Expert travel storyteller Jordan Adkins, founder of InspiredByMaps.com, brings a decade of adventures across 101 countries and 450+ UNESCO sites into rich, off-the-beaten-path narratives, melding ecological expertise with genuine, seasoned travel insights. His full bio can be found here.
Laos is a treasure of Southeast Asia that entices travelers with its lush, tropical scenery and meandering rivers. Ancient temples, bustling markets, and hill tribe settlements, each with its own distinct culture and traditions, are all over the country.
The Mekong River offers an exhilarating platform for kayaking, rafting, and tubing trips, while the lush jungles provide countless chances for trekking and wildlife viewing. Laos delivers a genuine off-the-beaten-path trip with its endearing folks and unspoiled natural beauty.
You can never go wrong on a trip to discover the romance and mystery of this remote region of the world! The possibilities for an unforgettable adventure in lovable Laos are endless, but we’ve narrowed it down to the six best tours to help you explore the country with ease.
Bounded by five countries: China to the north, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, Thailand to the west, and Myanmar to the northwest, this tiny country harbors a lot of history from its past. One fascinating aspect of that history is that Laos was once a province of the larger Khmer Empire, which was centered in modern-day Cambodia.
Many Khmer temples and other cultural artifacts were constructed in Laos during this period. In the 14th century, the Lan Xang kingdom was established in what is now modern-day Laos. This kingdom grew to be one of Southeast Asia’s largest and most powerful, with strong cultural and trade ties to both China and India. The art, architecture, and cultural traditions of this ancient kingdom can still be seen in Laos today.
Being home to many tourist attractions that attract visitors from every nook and corner of the world, Laos presents an inexhaustible list of places to go and things to do in its vibrant cities and most remote areas.
From Vientiane Laos’ capital city, with its historic sites such as the Pha That Luang stupa, Wat Si Saket temple, and the Patuxai war monument to the Elephant Conservation Center which is a sanctuary dedicated to the protection and rehabilitation of elephants, offering travelers like you once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to encounter the elephants and ride on their backs; a rare ride indeed.
In this magnificent country, you will find adventurers like you visiting Kuang Si Falls, which is located outside of Luang Prabang, with its picturesque waterfall manifesting crystal-clear turquoise waters and lush jungle surroundings. Imagine a sunset picnic with your family or loved one at this natural beauty. Marvellous!
Moments like this can be the best of our lives if we share them with like-minded people who are also drawn to traveling to such exotic locations. This is why it is more than a good idea to join a group tour when you travel to Laos.
Capture the beautiful moments with friends and fellow travelers that you can cherish for a lifetime. You will be glad and grateful to have such rich memories preserved in an album when old age comes calling.
It is even more exciting to know that you can get such experiences on a budget when you join a group tour. If you were to plan your trip alone and make all the expenses by yourself, you will spend more time and money and truly, that comes with a lot of stress.
Tour Operators take off all that stress and give you the chance to grab your travel bag with confidence. They will take care of where you will stay, and where you will go and also help you get an exceptional trip.
With that said, here are the 6 best tours to discover Laos with ease. These tours were selected from the list of the best and are offered by experienced tour operators.
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Highlights of Laos – 7 days
On The Go Tours
Are you a fearless explorer eager to explore the depths of Laos, uncover the best experiences, and create amazing memories?
Sigh with relief because we’ve discovered this incredible 7-day vacation to discover the magic of beloved Laos by On The Go Tours, which covers a variety of hot sites. At the British Travel Awards in 2020, this highly-rated Tour Operator earned a stunning collection of Awards in 10 categories. That’s a lot of recognition!
Having all of these accolades indicates one thing and one thing only: travelers trust you with their travel experience. Don’t you think so? On The Go, Tours assists you in seeing the world in your own unique way, and the evidence is there for you to see. But don’t just take our word for it. Take a vacation to Laos and let On The Go Tours’ professional guides lead the way; you will be blown away by their outstanding service.
