Laos Trip: 18-Day Itinerary – Tips and Opinions

Hi there, I’m planning a trip to Laos from October 29 to November 15. Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok, flights to Ubon Ratchathani, then car to Don Khone Island Day 2: Visit the islands with a boat cruise and bike ride November 3: Head to the Bolaven Plateau Day 4: Bolaven Plateau Day 5: Road to Vientiane Days 6 & 7: Vientiane, including the That Luang Festival Day 8: Road to Luang Prabang – car or train? Days 9, 10, 11: Head north for treks with ethnic minorities Day 12: Head to the Mekong for a cruise After that, I’m not sure whether to return via Chiang Rai or Vientiane to get back to Bangkok. My return flight is on Saturday, November 15, or maybe Sunday the 16th. Is this doable? Thanks

Hi there,

8 route to Luang Prabang – car or train?

Either works. It’ll be much faster by train.

After that, I’m not sure whether to head back via Chiang Rai or Vientiane to return to Bangkok. My return flights are on Saturday, November 15, or maybe Sunday the 16th. Is that doable?

Both options depend a lot on how you plan this part of your itinerary:

9, 10, 11 – head north for a trek with ethnic minorities 12 – head to the Mekong for a cruise

Hi there, It’s a great plan, but with only 18 days, I don’t think you’ll have enough time for everything. (Not to mention the jet lag and the fact that everything needs to go smoothly on the first try—which isn’t always guaranteed in Laos.) Keep in mind that transportation in Laos is slow, sometimes *very* slow due to the poor condition of the roads. You can check out my latest post: *Northern Laos in 4 Weeks*, where I mentioned how long the trips take. For example, driving from Vientiane to Luang Prabang (LP) takes a solid 8 hours... Planning just 3 days to go from LP (a city that deserves a few days of exploring!) to the north to see the ethnic minorities? I’d say that’s unrealistic unless you have a private driver and then head straight to Chiang Rai. Doing the Bolaven Plateau in one day without staying overnight? Possible, but only with a private driver—otherwise, it’s impossible. (Check out Montagnard’s post on this.) The That Luang Festival is amazing, and it looks like it’s on November 5th this year. (It actually starts the day before.) Happy trip planning!

Hi there, for traveling around northern Laos I was thinking of hiring a private driver. If anyone knows of one.

Hi Nicole, You’ve already started a thread on this topic—what are you looking for in this one? Your itinerary isn’t realistic—too many sites to visit in the time you have.