Overland Laos Travel

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Currency to display:

Visiting Laos

Give a brief overview of what it's like to visit. How easy is the border, how safe is the country, are there great things to see and do, etc.

Entering Laos with a Car or Motorbike

Correct as of: July 2013</span>

Required Paperwork

(To check if you need a travel Visa for Laos, application instructions and fees see: Laos Visa online application at VisaHQ.com)
Carnet de Passage and Vehicle registration are sufficient.

Process at border

Briefly describe the process at the border to enter with a vehicle

Cost of entry

State the cost for a vehicle to enter

Permitted length of stay

State the permitted length of entry for the vehicle

Extension of stay

Describe the process to extend the permitted length of entry for the vehicle, if possible.

Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country

Describe if/how a vehicle can be stored, and for how long.
Also mention if the owner / temporary importer can leave the country while the vehicle is in storage.

Exiting with a vehicle

Describe the paperwork requirements and process at the border to exit.

Driving in Laos

Recommended books for Overlanding in Laos

Lonely Planet Laos (travel Guide)
Lonely Planet Laos (travel Guide)
by Lonely Planet
From $12.14 on Amazon
Work Less To Live Your Dreams: A Practical Guide To Sa...
Work Less To Live Your Dreams: A Practical Guide To Sa...
by Dan Grec
From $click on Amazon
Overlanders' Handbook: Worldwide Route And Planning Gu...
Overlanders' Handbook: Worldwide Route And Planning Gu...
by Chris Scott
From $22.49 on Amazon
Adventure Motorcycling Handbook: A Route & Planning Gu...
Adventure Motorcycling Handbook: A Route & Planning Gu...
by Chris Scott
From $click on Amazon
Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos Handbook (footprint - Handboo...
Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos Handbook (footprint - Handboo...
by Andrew Spooner, David Lloyd
From $15.31 on Amazon

Vehicle insurance requirements

Yes or No if insurance is mandatory, and what kind is acceptable.

Cost of insurance

State the price of insurance and a time period.

Where to purchase insurance

Describe where insurance can be purchased.

Driving license

State the kind of driving licenses required. i.e. International Driving Permit.

Driving side of road

Right.
Unknown if RHD vehicles can be driven in Laos.

Mandatory items in vehicle

State any mandatory items that must be carried in the vehicle. (i.e. safety triangle, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, etc.)

Roads

General Road quality

Laos does not have that many roads and the main ones are in reasonable state safe a few potholes. At the end of the rainy season the condition might be a bit worse.

Road signs

Road signs are virtually non existent.

Toll roads

List the frequency and approximate price of toll roads.

Bribery in Laos

Briefly describe how common bribery is and whether it should be expected, and the best way to deal with it.

Checkpoints

describe the frequency of checkpoints (police or military and what to expect.

Traveling with pets

List the entry requirements and anything else required to travel with a pet.

Gas price in Laos and Diesel price in Laos

Last updated: October 2012

Currency and unit to display:

Gasoline Grade Price
Unleaded €1.24 EUR per Liter[1]
Diesel €0.95 EUR per Liter[1]

Gas and Diesel Availability / Frequency

Briefly describe if gas shortages are known to occur.
Also state the approximate average distance between gas stations. This is a very rough estimate.

Gas and Diesel Quality

Discuss if gasoline / diesel considered "clean" or "dirty", and generally high or low quality.
State the sulfur content of diesel, if known.

Safety and Security Considerations

Driving at night

Discuss driving at night and if it should it be avoided. Mention why.

Vehicle parking

Discuss if vehicles can be parked on the street, if they are considered "safe" at night. If vehicles can not be parked on the street, list the other options that exist.

Special driving considerations

A List of special things to be careful of (i.e. Unsigned speed bumps, abnormal road rules, people or animals on the road, etc.).
List any roads that are not recommended to drive for safety or other security reasons.

Security advisories and information

Camping in Laos

Describe if organized "pay" camping is common. List the facilities commonly found at these campsites.
List the approximate average price range of camping in organized campgrounds.
Also discuss the possibility of "wild" or "roadside" camping. How common is it? Is it considered safe, or a bad idea.

Camping guide books

List and link to books specifically for camping.

Drinking water

Describe if the regular tap water is safe to drink. If not, describe where safe water can be purchased and the approximate average price range.

Navigation

Paper maps

Reise Know-How are amoung the best paper maps. Purchase paper maps before arriving in Laos

Laos 1:600,000 Travel Map, Waterproof, Gps-compatible,...
Laos 1:600,000 Travel Map, Waterproof, Gps-compatible,...
by Reise Knowhow
From $12.95 on Amazon
Thailand (national Geographic Adventure Map)
Thailand (national Geographic Adventure Map)
by National Geographic Maps - Adventure
From $8.28 on Amazon
Laos Travel Map Third Edition (periplus Travel Maps)
Laos Travel Map Third Edition (periplus Travel Maps)
From $5.08 on Amazon
Lonely Planet Vietnam (travel Guide)
Lonely Planet Vietnam (travel Guide)
by Lonely Planet, Iain Stewart, Brett Atkinson, Anna ...
From $13.24 on Amazon

GPS Maps of Laos

Review different GPS companies, quality and coverage (Tomtom, Garmin, OSM, Tracks4Africa). (with links to each).

GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in Laos

Link to sites that have a list of GPS co-ordinates (or directions) for camping locations (including "wild" campsites), propane filling, gas stations, repair shops, places of interest, etc.

Special Overland Travel interests

List any special items / places that are popular with Overlanders



Vehicle Maintenance

Dealers

4x4s / Trucks

Motorbikes

Local Garages

Add known good mechanics here.

Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Laos

Buy
Describe how a foreigner can buy a vehicle. List any difficulties or limitations on where the vehicle can be driven.

Sell
Describe how a foreigner can sell a foreign-plated vehicle, or list not possible.'

References

Links to the source of any information - blogs or discussion forums, etc.

  1. 1.0 1.1 World petrol prices, gas prices, diesel prices|MyTravelCost.com

Helpful External links

Add any helpful external links here.