Trip readiness checklist for Laos
Laos is the slow lane of Southeast Asia and proud of it. Here's the trip-readiness checklist for Laos: what to pack, when to go, entry rules for your passport, and the official sources to confirm before you fly.
Build my checklistWhat to pack
Laos is laid-back — the Mekong, temples, and misty mountains. Pack light, quick-dry clothes, modest cover for temples, and a warm layer for the cool north.
Modest temple clothing
Covered shoulders and knees are required at temples; Luang Prabang is full of them.
Light, quick-dry clothing
Hot and humid in the lowlands; breathable fabrics win.
A warm layer for the north
Northern highlands get cool, especially mornings and the cool season.
Insect repellent and sun protection
Mosquitoes and strong sun, especially near rivers and jungle.
When to go
The cool, dry season (Nov–Feb) is the pleasant, peak time; it's hot Mar–May, and the wet season (Jun–Oct) is green with downpours. Luang Prabang's dawn almsgiving is busy year-round — be respectful.
Money & getting around
Laos uses the kip (LAK). It's very cash-based — carry plenty, as cards are accepted only at bigger hotels and ATMs are limited outside main towns. US dollars and Thai baht are sometimes accepted. Tipping is appreciated, not expected.
Local quirks worth knowing
Laos is the slow lane of Southeast Asia and proud of it. Nothing is urgent, voices stay low, and that is the whole charm.
Dress for the temples
Shoulders and knees covered, shoes off, and never point your feet at a Buddha or a monk. Women do not touch monks or hand them things directly.
The alms round is not a show
In Luang Prabang, monks collect food at dawn. Watch quietly from across the road; if you give, buy rice from a market, not a tout, and kneel.
Kip in big bundles
The currency comes in huge denominations and ATMs give a stack. Baht and dollars are accepted for larger things; kip for everything small.
Keep your voice down
Shouting, big gestures and public anger are shameful for everyone involved. The calm person wins every negotiation.
Curfew is real
Bars and restaurants close around 11:30, and Luang Prabang goes dark. The bowling alley outside town is the famous exception.
A week in Laos, the list starts here
Quantities scale with your dates, the weather groups arrive once we have your travel days, and your own plans add their gear on Trip Pass.
- Passport & travel documents1
- Phone charger & adapter1
- Wallet, cards & some local cash1
- Toiletries bag1
- Any daily medicationsenough for the trip
- Underwear7
- Socks7
- T-shirts / tops5
What am I forgetting?
A real answer from Trip Happens for a sample week in Laos, departing in five weeks with a checked bag and nothing packed yet. Yours is built from your own trip.
Five weeks out, bag unpacked. Three things Laos will ask for.
- 1.
Kip in cash, from day one
Laos runs on cash, cards work only at bigger hotels, and ATMs thin out fast outside main towns. Plan how you'll get kip on arrival in Vientiane and carry more than feels necessary.
- 2.
Rain layer and modest cover
Late October sits at the tail of the wet season, so downpours are still on the table, and temples expect shoulders and knees covered. Your packing list has shoes and underwear but nothing quick-dry or temple-appropriate yet.
- 3.
Confirm entry rules yourself
Nothing here tells me what a US passport needs for Laos, and it's not a thing to assume five weeks out. Open the entry card and read the official source, then check your passport's expiry date against your return.
Entry, advisories & health
These change. Confirm at the official source before you book.
Entry and visa requirements depend on your nationality. Confirm the current rules for Laos with the official source below before you book.
U.S. State Department travel advisory for Laos — check the current level and any alerts before you go.
CDC traveler health page for Laos — recommended vaccines, health notices, and a packing checklist.
Get the full Laos checklist
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