From the relatively peaceful metropolis of Vientiane to the picturesque, magnificently preserved old capital of Luang Prabang. You’ll be ready to encounter Laos’ captivating enchantment. Timeless temples, saffron-clad monks, and breathtaking scenery abound!
In Vientiane, you will see the lovely and laid-back capital of Laos with a city tour that includes visits to the country’s oldest Buddhist monastery temple, Wat Si Saket, and the former royal temple of Haw Pha Kaeo, which was built to house the legendary Emerald Buddha. Today, this location houses the national museum of religious art.
Your next destination will be Pha That Luang, Laos’ most important monument and a symbol of both Buddhism and Lao sovereignty. During the tour, you will see the majestic Patuxay monument – Vientiane’s own Arc de Triomphe. You can spend your spare time examining the hundreds of Hindu and Buddhist sculptures dispersed around Buddha Park if you want to explore more of this holy settlement.
Following an informative tour of the capital, you will be escorted to Vang Vieng on the northern side of the nation through the lovely countryside.
You’ll stop at Ban Keun, which is famed for its salt extraction factory, before making a helpful stop in Thalat’s lively and colorful market, where local hill tribes come to barter and shop. The day’s travel will conclude with a visit to the 11th-century archaeological site at Vang Xang.
The tour is for a group of 24 adults aged 18 to 70. It is completely guided and family-friendly, with a fee of $1195 for 7 days that includes lodging, food, and transportation.
18-to-Thirtysomethings Laos Mini Adventure
G Adventures
G Adventures is the world’s top small-group travel agency, allowing you to see the world through the eyes of the people who make your trip unique and exhilarating. With over 30 years of expertise in transporting small groups to areas that few travelers can access, G Adventures has weaved its name as the best itinerary planner, allowing you to book and travel with confidence.
G for good – a well-deserved designation for a tourism firm that puts its destinations first and gives back as much as it can. G Adventures is recognized for doing this while taking you to great locales for a thrilling journey.
This 6-day trip to Lovable Laos will provide you with a taste of Luang Prabang as well as a fantastic taste of street cuisine. Good street food requires minimal effort and still provides magic when you bite the delicious cuisine while passing by some of Luang Prabang’s distinctive attractions.
You will be led to several prominent local markets; this is an excellent opportunity to engage with the locals. Shop for handcrafted treasures that will remind you of your wonderful vacation every time you look at them.
During the journey, you will see the Kuang Si waterfall, where vertical sheets of water fall mercilessly from meters above into the pool of water it formed. You will also get the opportunity to spend a free day trekking around Vang Vieng and admiring the natural beauty and stunning vistas.
One of the most exciting aspects of this journey is the opportunity to get up before dawn and see the local monks stroll across town during a daily alms-giving ritual. Monks in Laos, like monks everywhere else, are widely revered by the communities in which they live.
They adhere to strict norms and regulations established by the Vinaya, which provides the monks’ code of behavior. You’ll be charmed by how much the monks forego worldly comforts for spiritual advancement. They are incredibly disciplined and strongly believe in their religion.
The tour takes a group of 12 people from 18 to 39 years old. It is fully guided and family-friendly and includes your accommodation, meals and transportation costing $484 for 6 days.
Highlights of Laos
Explore!
As the name implies, Explore! is a European travel operator with over 40 years of experience creating and conducting tours both inside and outside of Europe. They like introducing their visitors to hidden jewels of a place that few or no other travelers are aware of; it’s as if it’s their own unique web of secrets.
But what do you expect from a corporation that has been in business for forty years? They’ve been at it for a long time, after all.
They feel that rather than simply seeing a location, tourists should have an experience. After all, why are you setting out on this adventure in the first place? In order to give you an unforgettable experience, Explore will take you to the heart of Lovable Laos where you will interact with the local people.
