Your Ultimate 5 Day Laos Itinerary
Laos is a country filled with adventure, from its secret turquoise lagoons and massive limestone mountains to unexplored karsts and the Mekong River. Planning a trip to this hidden gem and wondering how to make the most of your 5 days? In this guide, I will outline the perfect 5 day Laos itinerary to ensure you capture all the country has to offer.
You can reverse the itinerary or add/subtract days depending on your interests, but this can serve as the perfect outline for your trip.
Find an in-depth Laos travel guide here that includes tips and tricks for traveling around the country.
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5 Day laos itinerary
Day 1: Explore Vientiane & venture to Vang Vieng
As the national capital, it only makes sense to have Vientiane as your first stop during your 5 day Laos itinerary. Fly in early in the morning to give yourself the most time to explore the city. Vientiane is an extremely walkable city, making it easy to get around. I have created the perfect walking path for you to capture all the capital’s highlights most efficiently.
You can, of course, choose to travel the path by bicycle, motorbike, or taxi, but I recommend going by foot to fully take in your surroundings.
Pro Tip: You will be visiting Temples and National Landmarks that require modest clothing. Be sure to have your knees, midsections, and shoulders covered with minimal skin showing.
Ho Phrakeo Museum
The entrance fee to this temple museum is 30,000 Kip. No photos or videos are allowed once you are inside the temple.
This is stop “C” on the map above.
COPE Visitor Center
This museum tells the story of Laotians' experiences during the Vietnam War and the lasting impacts it still has on their lives today. Many artifacts, including prosthetics and “bombies,” as well as short documentaries, are displayed throughout. This is a must-visit during your time in Vientiane.
This is stop “E” on the map above.
A unique, painted house we found while walking through the streets of Vientiane.
Patuxay - Victory Monument
Arguably the most iconic monument in Vientiane, this historical landmark commemorates the country’s struggle for independence from France. Entrance fee: 30,000 Kip to climb to the top of the Arc.
This is stop “H” on the map above.
Click here for a more in-depth 1-day itinerary of Vientiane!
Later in the evening, travel down to Vang Vieng via train, van, taxi, or bus. The train ride from Vientiane to Vang Vieng takes a little over 1 hour. A van, taxi, or bus will take around 1.5 hours. The van can be an extremely tight squeeze, so be prepared to be a tad uncomfy for the duration of the ride. You can find transport options on 12GoAsia or at any local accommodation.
Day 2-3: Wander Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng is a small town in Laos, located on the Nam Song River. It is my favorite place in Laos and will undoubtedly be the highlight of your 5 days in the country, I guarantee it.
Highlights of Vang Vieng…
1. Climb up a viewpoint to get lost in Vang Vieng’s breathtaking beauty of limestone mountains…
2. Discover a cave stretching for miles upon miles…
3. Splash into a Blue Lagoon….
4. Take in the views by driving your motorbike around. It will leave you in awe…
Click here for more information on how you can spend your days in Vang Vieng!
Days 4-5: Travel To Luang Prabang
Nestled between the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers is Luang Prabang, a charming province in northern Laos. The train ride from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang is about 1 hour. You can also opt for a 5-hour taxi, shared van, or bus ride. With limited time, I suggest taking the train to optimize your time here.
Click here for a full list of things to do in Luang Prabang!
Day 4:
This UNESCO World Heritage town is rich in history, temples, nature, and colonial-era architecture. During your first day, I suggest exploring the Royal Palace Museum and Temples, joining an Orange Robe Tour, and hiking Mount Phousi for sunset.
Wat Xiang Thong and The Royal Palace:
There are over 30 temples to explore in Luang Prabang. With being short on time, I suggest checking out the oldest temple, Wat Xieng Thong. This temple is open between 8:00 and 5:00. It is 20,000 Kip per person to enter.
