Why don't we show our phone number?
We are always available to talk to you about your plans, but we do not run call centers to keep the trip costs low. So email is best. There is also a contact form at the bottom of the page. You can chat or message us on Skype, email us first. If you really want to call us you can on (+44)02032867065.
Remember most of your programme questions can be answered with the get trip notes button too.
Please do not contact us to sell advertising.
Choose your Adventure
Backpacking in Laos - FAQ
Get off the beaten path and visit Laos! Let us take you off the beaten path on our backpacker trip in Laos. Starting in Bangkok Thailand, you can head through one of the most rewarding countries in South East Asia, and experience the joys of tubing, waterfalls and mind boggling scenery and beer Lao!
When crossing into Laos a visa will cost you between US$30 and US$45 depending on your nationality. You need to bring a passport size photo to give to the immigration officials on entry for this visa (if you don’t you’ll be charged for a photocopy of your passport). Please note: the Lao officials don’t like working on weekends just like the rest of us so it will usually cost you US$1 more if you enter Laos on a weekend!
What do I bring
Light clothes for the wet season (May – Oct) and something warm for the dry season (Nov – Mar), especially for the north of Laos and Thailand; a good travel medical kit supplied by a doctor (for any inconveniences, dietary or otherwise); your travel insurance details; sunscreen; bug repellent (at least 30% deet content); girls - a sarong for swimming in remte areas, Lao culture requires modesty; a poncho or light raincoat (it can rain even in the dry season in the north), shoes/trainers for walking and a good sense of adventure!
How do I carry it?
The best (and easiest) way to carry gear around Laos is in a sturdy backpack. You can bring a suitcase with wheels but you may find yourself dragging it down a dirt track! Bring a smaller daypack so you can carry bug repellent, a camera, sunscreen and water.
What do I eat?
Western food is sparse outside the main centers of Laos so be prepared and open minded about eating local food. At our stops we recommend tasty restaurants but when you get into local villages and homestays be prepared to eat simple local fare, with maybe the odd wildcard ingredient (which is part of the fun). Supermarkets are not the norm but we will point out places where you can stock up on food for the day. Please note vegetarian meal options are not always available but excellent fruit and vegetables are plentiful at the local markets.
Where do the trips depart from?
We pick up from selected locations in each town (specific accommodation places and our offices). You need to advise us before 5pm the day before you want to depart where you want to be picked up. Please login to your bookings to confirm your departure time and place. Please note we do not visit all departure points every day, only if we have confirmed pickups, so please ensure you let us know where you will be waiting.
What we do
things may change depending on the group, driver, season and local conditions. On our bus routes you can break your journey and spend longer anywhere along the way.
Gap Year Travel with us is all about adrenaline travel: Extreme sports gap years and exciting adventure travel programmes, offering you genuinely exciting alternatives to make the most of your gap year.
At Xtreme Gap Year we believe your time abroad should develop you personally, and be filled with countless moments of real excitement, gained by doing something out of the ordinary, and seriously cool.
If you are looking for a real gap year challenge and want to push your comfort zone feel free to review our programmes. Our gap year programmes enable you to truly achieve your personal best. Challenging your comfort zone and participating in an extreme sport activity in amazing locations will show you what you are really capable of.
