Laos is the country people skip — and that is exactly why you shouldn’t.
Sandwiched between Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, Laos rarely makes the top of an Indian traveller’s Southeast Asia list. It has no beaches, no mega-cities, no viral theme parks. What it has instead is something rarer: a slowness, a gentleness, a landscape of misty mountains and a wide brown river that shaped the most peaceful days of our entire trip.
We travelled through three Laos stops — Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane — using the country’s brand-new high-speed railway to connect them. This is our complete Laos travel guide for Indian travellers: where to go, how long to stay, what it costs, and the one place we wish we’d given more time.
Why Laos Deserves a Place on Your Itinerary
If Vietnam surprised us with how developed it was, Laos surprised us with how calm it was.
This is a country that moves at its own pace. Monks collect alms at dawn. The Mekong drifts past at the speed of a slow afternoon. Even Vang Vieng, once infamous as a wild backpacker party town, has matured into a destination defined by hot air balloons over limestone mountains rather than tubing and bars.
For Indian travellers, Laos works beautifully as part of a wider Southeast Asia trip — most naturally paired with Vietnam, Cambodia or Thailand. It is affordable, the people are genuinely warm, and the new railway has made getting around faster and easier than ever before. It is also blissfully uncrowded compared to its neighbours, which is increasingly rare in this part of the world.
The Laos Visa for Indian Travellers
Indian passport holders can get a visa on arrival in Laos, which makes entry straightforward.
Visa on arrival cost: Approximately $40 USD (carry USD cash for this)
What you need:
- Passport with at least 6 months validity
- One passport-size photograph
- The completed arrival form
- USD cash for the fee
Laos e-visa: An online e-visa is also available if you prefer to arrange it before travel — apply only through the official government portal. For most Indian travellers arriving by air, visa on arrival is simple and reliable.
Tip: Carry a few small USD notes for the visa fee and keep a passport photo handy — it speeds things up considerably at the counter.
Getting Around Laos — The New Railway Changes Everything
The single biggest practical improvement to travelling in Laos is the Laos-China Railway, a modern high-speed line that connects the major destinations quickly and comfortably.
We used it for two legs of our journey:
- Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng — around 1 hour, roughly ₹5,000 for three of us
- Vang Vieng to Vientiane — a similarly quick, smooth ride
Before this railway, these journeys took many hours by winding mountain road. Now they take a fraction of the time in air-conditioned comfort. Book tickets a day or two ahead where possible, as popular trains sell out. We booked 1 month in advance. The actual ticket is sent 24 hours prior to the departure.
For longer hops or to enter from neighbouring countries, Laos is also well connected by air through Luang Prabang and Vientiane airports.
Our Laos Itinerary — Three Stops, Each Completely Different
What makes Laos special is how distinct its three main destinations are from one another. Here is how we structured our trip — and how we’d adjust it with hindsight.
Luang Prabang — The City That Felt Like a Dream
If you visit only one place in Laos, make it Luang Prabang.
A UNESCO World Heritage town where French-colonial architecture meets golden Buddhist temples, set where the Mekong meets the Nam Khan river, Luang Prabang is the kind of place that slows your heartbeat. Saffron-robed monks collect alms at sunrise. The night market glows with lanterns. And just outside town lies Kuang Si — a waterfall so impossibly turquoise it doesn’t look real.
We spent two days here and it was the emotional heart of our Laos experience. Mount Phousi at sunset, a Mekong river cruise, the morning almsgiving, and Kuang Si waterfall all packed into a stay that felt unhurried despite being full.
How long to stay: Two days minimum, three if you can. Luang Prabang rewards slowness.
→ Read our full Luang Prabang travel guide here
→ 2 Days in Luang Prabang — the perfect itinerary here
→ Kuang Si Waterfall — the most beautiful in Southeast Asia here
→ Best things to do in Luang Prabang here
Find the best hotels in Luang Prabang – >
Vang Vieng — The One We Wish We’d Given More Time
Vang Vieng was the surprise of our Laos trip, and honestly, the place I’d go back to first.
Once known purely as a backpacker party town, Vang Vieng has reinvented itself around its extraordinary natural setting — jagged limestone karsts rising straight out of green fields, the Nam Song river winding through, and hot air balloons drifting over it all at sunrise and sunset.
Riverside Boutique resort, where we stayed, is along side the Nam Song river was simply beautiful and relaxing.
That balloon ride was one of the defining experiences of our entire Southeast Asia trip. Floating over the mountains at golden hour, ₹17,000 per person and worth every rupee, we drifted so far we didn’t land where we started — a story we still laugh about.
Our honest regret: We didn’t give Vang Vieng enough time. It is genuinely beautiful — more beautiful than we expected — and there is more to do here than a short stay allows: the Blue Lagoons, the Nam Song river walks, the viewpoints, the caves. If we planned this trip again, Vang Vieng would get an extra day. Don’t make our mistake — give it at least two full days.
