Discover Laos: Self-Launched Vientiane to Luang Prabang
10 days · Laos
Exodus charges £3,060
No-markup version: ~£630 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, 10-day independent version of Exodus's "Discover Laos" trip: Vientiane's temples, kayaking the Nam Song in Vang Vieng, a jungle stay near Nam Kat Yorla Pa (Oudomxay), and slow-boat days around Luang Prabang. Instead of a guided group and private minibuses you'll use the new Laos-China railway, songthaews, local buses and shared longtail boats, staying in guesthouses and budget hotels. Costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP excluding international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Vientiane
Vientiane
Land at Wattay airport and take a metered taxi or the airport shuttle into the centre (around £4-6). Check into a riverside guesthouse or budget hotel near the Mekong night market. Spend the evening wandering the riverside promenade, watching the sunset over Thailand across the river, and eating at a night-market stall (laap, sticky rice, grilled fish, Beerlao). Arrange a tuk-tuk for tomorrow or simply walk the compact centre.
🚌Airport taxi/shuttle ~£5; everything else on foot
🛏Riverside guesthouse or budget hotel in central Vientiane, £15-20/night
- →Mekong riverside sunset walk
- →Night market dinner
Vientiane temples, then train to Vang Vieng
Vientiane → Vang Vieng
Self-guided temple circuit on foot: Wat Si Saket (small entry fee, ~7,000 Buddha images), the golden Pha That Luang stupa, and Patuxai (Victory Gate) — climb it for city views. Then take a tuk-tuk to Vientiane's new Khamsavath or central station and ride the Laos-China railway to Vang Vieng (about 1 hour, roughly £5-8 for second class — book on the LCR app or at the station a day ahead as seats sell out). Check into a guesthouse near the river and explore the backpacker strip in the evening.
🚌Tuk-tuks ~£4; Laos-China railway Vientiane–Vang Vieng ~£6
🛏Guesthouse in Vang Vieng, £10-15/night
- →Wat Si Saket
- →Pha That Luang
- →Patuxai Victory Gate climb
Kayak the Nam Song + riverside lunch
Vang Vieng
Book a half-day Nam Song kayaking trip through any Vang Vieng agency or your guesthouse the night before (roughly £15-20 including songthaew transfer to Ban Vieng Sa Mai, guide, kayak and riverside lunch). It's the classic ~10km paddle past riverside gardens, fishing nets and water buffalo. Afternoon free: cycle to a blue lagoon, hike to Nam Xay viewpoint, or just chill at a riverside bar. Independent travellers should stick to the upstream section and skip the tubing bars.
🚌Songthaew transfer included in kayak trip
🛏Guesthouse in Vang Vieng, £10-15/night
- →Half-day Nam Song kayak with riverside lunch
- →Optional Nam Xay viewpoint hike
- →Blue lagoon by bicycle
Train to Oudomxay and Nam Kat Yorla Pa
Vang Vieng → Muang Xai (Oudomxay)
Morning train from Vang Vieng up to Muang Xai (Oudomxay), roughly 2 hours, about £8-10 second class. In Muang Xai, visit the 14th-century Phu That stupa and browse the market where Tai Lue cotton and dyed textiles are sold — you can buy directly from weavers' stalls instead of a private home visit. Then take a songthaew or tuk-tuk 45 minutes out to the Nam Kat Yorla Pa area; budget resorts and eco-lodges here offer simple rooms without the premium package. Book directly by phone/email or via Booking.com.
🚌Laos-China railway Vang Vieng–Muang Xai ~£9; songthaew transfer ~£6
🛏Eco-lodge or simple resort room near Nam Kat Yorla Pa, £20-25/night
- →Phu That stupa
- →Muang Xai market and Tai Lue textile stalls
Nam Kat waterfall, jungle trail and sky bridges
Nam Kat Yorla Pa
Walk or take a resort shuttle to the Nam Kat waterfall entrance (entry fee typically £2-4). Follow the 3km natural jungle trail with the 15-20 rope-and-wood sky bridges through the canopy — there's a ground-level alternative if heights aren't your thing. Bring water, insect repellent and proper shoes. Afternoon back at the lodge: swim, read, and enjoy the forest (a massage here is ~£10-15 and worth it).
