Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Stray
071 260584,
straytravel.asia
. Cool, Kiwi-run company running flexible (and
quite costly) bus tours through Southeast Asia.
Symbiosis
UK 0845 123 2844,
symbiosis-travel.com
. An environmentally aware op-
erator that aims to reduce the negative impact of tourism. Tours include “Laos Ancient and
Wild”, which encompasses trekking, hill-tribe visits, kayaking and a stay in Luang Prabang.
Trailfinders
Ireland 01 677 7888, UK 020 7368 1200;
trailfinders.com
. One of the
best-informed and most efficient agents for independent travellers.
Travel CUTS
Canada 1800 592 2887,
travelcuts.com
. Canadian youth and student
travel firm.
Travel Indochina
UK 01865 268940,
travelindochina.co.uk
.
An excellent range of
tours that take in Laos - either on its own or in conjunction with Thailand, Vietnam or Cam-
bodia.
Wendy Wu Tours
South Africa 011 394 1660,
wendywutours.co.za
.
Short tours just
focusing on Laos or a 28-day “Grand tour of Indochina”.
WorldExpeditions
Australia 073216 0823, Canada 613 241 2700, New Zealand 09
368 4161, UK 020 8545 9030, US 1613 241 2700;
worldexpeditions.com
.
An inter-
esting array of group trips, including a cycling expedition along the banks of the Mekong.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
UnlessyouholdapassportfromJapan,Russia,SwitzerlandoroneoftheASEANmem-
ber states, you'll need a visa to enter Laos. The good news is that you probably won't
need to arrange it in advance; thirty-day visas are now available on arrival at most in-
ternational borders. Note that all visitors must hold a passport that is valid for at least
six months from the time of entry into Laos.
Visas
on arrival take just a few minutes to process, cost around $35 (prices vary according
to nationality), and are available to passengers flying into Luang Prabang Airport, Pakse Air-
port and Wattay Airport in Vientiane. Travellers to Laos from Thailand can pick up visas on
arrival at any of the border crossings open to foreign tourists (except the border at Paksan),
as can those entering from Vietnam (at Nam Khan, Na Meo, Bo Y, Tay Trang, Cau Treo and
Lao Bao) and Cambodia (Dom Kralor). From China it's possible to pick up a visa at the Mo
Han crossing, but not currently at Meng Kang. Only US dollars are accepted as payment and
a passport-sized photo is required. If you forget the photo, border officials will usually turn
a blind eye for an extra $1. Note that passport holders from a number of countries, includ-
ing Pakistan, Turkey and Zambia, are not eligible for visas on arrival and must obtain one
