Tourist Attractions in Laos

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in Laos

Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps

About Laos

A state in Southeast Asia. Poor in economic terms, but the exoticism of local natural beauty compensates for the lack of luxury. A lot of beautiful Buddhist temples, palaces. The relief is mountainous, all covered with dense subtropical vegetation. The climate is very warm all year round, but there are rainy seasons. The best time to visit the country is during the relatively cool and dry months from November to February.

Tourism in the country is actively developing, it is easy to find quite decent hotels, even luxury. The most developed infrastructure can boast, perhaps, only the capital Vientiane, although the “boiling point of life” is not observed here either. The situation in the capital and in the country is quite safe and calm. The most popular mode of transport is a bicycle, and tourists actively hire them. The basis of the cuisine is rice, fish, poultry. A lot of vegetables and fruits, the most popular of drinks is fruit juice with pulp and ice. As souvenirs you can bring beautiful local fabrics, jewellery, traditional sun umbrellas, spices.

Top-10 Tourist Attractions in Laos

Buddha Park (Wat Xieng Khouane Luang)

 4.2/5

3725 reviews

A park on the banks of the Mekong River, 25 kilometres from the capital. It contains many sculptures of Buddha and other, sometimes fantastic, creatures and compositions. The constructions are stylised and seem ancient, although the park was opened about 50 years ago. There is a lot of greenery around, a great place for walking. The most visited place in Laos by tourists.

Open time

Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Patuxay - Victory Monument

 4.3/5

8982 reviews

A monument in honour of Lao soldiers who died in the war. The architecture of the arch is traditional, but the decoration is made in accordance with national techniques. The memorial is installed in the centre of the capital, on one of the main avenues. Nearby there is a small park, ponds and musical fountains. At the very top of the arch there is a viewing platform.

Open time

Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Blue Lagoon 3

 4.5/5

612 reviews

A vast area near Annam Ridge that contains thousands of ancient stone objects (potsherds) of unknown purpose. Each stone vessel weighs several tonnes. Hypotheses about their purpose vary, there is no consensus. The pots are scattered over several sites in the valley, tourists can enter only three of them.

Open time

Monday: 8:01 AM – 6:30 PM
Tuesday: 8:01 AM – 6:30 PM
Wednesday: 8:01 AM – 6:30 PM
Thursday: 8:01 AM – 6:30 PM
Friday: 8:01 AM – 6:30 PM
Saturday: 8:01 AM – 6:30 PM
Sunday: 8:01 AM – 6:30 PM

Laos Royal Palace & National Museum

 4.2/5

1974 reviews

Both sites are close to each other, located in the former capital of Laos. The palace is the residence of the last king of Laos. The building is very ornate, brightly decorated and has been beautifully preserved in the hundred plus years since it was built. Located in a secluded place, far from the capital and civilisation, it is a unique natural and architectural complex. The temple complements it, being a rare example of Buddhist temple construction.

Open time

Monday: 8:00 – 11:30 AM, 1:30 – 4:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 – 11:30 AM, 1:30 – 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 – 11:30 AM, 1:30 – 4:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 – 11:30 AM, 1:30 – 4:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 – 11:30 AM, 1:30 – 4:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 – 11:30 AM, 1:30 – 4:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 – 11:30 AM, 1:30 – 4:00 PM

Pak Ou Caves

 3.6/5

1016 reviews

Thousand Buddha Caves, a temple rock complex on the Mekong River, close to the old capital of the country. About 4,000 Buddha statues are located there. They are brought by locals and pilgrims. The caves can only be reached by river, there is no pedestrian road.

Open time

Wat Sisaket

 4.4/5

1796 reviews

7,000 Buddha statues, the oldest of which date back to the 15th century. Most of the statues are located outside the temple, in special niches, and inside there is one large one with a sculpture of a giant cobra next to it. Entrance to the temple-museum is paid, but purely symbolic. Part of the complex is given to monks, you can’t visit it.

Open time

Pha That Luang Vientiane

 4.5/5

4813 reviews

Laos’ No. 1 architectural monument, it is considered the symbol of the country. The structure is ancient, large-scale and majestic. The centrepiece is the Great Stupa. The gold-covered protruding part of the temple can be seen from afar. There are other temple buildings around. The area between them is well-maintained, and there is a market with souvenirs nearby.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 – 5:00 PM

Vat Phou

 4.5/5

1543 reviews

The remains of the buildings of an ancient temple complex, located in the southern part of the country. The ruins are surrounded by picturesque green hills, one of which (Phu Kao Mountain) was an object of worship of the ancients and associated with the temple. The surviving elements of the buildings date back to the eleventh to thirteenth centuries. Even the small surviving part strikes the imagination with the richness of carvings and ornamentation. The monument is under UNESCO protection.

Open time

Monday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Laos

 0/5

The longest river in Indochina. Part of it flows through Laos. It has picturesque green banks, with a large number of mangroves. A lot of inhabitants, fishing on the river is famous for fantastic scope. About 700 km is navigable, but the channel is often shallow. Tourists actively travel on the river in traditional boats.

Kuang Si Waterfall

 4.7/5

7557 reviews

Located on the Mekong River in the national park of the same name. From August to November, the waterfall makes the most striking impression, as it has the highest water level at that time. It is a whole system of amazingly bright blue lakes and water cascades, the highest of which reaches 54 metres. It is a favourite holiday destination for locals and tourists. One of the most picturesque and interesting corners of the country.

Open time