Devout Buddhists, dutiful monks and travelers seeking comfort in traditional Southeast Asian beliefs travel to Laos on spiritual, religious and influential journeys. It’s not hard to see why – more than 60 percent of Laos’s population are practicing Buddhists and it’s obvious in every facet of Lao life. In fact, the flight to Laos might be the last bit of modern civilization you’ll experience during your Laos trip.
Tour Laos and you’ll be inundated with the vast array of temples and shrines that line the landscape. You’ll spot monks walking to prayer and Buddhist’s paying homage to ancient Asian culture. Music, sculpture and cuisine are a way of life in Laos and taken very seriously by the Thai, Vietnamese and Khmer tribes that inhabit this country. The representation of Buddha is the most traditional and religious display of culture and belief, but the people of Laos also remain some of the finest artists in the world. A cheap flight to Laos will immerse travelers in rich Buddhist culture and Asian traditions.
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Laos has a tropical climate. The rainy season runs between July and October, when high humidity can also be expected.
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Peak Season:
Laos’s climate can be split into three seasons: cool, hot and rainy.
The cool season (between November and February) when the rains have stopped and hot season (March to May) are both good times to plan flights to Laos. The Lao New Year (April) falls in the peak season and it may be difficult to find cheap flights to Laos or discount accommodations during this time.
Off season:
The rainy season extends from June to October.
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Lao Aviation flies domestically. Apart from flying there are several ways to get around the country including by ferry, bus (there is a good network throughout Laos) rental car, Songthaew (pick-up trucks with benches) and, of course, tuk tuk (modified motorbikes).
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- Luang Prabang is the ancient capital city of the Lan Xang Kingdom and a UNESCO World Heritage site, with beautiful temples and gilded palaces on the bank of the Mekong River. Wat Xieng Thong is the most lavish temple with a tiered roof and gilded facades. The National Museum used to be the Royal Palace, built by the French in the 1900s and housing the gold-leaf-covered Phra Bang or “Holy Golden Buddha”. Climb the 300 steps to the summit of Mount Phousito see Wat That Chom Sii and for views of the city. If you visit the city very early in the morning, you can see the local people line up to give alms to the monks.
- The nearby Pak Ou Caves - two caves, Tham Ting and Tham Phun, house Buddah images that have been left by followers over centuries.
- Si Phan Don (or Four Thousand Islands) is a group of islands in the Mekong River in Southern Laos. The largest island is Don Khong.
- In Vientiane, the capital, is the Victory Monument, akin to Paris’s Arc de Triomphe, which can be climbed. That Luang (or Royal Stupa, a Buddhist monument) was built in 1566 and restored in 1935.
- Hundreds of giant stone jars – some more than 10ft high – are scattered around the Plain of Jars in north-central Laos. More than 60 jar fields have been identified so far and some sites have more than 250 jars. Archeological work is slow – and dangerous – as the area is littered with explosives from recent conflicts, but the jars are thought to be connected to burial rituals.
- Follow the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a network of secret roads running parallel to the Laos-Vietnam border. This trail was used during the Vietnam War by the North Vietnamese and during the 1950s by the Viet Minh (against the French).
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Vientiane Wattay International Airport (VTE). The airport is 2 miles from Vientiane.
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Those requiring visas should obtain them in their home country before traveling to Laos. Visas are available on arrival at Vientiane and Luang Prabang International Airports, as well as at the major Laos-Thai border crossings for those countries without representation of Laos. Visas allow for a maximum stay of 15 days (one extension possible) if the traveler has a return or onward ticket, a confirmed hotel reservation in Laos, and a contact individual or organization based in Laos. A photograph is also needed; the total visa cost is $30. On entering Laos visitors must ensure they receive an entry stamp in their passport as fines for not having one are high. All visitors' passports should be valid for at least six months.
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United States citizens must have a valid passport. A visa is also required.
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