Traditionally, Laos food is spicy – Lao people will often add extra chillies; use heavy seasoning, with fish sauce often being used to flavour dishes. Laos cuisine blends Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese.

Laap, a speciality, is a dish of minced meat, fish or vegetables tossed in lime juice, garlic, onions, powdered rice and chillies.

The official language in Laos, is Lao which is spoken by most of the country.

English may be understood in the major tourist areas, although most likely not in other more rural regions.

Visas for Laos and Cambodia can be obtained upon arrival.

British passport holders can enter Vietnam for up to 15 days without a visa for travel, up to 30 June 2021.

If you are taking a Mekong River cruise from Vietnam, you will need to apply for your Cambodian visa on arrival at the River border crossing. Any visa obtained in advance will not be valid.

Laos’ currency is the Lao Kip (LAK), which is issued in denominations of 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 & 100,000 notes. The Kip is non-convertible outside of Laos.

In the larger cities and towns US Dollars and Thai Baht, are readily accepted. In smaller towns and villages, LAK is preferred.

ATM's can be found all over Laos, and dispense a maximum of 700,000K to 2,000,000K (about US$85 to US$250) per transaction, depending on the bank.

A number of the larger hotels, upmarket restaurants and gift shops in Vientiane and Luang Prabang, accept Visa and MasterCard, and some also accept Amex and JCB. Outside of these main towns, cash will need to be used.

Banque pour le Commerce Extérieur Lao (BCEL) branches in most major towns offer cash advances/withdrawals on MasterCard and Visa credit/debit cards for a 3% transaction fee.

While it may not always be expected, tips can go a long way and are a great way to show your appreciation.

We would generally suggest that you should tip your guide/driver and we can advise you on appropriate amounts. It is also considered proper to make a small donation to temples, especially if the monks have shown you around.

Many sites across Asia require a fair level of physical activity. The sheer scale of some attractions means walking is involved.

Our local representatives will do their utmost to accommodate any requests, and where possible, suggest alternative routes.

Please advise us of any special needs in advance, and we will do our utmost to provide support, including wheelchair assistance.

Yes, there’s only one thing worse than having to make an insurance claim for some misfortune that may have occurred on holiday – and that’s not being able to make a claim because you’re not properly insured. Travel insurance is a necessity should you become unwell, either before or during your holiday. It not only protects you financially, it ensures the quality of overseas medical care is of a standard you would expect. It also covers emergency repatriation, should it be deemed necessary.

Links Travel & Tours have teamed up with Holiday Extras to offer our customers a bespoke insurance product that is ideal for our holidays. Holiday Extras are fully authorised and regulated by the FSA, and Links Travel & Tours is an Appointed Representative of Holiday Extras, and as such are authorised to provide travel insurance.

When embarking on any holiday, it is important that your insurance cover level is right. The wide range of policies available means that they are sure to have the cover you need for your trip. Single Trip cover is available for a one-off break, while an Annual Multi-Trip policy will cover all your trips throughout the year.

The policy contains restrictions regarding pre-existing medical problems concerning the health of the people travelling and of other people upon whose health the holiday may depend – even if they are not travelling. Holiday Extras can offer specific travel insurance policies for people with pre-existing conditions so please tell us about these in order for us to quote you appropriately.

Please feel free to contact us today to receive a quote for your travel insurance.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), issues advice to all countries, and their advice for Laos can be found on the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/laos