At a Glance
Laos is isolated for reasons of war and politics and has preserved an older, more traditional way of life, just like Asia but without the crowds. 236,800 square kilometres, it is a landlocked country sharing borders with Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and China. The Mekong River meanders 1,800 km through Laos forming the major part of its borders with Myanmar and Thailand. In the east, the Annamite Range separates Laos from Vietnam. It is a mostly mountainous country, especially to the north and east with villagers living in isolated valleys.

Currency
Laos' official currency is the Kip: you'll find it in denominations of 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, and 50,000. The kip is inconvertible outside of Laos - make sure to exchange at the airport before you go! US dollars and Thai baht are commonly accepted in urban areas, while more remote places will accept only kip. No coins are in circulation in Laos. In the late 1990's Laos's economy had experienced over 100% inflation and 500% depreciation.

Credit Cards
In Laos, including the capital Vientiane, only a very few banks have international ATMs accepting PLUS and CIRRUS cards for VISA, MasterCard, JCB and Diners Club. These include ANZ Laos (Australia New Zealand Banking Group). Thai currency is still accepted all over Laos, making it a useful currency to carry or exchange. Some US dollars will come in handy too.

Tipping
In most places in Laos, tipping is not expected though as always it is enormously appreciated. If you want to tip, 10% is pretty generous.

Bargaining
Bargaining should be good natured and smile, don’t get angry or argue. The point of bargaining is not to make sure the merchant loses money but rather to get a price that both you and the merchant will be satisfied with. Often bargaining in Lao is this; all you really need to know are the numbers, how much (tao die), cheap (took) and expensive (peng) will reap great rewards.

Health & Safety Tips
Pick medications in their original, clearly labelled containers. A signed and dated letter from your physician describing your medical conditions and medications, including generic names, is also a very good idea. Consume only bottled water outside the hotel. Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventative measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organisation provides information for travellers and also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while travelling overseas. We also recommend that you visit the Commonwealth

Government website: www.smarttraveller.gov.au. Crime is relatively rare in Laos, but sneak theft and bag snatching have been known to happen. Mind your belongings in public spaces and tourist areas. Land mines are common near the border with Vietnam. Visitors must never stray off the known paths, and travel with a local guide.

Insurance
Go See Touring strongly recommends that you take out comprehensive insurance cover that will cover any overseas medical costs, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you will be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel!

Driving
It is strongly recommended that Australians consider very carefully whether they should drive motor vehicles or motorcycles in Laos as unfamiliarity with local driving conditions may result in serious injury, or a heavy compensation payments as a result of any accident.

Dress
Pack a light jacket during the peak season, especially if you're headed north or to the highlands. For any other time of year, wear light cotton clothes and a hat to beat the heat. When visiting temples, dress conservatively and wear shoes that can easily be taken off.

Weather
Laos has two distinct seasons -- the wet and the dry. The wet season runs from about May to October, and as with many Southeast Asian countries, the wet season is characterised by a downpour for a few hours each day rather than all-day torrential downpours. Dry season runs from November to April. November to February is cooler while around March and April seems to be the warmest. April is the hottest month. Wet season runs from about May to October, though it may start a little early in a couple of Laos' northern provinces. August seems to be the wettest month.

Essential items

• Raincoat
• Sun hat and Sunblock
• Small umbrella
• Small Torch
• Insect repellant
• Hand sanitiser – about 50ml to 100ml
• Anti-bacterial wipes (useful at all times)
• Comfortable strong walking shoes