Find best hotels in Vang Vieng – >
→ Read our full Vang Vieng travel guide here
→ Hot Air Balloon Vang Vieng — the complete guide here
→ Best things to do in Vang Vieng here
→ Vang Vieng budget guide here
Vientiane — The Quiet Capital
Vientiane is Laos’s understated capital, and we gave it half a day and one night en route to Cambodia.
It is calmer and more low-key than you’d expect from a capital city — no frantic energy, no towering skyline, just a relaxed riverside town with a handful of genuinely worthwhile sights. We saw Patuxai (Vientiane’s own Arc de Triomphe), a serene sleeping Buddha, and wandered the quiet streets and temples nearby.
Our honest take: Half a day covers the headline sights, but like Vang Vieng, we felt Vientiane could have absorbed a little more time. An extra few hours — or a full day — would let you settle into its slow rhythm rather than rushing through. That said, as a transitional stop between Laos and your next country, it works perfectly.
Find hotels to stay in Vientiane – >
→ Read our full Vientiane travel guide here
How Long to Spend in Laos — Our Revised Recommendation
Based on our trip, here is the itinerary we’d recommend:
| Destination | We Spent | We’d Recommend |
|---|---|---|
| Luang Prabang | 2 days | 2–3 days |
| Vang Vieng | Short stay | 2 full days |
| Vientiane | Half day + 1 night | 1 full day |
Ideal Laos itinerary: 5–6 days, allowing you to enjoy each stop without rushing. Connect them all with the railway and you have a smooth, scenic loop through the best of the country.
Laos by the Numbers — Budget Guide
| Item | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Visa on arrival (per person) | ~₹3,300 (approx $40) |
| Train Luang Prabang–Vang Vieng (3 people) | ₹5,000 |
| Hot air balloon Vang Vieng (per person) | ₹17,000 |
| Hotels (per night) | ₹6,000–₹10,000 |
| Meals (per person, restaurant) | ₹300–₹600 |
| Kuang Si Waterfall entry | Small entry fee |
| Mekong sunset cruise | Affordable group rates |
Laos is genuinely affordable. Outside of the hot air balloon splurge, daily costs are low — street food, local restaurants and reasonable hotels keep budgets very manageable.
Practical Tips for Indian Travellers
Currency: Lao Kip (LAK). USD is widely accepted at tourist venues and needed for the visa fee. Carry some cash — card acceptance is limited outside hotels.
Food: Lao cuisine is fresh and herb-heavy — sticky rice, larb (minced meat salad), grilled river fish and noodle soups. Vegetarian options exist but ask specifically. Luang Prabang has an excellent night-market food scene and French-influenced cafes.
Weather: The dry season (November to February) is the best time to visit — cooler, comfortable and ideal for the mountains and river. Avoid the peak of the rainy season (June to August) if mountain activities like the balloon are a priority.
Language: Lao is the official language. English is spoken in tourist areas and hotels, less so off the beaten track. A few polite words go a long way.
Pace: This is the most important tip. Laos is not a destination to rush. Its magic lies in slowness — the river, the temples, the mountains. Build an itinerary that lets you breathe.
Our Honest Laos Verdict
Laos was the quiet triumph of our Southeast Asia trip.
It has none of the obvious headline attractions of its neighbours — no beaches like Vietnam’s Phu Quoc, no single monument like Cambodia’s Angkor Wat. What it has instead is atmosphere: the slow Mekong, the misty karsts of Vang Vieng, the golden calm of Luang Prabang’s temples, the gentle pace of Vientiane.
If we went back, we’d give Vang Vieng and Vientiane more time — that is our one real regret. But we left Laos with the sense of having discovered something many travellers miss entirely. For Indian travellers building a Southeast Asia itinerary, do not skip Laos. Pair it with Vietnam or Cambodia, take the railway between its beautiful, distinct stops, and let it slow you down.
It might just be the part of the trip you remember most fondly.
We also have a complete 15-Day Laos + Vietnam + Cambodia Itinerary → for anyone who wants to do the full route we did.
Laos — Our Complete Guide Collection
Everything you need to plan your Laos trip:
Luang Prabang
- Luang Prabang Travel Guide
- 2 Days in Luang Prabang Itinerary
- Kuang Si Waterfall Guide
- Best Things to Do in Luang Prabang
Vang Vieng
- Vang Vieng Travel Guide
- Hot Air Balloon Vang Vieng Guide
- Best Things to Do in Vang Vieng
- Vang Vieng Budget Guide
Vientiane
Also read: Ultimate Vietnam Travel Guide | Ultimate Cambodia Travel Guide