The Royal Palace Museum has three main sections, the palace itself which contains the main museum exhibits, the temple, and the “garage” which contains means of transportation for the Royal Family. I spent around 1-2 hours reading and exploring the grounds. The price to enter is 30,000 Kip and the hours of operation are 8:00-11:30 A.M. and 1:30 - 4:00 P.M. It is closed on some holidays and Tuesdays. You can swap your day 4 and day 5 itineraries if your first day in Luang Prabang lands on either a Tuesday or holiday.
Pro Tip: Dress Modestly. Shoes must be removed before entering and bags must be kept in a locked locker area. No photography allowed. I saw one man attempt to take photos of some of the vehicles and the guard stormed angrily over to him, yelled at him, and took his phone / went through his photos to delete them entirely.
Orange Robe Tour:
This tour is an incredible opportunity to sit with former novices and monks to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of Buddhist monk life and to ask all of those burning questions privately and respectfully. I asked every question you could imagine. Following, the monk will give you a tour of a local temple and offer you an opportunity to experience the different levels of meditation. The tour can last 1-2 hours depending on which you book and is around $20-30 USD.
Hike Up Mount Phousi for Sunset:
Being another picturesque Laos town, a Luang Prabang sunset is an experience you cannot miss. Mount Phousi is a temple that sits on a hill 100m over the historic city center. Being bordered by a river on either side makes it the ideal place to take in the sunset from all sides of the hill. This spot can get quite crowded so be sure to get there early leaving plenty of time to explore and find a spot for the sunset. The fee to go up the 300 steps to the top is 20,000 Kip and there are two ways to go up on either side of the hill (one in front of the Royal Palace and the other side with the Nam Khan River). For people short on time I recommend going up the Royal Palace side (the museum you explored earlier).
Pro Tip: This is a spiritual temple so be sure to cover shoulders, knees, midsections, etc.
The Night Market:
If you are not too exhausted from the busy day, you can head to the Night Market post-sunset. The night market lights up the entire Sisavangvong road with tents filled with vendors selling jewelry, textiles, carvings, clothing, knick-knacks, fresh baked goods, crepes, etc. It opens from 5:00 - 11:00 at night, leaving you plenty of time to explore before heading to bed.
PHEW! That was a jam-packed day so make sure to get to bed early before you continue your adventure the next day!
day 5:
5:00 AM - Chug a Coffee & Head to the Morning Market:
The morning market next to the Royal Palace takes place from 5:00-10:00 in the morning selling mostly fresh produce, dried fruits and nuts, etc. The market's early hours make it the perfect place to grab some items as an Alms giving offering before heading to the ceremony itself.
5:30 AM: The Alms Giving Ceremony:
Located in the old city center, this spiritual practice is where orange-robed monks walk the streets in a silent, single file, gathering offerings from the community (sticky rice, fruit, and other traditional foods) as a form of respect, blessings, and gratitude. After the collection of alms, the monks return to their temples with the offerings. The ceremony lasts around 1 hour.
Respectful Tips:
The ceremony takes place at 5:30/6:30 (Summer/Winter) in the morning so be sure to get there early! This itinerary is set for summer hours. If you are here during winter, you can start your itinerary one hour later!
It is in complete silence and is a spiritual event so be sure to remain silent and dress appropriately (knees covered, shoulders covered, and hair tied back). Silence your phone and other electronics that might make small noises as well.
Once you find a spot, remove your shoes and kneel among the other people paying respect to the monks. Women do need to keep their heads low to the monks to show respect. Eye contact and touching are forbidden.
Bring donations so you can partake in the event and place them directly in the monk’s wooden baskets yourself. The morning market provides plenty of options for donations.
If you want to capture photos, keep some distance from the procession and turn off your flash. Do not follow the procession as you capture photos.
Post Ceremony: Breakfast & Kuang Si Waterfall:
Since you will be leaving the Alms Giving Ceremony in the historical city center, I suggest heading to Saffron Coffee for breakfast. They open at 6:30 AM and offer excellent pastries, breakfast items, and coffee to keep you going.
