Laos

Laos

 

General Information

Laos is a green, low inhabited and authentic land. Wild rain forests, mountain treks and authentic village culture are the main attractions of the country along with Luang Parbang, the beautiful French colonialist city. People say Laos is today what Thailand was thirty years ago.

Laos is much less visited and economically developed then its neighbor, Thailand. Therefore, it lacks many comfortable services and infrastructure. The roads are horrible, the guesthouses are simple and busses are protected by armed soldiers .However, if you are willing to endure some inconvenience, you could discover an almost virgin land, local ethnic culture and authentic experience. 

 

Capital: Vientiane

 

Borders:

West  - Thailand

South - Cambodia

East   - Vietnam

North -west - Burma

North - China

 

Land:  236,800 Square Kilometer

 

Population: 6,500,000 million.

 

Language: Lao (Close to Thai)

 

Currency: Kip (Lak)

Laos’ official currency is the Kip, but in most of the places, you can pay in US Dollars or Thai Baht. You can exchange money in travel agencies, hotels and even the street, but the rates in the bank will be cheaper.

Bargaining is part of any dill. The merchants do not expect you to pay the first asked price.

 

1.0 EUR = 11,198.37 LAK   (22/10/08).   

1.0 USD = 8,683.80 LAK     (22/10/08).   

1.0 THB = 251.253 LAK      (22/10/08).   

 

Wheatear: Laos is very hot and humid all year long. A T-shirt will be warm enough almost always. If you go to the mountains, take something wormer. Between June and October Laos is almost constantly raining. The Monsoon time is not recommended for traveling. Many of the roads become hard to cross, mosquitoes attack 24 hours a day and you cannot get out to the street. Laos is dry between November and May. The weather is relatively cooler and more comfortable between November and February.

 

Transportation inside the country:

Most of the public transportation in Laos is operated by pick-up trucks. The rides are very uncomfortable and bumpy since most of the roads are dirt roads. In proximity to big cities, the situation is slightly better and there are regulated lines. When going for a long ride, come an hour early, and catch a sit on a chair (a 20 sits bus will be filled with 40 passengers). 

 

 

Useful information:

 

Visa - You can receive a visa in the land borders or in the international airport for only 15 days, (you cannot enter Laos by land from Burma). If you want to stay longer, you should arrange visa in advance in Laos’s embassy in the surrounding countries or in your country. A lot of travel agencies in Thailand will arrange visa for you for a small fee.

For a visa, you have to pay 20 Dollars and to give your passport and two passport photos. The process takes usually less then seven working days.   

 

Health

• There are several recommended vaccinations to take before coming to Laos - usually, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, tetanus, Typhus and Polio. You must consult a doctor before your trip and make sure to get medical travel insurance. The vaccination process takes couple of weeks since you have to take more then one shot for any disease and some people reports of side effects, therefore, start the process a month before you arrive.
• Malaria does not have vaccination, but you could take pills, which protect you during your stay. The Malaria pills are in dispute. Some travelers reported serious side effects during and after usage. In addition, the pill is relatively expensive. If you want to take the risk and avoid the pill, we suggest traveling while you have less chance to catch it, during dry season (November- May). Bites of specific mosquito transfer the disease. Avoid being bitten. 
• Do not drink tap water; you can buy bottled water anywhere.

 

Money and Costs -

A night at a hostel                                  2-4 USD

A meal                                                  1-3 USD

A bottle of local beer                             1.5 USD          

A four hour buss or substitute                   2-4 USD

 

Country Calling code –  +856

 

Electrical plugs - European standard (220V 50 Hz). If you are coming from country with US standard, bring a converter.

 

Time zone - GMT+7

 

 

 

Main destinations:

• Vientiane - The capital of Laos is relatively a big city, therefore Vientiane is more expensive than the rest of Laos (5 Dollar for a night in guest house, 2-6 Dollar for a meal). The city has to offer Buddhist temples, Morning Market, and delicious Lao food. Vientiane is close to the land border with central Thailand and has a international airport, therefore it is probably the first place you will visit.

The Morning Market is the biggest market in Laos. It is much less visited then the markets in Thailand therefore most of the shoppers are local.  

That Luang is the most sacred Buddhist temple in Laos.

 

• Luang Prabang - This city is an interesting mixture of ancient Lao building and French colonial architecture. Countless temples and amazing small quite streets, Luang Parbang - will be the most beautiful city in your trip. Taking a bicycle and just ride around the city is the best attraction in this tourist friendly city.

 

• Vang Vieng - Small, tourist oriented town, on the banks of with green view of mountains and plains. Tubing in the river, see waterfalls, enter one of the dozen caves or visit one of the villages, this town offers nature and water attractions. All the restaurants show endless loops of the show Friends and serve “special food”.

 

• The Plain of Jars - Mysteriously, unexplained, thousands of huge and small jars just lying on the ground. This remote archeological site is explained by number of contradicting theories but nobody really knows what they are doing there.  

 

• Champassak County - This county is a good example for the rule of the area: as harder it is to get there, it will be more beautiful and virginal. A long 15 hours of rough ride separates the county and Vientiane. When you finally get there, you will discover ancient temples, untouched nature treks and the 4000 thousand islands site. On the Ma Kong, when it gets wide, there is vast number of small islands. Most of them are empty. Rent a bungalow and relax on the bitch. If you are lucky, you will not meat any other tourists in weeks.

 

 

Tips:

• When arriving to Laos, the money can be very confusing, and some merchants and service suppliers will try to take advantage of it. Dabble check the prices and ask to pay in Dollar if you are not sure. 
• As far a way as you go from main cities, the cost of internet and phone services will rise. A 5 minutes phone call could cost you 10 Dollars, like eight meals. In some places, phones are not available at all. Call from big cities and inform your family of the problem, to avoid worrying the people who wait for your call.
• Some rest rooms have water instead of toilet paper. If you cannot handle without it, bring your own.
• Mosquito repellent is your best friend