Due to the underdeveloped tourist infrastructure in
Laos, there are virtually no organised activities. For
the adventurous and resourceful, this can be a real
boon but for others it means bringing your own form of
entertainment such as a chess board, fishing tackle or
a pack of cards with you.
Bird Watching is an excellent activity for the whole family and this is one country
where you may discover feathered friends that haven’t
been recorded yet and some that are unique to this
part of the world. Not only that, often birds from
other lands stop here for a breather en-route to/from
breeding grounds, so one is never quite sure what one
will see. If you can pick up a good bird book before
you arrive it’s an added advantage.
Canoeing
is another wonderful activity for all but the youngest
members of your family. There are a few companies
operating tours along the Mekong, Xekong, Nam Ou and
other rivers within this fascinating country. For more
information either
contact us or Aqua Terra Kayaking on
kayaking@kayaking-canoeing-aquaterra.com
Elephant Trekking
is a must do activity, whether travelling with
children or not. From the lofty height of an elephants
back much that one wouldn’t normally notice on foot,
can be observed. Elephants make hardly any sound when
walking, thus they tend not to disturb some of the
more timid creatures you may encounter on your trip.
Plus of course the views are great.
Fishing
is an excellent pastime for the whole family (and you
will be surprised how patient kids can be). This can
be done in the many rivers and streams that dot the
country or along the coast. Try your hand at the local
traditional fishing style or bring your own tackle
with you and for the real littlies in the family a
good old fashioned kids fishing net will do nicely.
Some
hotels offer this facility, with rods,
reels and the like on loan (or for hire) to their
guests.
Horse Riding
can be done through a few
hotels and resorts but there are limited
facilities and the horses or ponies may not be as well
maintained as many would like to see. If this puts you
off then don’t ride or ride the healthiest animal/s
you can find rather than the skinny ones with bad
saddle sores. Tip: Mums and dads are
advised to check the facility out BEFORE taking the
kids to the stables as if you feel the animals aren’t
in such great shape, it might be upsetting for your
kids.
Mountain-biking
is the next best way to take advantage of the terrain;
there are bikes for hire in
Vientiane
and
Luang Prabang and a few other towns
and/or at the hotels. Few, if any places have
children’s bikes for hire though, let alone children’s
carry baskets/seats, therefore this tends to be an
occupation for the older kids amongst you unless you
want to bring the kid’s bikes with you.
Nightlife Vientiane
and other areas have a number of ‘Discos’ which are
mainly Lao affairs and may seem rather boring to
westerners. The music is Lao, always played by a live
band and compared to restaurants, the cost of drinks
are quite expensive.
Spelunking
is a worthwhile pastime in Laos as there are numerous
caves that beg exploration. Do bring your own caving
equipment though to ensure your own safety if
intending to explore without a guide (though this is
not advised as many caves are un-charted) or contact
us for details on tour operators and whatever you do,
ensure you carry a good torch with extra batteries.
Swimming
can be done at the beaches, in your hotel swimming
pool and in some rivers.
Trekking
The hilly nature of the country makes it perfect
trekking territory, though overnight camping is not
allowed; ask around towns for a local guide. A good
activity to do with the children while out trekking is
to get then to see how many different types of birds
or other flora and fauna they can discover while out
walking.
Walking
is an excellent way to discover new terrain and to
meet the locals. On Don Khon, an island in the Mekong
River, there's an interesting walk across the southern
tip of the island, which offers the chance to see
Irrawaddy dolphins in the late afternoon between December and May
that your kids are sure to love.
White Water Rafting
is an activity for the older family members and can be done
on many of the rivers which flow through this rugged
terrain. For more information on this sport
contact us or get in touch with
laos@paddleasia.com
Note: For more information on things to see and do in Laos
please take a look at our
Sightseeing
pages, our
Sport and Activity pages, our
Top 10 Things to Do pages or
Contact Us.