How much does a trip to Laos cost? 2027 budget for 7 days

The totals

These totals cover everything on the ground for the whole week: rooms, three meals and drinks every day, both train journeys, the rides to and from the stations and airports, a day to Kuang Si Falls, the kayaking and caves day in Vang Vieng, temple and museum tickets, the visa, a local SIM and a 10% buffer for snacks, tips and small surprises. Only the international flight is separate, and it is priced at the end. Rates are BCEL's buying rates of 20 October 2026: USD 1 = LAK 22,279, EUR 1 = LAK 24,971 and GBP 1 = LAK 29,535. Many hotels and tours in Laos price in US dollars; we convert them at those rates.

The model trip

Two adults share one private room for 7 days and 6 nights, from Monday 11 to Sunday 17 January 2027, following our Laos in 7 days itinerary: fly into Luang Prabang for three nights, with Wat Xieng Thong, the National Museum, Mount Phousi and a day to Kuang Si Falls; the train to Vang Vieng on Thursday for two nights and a day of kayaking, caves and a blue lagoon; the train to Vientiane on Saturday, with Wat Si Saket; and the COPE Visitor Centre before the flight home on Sunday. Prices were checked on 21 October 2026.

Most European passport holders need a visa for Laos. Germany's Foreign Office gives USD 40 for a visa on arrival and USD 50 for the eVisa for German citizens; the totals include about USD 40 each, and fees for other nationalities can differ. Swiss citizens can stay up to 15 days without a visa. See Laos entry requirements. Most hotels have not published rates for January 2027 and some menus print prices without a currency, so those figures are estimates marked "about", based on the rates and menus we could see.

Budget: about LAK 18 million for two

Guesthouses and hostel private rooms, cafes and one Tamarind dinner, second-class train seats, and Kuang Si by hired car instead of a tour.

• Rooms, about LAK 5.1 million. A double at Phonepraseuth Guesthouse across the Nam Khan from Luang Prabang's old town (USD 26 a night), a Superior Double at Mad Monkey Vang Vieng (USD 63.38 a night on its booking page for these dates) and a private twin with shared bathroom at Barn 1920s in Vientiane (about LAK 600,000).
• Food, about LAK 4.4 million. About LAK 300,000 a day each: eggs and toast at Saffron Coffee (26 on its menu, which we read as LAK 26,000), a noodle or rice lunch, a Lao dinner, a latte and a snack, plus the Countryside Farmer set at Tamarind (LAK 450,000 for two). The kayaking tour includes lunch.
• Getting around, about LAK 2.1 million. The flat-rate airport taxi (LAK 50,000 per group, according to Tourism Luang Prabang), rides to and from the stations, second-class train seats for both legs (about LAK 400,000 each in all; Tourism Laos lists the whole Vientiane to Luang Prabang line at LAK 360,000), a taxi to Wattay airport and short rides in each town.
• Sights, about LAK 2.5 million. Wat Xieng Thong (LAK 30,000 each), the National Museum (LAK 60,000 each), Mount Phousi (LAK 30,000 each), Wat Si Saket (about LAK 50,000 each; no fee is published), Kuang Si Falls (LAK 60,000 each, with a private car at about LAK 250,000 for the group) and the Wonderful Tours kayaking and cave tubing day with the blue lagoon (40 each for two people, which we read as USD 40, with lunch and entrance fees). The COPE Visitor Centre is free.
• Visa, SIM and extras, about LAK 2.3 million. The visa (about USD 40 each), a Lao Telecom tourist plan each (LAK 100,000 for 15 GB over 10 days), laundry and small tips.
• Buffer, about LAK 1.6 million.

Mid-range: about LAK 32 million for two

Boutique hotels with breakfast, sit-down restaurants including two Tamarind set dinners, cars for every transfer and a guided day to Pak Ou and Kuang Si.

