what to do in laos

Pick one place & go for side trips from there!!! If you decide to travel by boat or bus - include that in your one week of time. One week is not much time to see much in Laos. Unless you like viewing places out of moving transportation windows. The BEST thing in Laos is meeting the Lao people...

Why are you going to Laos if you don't even know what to do/see?

Forget 'Louse', fly to Luang Pabang and enjoy the town and surrounds for a week...

We flew Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang and then on to Bangkok. Photos here and here (Don't expect Schuler or Strawberita quality - they're just pics of a trip)

Budget travel basics for Southeast Asia - gets you started - expenses, transportation, lodging, eating, safety and scams, countries sections, etc. Completely non-commercial - I won't sell a fat yella chicken and I won't list a bad link or information.

Asia 2005, 2006, 2007

bun cha

*"Bo" Pilgrim, owner of Pilgrim's Pride Chicken

Craig has it, with just one week up your sleeve you should probably concentrate on Luang Prabang and environs, possibly stop in Vang Vieng if backpacker havens replete with banana pancakes, internet cafes and floating downriver on innertubes sounds like your kind of fun. If you like a slightly quieter kind of backpacker haven head north to Muang Ngoi Nuea.

WeiLong in Laos

If I could spend only one week in Laos I would fly to Luang Prabang for 3 nights, bus to Vang Vieng for 2 or 3 nights, and bus to Vietiane for 1 or 2 nights before returning to Bangkok. If youj could extend your trip toat least ten days or two weeks I would suggest the itinerary described and illustrated in the "Thailand & Laos" section of our travel website: www.evcal.org</a>

Whatever you end up doing, I highly recommend timing your visit to Luang Prabang in time for the Bon Ok Phansa festival on October 26th! And if you elect to fly in, then you might need to book the flight soon since even Thai travellers fly into LP to celebrate the festival in a different venue from theirs.