Results for "Laos+sécurité"

Northern Laos, Nov 25

Thursday, Oct 23. Left home at 8:25 AM, took the bus from St Cyp to Perpignan, then a BlaBlaBus to Barcelona airport. Last night, a huge storm crossed France, and the bus was an hour late. We finally left at 11 AM. At the Spanish border, we were checked—several Africans were traveling on the bus, and their document verification took quite a while. In the end, everything was in order, and we set off again a good half-hour later. We finally arrived at Barcelona airport after 2 PM, but no stress since my flight was scheduled for 4:30 PM with Saudia. At check-in, the hostess told me there’d be a 1-hour delay due to bad weather in France and Belgium. In the end, the flight didn’t just have a 1-hour delay but a 5-hour one because of a technical issue. The next flight wouldn’t wait for us. When we arrived in Jeddah, they gave us another ticket for the following day—the flight to Bangkok was scheduled for 11:55 AM. The airline assigned us a room, which was good news since I was exhausted. Friday morning, the flight was still scheduled for 11:55 AM, but the gate wasn’t displayed. It was announced with a 1-hour delay, but that stretched to 4 hours. They handed out drinks and a snack—again, the delay was due to technical problems. In Bangkok, I had a connecting flight to Chiang Rai, where I’d also booked a room—I lost everything. We finally arrived in Bangkok on Saturday at 4 AM. I had to buy another ticket for a 7 AM flight. The formalities were quick, and my flight went smoothly. A taxi took me to Bus Terminal 1, where I caught a bus leaving at 10 AM, and we arrived at the Thailand-Laos border. I shared a taxi with other travelers, which took us to Houay Xai. The guesthouse I’d booked was right across from the stop—that was great. I exchanged some money and bought a SIM card at the guesthouse. Despite the fatigue, I needed to stretch my legs, so I walked down the street to the temple.









and continued to Fort Carnot, built by the French.



The views of the Mekong are beautiful for a first glimpse of the country.





yum-yum, bon appétit!

At 6:30 PM, I went to dinner at a restaurant across from the guesthouse—a chicken curry with vegetables.



I didn’t linger and went back to bed. I slept well, even if I woke up often.

Hello, We’re a family of four with two teens aged 16 and 18. We’re heading to Thailand this summer. We’ll arrive in Bangkok and plan to take a flight to Luang Prabang. I’ve seen there are some great visits and excursions to do (temples, markets, waterfalls) and maybe even venture a bit north to places like Nong Khiaw, Muang Xay, Muang Ngoy, or Oudom Xay. But I’ve also heard about the Bokeo region with the Gibbon Experience. Since we won’t be able to do everything, I’d love to hear about your experiences, impressions, and advice on the two options I’m considering, especially since we’ll be meeting family in Chiang Mai, Thailand, afterward.

Option 1: A loop from Luang Prabang heading slightly north, then a flight from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai.

Option 2: A few days in Luang Prabang, exploring within a few dozen kilometers around, then heading to Bokeo province for the 2-day/1-night Gibbon Experience. For this option, I saw on Rome2Rio that it’s possible to book a ferry trip on the Mekong from Luang Prabang to Huay Xay—they mention about 8 hours. But is that realistic? What type of boat is it? Then, to get to Chiang Mai, there aren’t many options—bus or minivan—but how does crossing the border work?

Finally, for those of you who’ve been to Laos in August, what was the weather like? We’ve already visited Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia during the same period over the past four years and weren’t really bothered by bad weather.

Thanks for your feedback! Best regards, Aurélien

Hi there,

Does anyone know when I should buy flight tickets to Laos in July and return in August to get the best price?

Can you exchange euros in Laos?

Is it easy to get around Laos using public transportation?

Do I need to book accommodation in advance?

Can you go hiking without a guide?

Thanks in advance for your tips to help me prepare for my trip! Nolwenn

I’d like to explore the Bolaven Plateau in January with three older friends (a big loop). Could anyone share their feedback, especially about nice accommodations—even homestays? We’re planning to rent a car if possible, since my friends don’t have an international motorcycle or scooter license.

