9 min read
Extending Your Stay in Laos in 2026: Visa Extensions, Fees and Overstay Rules
Laos lets most visitors extend a 30-day visa without leaving. Here are the 2026 fees in kip, the Vientiane office, timings and the real overstay risks.
On the Ground Laos
Insights, updates and local perspectives to better understand Laos as it evolves.
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10 min read
Where to Stay in Laos: Guesthouses, Homestays and How to Book
From 80,000-kip guesthouses to village homestays and river eco-lodges: what accommodation in Laos actually costs, and the honest way to book it wisely.
10 min read
Phongsaly: Tea Mountains, Akha Trails and Laos's Far North
The far north of Laos rewards patience. Phongsaly offers ancient tea gardens, Akha ridge villages and the slow, broken river road up the Nam Ou valley.
8 min read
Laos Tightens Tourism Safety Rules in 2026: Balloons, Paramotors and a New Border Levy
Laos has tightened oversight of adventure tourism and added a small border levy in 2026. Here is what actually changed, and what it means before you book.
9 min read
Laos Wants 43 Million Visitors by 2030. What That Means for Slow Travel
Laos has set a five-year tourism target of 43 million visitors and USD 13 billion. We read the numbers honestly and ask what changes for slow travellers.
8 min read
What to Pack for Laos: A Slow Traveller's Packing List
Laos asks for less luggage than you think, but the right less. A season-by-season packing list built around temples, boats, mud and long, slow river days.
9 min read
Vientiane, Slowly: Three Days in the Capital of Laos
Vientiane is the capital most travellers skip. Give it three unhurried days and it becomes the calmest, most honest introduction to Laos you can find.
8 min read
Bangkok to Vientiane by Train in 2026: The Direct Sleeper Explained
One train now runs from Bangkok into Vientiane overnight. Here is how it works in 2026: times, fares, berths, border formalities and the onward connection.
9 min read
Staying Healthy in Laos: Water, Food, Mosquitoes and Medical Care
Laos rewards travellers who plan their health properly. Vaccines, water, raw dishes, mosquitoes, rabies and the honest limits of medical care in the country.
8 min read
Who Is Actually Travelling to Laos in 2026
Arrivals are climbing fast, yet Laos still feels empty outside three towns. Here is who is really visiting in 2026, and what it changes for slow travellers.
9 min read
Savannakhet: The Slow Mekong Town Most Travellers Drive Past
Laos's second city sees fewer travellers than almost anywhere on the Mekong. Here is what Savannakhet is really like, and how to give it the days it needs.
9 min read
Flying to Laos in 2026: Airports, Routes and What Changed
Lao Airlines, AirAsia and new regional links are reshaping how you reach Laos by air. Airports, routes, prices and the connections that actually work in 2026.
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