Sightseeing in Laos

Travel advisory, October 2026: The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to Xaisomboun Province. Unexploded ordnance from the 1964 to 1973 bombing remains in rural areas, so stay on marked, cleared paths at every site and never touch metal objects. Methanol poisoning has occurred in bars, so drink only sealed drinks. Rivers have caused drownings. Check FCDO and travel.state.gov before you go.

Sightseeing in Laos centres on working temples, a former royal capital, a Khmer-era ruin and a plateau of ancient stone jars. Temples are active places of worship, so cover your shoulders and knees and remove hats and shoes where asked. Tickets are paid in kip (LAK), at about 22,000 to 22,500 per US dollar. Several Luang Prabang prices change on 15 November 2026, so both figures appear below.

Luang Prabang

Wat Xieng Thong. The temple opens daily from 06:00 to 18:00, and the foreigner ticket is 30,000 LAK. King Setthathirath founded it in 1560. Look for the glass mosaic known as the Tree of Life and the hall that holds the royal funeral carriage. The tourism office page lists the dress rules.

Royal Palace Museum (National Museum). The museum opens from 08:00 to 11:30 and 13:30 to 16:00, and the ticket counter closes earlier, at 11:00 and 15:30. The foreigner ticket is 60,000 LAK now and 200,000 LAK from 15 November 2026. The museum closes for cleaning on the last Thursday of each month. King Sisavang Vong’s palace was built in 1904, and the adjoining Haw Pha Bang houses the Phra Bang Buddha. In the evening, the Phralak Phralam theatre performs on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, starting at 18:00 from October to February and 18:30 from March to September. Seats cost about 150,000 to 250,000 LAK depending on the row. Details are on the museum page .

Mount Phousi. Climb the 328 steps for views over the old town. The ticket is 30,000 LAK now and 60,000 LAK from 15 November 2026.

Vientiane

The main temples sit within a short walk of each other, about 3 km end to end. Pha That Luang is the gilded national stupa, reportedly built in 1566. Wat Si Saket dates from 1818 and is the oldest surviving temple in the city, and Haw Phra Kaew is close by. Each charges a small entry fee and closes for a midday break, so confirm hours when you arrive.

Champasak

Vat Phou is a UNESCO site listed in 2001, with pre-Angkorian origins and Khmer-era temples built up to about the 13th century. The foreigner ticket is about 50,000 LAK and includes an electric buggy from the entrance and the museum. It opens daily from 08:00 to 18:00, with the museum closing about 16:00. The site is about 45 km from Pakse, and no public transport goes all the way. Day tours from Pakse cost about 450,000 to 500,000 LAK.

Plain of Jars

Listed by UNESCO in July 2019, the plain holds several jar sites, of which Sites 1, 2 and 3 are the usual visits. The Iron Age stone jars date from roughly 500 BCE to 500 CE. Site 1 lies about 8 km southwest of Phonsavan and has a visitor centre. Sites 2 and 3 are reached over gravel roads that turn slippery when wet. Stay on the cleared paths, with the white side of the markers as the safe side, and expect a small entry fee. Fly to Xieng Khouang, because the mountain road takes 7 to 11 hours from Luang Prabang or Vientiane.

Tips

  • Start early in hot months and carry water.
  • Carry small kip notes for tickets and tuk-tuks.
  • Check museum closing days before you plan a tight itinerary.

Read more: walking tours in Laos and attraction tours in Laos . For guided sightseeing, compare options on GetYourGuide .