panorama of Vang Vieng's karst mountains. Bring water and proper shoes, and aim for sunrise or late afternoon.

Tham Nam Water Cave

The cave you explore by tube, pulling yourself along a rope through the dark with a headlamp. Around 13 km north of town, usually done as part of a kayak and cave day tour.

Hot Air Balloon Launch Field

Vang Vieng is one of the cheapest places in the world to fly in a hot air balloon, around 100 to 130 USD. Flights go at sunrise and sunset, book a day ahead in town.

Vientiane

Pha That Luang

The golden national stupa of Laos and the country's most important monument. Come late afternoon when the gold glows and the tour groups thin out.

Patuxai

Vientiane's own Arc de Triomphe, built with cement meant for an airport runway. Climb to the top for a cheap view down Lane Xang Avenue.

Wat Si Saket

The oldest surviving temple in Vientiane, with cloister walls holding thousands of small Buddha statues. It survived the 1828 destruction of the city, so this is the original article.

Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan)

Surreal riverside park of giant concrete Buddhist and Hindu sculptures built in 1958. About 25 km from the center, reachable by bus 14, tuk tuk or taxi, and worth 1 to 2 hours.

Wat Ho Phra Keo

Former royal temple that once housed the Emerald Buddha, now a museum of Lao religious art. Right across the street from Wat Si Saket, do both together.

COPE Visitor Centre

Free and moving exhibition about UXO survivors and the prosthetics center that helps them. One of the most worthwhile stops in Vientiane, allow about an hour.

Vientiane Night Market

Red roofed stalls along the Mekong selling clothes, gadgets and souvenirs from sunset. Come for the riverside promenade atmosphere and street food more than the shopping.

Southern Laos

Don Det (4000 Islands)

The backpacker heart of Si Phan Don, the 4000 Islands of the Mekong. Rent a bicycle, watch sunsets from a hammock and cross the old French bridge to Don Khon.

Li Phi Falls (Tat Somphamit)

Powerful rapids on Don Khon where the Mekong squeezes through rocky channels. Easy bicycle ride from Don Det, with a small beach area and viewpoints.

Khone Phapheng Falls

The largest waterfall in Southeast Asia by volume, the reason boats cannot sail up the Mekong from Cambodia. Visited from the mainland, usually as a half day trip from the islands.

Wat Phou (Champasak)

UNESCO listed Khmer temple complex older than Angkor Wat, climbing a mountainside in terraces. Go early morning for cooler air and the view over the plain from the upper sanctuary.

Tad Fane Waterfall

Twin 120 meter falls plunging into a jungle gorge on the Bolaven Plateau, the signature stop on the Pakse motorbike loop. There is a viewpoint at the resort and a zipline across the gorge.

Tad Yuang Waterfall

A wide 40 meter waterfall just down the road from Tad Fane, with easier access and picnic areas. You can walk down to the base, and coffee farms surround the area.

Pakse

The relaxed gateway city of southern Laos, at the meeting of the Mekong and Sedone rivers. Base yourself here for the Bolaven Plateau loop, Wat Phou and trips to the 4000 Islands.

Northern Laos

Nong Khiaw Viewpoint (Pha Daeng Peak)

A sweaty 1.5 hour climb above the Nam Ou river to one of the most spectacular views in Laos. Go for sunrise when mist hangs in the valley, and bring plenty of water.

Muang Ngoi Neua

A tiny riverside village one hour by boat from Nong Khiaw, with no through road and a wonderfully slow pace. Stay a night or two for hikes to caves and surrounding villages.

Plain of Jars Site 1

Hundreds of mysterious 2000 year old stone jars scattered across the hills near Phonsavan, a UNESCO site. Site 1 is the biggest and easiest to reach, and stick to the marked paths, the area was heavily bombed.