Two weeks in Laos is enough time to experience both the north and south properly, or to go deep into one region with day trips and off-the-beaten-path detours. The country is smaller than it appears on the map, but transport connections — while dramatically improved by the Laos-China Railway in the north — still take time in the south. This itinerary is built around real transport times and honest estimates of how long each place actually deserves.
The North-to-South Route (Recommended)
The classic approach: fly into Luang Prabang (or take the slow boat from Thailand), work south through Vang Vieng and Vientiane, then continue to Thakhek, Pakse, and the 4000 Islands, exiting either by air from Pakse or overland into Cambodia or Vietnam.
Days 1-4: Luang Prabang
Getting there: Fly from Bangkok (1.5 hours, $80-150), Chiang Mai (1 hour, $60-120), or Hanoi (50 minutes, $60-100). Or take the 2-day slow boat from Huay Xai (Thai border, worth doing once in your life if you have time).
Day 1: Arrive. Check in. Walk the old town peninsula — the French colonial architecture, the temple rooftops, the Mekong. Night market for dinner.
Day 2: Rise at 5:15am for the morning alms ceremony (observe respectfully from a distance). Return to hotel for breakfast. Mid-morning: Royal Palace Museum and Wat Xieng Thong. Afternoon: Mount Phousi for sunset. Night market for dinner.
Day 3: Full day at Kuang Si Falls. Leave by 9am via shared minivan ($2.50), swim in the turquoise pools, visit the bear rescue centre, return by 3pm. Evening: cooking class at Tamarind Restaurant ($35-45, worth every dollar).
Day 4: Free morning — cycling to Ban Phanom pottery village or kayaking the Nam Khan. Afternoon: Mekong sunset boat ride. Train station transfer for the evening train south.
Transport: Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng by train — 1 hour, $6.
Days 5-7: Vang Vieng
Day 5: Arrive morning by train. Hot air balloon sunrise flight (book ahead, $80-120) or settle in and explore by bicycle. Afternoon: Blue Lagoon (Lagoon 1 or 3, $1-2 entry, bicycle from town $3/day).
Day 6: Full adventure day — kayaking the Nam Song River (half day, $8-12) or caving and Blue Lagoon combination tour ($20-30). Afternoon: riverside hammock time.
Day 7: Short morning in town, midday train south. Arrive Vientiane afternoon.
Transport: Vang Vieng to Vientiane by train — 1 hour, $5.
Days 8-9: Vientiane
The capital is often rushed through. Two days is the minimum to do it justice.
Day 8: COPE Visitor Centre (UXO exhibition, free, 1 hour — start here to understand modern Laos). That Luang golden stupa. Patuxai monument (climb for city views). Evening: Mekong riverside walk and the night market.
Day 9: Wat Si Saket (oldest temple, 8,800 Buddha images in the cloister wall). Buddha Park day trip (25km by tuk-tuk, $12-15 round trip, the bizarre sculpture garden is worth it). National Museum. Evening: farewell to the Mekong before heading south.
Transport: Vientiane to Thakhek by overnight bus — 6-7 hours, $5-7.
Note: You can also take the train to Savannakhet (2 hours, $5-7) and bus north to Thakhek (2 hours) — more comfortable and similar total time.
Days 10-13: Thakhek Loop
The Thakhek Loop (450km motorbike circuit) is the highlight of central Laos for adventurous travelers. If motorbikes are not your thing, you can skip to Pakse directly (Day 10) and add the Bolaven Plateau instead.
Day 10: Arrive Thakhek morning. Arrange bike rental at Mr Ku’s Thakhek Travel Lodge. Leave by 10am: Thakhek → Mahaxai (65km, 2 hours). Stop at Buddha Cave, Xe Bang Fai river caves. Overnight Mahaxai.
Day 11: Mahaxai → Tha Lang → Kong Lor Cave (120km, 4-5 hours). Afternoon cave boat tour through Kong Lor — 7.5km of underground river. Overnight Tha Lang.
Day 12: Tha Lang → Vieng Kham → Lak Sao (200km, 5-6 hours). Most remote section, dramatic karst plateau, small villages. Overnight Lak Sao.
Day 13: Lak Sao → Thakhek (180km, 4-5 hours). Return via the karst gorge section near Mahaxai. Afternoon in Thakhek — return bike, colonial town walk, Mekong riverside.
Transport: Thakhek to Pakse by overnight bus — 4-5 hours, $5-8.
Days 14-15: Pakse and Bolaven Plateau (Abbreviated)
14 days means you have to choose: full Bolaven Plateau Loop (2-3 days) or a day trip + 4000 Islands sampler. Here I choose the 4000 Islands sampler since the Bolaven deserves its own trip.
Day 14: Arrive Pakse morning. Dao Heuang Market for breakfast. Day trip to Wat Phou UNESCO temple ($10 entry + $20-25 tuk-tuk round trip). Return Pakse evening.
Day 15: Morning bus to Nakasang (2.5 hours, $2.50), longtail boat to Don Det (15 minutes, $1.50). Afternoon: hammock, Mekong, dolphin boat trip. Overnight Don Det.
If flying out: Fly from Pakse Airport to Bangkok (1 hour, $80-150) or Vientiane ($50-80) on Day 16. If crossing to Cambodia: bus from Nakasang south to the border (1 hour), Cambodia visa on arrival, continue to Stung Treng or Siem Reap.
The North-Only Route (14 Days)
If crossing from Thailand and not needing to reach the south:
- Days 1-2: Huay Xai + slow boat (2 days to Luang Prabang)
- Days 3-6: Luang Prabang (4 days)
- Day 7: Train to Nong Khiaw (via bus connection, 3-4 hours)
- Days 8-9: Nong Khiaw + Muang Ngoi
- Day 10: Bus/minivan to Phonsavan (5 hours)
- Days 11-12: Phonsavan + Plain of Jars
- Day 13: Fly Phonsavan → Vientiane or bus to Luang Prabang
- Day 14: Train Luang Prabang → Bangkok overnight or fly out
This route concentrates on the north’s best — the river towns, the jar site mystery, and the monastic heart of Laos — without the long southern bus journeys.
Budget Estimates (14 Days)
North-to-South route:
| Category | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (avg $12/night) | $168 |
| Food ($10/day) | $140 |
| Internal flights | $80 (Luang Prabang in + Pakse out) |
| Train fares | $25 |
| Bus fares | $25 |
| Kuang Si Falls (entry + transport) | $8 |
| Wat Phou | $30 |
| Kong Lor Cave | $15 |
| Thakhek Loop bike rental + fuel | $45 |
| Activities (balloon, kayak, tours) | $60-100 |
| Miscellaneous | $50 |
| Total | $646-686 |
This is approximately $46-49/day all-in for a complete north-to-south Laos experience — remarkably good value for two weeks of travel with genuine adventures.
Key Transport Notes for 2026
The Laos-China Railway (Vientiane → Vang Vieng → Luang Prabang) has eliminated the brutal bus journeys in the north. Use it. Book at the station or online at lnr.la. Check schedules in advance — the most convenient departure times sell out.
Southern Laos still relies primarily on buses and minivans. Giant Ibis (the Cambodian company) does not operate in Laos — the main operators are Pakse-based minivan services and VIP bus companies whose schedules and reliability vary. Ask your guesthouse for current recommendations.
Border crossings: The Lao-Cambodia crossing at Don Det (southern end of Don Khon island) is convenient and straightforward. Cambodian visa on arrival costs $30-35. Vietnam crossings via Lak Sao (Route 8) or the Dansavanh-Lao Bao crossing in the south require advance planning as public transport connections are limited.