Travelling within Laos
Road Travel in Laos
Road travel in Laos is rewarding and gives visitors a great feel for the country. The road infrastructure, however, is underdeveloped. In rural areas roads tend to be of variable quality. The major road is 'Route 13†linking the north to the south. The southern section, from Vientiane to Pakse, is in reasonable condition but the road from Vientiane to Luang Prabang and northbound to China is quite rundown. Away from Route 13, roads tend to be a mix of asphalt, potholes, gravel and sand. Add in cyclists, oxcarts, chicken and dogs and you have a fair idea of what to expect. During the rainy season (May to October), rock and mud crumbling is common and can interrupt the traffic, particularly in remote and mountainous areas.
From Vientiane, Exotissimo Travel recommends domestic flights to reach the main destinations such as Luang Prabang, Xieng Khouang, and Pakse. If you want to have a scenic drive in Laos, we recommend the section of Route 13 between Vientiane and Luang Prabang. This journey takes two days and passes stunning scenery including paddy fields, mountain ranges and rural villages.
All cars come with a driver and no self-drive is possible in Laos. Very few drivers speak English so we strongly recommend that you always have an English speaking tour guide with you.
Traveling by Train to Laos
There is no railway in Laos. However, it is possible to travel by train from Thailand to Vientiane. Stop at Nong Khai train station in Thailand, and go by road across the Friendship Bridge (over the Mekong River) that connects Thailand and Laos. Cross the Thai and Lao immigrations and be welcomed by your Exotissimo guide who will escort you to the Lao capital by road, just 25 km away.
Air Travel in Laos
There is only one airline operating domestic flights in Laos: Lao Airlines. Laos Airlines operates French-Italian made ATR aircrafts and Y-12 aircrafts. ATR planes are propeller planes with a capacity of 70 seats and are mainly operate between Bangkok, Chiang Mai (Thailand), Kunming (China), Phnom Penh, Siem Reap (Cambodia), Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pakse (Laos).
For some of the remote regions of Laos, the only viable links with the main centres are by air. Mountainous locations are served only by short landing strips. For these operations, Lao Airlines operates a fleet of Y-12 aircraft which can seat up to 17 passengers.
Please note that it is advisable to check-in all pieces of luggage and keep only a small bag in the cabin due to limited storage space. Please be aware that flight schedules are often subject to change without prior notice.
Boat Travel in Laos
One of the best ways to get to know Laos is by boat cruises on the Mekong River. The Mekong River is vital to the Lao people. More than half of the Mekong River runs through this rugged country. Up north, you can take a 2 day cruise from Luang Prabang to Houey Xay and then onto Thailand, in the Golden Triangle. Around Pakse in the south, you can take a 3 day cruise to the World Heritage site of Vat Phou in the region of Champassak and the '4,000 Islands†area on the Cambodian border.
Contact us for more information on boat trips and tours in Laos.