On this tour, you will begin your adventure on the banks of the Mekong River in Laos’ capital, which is a calm location with the sense of a provincial town rather than a major city. The aged French Colonial buildings give way to golden temples, making the area showcase unique touches of both colonial history and a strong religious presence.
And the relaxed pace of life here makes it a great destination to explore by bicycle. Get on your bike and ride gently throughout the city, keeping an eye out at every turn.
You will be able to see the Victory Gate, a Triumphal Arch with wonderful views of the town, the That Luang stupa, which is supposed to retain the Buddha’s hair, and Wat Sisaket, a lovely temple packed with fine Buddha figures. And there are many more that we will leave for you to discover on your own during your one-of-a-kind trip to Laos.
The tour is for a group of 16 adults aged 16 to 85. It is completely guided and family-friendly, with accommodations, food, and transportation included for $830 for 8 days.
Northern Laos Hike & Homestays
World Expeditions
World Expeditions, founded in 1975, is a renowned small-group travel organization. For over 48 years, the organization has focused on providing exceptional experiences for small groups of travelers while emphasizing ethical tourism and community participation.
This mindset is even stronger now, with itineraries spanning every continent, from multi-day authentic experiences and cultural treks to seeing unique and unspoiled natural beauties through inspirational journeys and meeting with people along the way.
World Expedition is supported by some of the world’s most experienced and well-known travelers, and it is well-known for its ethical travel activities, which remain at the core of its global operations. On each journey, they promise to continue devising innovative itineraries, rethinking norms, and taking their passengers off the traditional tourist trail.
Your excursion will begin in the lovely UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang and will take you through breathtaking landscapes and welcoming local communities. You will get the opportunity to connect with the residents and learn about their daily lives in these communities. When you spend time with them on the banks of the Nam Ou River, you will get a personal look at their customs and traditions.
This conversation will demonstrate how much we have in common as humans; that living apart in various regions of the world just makes us distinct in an incredible manner. It allows us to contribute something distinctive about our cultures and traditions that others may learn from. So having such close convos with the Laotian villages will be really rewarding.
After worthwhile contact with the locals, you will be taken on a voyage to relax your body by riding in a long-tail boat through the steep, hilly Nam Ou River valley and admiring gorgeous jungle waterfalls.
When you drift gently between the huge twin waterfalls, listening to their thunderous roar as they tumble down into the vast pool of water they formed, you will be rewarded with the most gorgeous, spectacular, and awe-inspiring sight.
As if that weren’t enough, you might want to take on the task of trekking across the tough terrain in quest of that one more magnificent beauty that will leave you speechless.
Having a local-style lunch by the falls in the middle of the brilliantly mixed deep blue and deep green is one of the most intriguing and thrilling things on our journey. How could things possibly be any better? This is the ultimate riverbank experience: a picnic unlike any other, an adventure unlike any other, and a bunch of fellow explorers unlike any other.
On the way back to town, you’ll stop at the enigmatic pilgrimage destination of Pak Ou Caves, where you’ll witness hundreds of Buddha sculptures of all sizes. You will take a boat to the caverns on a quiet voyage, enjoying the stunning blend of nature and culture along the route. This journey will take you back to the heart of Luang Prabang.
This tour will take a group of 14 people from the ages of 16 to 80. It is fully guided and family-friendly and includes your accommodation, meals and transportation costing $1290 for 7 days.
Cycling in Laos
Exodus Travels
Exodus Tours has been delivering exciting and adventurous adventure trips around Europe and beyond for almost five decades. They’ve always thought that visiting a new nation, learning about a new culture, or simply being in a completely different environment – whether it’s a mountain range, in the middle of the desert, or jungle – is unrivaled. The sensation of being in a completely new area and trying new things is just fantastic.
Exodus Tours will help you experience the finest of Laos while simultaneously taking substantial measures to promote ethical tourism. Their expert tour guides work with the communities that enable our vacation experiences. If Exodus Travel guides you to beautiful spots in Laos, you’re in excellent hands.