🚌On foot / resort shuttle
🛏Eco-lodge near Nam Kat Yorla Pa, £20-25/night
- →Nam Kat waterfall and jungle trail
- →Sky-bridge canopy walk
- →Optional massage
Slow morning, train to Luang Prabang
Nam Kat Yorla Pa → Luang Prabang
Enjoy a leisurely morning at the lodge, then transfer back to Muang Xai and catch the Laos-China railway to Luang Prabang (about 1 hour, £6-9). Luang Prabang station is ~10km from town — take the official shared minivan/songthaew into the centre (~£3-4). Check into a guesthouse in the old town or by the Mekong. In the afternoon, join a walk-in bamboo-weaving or Lao cooking class (many schools around town take same-day bookings, ~£20-28).
🚌Songthaew to station ~£3; train ~£8; shared minivan into Luang Prabang ~£3
🛏Guesthouse in Luang Prabang old town, £15-20/night
- →Optional bamboo-weaving and Lao cooking class
Phu Si, Pak Ou Caves by slow boat, Luang Prabang old town
Luang Prabang
Climb Phu Si hill early (300 steps, ~15 min, small entry fee) for sunrise views over the Mekong before the tour groups arrive. Then book a shared longtail slow boat to Pak Ou Caves at the boat pier — about 2 hours upstream each way, shared trips from ~£8-12 per person (or £25-30 for a private boat to split with other travellers). Return by early afternoon, then self-tour Wat Xiengthong and the Royal Palace National Museum (check opening hours and dress code). Evening option: Royal Ballet performance at the Royal Theatre (~£8-12) on Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat.
🚌Walking; shared longtail boat to Pak Ou ~£10
🛏Guesthouse in Luang Prabang old town, £15-20/night
- →Phu Si sunrise climb
- →Shared longtail boat to Pak Ou Caves
- →Wat Xiengthong
- →Royal Palace National Museum
- →Optional Royal Ballet performance
Alms-giving at dawn and Kuang Si Waterfall
Luang Prabang
Get up before dawn to see the Sai Bat procession of monks collecting alms along Sisavangvong Road (observe respectfully from a distance, no flash, don't follow closely). After breakfast, take a shared songthaew from the Kuang Si departure point or book a shared minivan trip (~£6-9 return, or ~£10-14 with a few stops) — entry to the falls is ~£2. Swim in the turquoise lower pools (changing rooms on site). Optional afternoon: MandaLao elephant conservation visit (book ahead, ~£40-60), natural tie-dye workshop, or a cooking class. Note: most travellers choose ethical, no-riding elephant sanctuaries.
🚌Shared songthaew to Kuang Si ~£8 return
🛏Guesthouse in Luang Prabang old town, £15-20/night
- →Dawn alms-giving (Sai Bat)
- →Kuang Si Waterfall and swim
- →Optional MandaLao elephant conservation visit
- →Optional tie-dye workshop
Free day in Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang
A full day at your own pace: rent a bicycle (~£2-3) and cross the bamboo bridge to explore the quieter side of the Nam Khan, browse artisan boutiques and galleries in the old town, café-hop along the Mekong, or visit the UXO Lao visitor centre. Optional day trip to the Kuang Si butterfly park or a half-day hike to Tad Sae waterfall. End the day at the night market and a riverside BBQ dinner.
🚌Bicycle rental ~£3
🛏Guesthouse in Luang Prabang old town, £15-20/night
- →Old town bicycle exploring
- →Artisan boutiques and Mekong cafés
- →Night market
Trip ends in Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang
Breakfast and onward travel. Shared minivan to the airport (~£3-4) or, if heading onward, book a bus or minivan to Nong Khiaw, Vang Vieng, or the Thai border at Huay Xai. Laos visas: most nationalities can get a 30-day visa on arrival at the airport for around £30-35 (bring USD cash and a passport photo) or apply online in advance.
🚌Shared minivan to airport ~£4
🛏None (departure day)
- →Departure or onward travel planning
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£630 | £3,060 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,430 per person (79%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£630
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Discover Laos: Self-Launched Vientiane to Luang Prabang cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £630 per person for 10 days in Laos. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £3,060 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £630 — a saving of roughly £2,430 (79%) per person.
How long is the Laos trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Laos.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, hiking trip through Laos, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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