Visa on Arrival (VOA) Germans, Austrians, and Swiss need a visa for Laos. The easiest option is the Visa on Arrival, which you get directly at the border: Cost: 30 USD for German citizens (36 USD for Swiss, 42 USD for Austrians — prices vary by nationality!) Validity: 30 days from entry Required: P

Lao Kip (LAK) The national currency is the Lao Kip (LAK) — one of the weakest currencies in the world. The exchange rate is about 1 EUR ≈ 24,000 LAK (2025). Notes range from 500 LAK to 100,000 LAK. You will regularly be a millionaire — a lunch costs 30,000 LAK, a hotel 200,000 LAK. The Three-Curren

Health & Vaccinations

Vaccinations No mandatory vaccinations for entry from Germany. Recommended are: Standard vaccinations: Tetanus, diphtheria, polio, measles (get a booster) Hepatitis A: Strongly recommended (transmission through food/water) Hepatitis B: Recommended for longer stays Typhoid: Recommended for travel to

General Safety Laos is one of the safest travel countries in Southeast Asia. Violent crime against tourists is extremely rare. What does occur: Petty crime: Pickpocketing in Vientiane (night market) and Luang Prabang. Keep valuables close to your body. Fraud: Overpriced tuk-tuk fares, incorrect exc

Internet, SIM & Power

SIM Card & Mobile Data A local SIM card is cheap and indispensable for navigation: Providers: Unitel (best network, recommended), LaoTelecom (ETL), Beeline Price: 10,000–20,000 LAK for the SIM + 30,000–50,000 LAK for 3–5 GB data (30 days) Purchase: At the airport (counter after baggage claim), in m

Lao (ພາສາລາວ) is closely related to Thai — those who speak Thai understand a lot. The Lao script looks like artfully curved flourishes to Western eyes. Lao is a tonal language with 6 tones — the meaning of a word changes depending on the pitch. In tourist areas (Luang Prabang, Vientiane), you can ge

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Travel Guide Laos

Your complete travel guide for the country on the Mekong

Capital:Vientiane

Language:Lao

Currency:Lao Kip (LAK)

Best Travel Time:November–February

Flight Time:~12 hours from DE

Visa:Visa on Arrival (30 USD)

Last updated: 11 March 2026 · 10 Chapters · 40 Sections

RECOMMENDED

Route Suggestions

Classic Laos Tour

14–18 days

The grand tour from north to south, connecting all the highlights. Perfect for the first visit — temples, nature, culture, and Mekong magic.

VientianeVang ViengLuang PrabangNong KhiawPakse4000 Islands

Slow Boat & Luang Prabang

7–10 days

The dream route: From Thailand across the border, two days on the slow boat on the Mekong to Luang Prabang and further into the north. Slow travel at its finest.

Chiang Mai/Chiang RaiHuay XaiPak BengLuang PrabangKuang SiNong Khiaw

Southern Laos Adventure

7 days

The relaxed south: Coffee on the Bolaven Plateau, the ancient temple Wat Phou, and hammock days on the 4000 Islands.

PakseBolaven PlateauTad FaneChampasakWat PhouDon DetDon KhonKhone Phapheng

Northern Explorer

10–14 days

The Wild North: Karst landscapes, mysterious stone jars, off-grid villages, and the country's most spectacular nature. For adventurers.

VientianeVang ViengPhonsavanNong KhiawMuang NgoiLuang Prabang

All Chapters

Planning· 2 Chapters

Chapter 1

Welcome to Laos

6 Sections

Chapter 2

Arrival & Transport

3 Sections

Regions· 4 Chapters

Chapter 3

Vientiane

5 Sections

Chapter 4

Luang Prabang

5 Sections

Chapter 5

South

4 Sections

Chapter 6

North

5 Sections

Understanding· 2 Chapters

Chapter 7

Land & People

3 Sections

Chapter 8

Food & Drink

3 Sections

Practical· 2 Chapters

Chapter 9

Practical A–Z

5 Sections

Chapter 10

Lao Phrasebook

1 Sections

Discover More Travel Guides

Regions at a Glance

Vientiane

The most relaxed capital of Southeast Asia — golden stupas, French colonial heritage, Mekong sunsets, and the moving COPE Visitor Centre.

Pha That LuangPatuxai Triumph ArchBuddha ParkCOPE Visitor Centre+1

Vientiane

Luang Prabang

UNESCO World Heritage city at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan — monks' almsgiving, golden temples, turquoise waterfalls, and the most beautiful small town in Asia.

Monks' AlmsgivingKuang Si WaterfallsWat Xieng ThongMount Phousi Sunset+1

Luang Prabang

North

Dramatic limestone mountains, off-grid villages, the mysterious Plain of Jars, and the legendary slow boat ride on the Mekong.

Nong Khiaw Karst MountainsMuang Ngoi (Off-Grid)Plain of Jars (UNESCO)Vang Vieng Outdoor+1

Nong Khiaw Muang Ngoi Phonsavan+1 mehr

South

4000 Islands in the Mekong, the coffee paradise Bolaven Plateau, the ancient Khmer temple Wat Phou, and the widest waterfalls in Southeast Asia.

4000 Islands (Don Det, Don Khon)Bolaven Plateau CoffeeWat Phou (UNESCO)Khone Phapheng Falls+1

Pakse Champasak Don Det

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Zahlen & Fakten

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Schlüsseldaten

Daten: Wikidata

Einwohner: 6.858.160(2017)
Fläche: 236.800 km²
Hauptstadt: Vientiane
Währung: Kip
Amtssprache: Laotisch
Vorwahl: +856
Zeitzone: UTC+7
Gegründet: 1949-01-01

Klima & Reisewetter

Berechnet aus 10 Jahren · Open-Meteo

Beste Reisezeit: Jan–Dez — basierend auf Tagestemperaturen 20–30 °C und trockenen Monaten (aus den 10-Jahres-Mittelwerten unten abgeleitet).

Monat	Jan	Feb	Mär	Apr	Mai	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Okt	Nov	Dez
Ø °C	21	22	26	28	27	26	26	25	26	25	24	21
Tag (max)	28°	29°	32°	33°	32°	30°	29°	29°	29°	30°	30°	28°
Nacht (min)	15°	17°	20°	23°	24°	23°	23°	23°	23°	21°	19°	16°
Regen mm	17	19	55	87	317	532	623	631	375	109	14	4