The Perfect 3-week Itinerary for Laos!
Laos: Southeast Asia's Best-Kept Secret
Laos is easily the most underrated country I’ve ever visited. A lot of people don’t even know it exists until they start traveling around Southeast Asia and hear other travelers raving about it. I was guilty of this too—I hadn’t even heard of Laos until my first trip to Asia back in 2013. During that trip, I crammed in the classic Southeast Asian countries in just one month. But this year, I finally got the chance to spend an entire month exploring Laos, and it was nothing short of incredible.
I started my journey by crossing the border from Cambodia in the south. You can catch a minivan from Siem Reap, and the journey takes a full day, including the border crossing, before you arrive in Don Det, also known as the 4000 Islands. I fell in love with Don Det and ended up spending six days there. The area is packed with beautiful waterfalls, and you can easily bike from Don Det to Don Khon, where a bridge connects the two islands. Don Khon is home to a smaller waterfall, perfect for a quick visit. When you’re not exploring, you can relax on the sandy beaches, enjoy stunning sunsets from the waterfront restaurants, or just kick back in a hammock at your bungalow.
The main attraction in this area is Khone Pha Pheng Falls, the largest waterfall in Southeast Asia by volume. You can either join a full-day kayak tour from Don Det, which includes some land visits, or take a short ferry to Ban Nakasang and then hop on a tuk-tuk to the falls. This spot was where I had my first real drone flight—I was both nervous and excited!
After Don Det, my next stop was Pakse, where you’ll find another stunning waterfall called Tad Fane. Some people opt to do a small motorcycle loop around this area, but I saved my motorcycle adventure for the epic Thakhek loop. Getting from Don Det to Pakse can be a bit of a journey – the roads in southern Laos are rough, and the trip takes almost a full day. Minivans are available, but they’re not direct and require some van-hopping.
Next, I headed to Thakhek to tackle the Thakhek loop, which takes about four days. This loop is packed with amazing spots, including dozens of caves, a fun zipline in a limestone forest, viewpoints, and cool springs. Most travelers stay at Sabaydee Guesthouse on the first night—it’s a blast! You get your own little cottage, and they serve up a great barbecue dinner. On the second night, I stayed near the zipline to give it a go in the morning.
The highlight of the loop is the last night when you reach Kong Lor Cave, a true geological wonder. The cave is about 7.5 kilometers long, with the Nam Hin Bun River running through it. While most people just take a boat tour inside and then return the same way, I decided to take my motorcycle on the boat, cross through the cave, and continue the loop on a challenging 60km dirt road. It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done, and I was pretty proud of myself, especially since I didn’t have much motorcycle experience. The Thakhek loop is a must-do for adventure lovers!
After finishing the loop, I made my way to Vientiane, the capital of Laos. There’s not a whole lot going on there, but it’s a necessary stop on the way to Vang Vieng, so I stayed for a couple of nights. If you’re in Vientiane, I recommend checking out Buddha Park (Wat Xieng Khouane Luang) for something different.
From Vientiane, you can catch a bullet train, courtesy of China, that connects the main cities in the north. Travel here is smooth and seamless—so much so that you might forget you’re still in Laos!
Vang Vieng is a super fun city with tons of activities to keep you busy, like hot air ballooning, motor paragliding, hiking to Nam Xay Viewpoint, kayaking, and exploring beautiful lagoons and caves. Renting a scooter is the best way to get around and take it all in.
From Vang Vieng, I hopped on the bullet train to Luang Prabang, home to the impressive Kuang Si Falls. Luang Prabang also has a charming night market, cute riverside cafes, beautiful temples, and a great spot to watch the sunset. If you’ve got time, a day trip to Pak Ou Caves is worth it.
The final stop you shouldn’t miss in Laos is Nong Khiaw. There’s no train here, so you’ll need to take a minivan along a pretty rough road, but trust me, it’s so worth it! Nong Khiaw is a laid-back village in northern Laos, set along the Nam Ou River and surrounded by stunning limestone mountains. It’s the perfect place to hike to amazing viewpoints, explore cool caves, or just relax and kayak on the river. The vibe is super chill, making it the ideal spot to unwind and soak up the natural beauty.
So, if you’ve got 3 weeks in Laos, here’s how I’d break it down: Start with 4 days in Don Det, then spend 2 days in Pakse exploring the Bolaven Plateau. Thakhek deserves 5 days, especially if you’re into a bit of adventure on the loop. Next, head to Vientiane to visit the Buddha Park, then head to Vang Vieng for 4 days in the epic landscapes. Finish off with 3 days in Luang Prabang for all the culture and chill vibes, and wrap it up with 2 days in Nong Khiaw—perfect for some final relaxation. This route will give you a solid taste of what makes Laos so awesome!
by @jes.travels
Hi, I’m Jessica 😊
I’m a solo traveler on a mission to explore all corners of the globe. I’ve been to 60+ countries and am guilty of revisiting countries I love multiple times.
I’m originally from Brazil and based in NYC but am currently living the nomadic life. When I’m home, you I’ll find me watching National Geographic, Planet Earth or Discovery channel.
If you also want to explore the world, let’s be friends.
