Laos itineraries by trip length
Last updated . Transport, entry and booking details can change. Check the named official sources before travel.
The Laos to China railway turned a full day on a minibus into under an hour, and most guides still describe the old journey. What almost none of them say is that tickets cannot be bought more than 3 days ahead, there is no international online sale at all, and the stations sit well outside the towns they are named after.
Which Laos itinerary should you pick?
The 10 day route, which gives Luang Prabang, Nong Khiaw and Vang Vieng enough time each without adding the south.
A week means dropping Nong Khiaw, which is the stop people most regret missing. The south around Pakse and the 4000 Islands is a separate trip rather than an extension.
Book the trip
Start with Laos, dates and travellers
Compare the travel services first, then use the itinerary below to plan each day.
- Flights
Choose your airports, travel dates and passenger count.
Search flights - Hotels
Search stays near the places in this route.
Search Booking.com - Activities
Check tours and tickets for the stops you want to keep.
Find activities
You book each service directly with its supplier. These separate bookings do not form a RoamWeek package.
What we checked
- Laos Simply Beautiful, national tourism read 29 August 2026
- Laos China Railway ticketing overview read 29 August 2026
- Laos China Railway routes and timetables read 29 August 2026
Why this page exists. Every RoamWeek page has to say something true of it and false of its siblings. For Laos that is the question of how long to stay, which the duration pages below answer one length at a time.