7 Days Backpacking Laos Itinerary By Train for First-Timers

7 Days Backpacking Laos Itinerary

Day 1: Vientiane (2 nights)

Our itinerary begins in Vientiane, probably one of the most laid-back capital cities you will find in Southeast Asia. Unlike the typically bustling streets and concrete jungles of capital cities like Bangkok and Hanoi, Vientiane feels more like you are in a small and quiet town than a capital city.

After settling in, you can spend the first evening exploring the bustling Night Market, located along the bank of the Mekong River. The night market is always total of people every evening, with many shops lining both sides of the boulevard, which is a perfect place to get oriented in Laos.

Right along the western end of the boulevard, you will find a small temple fair equipped with all kinds of fun amusement rides, such as colorful Ferris Wheels, bouncing castles, and bumper cars, as well as restaurants where you can try some local food.

If you are looking for a place to try some street foods in Vientiane, you can't go wrong with the Food Park Center Point. From fresh coconut juice to Lao-style BBQ sticks, there are countless options for you to try out here. After you are done, retreat for the night and prepare for a jam-packed day of exploration the next day.

One of the most iconic landmarks in Vientiane that you should definitely check out first is Pha That Luang, a stunning golden stupa complex featuring a large central stupa surrounded by smaller stupas and shrines, all painted in gold and covered in traditional Lao design elements with Buddhist symbolism.

Since the temple is approximately 5 km away from the Old Town, you will have to catch a taxi to get here. I recommend asking your accommodation to find a taxi for you, as it will be cheaper than flagging down a tuk-tuk yourself, as they are known to overcharge tourists.

As you make your way back, be sure to check out Patuxay, a striking war monument constructed in the 20th century to commemorate those who fought and died in various wars, including World War II and the Indochina Wars.

Next up, you can visit another incredible temple, Wat Sisaket, one of the oldest temples in the city built in the early 19th century by the last king of the Vientiane Kingdom.

Other temples you might want to check out in Vientiane are Ho Phrakeo Museum, an impressive structure that used to house the Emerald Buddha, Wat Si Muang, a colorful and highly revered temple complex founded in the 16th century, and more.

Be sure to spend some time and learn more about the history of Laos at the COPE Visitor Center, a small museum located inside a hospital, dedicated to telling the stories of the people who are affected by UXO or unexploded ordnance that continues to affect the local people to this day.

These tourist attractions should occupy the first half of your day. For the second half, take bus #14 from the central bus terminal and visit Buddha Park, a unique park filled with incredible sculptures and monuments, all related to Buddhism.

As you walk inside, you will find yourself surrounded by an array of sculptures, including images of Buddha, Hindu gods and goddesses, demons, animals, mythological creatures drawn from local legends, and influences from abroad.

It should take you about an hour to walk around the park before you can catch the bus back from the bus stop on the opposite side of the road from where they dropped you off and retire for the night, ending your first day in Laos.

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.

Looking for a complete travel guide to Vientiane? Check out:10 Best Things to Do in Vientiane

Getting from Vientiane to Vang Vieng

You can now take the Lao-Chinese high-speed train from Vientiane to Vang Vieng. It only takes around 50 minutes, which is way faster than taking the bus and extremely convenient.

Vientiane train station is located 40 minutes away from the city center, so you need to plan your time carefully and organize a taxi before the trip. A shared minivan to Vientiane train station should cost about 75,000 - 100,000 LAK. A private taxi will be about 150,000+ LAK.

You can take the local bus #28, which will often be waiting for arriving passengers outside the train station, and it should cost about 20,000 LAK. The bus will drop you off at the Talat Sao Morning Market, and you can walk to your accommodation from there.

You can book the train ticket online here. Once you arrive, you can take a shared taxi to the town center as the Vang Vieng train station is about 10 minutes away. You will find shared taxis waiting for you as you exit the terminal. It should cost no more than 40,000 LAK per person.

Day 2-4: Vang Vieng (3 nights)

It used to be that Vang Vieng was the ultimate place to be if you love to party. However, in recent years, with the increase in tourism, the province has completely transformed this backwater town into the adventure capital of Laos, and that is exactly what we are going to do here.

