Tailor-Made Holidays to Laos



Cultural Holiday to Laos & Northern Thailand This private holiday tour takes you to the more remote areas of Laos and northern Thailand. You will enjoy visits to all main cities of Vientiane and Luang Prabang and take in all they have to offer but you will also head north on the Luangsay Cr . . . Read more...

Highlights of Laos Holiday This 10 night/11 day holiday to Laos is a real highlights tour of this fascinating, laid back country. Laos, also known as the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), is a mountainous, landlocked country with no fewer than 49 officially recog . . . Read more...



Shinta Mani Luang Prabang **** The Shinta Mani, creator of the award winning sustainable hospitality concept will open its new property in Luang Prabang in December 2010. Situated on a hill overlooking the UNESCO Heritage town of Luang Prabang, the hotel will bring with it all t . . . Read more...

Maison Souvannaphoum **** Maison Souvannaphoum is a stunning hotel situated in an excellent location in Luang Prabang; only a few minutes walk from the main street, night market, Phou-si Hill and temples. Once home to Laotian royalty, the Maison Souvannaphoum offers visitor . . . Read more...

3 Nagas *** Located in the heart of Luang Prabang, the ancient former capital of Laos, this elegant boutique hotel comprises three UNESCO World Heritage buildings more than a century old, steeped in Lao tradition yet embracing you in the best of modern comfort . . . Read more...

Nong Kiau Riverside Lodge ** Nong Kiau is a small rustic town by the bridge where the Route 1 to Sam Neua and Vietnam crosses the Ou River. You can travel here by road from Luang Prabang (about 4 hours) or by boat (about 6 hours downstream). The boat trip to Luang Prabang is s . . . Read more...

Elephant Crossing Hotel ** The Elephant Crossing Hotel is a boutique hotel located in Vang Vieng, near Vientiane, and situated on the banks of the Nam Song River which offers breathtaking views of the surrounding limestone mountains. . . . Read more...

La Folie Lodge ** Located on Dong Daeng Island on the banks of the Mekong River, in the south of this picturesque country, La Folie Lodge has 24 large, comfortable bedrooms all luxuriously decorated and exquisitely furnished with local materials. . . . Read more...

Kingfisher Eco Lodge ** Simplicity is the word, simplicity helps loosen emotions and widen our mind, and with this word in our mind we tried to link the natural environment with the resort buildings, giving a priority to the first one in search of the right balance betwee . . . Read more...

Tad Lo Lodge ** This rural lodge has quickly become a real favourite amongst more adventurous clients. If you are looking for easy access to wildlife (think bathing elephants) and the great outdoors (think waterfalls in the front garden) then look no further than . . . Read more...

Green Park Boutique hotel **** Lao Green Park Boutique Hotel is located a little bit further out of the city centre on the river. You can walk to Morning Market (Talat Sao) and most of the main attractions are just a short car ride away. . . . Read more...

Settha Palace **** In the heart of bustling Vientiane stands a remarkable hotel. Built in the early part of the last century, circa 1932, and painstakingly restored to its former imperial glory, the Settha Palace Hotel serves as a testament to the long lost era of cl . . . Read more...



Vientiane Vientiane is the capital city of Laos, situated in the Mekong Valley and is also Laos' largest city. Compared to the hectic, bustling capitals in other Southeast Asian countries, Vientiane's deliciously relaxing atmosphere makes it feel like the small town it is. Vientiane’s major attractions are the serene Buddhist monasteries that dominate the centre of town. The city has kept its timeless charm with tree-lined avenues, brightly painted temples and quaint French architecture. After you've done the round of temples, the best thing to do here has always been to wander down to one of the riverside beer gardens, kick back with a cold Beerlao - the Lao national beer - and watch the sun set over the Mekong.

Luang Prabang Luang Prabang, is the former capital of Laos and a UNESCO World Heritage city. Luang Prabang is an outstanding example of the fusion of traditional architecture and Lao urban structures with those built by the European colonial authorities in the 19th and 20th centuries. As a visitor, you cannot help but be amazed by the tidiness and cleanliness of perhaps the most charming city in all of south-east Asia. With UNESCO so closely involved and a largely highly responsible group of local business owners, the pressures of mass tourism development have been held at bay, but for how much longer remains to be seen.

