Getting to Laos
Bordered with 5 countries there are many ways to get into Laos and you can be as adventurous as you dare.
Laos Travel Guide
Laos – Luscious landscapes, winding rivers, beautiful people. The country that has an experience to offer everyone, and will ensure you take away long lasting and treasured memories.
COVID-19 TRAVEL INFORMATION FOR LAOS
We remain open and ready to take bookings. Like many countries, Laos is in lockdown during this time. Laos had a rapid response to Coronavirus and Laos remains a safe place to travel. We have safety procedures in place to maintain distance and minimize potential exposure.
Safety measures:
Nationwide restrictions remain in effect. Most businesses may operate with strict hygiene and social distancing measures. Mass gatherings and entertainment venues remain suspended. Tiger Trail has implemented Safety Protocols for all tours.
International Flights to Laos:
International flights are mostly limited to emergencies and repatriation. Authorities have banned chartered flights from locations with ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks. Additionally, some localities may implement stricter measures in parts of Laos. Officials may reintroduce or tighten controls if local COVID-19 activity increases.
International scheduled and chartered flights are suspended. Fast-track immigration started with China on 1 Nov. All travellers entering the country must purchase travel insurance, wear a health tracking device.
Travel Restrictions:
Tourist visas, visas-on-arrival, and standing visa exemptions remain suspended. All entrants require prior permission from the nearest Laos diplomatic mission at least seven days before arrival. Approved foreign travelers, such as diplomats, officials, essential workers, technical experts, and tourists from locations with low COVID-19 activity, may enter Laos. Entrants must produce negative COVID-19 test results obtained within 72 hours before the trip. Additionally, arrivals will undergo paid testing upon entry and a 14-day quarantine at a designated facility. Land border restrictions remain, except for cargo transport.
International borders remain closed for entry to foreigners. Entry requirements to Laos are:
- Valid Certificate of entry issued by MOFA (2-6 weeks to process). COE’s are valid 2 weeks minimum, if expired at the time of travel they must be re-issued.
- Existing multiple entry visa or temporary visa obtained at your closest Lao embassy or consulate (you pay only after you have arrived safely in Laos).
- Confirmed quarantine hotel reservation and Government pickup at Vientiane Airport or International Land Border.
- Mandatory 14 day / 100$ Covid insurance (currently available for purchase upon arrival at Wattay airport only, if land border entry please contact us).
- A negative PCR Covid test confirmed no more than 72 hours before your last flight to Laos.
When do we think you can travel to Laos?
We expect travel to Laos will be possible from 1 October 2021 for vaccinated travellers with most travel from Jan 2022. Official details are yet to be released.
The general industry expectation is vaccinated travelers will be welcomed with much fewer restrictions. Proof of vaccine will likely be needed with a valid visa, passport (with an expiry date of more than 6 months), proof of insurance, and possibly a negative Covid-19 test result obtained 72 hrs before arrival. Requirements may change so please contact us for the latest travel and entry requirement information.
Can I book now?
Yes, you are welcome to book now. We have flexible Covid terms that require no deposit and bookings can be changed and canceled up to 30 days before arrival.
COVID-19 Procedures within Laos.
Travelers can expect to follow standard COCID-19 hygiene measures such as wearing masks in public places, in vehicles, and frequent hand-sanitizing. We have implemented a COVID-19 safety procedure for staff, guides, and drivers who will wear masks and hotels will practice contactless check-ins. A large part of the Lao population is likely not to be vaccinated so for your and their safety these precautions will be implemented - making you much more welcome by the locals too.
28 Nov 2021: 71,518 Cases, 159 deaths. 42% fully vaccinated.
Lao Airlines will operate weekly flights to Bangkok from Jan 2022. Travellers will be allowed to enter Thailand by sea, land and air as part of the Test & Go and Sandbox schemes, from the province of Nong Khai which borders Laos, from 24 Dec 2021.