After you settle for the night, wake up early in the morning the next day and rent a motorbike from this motorbike shop. Head over to Nam Xay Viewpoint and hike up to the top for an incredible view of Vang Vieng from above, with its lush rice paddies and rolling hills.

To get there, you will first have to get to the parking lot where you will find a small shop that you can park your vehicle at and begin ascending the mountain. To get here, you can rent a motorbike or a buggy car from Vang Vieng and drive west across the Nam Song River for about 15 minutes, and you should be at the parking lot in no time.

The trail takes about an hour to hike one way. It is incredibly steep and slippery, especially if it rained the day before, so be sure to wear sturdy shoes that you do not mind getting muddy.

After about an hour, you will arrive at the top and be rewarded with an incredible 360° view of the surroundings, which, trust me, will make you completely forget just how tiring the hike was.

After the hike, you can continue west along the gravel road and visit Blue Lagoon 3, one of the many blue lagoons in the area. I prefer this one over the others because there are way fewer people here than, say, Blue Lagoon 1, and I can actually enjoy the solitude and swim at my own leisure.

Once you are done, you can continue around the Vang Vieng loop to explore the countryside and the rice paddies before coming back to Vang Vieng. It should take about 1-2 hours to complete the loop.

On your way back, be sure to visit Tham Chang Cave, a nice and beautiful cave across the Nam Song River that you can explore. To get to Tham Chang Cave, you will first have to drive to this parking lot, pay the parking fee of 5000 LAK, and cross the river with the free ferry service to reach the cave entrance.

That should occupy your entire first day in Vang Vieng. You can spend the evening strolling around Vang Vieng Night Market and go on a shopping spree for souvenirs while also finding some delicious street foods to try.

The next morning, we will join an organized tour and explore the rich nature of Vang Vieng. You can start your day with a hot air balloon ride at sunrise and witness the sleepy town waking up while also enjoying the beautiful scenery of morning mists hovering over rolling mountains across the horizon.

After that, you can join a kayak/tubing/zip-lining tour which will allow you to experience all the cool activities you can do here in one go. You will also see Vang Vieng and its surroundings from a unique perspective as you kayak along the Nam Song River and zip-line through lush forests.

Before ending our last jam-packed day of adventure in Vang Vieng, you can go and chill out at Green Restaurant, a great restaurant with a great view from its patio. They serve both local and international dishes, but my favorite dish from here is their homemade pizza, which is not something I'd expect to love in Laos, but it was delicious!

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.

Looking for a complete travel guide to Vang Vieng? Check out:10 Best Things to Do in Vang Vieng

Getting from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang

You can take the Lao-Chinese high-speed train from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang. It will take around 50 minutes, which is way faster than taking the bus, which can take over 6 hours due to the poor road conditions.

Vang Vieng train station is located around 10 minutes away, and the shared taxi to get there should cost around 40,000 LAK per person. You can organize it with your hotel or at this motorbike shop in town, which I found to have a cheaper rate than the hotel.

You can book the train ticket online here. Once you arrive, you are going to have to take a shared taxi to Luang Prabang's Old Town as the train station is more than 40 minutes away. You will find these minivans waiting for you as you exit the terminal. It should cost no more than 35,000 LAK per person.

Day 5-7: Luang Prabang (3 nights)

Luang Prabang is hands down, one of my favorite cities in Laos. It is a charming little city nestled between the rolling hills of Northern Laos. As Laos' old capital, you will be able to travel back in time, walk among the stunning architecture, and experience the rich culture and history, all the while enjoying some of the best Laotian food offerings you can find.

After you arrive in Luang Prabang and settle into your accommodation, in the late afternoon, you can go and visit Haw Pha Bang, probably one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city, and admire its stunning architecture from the outside, but don't go inside yet. We will do that the next day.

Our plan for this evening is to hike up to the top of Phousi Hill at sunset and admire the incredible 360° view of the surroundings while you bask in the lights of the golden hour.

To reach the top of Phousi Hill, you need to climb a series of staircases that wind their way up the hillside. The climb is relatively easy for most people and should take no more than 10 minutes to reach the top.