Useful Information for Laos

PASSPORTS:

Please ensure that your passport is valid for six months after your return date.

VISAS:

Visas are required by all nationalities. Visas can be obtained from the Lao Embassy in London or upon arrival at Wattai Airport Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pakse airports, Houei Xay (border by Chiang Khong, Thailand), Friendship Bridge in Vientiane (border by Nong Khai, Thailand) as well as other immigration checkpoints. The visa fee is US $30-$40 per person; 2 passport photos are required for each visa application. Visa upon arrival allow a stay of maximum 30 days in Laos.

Important note: Guests arriving from Cambodia overland at Don Kalor or at Veunkham immigration checkpoint must have their Lao visa arranged and stamped in their passport prior to arrival at the Laotian border.

CURRENCY AND EXCHANGE:

The local currency is the Lao KIP. Notes come in denominations of 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000 20,000 and 50,000 Kip.

The rate of exchange as per the time of printing is approximately 8,646 Kip to one US Dollar and 13,390 Kip to one Euro. In Vientiane, notes of most international currencies can be exchanged either at banks or at licensed money changers. Outside Vientiane, most provincial banks and licensed money changers accept only US Dollars, Thai Baht and sometimes Euros. Only major banks accept traveler’s cheques. It is best to carry U.S Dollar bills in small denominations. Credit cards are accepted only at major hotels and up-market shops and restaurants in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. For credit card payments a surcharge of usually 3 – 5% applies.

CUSTOMS AND FORMALITIES:

Arrivals at Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pakse International airport are generally rather casual events. Carry-on bags are usually not inspected if that is all you have brought. For checked-in baggage, when claimed at the counter, passengers are sometimes required to declare if they have brought antiques and silver items with them. Simple formalities should be observed also when entering the country overland. Passengers have to complete immigration and customs declaration forms during the arrival flight or upon arrival and must submit these documents on arrival.

AIRPORT TAX & BUGGAGE:

International departure airport tax US$10 per outgoing international passenger at Vientiane Wattay International airport, at Luang Prabang and Pakse airports. Some air carriers include the airport taxes in the airfares. Domestic airport departure tax for outgoing domestic passenger at all domestic airports are included in the airfares.

Baggage allowance on international flights and between Vientiane and Luang Prabang is limited to 20 kg per person and 15 kg on other routes. Baggage can be stored at hotels until you return.

Domestic flights in Laos are prone to last minute schedule changes and cancellation without ANY advance notice, especially during the peak travel season of October through March. It is not uncommon for flights to be delayed or even cancelled once passengers have checked-in at the airport.

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY:

The electric current is 220 volts (50Hz).

LOCAL TIME:

Laos runs at GMT + 7 hours and lies in the same time zone as its neighbours Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Working hours Government offices are generally open Monday to Friday from 08.00 AM – 12.00 PM, and from 01.00 – 04.00 PM. Shops and private business offices open and close a bit later and usually stay open during lunch time.

TIPS:

Tipping is at your discretion and is not obligatory. All of your guides have been fully pre-paid and you are under no obligation to tip them. However, tipping is very common and if you feel that they have been particularly helpful and informative any tip you may wish to give is most appreciated.

CLIMATE:

Laos can be visited throughout the year. However those planning to travel extensively by road in the Northern part of the country and/or in the south, around the Boloven Plateau, should avoid the last two months of the rainy season when some countryside roads may be impassable.

Laos enjoys a tropical climate with three distinct seasons. The dry or cool season begins end of October and lasts until end of February (average 20-25° C). Take along a pullover or jacket during the cool season, as nights can be cold, especially in the mountainous areas such as Luang Prabang, the Plain of Jars, Saravane and Houei Xai (0-5° C). The hot season lasts from March to June, light cotton clothes and hats are recommended (average 35° C). From June to early October is the rainy season (average 25-30° C). Most precipitations come in the afternoon and in the evening. Rainfall varies considerably from area to area with the highlands in the Phou Louang range along the Lao / Vietnam border receiving the most precipitation (300+ mms per year). Vientiane averages 150/200mms per year and Luang Prabang 100/150mms per year.

Visitors traveling between the end of March and the beginning of April should be aware that in the mountainous areas, slash and burn cultivation causes smoke that alters the weather. Domestic flights may also be delayed or cancelled.

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