Practical Info

Guide book ?

There are only a few guides book about Laos, so we took the Lonely Planet as usual. you could also try Footprint.

When to Go ?

Guides indicate that the dry season lasts from November to April. The other half of the year is the rainy monsoon season.

February seems to be ideal : temperatures are between 15* to 20*C: there is no rain, no mosquitos, but a lot of dust.

Get there ?

By plane
There are now 2 international airports : the one of Vientiane and the one of Luang Prabang, but most of flights come from Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.

We only know the flights from Thailand / Bangkok :

There are flights from Bangkok to Vientiane with Thai Airways and Lao Aviation, and to Luang Prabang with Angel Air

One way Bangkok to Luang Prabang costs 200 USD (via Chiang Mai)

One way Vientiane to Bangkok costs 115 USD

The cheapest solution is to take a plane from Bangkok to Udon Thani which is only 55 USD

By Road
The most obvious solution is to reach Laos from Thailand by the Friendship Bridge (22 km away from Vientiane).

You get there from Nongkhai (Thailand) then you take a bus to cross the bridge.

By Ferry
There are several Ferries from Thailand to Vientiane, Savannaket or Luang Phrabang

By Train
The train leaves daily Bangkok at 7:00 pm. One way costs 20 USD

It takes 12 hours to reach Udon Thani, next to the border. From the train-station of Udon Thani, the Friendship bridge is only at 5 minutes, then you are in Laos.

For the way back, the train leaves at 7:00 am from Udon Thani, but the problem is that the Friendship bridge (the border) opens also at 7:30.

Visa

Tourist Visa is valid for 15 days and allows you to travel freely all over Laos.

Formalites are settled upon arrival in Laos, and it is possible to get your Visa from the Vientiane Airport or the Luang Prabang Airport.

Bring along an ID Photo and 30 USD, or the equivalent in Thai Baht

Change

You can change cash or travellers, but apart from Vientiane and Luang Prabang, it's not possible to withdraw cash with your Credit Card.

The exchange rate on 8 February 2000 was 1 USD = 7480 Kips

This is an official rate which is the same everywhere !!! So don't hesitate to change at the airport.

You can use US dollar or Thai Baht. You'll soon be use to pay small things with Kip and with US dollars if it's more than 1000 Kip.