The view from up there is astounding, especially at sunset, so if you want to be there at the golden hour, be sure to align your time carefully and set off around 5:45 PM. You should be there right before sunset.

After sunset, you can make your way down, and you will find a Night Market right on the main street, where you can stroll around and go on a shopping spree.

The night market is extremely active every day, with lines and lines of shops selling unique souvenirs, from Sabaidee t-shirts to trinkets made out of bomb fragments. Spend at least an hour walking around, find something to eat, and then retreat for the night.

The next day, wake up as early as 5:30 AM and go out and witness the almsgiving ceremony in front of the Wat May Souvannapoumaram, which should happen around 6 AM every morning. The Almsgiving Ceremony is a significant and traditional Buddhist practice that involves the offering of food and other essentials to Buddhist monks and nuns as a way of making merit. You can also participate even if you are not a Buddhist.

The ceremony is quite brief, so if you want to witness it, make sure to be there no later than 6:30 AM, or else you will miss it. To participate, you can purchase one of the offering packages sold by vendors, who will assist you during the ceremony.

After you are done with the almsgiving ceremony, you should also check out Luang Prabang's Morning Market, which has sprung up along the back alleyway, one street away from the main road.

At the market, you can find many vendors selling all kinds of things like local fruit, vegetables, meats, and more. You will also find small restaurants along the street serving traditional breakfasts such as Lao-style congee, Khao Soi, and more, which you can try.

I highly recommend you try the congee at this unnamed restaurant that I accidentally stumbled upon while exploring the morning market. Get the congee and a few pairs of fried dough to dip in it, and you're good to go.

After the morning market, you can check out the Royal Palace Museum, which is housed in the former royal palace. This palace was built in 1904 during the French colonial period as a residence for the Laotian royal family. The palace served as the official residence of the monarchs until the monarchy was abolished in 1975.

Inside the museum, you will find several well-preserved rooms of the Royal Palace, from the main hall called the Throne Room to the bedrooms of the royal family. Walking around the museum, you will get a glimpse of what life was like for the royal family back then. You will feel like you are being transported back in time.

After that, you can spend the rest of the day visiting the main tourist attractions in Luang Prabang, such as Wat Xiengthong, an awesome temple complex with many impressive structures, such as a classic Lao-style ordination hall, the Chapel of the Funerary Carriage that houses the elaborate and ornate funeral carriage used for royal processions, and more.

If you are interested in learning a bit more about the lifestyle of the people here many centuries ago, Heuan Chan Heritage House is a great museum you should visit while you are here.

You can also learn why Laos is the most bombed country in the world at UXO Lao Visitor Center, a small museum dedicated to telling the stories of the horrific remnants of war, the terrible consequences of using cluster bombs, and their effect on the people here long after the conflict ended.

After exploring Luang Prabang the entire day, you can spend the evening relaxing and enjoying a nice glass of beer as you watch people at Yuni Yupoun, a cozy restaurant not too far from the night market.

The restaurant has a really cozy atmosphere with plenty of seating areas inside across 2 floors. They serve all kinds of dishes, both local and international, but I would recommend you try out their Discover Platter, where you will get a bunch of small portions of local food like Sai Ou (local sausage), sticky rice, etc., to try.

On your last day in Luang Prabang, you can either rent a motorbike or take the 6 USD shuttle service to Kuang Si Waterfall, one of the most impressive waterfalls you will see here.

The place is well known for its impressive amount of water, picturesque multi-tiered cascades, and pristine turquoise blue waters in which you can swim. There is also a nature trail where you can walk around and explore all of its beautiful waterfall tiers.

Expect to spend at least 3 hours here as you enjoy the waterfall, swimming in one of the many pools, and exploring its nature trail. Kuang Si waterfall has many tiers, all scattered along the nature trail, so be sure to keep an eye out for them.

Another cool thing about Kuang Si Waterfall and its nature trail is that, as you walk along the path, you will also be passing through a bear rescue center, a sanctuary for bears rescued from illegal poaching. You can observe them as they roam around a playground built specifically for them.