Laos is considering a new reopening plan, Lao Travel Green Zone. This would designate Vientiane Capital, Vang Vieng, and Luang Prabang as “green zones”. A green zone must have 70-80% of its population vaccinated, and 90-95% of its service providers vaccinated. International arrivals would need to be vaccinated, and have a negative test within 72 hours of departure. Tourists would be taken to hotels via designated vehicles certified with the LaoSafe scheme, and undertake an RT-PCR test on arrival, self-isolating at their home until they receive the results. Once the test comes back negative, they will be able to explore the Green Zone. A “Lao Green Trail” would also be launched, which would allow visitors to travel outside of the Green Zones, but they would need to use services of LaoSafe service providers and stay at all-inclusive accommodation. It also proposes launching a new contact tracing app, LaoStaySafe, to monitor tourists during their stay, and provide information.
25 Oct 2021: 36,248 Cases, 53 deaths
Lockdown measures extended until 14 Nov, with entertainment venues, tourist attractions and schools closed. Stricter measures are implemented across country, depending on virus severity. Laos has launched a new vaccination certificate with a QR code which will allow for digital verification. The Tourism Ministry has requested permission to allow vaccinated South Koreans to enter Vientiane on luxury golf tour packages. This plan would see Lao Airlines, AirAsia, T’way Air and Jeju Air operate charter flights to Incheon airport, and travellers could undertake a 9-day golfing package. Tourists would be limited to one hotel and one restaurant, and they would be transferred between the hotel and the golf course.
15 Oct 2021: 30,615 Cases, 36 deaths
A number of provinces have been locked down and now Luang Prabang is imposing lockdown restrictions through to 21 Oct due to COVID-19 activity. Stay-at-home orders are in effect; exemptions are in place for reasons such as medical emergencies. Entry into Luang Prabang is prohibited. Essential sectors like medical, pharmaceutical, electricity, and telecommunications, among others, may operate.
11 Sep 2021: 17,140 Cases, 16 deaths.
A large number of cases of Covid-19 recorded in Luang Prabang Province have been traced to quarantine centers and residents returning from other provinces. Laos conducted 4,440 tests over the last 24 hours, confirming 204 new cases of Covid-19.
9 May 2021: 1,233 Cases, 1 death.
Over one year into the pandemic, the southeast Asian country Laos has recorded its first Covid-19 related death. A 53-year-old Vietnamese karaoke club worker died from the virus in the capital Vientiane, the National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control reported. The woman's condition was complicated by diabetes and other medical issues. Laos reported 1,233 cases, of which 1,184 were reported in the last month.
4 May 2021: 933 Cases, 0 deaths.
Following 2 Thai nationals entering Laos illegally during Lao New year, cases of COVID-19 have risen rapidly. 31 of the newly infected are from the capital Vientiane, while 54 are from Champassak province, 13 from Savannakhet province, seven from Bokeo province, two from Oudomxay province, two from Phongsaly province, and one each from Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Xayaburi, and Sekong provinces. The 113 new cases follow announcements of 76 cases on Sunday and 88 cases on Saturday in the nation with a population of around 7.2 million people.
Phouthone Muongpak, Vice-Minister of Health, said infections have been identified in 13 out of 17 provinces in Laos and the capital. “The virus is also spreading quickly in the capital and Champassak province in the south,” he added. The number of provinces included in the lockdown, which requires that people stay in their homes unless they are experiencing an emergency, is now at 15.
01 March 2021: 45 Cases, 0 deaths.
Laos has extended its COVID-19 prevention measures and required all foreign citizens entering Laos to purchase COVID-19 insurance. According to a notice issued by the National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, COVID-19 insurance is now mandatory in addition to other travel documents and requests for permission to enter the country. Non-Lao citizens wishing to enter Laos must contact their embassy concerning COVID-19 insurance, which will cover the cost of any medication prescribed in the event that the policy holder contracts the virus.
The special cover is now required because ordinary health and travel insurance policies do not provide cover against pandemics, including any incidents relating to COVID-19.
14 Jan 2021: 41 Cases, 0 deaths.
April-June 2020: 19 Cases, 0 deaths.
On 1 April one more case was confirmed, bringing a total to 10.On 5 April 2020, the 11th case was reported as a 55-year-old man from Papua New Guinea.
On 20 March all land borders closed and the last flights departed from Luang Prabang and Vientiane occurred.
On 18 May domestic travel allowed.On 2 June students returned to schools.
On 4 June the government allowed foreigners into the country, except tourist visas.
24 March 2020: 2 Cases, 0 deaths.
Laos confirmed its first two COVID-19 cases, becoming the last Southeast Asian country infected with coronavirus..