The city of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has once again caught the world's attention by ranking among the best holiday destinations in Asia for 2025, according to the Smart Travel Asia Best in Travel Poll. This prestigious annual ranking celebrates cities that combine authenticity, culture, and natural beauty—and Luang Prabang has all three in spades....

Hi there, I’m heading off for 3 weeks around 15–20/11/2025 to Laos and then Cambodia (I’ve already done Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia… so the countries won’t change 😄). I’ve already got a rough itinerary in mind (the must-sees), including a land border crossing between the two countries after the 4000 Islands. I’m used to traveling light with a backpack, no stress, and I love walking/hiking. If anyone fancies joining me, feel free to reply! !

Hi there, Does anyone know if there’s a bus from Luang Namtha to Boten to catch the train coming from China to Vientiane? If so, what’s the name of the company? Also, how long does the bus take to cover that distance? What’s the condition of the road like? Thanks for your help! Tom

Hello, We’re planning to travel at the beginning of 2026 (a couple) to visit these two countries (Laos and Cambodia). We’re looking for local travel agencies to organize our trip with a driver and vehicle. For accommodation, staying with locals suits us just fine. If any seasoned travelers have reliable recommendations, we’d love to hear them. Thanks! Best regards, Lionel 1946

A new step for visitors starting September 2025 Laos is modernizing its border entry procedures. From September 1, 2025, the Laos Immigration Police Department will pilot a new online arrival registration system for foreign passport holders. This new procedure is similar to Thailand’s recent switch to a digital arrival card system (introduced in May 2025). Just like in Thailand, travelers heading to Laos will still need a valid visa—either an e-visa obtained online in advance or a visa on arrival (VOA) at eligible checkpoints—but they can now skip the paper immigration forms at the border.

Read more here

We’re a retired couple planning a trip to Laos in December 2025, and we’d love to make some contacts now to help us plan our journey. We’re also interested in accommodations and/or local guides who could show us around the country.

Looking for a travel companion.

The itinerary is set to loop through Southern Laos and Cambodia from North to South to reach Ho Chi Minh City and head back.

Depending on everyone's availability, several arrival options are possible (DM or phone for details).

- Possible arrival via Bangkok on November 13 or 14. Southern Laos starting November 21. Cambodia, Siem Reap from November 28 for a big visit.

Depending on your schedule, you can return at your convenience from Phnom Penh or Ho Chi Minh City in early January.

Excluding round-trip flight tickets from France (or elsewhere to Asia), the average budget is 25 € per day, including accommodation and bus transfers.

Looking forward to discussing more, meeting you, and traveling together for a wonderful trip.

Northern Laos, Thailand, and Southern Laos. Arrival via Vientiane and transfer to Luang Prabang on November 2, 2025.

Depending on everyone’s availability, several arrival dates are possible: November 2, 3, or 4, 2025. Luang Prabang, Pakbeng, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Pakse. Return at your convenience based on your schedule.

Excluding round-trip flight tickets from France (or elsewhere) to Asia, the average budget is 25 € per day, including accommodation and bus transfers.

Looking forward to discussing this further, meeting you, and traveling together for a wonderful trip.

Stéphann.

Hello, For the Laos portion of my trip in Asia, I’m looking for a travel companion (male or female) starting September 16, 2025. I’m 78 years old and travel backpacker-style but with a minimum of comfort. Getting around by local buses and motorbike (scooter type). Planned route from Luang Prabang to Phnom Penh (Cambodia) for about a month. Get in touch for more details. See you soon

I just planned my itinerary, but I feel like it's too rushed. I’ll have to make some choices, but I don’t know how—everything looks interesting.