Once you are done, you can head back to Luang Prabang and spend the rest of the day relaxing at cafes and enjoying the laid-back vibe of this old capital city.

One of my favorite cafes in Luang Prabang is Le Banneton Café French Bakery, a cozy cafe with a great selection of pastries, breakfast, and coffee to choose from. It is a great place to drop by if you crave Western-style breakfast and bakery goods such as croissants, bagels, and more. So, if you have time, be sure to check it out.

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.

Looking for a complete travel guide to Luang Prabang? Check out:12 Best Things to Do in Luang Prabang

Getting out of Luang Prabang

From Luang Prabang, you have the option to travel to Chiang Rai in Thailand via slow boats, which will take about 2 days, or get on an overnight bus, which will take about 13 - 15 hours and cost around 25 USD. You can inquire for more information about this route with your accommodation.

You can also go straight to Chiang Mai, but the journey will be a grueling 25-hour ride, and you will have to switch buses several times. It's possible, but not the most comfortable.

Alternatively, you can fly straight to Bangkok and begin your backpacking Thailand journey from there, or you can take the high-speed train back to Vientiane and cross the land border into Nong Khai in Thailand, and make your way back to Bangkok from there.

The train should take about 2 hours and cost around 20 USD. Luang Prabang's train station is located 40 minutes away, and the taxi from the city to the train station should cost around 35,000 LAK per person. You can book the train ticket online here.

When to Visit Laos?

The best time to visit Laos is from October to April when the weather is cool and less humid, making it great for outdoor activities and offering a high chance of a beautiful clear sky.

It can be extremely humid and hot outside from April to May, while the rest of the months can be rainy. However, that doesn't mean you can't visit Laos during these periods. The summer has some awesome festivals like Songkran, whereas the rainy season does bring down the temperature and makes it a bit more manageable to travel around.

How to Get to Laos?

From the US, you will first have to fly into Bangkok, one of the largest travel hubs in the region, via airlines like Qatar and Emirates. Then, you can take a domestic flight to Vientiane via AirAsia (which takes about 1 hour). Alternatively, you can take the sleeper train or bus across the border to Laos (which takes at least 15 hours).

From Europe, you also have to fly into Bangkok via airlines such as Emirates, Lufthansa, or KLM. From there, you can either fly with AirAsia to Vientiane or take the sleeper train or bus.

From Asia, there should be many options available from airlines like AirAsia, Lao Airlines, and Thai Airways that will take you from your home country to Vientiane in only a few hours. You can also fly domestically from Thailand to Nong Khai and cross the land border from there. It will be cheaper than taking a direct international flight.

To find a cheap flight to Laos, I would recommend that you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule, so you can compare and choose the best one.

How to Get Around Laos?

By Trains: Laos finally has its own high-speed train, thanks to China, making traveling around the country more accessible than ever before.

The high-speed train allows you to travel from Vientiane to Luang Prabang in 2 hours, whereas before, it would have taken 15+ hours due to the poor road condition and the mountainous geography of the north.

Taking the train is hands down the best way to travel around Laos, but there are a few caveats you should know about. For one, most of the train stations are located far away from the city, so you will have to organize a taxi beforehand.

Secondly, the train system has extremely strict security, almost airport-level. Since you can't load your luggage like on an airplane, items like aerosol or any kind of sprays are prohibited, and they will be thrown away. So, DO NOT PACK any aerosol or spray for this trip. You can leave it in Vientiane before you take a train to your accommodation if you wish to return to the city to fly out.

Since security is tight, you are expected to be at the train station at least an hour before departure in case of a long security line. They also check the ticket three times: once when you enter the station, another when you get on the train, and the last one when you exit the station. So, do not throw away your ticket once you have boarded the train unless you want to pay for it again upon exit.

Lastly, buying a train ticket in person as a foreigner is impossible at the moment, and the only way I found to reserve a train ticket online is via this travel agency. Make sure to book at least 24 hours ahead, as popular routes like Vientiane to Luang Prabang and vice versa get booked out fast.

