Laos

Laos family holidays

Laos feels a bit like an insider’s secret. It’s a country that is every bit as beautiful as its neighbours Thailand and Vietnam, but which somehow gets a fraction of the number of visitors. But whilst it may not be well known, a family holiday in Laos will delight at every turn.

The saffron-robed monks collecting alms at dawn as they pass the gold topped temples of Luang Prabang are perhaps the most iconic scene found in the country. But there are paddy fields with lumbering water buffalo and there are jungle clad mountains that echo to the call of gibbons. There are the wide waters of the Mekong, dotted with tiny palm-fringed islands, and beautiful Buddhist temples, redolent with incense.

Vang Vieng, set on the Nam Song River with picturesque karst landscape

The people are amongst the most friendly in Asia and will welcome children with open arms, bending over backwards to ensure that you have everything you need for your stay. The cuisine is sensational, but if you have fussy children that don’t fancy a bowl of laap chicken, the restaurants will whip up something more child-friendly.

It’s easy to get around (particularly with the new high-speed trains that come down from China) and there are wonderfully family-friendly boutique hotels (almost all with pools) to stay in.

Why take the kids?

If you’re a return traveller to Asia or want your family to experience a gentle introduction to the cuisines, culture and landscape of the wider region, we can’t recommend a family holiday to Laos highly enough. Our top child-friendly activities on family holidays to Laos include:

Authentic hilltribe trekking
Stay in a treehouse in the forest canopy
Enjoy a tuk-tuk tour of Vientiane
Slow-boat down the Mekong River
Explore the Plain of Jars, Laos’ ‘Stonehenge’
Learn how to care for elephants
Watch saffron-robed monks gather alms
Witness mighty waterfalls

Laos family holidays - monks in Luang Prabang

See monks going about their daily lives in Luang Prabang

Your family will experience a cultural melting pot from tattoo-faced hill tribes to the still French-speaking cosmopolitan café and gallery owners in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. The landscape, too, is just as varied, with much of the country made up of rugged mountain ranges and highlands dotted with stilt-house villages. But there are also more gentle scenes with verdant paddy fields, soaring waterfalls and picturesque karst limestone scenery.

For more information about these and other activities, take a look at our Top 10 things to do with Kids in Laos blog. Also check out some of the other places that you might like to visit on a Laos family holiday and if you need further inspiration, have a look at our gallery.

Tuk tuk ride along the Mekong in Vientiane

Should I combine Laos with another country?

Laos is huge and has more than enough to justify a standalone trip. You can easily spend two weeks enjoying the mountainous north and then finishing off with some R and R on a sandy Mekong River beach.

But Laos also combines brilliantly with its neighbours so if you are looking for a multi-country family holiday, this can also work well. From Northern Thailand you can cross the border into Laos and take the slow boat down the Mekong to the ancient capital of Luang Prabang.

There are also good flight connections with Siem Reap in Cambodia, which is the base for visiting Angkor Wat and the other Angkor temples. Or if your family are feeling adventurous you can follow the Mekong south through southern Laos, and into the relatively unknown northern part of Cambodia.

Or combine all three, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia as on our multi-country trip! Get in touch with our team to discuss what will suit your family.

Example Laos family itineraries

All of our Laos family holidays are bespoke which means that they are tailor-made for your own specific family, taking into account the ages of your children, your interests, your budget and so on.

However, to give you an idea of what you could do on a family holiday in Laos, have a look at our sample itineraries, Laos Highlights and Thailand, Laos & Cambodia.

Also check out some of the other places that you might like to visit on a Laos family holiday and if you need further inspiration, have a look at our gallery.