• Rooms, about LAK 9 million. A Superior room at Villa Chitdara in Luang Prabang (USD 72 a night in high season, with breakfast, tax and service), the breakfast room at M&M Hotel in Vang Vieng (USD 60 a night) and a Standard Double at ibis Vientiane Nam Phu (about LAK 1.5 million).
• Food, about LAK 6.7 million. About LAK 550,000 a day each: a Saffron big breakfast where breakfast is not included, laap and sticky rice for lunch, the Tamarind Set Dinner (LAK 580,000 for two) and Explorer Set (LAK 750,000 for two), coffee and a smoothie. Hotel breakfasts and tour lunches are deducted.
• Getting around, about LAK 3.3 million. Cars for the airport and station transfers, second-class train seats and more taxis.
• Sights, about LAK 7.5 million. The temples and museum as above, Tiger Trail's join-in day to the Pak Ou caves, Kuang Si Falls and the bear sanctuary (USD 121 each, with transport, boat, entrance fees, lunch and a guide; a 3% fee applies to card payments) and the kayaking day.
• Visa, SIM and extras, about LAK 2.5 million.
• Buffer, about LAK 3 million.

Comfort: about LAK 64.2 million for two

Upscale boutique hotels, the tasting lunch at Manda de Laos, first-class train seats, private cars and a private guided day to Pak Ou and Kuang Si.

• Rooms, about LAK 24.1 million. The Belle Rive Boutique Hotel in the historical centre of Luang Prabang's peninsula (about LAK 4.5 million a night), Riverside Boutique Resort in Vang Vieng (about LAK 3.3 million) and Settha Palace in Vientiane (about LAK 4 million).
• Food, about LAK 15.8 million. About LAK 1.1 million a day each: hotel breakfasts, the tasting lunch at Manda de Laos (USD 36 each online, USD 40 at the restaurant), the Lao tasting menu at Riverside, Tamarind's Explorer Set, coffee and drinks. Tour lunches are deducted.
• Getting around, about LAK 6.5 million. Private cars for every transfer, Riverside's station pick-up (USD 19 for the vehicle), first-class train seats (about LAK 620,000 each for both legs; the whole line is LAK 569,000 in first class) and a car in each town.
• Sights, about LAK 8.9 million. As above, with Tiger Trail's private tour for two to Pak Ou and Kuang Si (USD 151 each).
• Visa, SIM and extras, about LAK 3 million.
• Buffer, about LAK 5.9 million.

One day at each level: the Nam Song, caves and a blue lagoon

Day 5 in Vang Vieng is the Wonderful Tours day out: kayaking on the Nam Song, tubing inside Tham Norn cave, Tham Ngangfar and a blue lagoon, with lunch, then dinner by the river. Costs are per person and include half the room.

• Budget, about LAK 1.8 million. Half of the Mad Monkey room, the tour with lunch (about LAK 890,000), breakfast, dinner and a drink.
• Mid-range, about LAK 1.9 million. Half of the M&M room with breakfast, the same tour, and a sit-down dinner with a drink.
• Comfort, about LAK 3.5 million. Half of the Riverside room, the same tour, breakfast, and the Lao tasting menu at Riverside with a drink.

Flights and the total with flights

Thai Airways flies from London to Luang Prabang and from Frankfurt to Vientiane via Bangkok. Its route pages show economy returns from London to Luang Prabang from GBP 1,559 for travel between 13 November and 8 December 2026, and from Frankfurt to Vientiane from EUR 1,104 in January 2027. A ticket into Luang Prabang and home from Vientiane usually costs more than these lowest fares, so as an estimate, allow about GBP 1,600-2,000 per person (about LAK 47.3-59.1 million) from London, or about EUR 1,200-1,600 from Frankfurt.

With the London flight, the whole trip comes to about LAK 56.3-68.1 million per person on a budget, LAK 63.3-75.1 million mid-range or LAK 79.4-91.2 million in comfort. Tiger Trail says tipping is not widespread in Laos; small tips for guides and drivers come out of the extras line.