Once finished, hop on your bike or taxi and start your 40-minute drive to Kuang Si Waterfalls. These beautiful, turquoise falls open at 8:00 AM for swimming, hiking, rope swinging, and other activities. It is around 20,000 Kip to enter and there are also food and drink options available for purchase at the entrance. These falls can get extremely crowded with tours, so heading here right at 8:00 AM is ideal. If you prefer a less touristy option but still want to see a waterfall I suggest heading to Tad Sae Waterfalls instead.
Plan to spend around 3-4 hours between travel time and exploring the falls. Find the best tour for your entire second day here or pick one of the other selections below!
Pro Travel Tip: Laos is quite cheap to travel through, making it the perfect place to explore on a budget. Entrance fees to hikes, caves, temples, and other attractions are usually under $5. It is easy to find cheap accommodation—I stayed at nicer places for around $15-20 per night. The average meal at a restaurant costs around $2-10, with local dishes being on the lower end and Western dishes on the higher end (this varies greatly depending on location and food type).
General Information: LAOS
Where to Stay:
Vientiane: I recommend staying in Watchan, Ban Haysoke, or Ban Anou. Each of these areas is centrally located, making it easy to access food, hotels, and all of the top places to explore.
Best Accommodation Options For Every Traveler:
Best Backpacker/Hostel Option: Dream Home Hostel
Best Low-Budget: Sinakhone Vientiane Hotel
Best Mid-Budget: New Champa Boutique Hotel or Chanthapanya Hotel
Best Luxury: Lao Poet Hotel
Vang Vieng: The downtown area of Vang Vieng is quite small so staying anywhere on either side of the river is fine. I loved where I stayed: Downtown Vang Vieng Hotel.
Best Accommodation Options For Every Traveler:
Best Backpacker/Hostel Option: Downtown Vang Vieng Hotel
Best Low-Budget: Confetti Garden Resort
Best Mid-Budget: Sansan Resort
Best Luxury: Riverside Boutique Resort, Vang Vieng
Luang Prabang: If you plan on walking everywhere I recommend staying in or near the historic district. There are some lovely options available along the Nam Khan River as well. Being short on time, the closer you are to the historical center, the better.
Best Accommodation Options For Every Traveler:
Best Backpacker/Hostel Option: Chitlatda Bila House
Best Low-Budget: Luang Prabang Villa Sirikili River View
Best Mid-Budget: Chaluenxay Boutique Hotel
Best Luxury: 3 Nagas Luang Prabang - MGallery Hotel Collection
Best Time to Visit:
November - March
How to Get to Laos:
Flying: You can fly right into Luang Prabang International Airport, located around 4 km from the historical city center of LP. There is an additional airport in Vientiane, Wattay International Airport, which is around 3 km from its city center.
Slow Boat: (Chiang Mai/Rai to Luang Prabang) The slow boat trip takes around 3 days and docks in Luang Prabang. You travel by boat for 12+ hours each day and make two overnight stops in Huay Xai, Chiang Khong, or Pak Beng. I have not done this myself.
Bus / Shared Minivan: You can also book one of these options depending on where you are coming from (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam). This is, of course, a much longer form of travel but can be great for those on a backpacker budget. For more information on these, I recommend searching online based on your origin. 12GoAsia is always great to find specific companies running each or check with your hotel/hostel.
How to Get Around:
Train: Already in Laos? The Laos-China railway is an excellent option for simple travel throughout Laos and was my mode of transport between places. For more information on schedules and pricing click here!
Other Options: Taxi, Shared Van, or Bus. Check your hotel or hostel for more information on these. There are some options on Get Your Guide as well.
Best Modes of Transport in Each Place:
Vientiane: By foot
Vang Vieng: By motorbike or ATV
Luang Prabang: By foot
Vegan Food Options:
Vientiane: Coco & Co | Suzette | Annabelle | Senglao Cafe
Vang Vieng: Happy Mango | Kiwi Kitchen | Vela Cafe & Restaurant | Naked Espresso
Luang Prabang: Saffron Coffee | Two Little Birds Cafe | Bamboo Garden | Dyen Sabai | Yuni Yupoun