Other than that, the train system here is way more efficient than I thought it would be. It is also much more comfortable than taking buses, with way more legroom, cleaner facilities, and air conditioning that actually works. It is definitely the best way to get around; just make sure you are aware of the caveats I mentioned above.

For more information on train travel in Laos, check out:10 Tips For First-Time Laos Train Travel

By Tours: Although many things to do in Laos can be done without an organized tour, certain activities like kayaking, tubing, and hot air ballooning require you to book one to get access to the equipment. The best place to look for tours and day trips is Klook. You can also try sites like Viator and Getyourguide, but I found Klook to be the cheapest.

By Rental Cars: I would not recommend this as the roads in Laos are filled with potholes and are not in excellent condition. However, if you insist on renting your own car and driving, you can click the link below to see how much it would cost to rent one in Laos.

Rent a Car in Laos

How Much Money Do I Need for 7 days in Laos?

From this 7-day itinerary, we can calculate approximately how much money you will be spending here as follows:

Accommodation: For 8 nights in Laos, you can expect to pay around 72 USD for accommodation, considering you are staying in budget guesthouses or hostels.

Food: For 7 days, with 3 meals a day in Laos, you can expect to pay around 63 USD for food, considering you eat out every day.

Transportation: For this itinerary, you can expect to pay around 65 USD for motorbike rentals, buses, and trains throughout the country.

Activities: Depending on how much you want to do in Laos, you can expect to pay approximately $15 for tours, as well as entrance fees to tourist attractions around the country.

Total Budget for 7 days in Laos: 215 USD

Is it Safe in Laos?

From my experiences, Laos is pretty safe for tourists to travel around, especially in the three cities we will visit: Vientiane, Vang Vieng, and Luang Prabang. People are very friendly, and I didn't experience anything unusual throughout my trip here.

That said, it is always a good idea to exercise caution by not leaving your belongings unattended, especially when in crowded places like a market, and ALWAYS keep an eye out for your belongings at all times.

Keep your hands in your pockets when entering or exiting crowded places to secure your phone and wallet. Other than that, you should be perfectly fine traveling around Laos independently.

Internet in Laos

There are 4 major carriers in Laos: Unitel, Laotel, Tplus, and ETL which offer prepaid sim cards tourists can buy while traveling in Laos. That said, if you are looking for a more convenient way, I highly recommend you look into getting eSIMs instead, which is something that you can buy prior to your arrival in Laos.

If you have a smartphone that supports eSIMs, I highly recommend you take a look at these eSIMs. The setup is fast and instant, and you can buy it before your trip, so you don't have to scramble to get one at the airport after a long flight. The data speed is pretty reliable in most cases with LTE speed in big cities, although it can sometimes struggle the further away in remote areas you travel.

For more information on eSIMs in Laos, click here: Check Laos' Available eSIM.

What to Pack for Laos

As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Laos:

• Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
• Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
• Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
• Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
• Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
• Swim Suits: A swim trunk is a must-pack item if you are planning to visit Laos in the summer, just in case there is a body of water you can jump in.
• Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
• Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
• Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
• Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
• Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
• Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
• Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.

For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.

Further Reading for Laos

Looking for more information for your trip to Laos? Here is a selection of articles that might help you with your trip planning:

• Looking for a complete travel guide to Southeast Asia? You should check out our 3-Month Backpacking Itinerary for Southeast Asia.
• Looking to spend some time in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos? Be sure to check out: 10 Best Things to Do in Vientiane.
• Vang Vieng, the adventure hub of Laos, has much to offer to those seeking adrenaline-rush activities. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Vang Vieng.
• Luang Prabang is my favorite city in Laos and is a place not to be missed. Here are the 12 Best Things to Do in Luang Prabang.
• Packing for a trip to visit a place as big as Southeast Asia is extremely daunting. Here's a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Southeast Asia - The Essential Packing List.
• Not convinced by my words about Southeast Asia? Here are 64 photos that will inspire you to visit Southeast Asia now.
• You can also watch my travel video about Southeast Asia here: Watch the "Asia Alive" travel video.
• You can see all my Laos-related articles on my Laos Travel Guide page.
• For more Southeast Asia-related articles, check out my Southeast Asia Travel Guide page.
• For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.