Laos Walks & Cycle Tours

Lush, languid and welcoming, it's easy to see why travellers are lured back to Laos. With its meandering rivers, remote villages and tranquil cities, Laos is famous for a gentle pace that invites you to slow down, relax and absorb your surroundings.

But this is by no means a boring destination: Laos's cities are a unique mix of golden Buddhist temples, French colonial architecture and colourful markets, thick with aromas of incense and fragrant street food, and yet you need not travel far to find waterfalls, caves and jungle-clad mountains to explore.

You can tour splendid temples and handsome colonial architecture in Vientiane, and unwind in the tranquil river city of Luang Prabang, with its saffron-robed monks and vibrant night markets. Then delve into the history of Southeast Asia by visiting the ancient Hindu Khmer ruins of Wat Phu or walking among the mysterious stone megaliths of the Plain of Jars.

Enjoy Laos's wild natural beauty with a cruise down the lush waterways of the mighty Mekong or a sojourn in the stunning 4,000 Islands of southern Laos. Don your boots and trek through the remote northern mountains, join one of our superb cycle journeys through scenic backroads and ethnic minority villages, or kayak down rivers fringed with dramatic karst outcrops.

Whichever itinerary you choose, you'll love the unique landscapes, cultures, cuisine and ambiance of this unspoiled gem of Southeast Asia.

Buddha statue in Vientiane  | Peter Walton

Find your Laos adventure

Laos highlights

 

Why travel with us

Our all inclusive approach

Quality services at the best prices make our Laos adventures great value for money. While all of our cycle trips include bikes and back up support vehicles, accommodations have been chosen based on their location and local charm. Additionally, we aim to incorporate as many inclusions in the trip cost as possible including most meals, transfers, domestic flights and national park fees.

Authentic experiences

Our adventures are designed to take you off the well-trodden tourist trails and gain insight into life on this side of the world. Whether you choose a cycling or hiking adventure, travelling under your own steam is an incredibly rewarding way to explore the hidden gem of Laos.

Experienced local guides

It is our expert field guides that make your Laos experience special. Not only are our guides passionate about the otudoors, but they choose to lead our trips with a deep belief that our itineraries minimise our environmental footprint and give back to local communities.

Responsible travel

 

Support of local communities

We employ staff from local communities and provide them with training, good wages and insurance benefits under the labor law. We also use locally run accommodation and encourage travellers to shop and dine at locally operated stalls and establishments.

Carbon travel minimisation

Our itineraries are designed to minimise the amount of carbon produced, opting for bikes, city walks, cyclos and electric cars as first options.

Child safe tourism

We protect vulnerable children by adhering to our comprehensive Child Welfare Code of Conduct and seek to educate travellers about the issues surrounding such abuses.

Animal welfare focus

We advocate against the practice of riding on the back of an elephant as part of a tourism experience and as such, we do not include elephant rides in any of our Cambodia itineraries. In the interest of public safety and animal welfare we also discourage travellers from partaking in such activities outside of our trips.

Accommodation

Hotels

In cities or large towns you will be accommodated in 3 to 4 star properties that are centrally located, atmospheric and reliable.

Inns

We use quality inns situated in natural environments. They are not luxury inns; however we ensure they offer you a truly authentic experience.

Lodges

Our lodges provide comfortable accommodation that is well maintained and with good facilities.

Leaders in the field

Nom Vannak Nom

Nom joined the tourism industry in 1999 after completing a Tourism degree in Siem Reap. His interest in adventure tourism propelled him into a career of taking travellers walking and cycling across many regions of Indochina. A great communicator, his genuine interest in nature and history make him an exceptional guide.

'Joy' Chittanong

Joy is one of our favourite guides for adventure tours in Laos. Joy lives in Luang Prabang, and has over seven years experience guiding a great variety of adventures from hiking and trekking to kayaking and biking. If you travel with this young, dynamic and super friendly man, you will always find the joys of exploring the stunning back roads, hills and rivers of Laos.

Laura Kirk

Originally from the United Kingdom, Laura brings a wealth of travel experience to the World Expeditions team having explored over 60 countries to date. Her adventures have included setting up community projects in Myanmar, studying Mandarin in China, trekking in Nepal, spending time in a remote Bedouin camp in Jordan and chasing the Big 5 through Tanzania. With a particular passion for all things Asia, Laura loves to share the best of this region with others.

Dr Ross Anderson

Dr Anderson lives with his wife in a small town near the Lakes District in the north of England. He is a family doctor and spends much of his spare time travelling as an expedition doctor. He has more than 10 years of altitude and travel medicine experience. Previous treks and expeditions have focused on the Himalayas, with others in the Scandinavian Arctic and mountainous areas of Africa. He also enjoys trail running, cycling and open-water swimming.

Custom made itineraries

A custom made itinerary is the ultimate way to see the world how YOU want. They are created especially for you, giving you complete freedom to choose what you want to see, where you want to go and when you want to do it. If you love our current itineraries but want to customise it privately as a couple, a group of friends, family, club, business or school, you have the freedom to add or remove as many elements as you like to suit the interests of your group. Alternatively, you can start with a blank canvas and create a new and exciting itinerary from scratch! Our well-travelled consultants can give you firsthand suggestions and eliminate any uncertainty with trip planning to ensure you maximise the quality of your experience and get truly off the beaten track. Simply email, phone or visit us to start planning your dream adventure.

Trip reviews

Videos

Along the Mekong River by Bike with Greg Packer

Country information

Currency

Laotian Kip

Thai Baht and USD are the best currencies to exchange although AUD, GBP, NZD are also accepted.

Banks and exchange facilities are found in Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane.

Visa cards and ATM are available in most major centres, however it is not recommended to rely on these solely.

If you are purchasing items of over US$50 it is best not to change this into Lao kip as you will require a small back pack to carry all the notes!

International Dialing Code

+856

Electricity
Type A plug

Electricity in Laos is 230 Volts, at 50 hertz. The pin type varies but is most commonly types A and C. We recommend taking a universal adapter.

Visas

A visa for Laos is required for passport holders from the following countries: Australia New Zealand United Kingdom United States Canada

Citizens of the above countries can obtain a 30 day tourist visa with the easy to use e-visa system - https://laoevisa.gov.la/index. Processing time is 3 days and the e-visa can be used to enter through the following border points;

Wattay International Airport (Vientiane)

Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge I (Vientiane)

Luang Prabang International Airport

Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge II (Savannakhet Province)

Pakse International Airport (Champasack Province)

Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge IV (Bokeo Province)

You can also obtain your Laos visa upon arrival at Vientiane and Luang Prabang International Airports, and at the Friendship Bridge between Nong Khai Thailand and Vientiane Laos. Passport photographs are required for a visa on arrival. To apply for a visa on arrival you will need: 2 blank pages in your passport 2 recent passport-size photos USD40 in cash.

All other nationalities should check with your nearest embassy or consulate.

Safety

Your safety is our number one concern. Our safety track record is exemplary thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners. Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us.

Please refer to our Travel Advisory page for updates on recent events, travel warnings and advice.

We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. Insurance information is enclosed with your pre-departure information. Please contact us if you would like to obtain a quote for your trip duration.

We suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements.

Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. Where safety deposit boxes are available, we recommend that you use them. Keep jewellery and valuables to a minimum.