10 tips for a successful family vacation in Laos

This small landlocked country in Southeast Asia is full of mysteries and gentle nonchalance, where the inhabitants effortlessly cultivate the art of being exceptional hosts. It’s an ideal destination for a family vacation in a country full of exoticism and kindness, where everyday life is made up of many pleasant surprises and beautiful encounters. To make this family trip to Laos a total success, here are our 10 steps and tips for an unforgettable family vacation.

1. Meet elephants

We are talking about meeting elephants but especially not riding them which is a very traumatic activity for the elephant. This is what the Mandalao Elephant Center in Luang Prabang has understood very well, offering an interactive encounter with the elephant. Your children will be able to feed the pachyderm, bath it in the river and go hiking alongside it in the jungle. This is an unforgettable encounter for you and your children with this sacred animal, deeply rooted in the local culture of Laos that was once called "the kingdom of a million elephants"

2. Discover the secrets of rice farming

Everyone eats rice, but how many know how hard it is to grow it? Through a dozen fun workshops, introduce your children to all the stages of rice farming at Living Land, an educational farm in Luang Prabang. This is a very well-supervised, very interesting activity where your children will be able to lead a buffalo into the rice field for plowing. After participating in this activity, your children will never eat rice the same way again!

3. Swim in the Kuang Si Falls

The Kuang Si Falls in Luang Prabang are one of the natural wonders of Laos. No doubt going there will please your children. At the entrance to the site, they will be able to observe bears placed in a protection center. Then in a lush nature, they will be able to swim in one of the many natural pools that the falls offer. A very nice family excursion in a beautiful setting!

4. Ziplining

Do you want a little thrill with your family? Choose the zipline! There are some everywhere in Laos, in Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, and the Bolovens Plateau. It’s a very well-supervised activity with courses for all ages. Our favorite is the Gibbon Experience zip line course which allows you to observe monkeys, and gibbons, in their natural habitat. Night in a cabin perched at the top of a tree, it’s a must!

5. Discover the amazing Buddha Park in Vientiane

This park located outside Vientiane is home to some 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues in concrete: Hindu deities, mythological animals, demons or classic scenes from the Buddhist saga. This quite surprising park was initiated in 1958 by an eccentric shaman priest yogi who wanted to merge Buddhist and Hindu philosophies, mythologies and iconography. What is fun for children is that you can enter some of these gigantic statues.

6. Pre-booked hotels with swimming pools

Nothing can please your children more than a hotel with a swimming pool in Laos to relax and cool off between two visits. Throughout Laos, hotels with swimming pools are plentiful, especially in Luang Prabang and Vientiane, and are often very affordable. From November to May, in the dry season, you won't be able to miss out on the pleasure of taking a dip in the water with your toddlers. Choosing a hotel with a swimming pool for certain stages can be a wise choice.

7. Cross the amazing Kong Lor Cave

Crossing the amazing Kong Lor Cave by boat is a great adventure to experience with the family. This 7-kilometer-long cave crossed by an underground river is one of the largest in the world. It is home to magnificent concretions and impressive stalactites and stalagmites. And then the region, of all beauty, is worth the detour!

8. Admire the spectacular Boloven Waterfalls

The Bolovens Plateau in Southern Laos is home to some of the most spectacular waterfalls. In some, it is possible to take a nice refreshing bath, often in the company of the children of the village where the waterfall is located. Parents can taste a delicious coffee produced locally on the plateau.

9. Stay in the 4000 islands

Laos is landlocked, of course, but the extreme Soth of Laos and its archipelago of thousands of islands rocked by the waves of the Mekong has all the assets of a seaside destination. They have tranquility, and charm, with the coconut trees, you can enjoy swimming in the legendary Mekong, sublime sunsets, kayaking and the big plus: grandiose waterfalls and the observation of Irrawaddy freshwater dolphins.

10. Adopt a slower pace of travel than usual

Build your itinerary while trying not to go too fast. Take your time, don't rush anything so that your children can enjoy themselves without it being a rush. It often is enough on a daily basis! We recommend at least two nights for each stage and to avoid long transport times which could tire them out.

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