Oct 24: Arrival in Bangkok, flight to Chiang Rai (overnight) Oct 25: Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong (overnight) Oct 26: Chiang Khong to Houei Sai (overnight) Oct 27: Houei Sai (Shampoo Cruise boat) to Pakbeng (overnight) Oct 28: Pakbeng (2nd day of cruise) to Luang Prabang Oct 29–30–31, Nov 1–2: Luang Prabang (5 nights) Nov 2: Luang Prabang to Vientiane by train Nov 3–4–5: Vientiane (That Luang) (4 nights) Nov 6: Vientiane to Vang Vieng Nov 7–8: Vang Vieng (3 nights) Nov 9: Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang Nov 10: Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw Nov 11: Nong Khiaw Nov 12: Nong Khiaw to Muang Ngoi Nov 13–14: Muang Ngoi Nov 15: Muang Ngoi to Nong Khiaw to Oudomxai Nov 16: Oudomxai to Luang Namtha Nov 17–18: Luang Namtha Nov 19: Luang Namtha to Muang Sing Nov 20–21: Muang Sing Nov 22: Muang Sing to Luang Namtha to Houeisai Nov 23: Houeisai to Chiang Rai Nov 24: Chiang Rai flight at 18:55 to Bangkok Nov 25: Bangkok flight at 01:15 to Barcelona

Thanks for your suggestions!

hi there we’ll arrive in Luang Prabang on November 8th from Bangkok and plan to leave from Vientiane on November 19th. Little question—we’d love to visit northern Laos, but I can’t do mountain walks or climbing. My partner can, though. What do you recommend for us? Thanks for your tips! Best, Monique

hi, we’re planning to take the fast train from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. Is it true that aerosol sprays like Insect-Ecran are confiscated before boarding the train? Do we need Malarone for the area around Luang Prabang? We’re really looking forward to discovering this beautiful country. We’ll also take the chance to visit an elephant protection center. Thanks for any tips! Best, Monique

Hi everyone,

We’re a couple planning to cross China from north to south in early August (Erenhot to Mohan). A guide and agency are required, and the price is lower for groups of travelers. Our dates aren’t set yet (first week of August is almost certain).

If anyone’s interested, feel free to reach out! :-)

See you soon! Nav & Pauline

Hello, We’re heading to Laos in December 2025, and we want to do a multi-day trek—maybe even a week—to really take our time and make stops in villages since we’ll have our 3-year-old daughter with us.

We’re torn between the Luang Namtha region or Phongsaly for our big trek. We’re looking for the least touristy spot possible, we love mountains, so we’d like an area with varied landscapes, including rice paddies, and a chance to really connect with local ethnic groups. We’re after authenticity and only want to stay with locals. Which of the two should we prioritize? Any advice would be welcome to help us decide—it’s tough when you don’t know the area! Maybe there are other spots in the north worth considering for a beautiful week-long trek.

Thanks, fellow travelers

Hi there, Does anyone know more about the train from Vientiane to Bangkok? Are there any night trains, and can you leave from Luang Prabang? Do you know the schedules? Thanks

Hello,

We’re planning a 3-week trip to Laos, focusing solely on the north. Our main goal is to do two 4-day treks in two different areas of Northern Laos.

We land in Bangkok on December 12th and will head straight to Chiang Mai before crossing into northern Laos at Huay Xai. Our journey will start there, ending in Vientiane, with a stop in Luang Prabang and the surrounding area. We’ll then take a night train from Udon Thani on December 30th to catch our flight back in Bangkok.

Right now, we’re mainly looking for reliable contacts to organize our two treks. From what we’ve read so far, trekking options exist around Luang Namtha, Phongsali (if it’s not too cold during that period, since we’ll have our 3-year-old daughter with us), or near Muang Ngoi and Nong Khiaw, as we’ve seen there are possibilities in that area too.

If we can organize both treks with the same contact, that would be perfect.

We’d prefer to avoid big agencies with a high-street presence and instead work directly with a local who knows their stuff and can give us good advice. We want to combine stunning landscapes (we love hiking) with cultural encounters in local villages.

We’d love to hear your tips and experiences—maybe some areas are better than others, less crowded, or more challenging (though we’re keeping in mind our 3-year-old, who’s used to hiking but we don’t want to put her in any danger).

That’s the gist of our plans for now! Looking forward to hearing from you, fellow travelers