This tour takes you through some breathtaking landscapes, from small roads shrouded by jungle vines to dazzling rice terraces and mountains home to a variety of Laos ethnic groups. You will travel through towns and bamboo woods and explore Luang Prabang, which has stunning colonial architecture, tree-lined avenues, and colorful temples.
Because you will be riding through difficult and occasionally steep terrain, this excursion will demand considerable strength. When you experience the unexpected adrenaline surge as you ride down the steep slopes, having an adventurous mentality will really come in handy.
Your journey will begin in Chiang Mai, the northern rose noted for its temples, marketplaces, and many colorful hill tribes. Chiang Mai is located in Thailand, which shares a border with Laos to the northeast.
The unashamed blend of ancient and new architecture will astound you, displaying the exquisite masterpieces of the past and the awe-inspiring creations of today. Nature enthusiasts on bikes will be charmed by the city’s abundant vegetation and breathtaking mountain vistas as they cycle through this incredible natural splendor.
This excursion crosses the boundaries of two South-East Asian treasures. You will have time to shop or explore Vientiane before departing from your accommodation in the early afternoon to cycle across the Laos/Thailand border. You will pedal at least 20 kilometers along a magnificent natural beauty strip.
As a result, you will be rewarded with an incredible look at some of the sights that you will not be able to stop at.
This tour takes 16 people from the ages of 16 to 99. It is fully guided and family-friendly and includes your accommodation, meals and transportation costing $4579 for 14 days.
Cycle Vientiane to Luang Prabang – 10 Days
Social Cycles
Social Cycles was started by a young man who challenged himself to travel from England to Germany on two wheels in 2010.
From a successful trip cycling through London, making numerous stops in France, Belgium, and Holland and then getting into Germany in just six days, this young man, who was not as fit at the time, thought that he could extend the challenge to cycle halfway around the world, from London to Melbourne. Mind-blowing!
The fact that this travel firm was established on personal experience speaks volumes. Nothing beats experience, and when someone who has been off the beaten path in an unconventional way takes you to the discovery of the best sites in Laos, you are guaranteed to have the most gratifying adventure.
Social Cycles enable cyclists like you to affect the areas you choose to visit. They assist you in reducing your carbon footprint, having a fantastic time, and giving back. Is there anything that can outperform this combination?
If your dream is to travel the world but you are worried about our planet, well, bicycles don’t cause pollution and they still get you to many places cars and 4WDs can’t dare to go. Social Cycles have paved the path for a new way of traveling in order to conserve our world and give back. Come with them!
This bicycle trip will take you from Vientiane to Luang Prabang. In a nutshell, you will be transported to animal rescue sanctuaries outside of Vientiane, to Vang Vieng’s turquoise lagoons, to UNESCO Heritage sites in Phonsavan, and to Luang Prabang’s waterfalls. This tour includes morning hikes, sunset hot springs, boat cruises, dirt roads, and lots more activities.
Since Social Cycles cares about the communities they visit, you’ll interact with and learn from local NGOs about the impact of unexploded landmines in the region as you go. While you meet with the locals, you may share excellent local cuisine with them and be astounded by the flavor of Laos.
Traveling allows you to observe the world from a different perspective, and meeting locals allows you to discover how great people can be.
This tour takes 12 people from the ages of 14 to 80. It is fully guided and family-friendly and includes your accommodation, meals and transportation costing $1775 for 10 days.
There you have it: the six best tours to discover Laos with ease. The options are limitless, therefore it is entirely up to you to carve your own path through this universe of experiences.
If none of these tours work for you in Laos, please do not worry. There is a wide variety of tour options in the country, and we are confident that there will be something that fits your needs and interests.
Take a look at all the group tours in Laos now, which you can sort by private or group, maximum sizing, budget, dates and much (much more). The team at TourRadar is also always more than happy to answer any questions, provide further information or assist in any way in finding the perfect tour for you.
