Gay Travel Laos: Land of a Million Rice Fields

Already seen plenty in Thailand and Cambodia? Laos may be the last great adventure spot in Indochina. It is charming, mostly unspoiled, inexpensive, and very gay friendly. It is a quick hop from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Hanoi and Saigon, or journey in relaxed comfort by boat from Chiang Rai.

Laos, Thailand's sleepy neighbor to the north, is somewhat less "discovered" than any of its neighbors. Vientiane, the country capital, is a charming and attractive place filled with lovely architecture left behind by the French. Luang Prabang, the country's former royal capital, is one of the most interesting, most laid-back places in Indochina. You can smell the baguettes baking and even find a decent bottle of wine. Laos is devoutly Buddhist country and many people rise at dawn to feed long processions of monks. Since LP is a UNESCO World Heritage site, nothing new can be built, and little can be changed. We often hear it called "Chiang Mai fifty years ago." The ideal visit to Laos will include both Vientiane and Luang Prabang. Since people often tell us they hated to leave, you may want to stay longer.

Getting There

Traveling to Laos is easy. There are regular flights to both Vientiane and Luang Prabang from Bangkok, to Luang Prabang from Chiang Mai and Sukhothai, and to Vientiane from Siem Reap and Hanoi. You can travel down the Mekong River from Chang Khong (near Chiang Rai) in Thailand to Luang Prabang, or across the Friendship Bridge near Nongkhai (also in Thailand) and then by road to Vientiane. Pakse can be reached by air from Bangkok, Vientiane and Siem Reap, or by road from Thailand. We will be happy to help with these logistics when it comes time to create your special Laos adventure.

Planning Your Holiday

Purple Dragon offers all-inclusive travel programs and unique side trips designed to help first-time visitors get acquainted with magical Laos. Creating the the perfect adventure could not be easier! Our programs are all modular. Choose a destination and arrive any day. Our programs use carefully-chosen gay-friendly hotels. Your private tour includes personal guides, so you'll never be herded around on a bus with 40 strangers. Although we have already chosen the optimum amount of time to visit each place you can extend your stay in any of our destinations.

Before your trip we will give you extensive "Before You Go" information that includes tips about packing, weather, money, shopping, food, travel practicalities and local culture that will help you enjoy a worry-free holiday.

Planning Your Holiday

Purple Dragon's packages offer great value and save you time and effort by arranging your choice of hotel, round trip airport transportation, and sightseeing with a personal English-speaking guide. You can always add extra nights and optional sightseeing if you wish. We will give you plenty of help to prepare for your adventure, including detailed "Before You Go" information.

Leisurely Luang Prabang Four Days and three nights to Discover Laos' tranquil royal capital. This is just enough time to see the basics. of course, you may stay longer to experience Luang Prabang more leisurely and in greater depth. We offer quite a few optional activities that will help you enjoy your time, like cooking classes, elephant adventures (one day or two), and more. See our optional sighteeing and activities in Luang Prabang below.

Beyond Luang Prabang Five days and four nights who want enjoy Luang Prabang as well as the natural wonders of a spectacular eco-lodge two hours by boat up the Mekong River. You have time to see all of the most important things Luang Prabang has to offer, walk through a pristine forest, and see what village life is like for some of Laos' ethnic minority people.

Way Beyond Luang Prabang This is undoubtedly the most spectacular way to make the journey to Luang Prabang. Begin in Chiang Mai, where our driver and guide drive you to Chiang Rai to spend one or two nights before you cross into Laos to board a first class river cruise to Luang Prabang that makes stops to visit unspoiled landlocked villages local colorful local markets. Overnight stops along the way includes a night in a luxury eco-lodges in Pak Beng, followed by three nights or longer in Luang Prabang. You may begin in Luang Prabang and end in Chiang Rai/Chiang Mai if you wish.

Luang Prabang Side Trips Stay a bit longer in Luang Prabang and enjoy some delicious extra days. We have quite a few fascinating optional activities exclusively for guests using one of our Luang Prabang Packages.

Vientiane Take two days to enjoy sensual "Sandalwood City." This nostalgic town is still the most charming and most French of all the former Indochinese capitals. You will see lovely boulevards and stately villas, and massive monument with a dubious history, a bizarre public garden, and several interesting places of worship. There is even a bit of nightlife.

Ultimate Laos Adventure You can combine Way Beyond Luang Prabang, Leisurely Luang PRabang, Road to Rainbows and Vientiane packages together to make the ultimate journey through Laos at a special price. You can continue to Pakse if you like, end your journey at Vientiane airport, or at the Friendship Bridge connecting Laos to Thailand at Nong Khai.

Pakse and the River of Four Hundred Islands is still on our drawing board, but we are working as fast as we can. This is one of the least developed areas of Laos. Here, you can visit one of the furthest and most impressive outposts of the Khmer empire, and enjoy a luxury cruise on one of the most picturesque stretches of the mighty Mekong.

Gay Life in Laos

Laos will probably not be your favorite destination if your primary interest is nightlife. Gay life in Laos is nothing like Thailand. People here are traditional and conservative. However, they are also extraordinarily friendly. While there are no exclusively gay venues in Luang Prabang, nightlife in Vientiane is somewhat more interesting. But after a a week in Thailand you need a rest from all of that, don't you? Read More

Weather

There is no bad time to visit Laos. The climate is virtually the same as Thailand, Laos' neighbor to the south. The most popular months to visit are October through March. April through June are quite warm. The "green season" begins in July and continues to October. Occasional afternoon rain keeps the country lush and cool.

Passports & Visas