Vientiane (Wattay International Airport), Luang Prabang (Luang Prabang International Airport) and Pakse (Pakse International Airport) are the main points of entry from outside Laos. Flights come in from neighboring Southeast Asian countries throughout the day, including arrivals from Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and China. Those coming from the US, Canada, the EU, Australia and New Zealand, and elsewhere in the west, will generally route through Bangkok.

Laos Airlines, Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Vietnam Airlines and China Eastern Airlines are the main carriers. For low-cost carriers, AirAsia flies to Vientiane from Kuala Lumpur a few times a week.

Other than tour shuttle buses, taxis provide the only real option for getting from Laos airports to your hotel if iTrek is not handling your arrangements. On departure from Laos, be mindful of the 100,000 kip departure tax, which is not usually included in ticket prices.

Most people fly to Laos, yet those with time on their hands may enjoy going overland. If arriving in Laos by land, you will invariably need to change transport at the border even though you may have a direct ticket. Most crossings on the country’s western border with Thailand involve a short boat ride across the Mekong River.

The Friendship Bridge between Nong Khai (Thailand) and Vientiane is the busiest, while the Huay Xai border connects with Chiang Khong in Thailand, with buses coming in from Chiang Rai. Tha Khaek-Nakhon Phanom and Savannakhet-Mukdahan are also popular Laos-Thai border points and tourists without visas can generally pick up a 15-day visa on arrival (VOA) using this method. Vietnam has six border crossings with Laos, while foreigners are not permitted to cross the Myanmar-Laos border.

You can get to Luang Prabang by boat from Huay Xai, which lies near the northern Thai border of Chiang Khong. Although popular, the main boat (dubbed the ‘slow boat’) takes a day-and-a-half to reach Luang Prabang. Boats leave every morning from the riverside quay, stopping for one night in the village of Pak Beng and arriving in Luang Prabang the following afternoon. Although the journey is somewhat uncomfortable, those seeking an adventurous impression of the true rural Laos will be interested in this. A fast boat takes a day, but it involves cramped seating in a noisy longtail boat and they are prone to occasional accidents. iTrek offers a great option for traveling in style between Huay Xai and Luang Prabang in complete comfort.