5 Days Golf in Laos: Prepare to Swing into Paradise

I’ve always thought the best golf trips are the ones where the scenery actually distracts you from a bad scorecard. 5 days golf in Laos does exactly that. You’re teeing off right next to emerald rice paddies with mountains in the background that don’t even look real.

If you’re tired of the same “luxury resort” experience that looks the same in every country, pack your clubs for Vientiane or Luang Prabang. It’s an unforgettable easy to spend a week, even if the views make it hard to keep your eye on the ball.

Plan Your Golf Holiday in Laos

Choose the Best Time to Visit Laos

If you’re planning five days of golf in Laos, timing is the difference between a great trip and a very sweaty one. The best window is definitely November through April. It’s the dry season, which means you actually get a breeze on the course and don’t have to worry about a sudden downpour ruining you back nine.

I’d personally aim for November or December. The Mekong River is at its peak, everything is still lush, and the temperatures haven’t hit the triple digits yet.

You could try the months like May or October to save some money on hotels, but it’s a gamble. You’ll have the courses to yourself, but you’ll also be playing around heavy rain showers. If you’re okey with a bit of mud and an umbrella, the lower rates might be worth it, bur for most, the dry season is the way to go.

>>> Read more: Laos Golfing Weather: When is the Best Time to Visit Laos for Golf?

Apply for a Laos Visa

Visa rules for Laos are actually pretty straightforward, but they change depending on what passport you’re holding. If you’re from a nearby country like Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia, you can usually just walk in with a 30-day visa exemption.

For everyone else, you have two main options:

• Visa on Arrival: You can get this at most major airports (like Vientiane or Luang Prabang) and the main land borders. It costs about $40 USD in cash, and you’ll need a couple of passport photos.
• eVisa: If you’d rather not deal with paperwork at the border,  you can apply online a few days before you fly. It’s slightly more expensive, but it saves you from standing in the extra queue when you land.

Just a heads-up, double check you specific nationality on the official eVisa portal before you leave. Some countries are still required to get a sticker from an embassy in advance, and you don’t want to  find that out the check-in desk.

Determine Which Golf Courses to Play

Laos isn’t usually the first place that comes to mind for a golf trip, but that’s actually part of the appeal. Most of the courses are concentrated around Vientiane and Luang Prabang, meaning you can spend the morning on the green and the afternoon exploring night markets or temples without much travel time in between

The best part about golfing here is the pace. It’s rarely crowded, so you aren’t constantly looking over your shoulder at the group behind you. It’s a much more relaxed, old-school way to play, which fits the general vibe of the country perfectly.

Some must-play golf courses during your 5 days in Laos include:

• Lakeview Vientiane Golf Club: The one to pick of you wan a tour-quality experience. It’s a desert-style course with a lot of white sand and water hazards. It’s probably the best-maintained grass in the country, but it’s also the most expensive.
• Luang Prabang Golf Club: A opposite – it’s all about the terrain. You’re playing on the side of a mountain with views of the Nam Khan River. The holes are hilly and unpredictable, but it’s the most memorable round you’ll play in Laos.
• Dansavanh Golf & Country Club: If you want to escape the Vientiane heat, head up to Dansavanh. It’s tucked away near the Nam Ngum Reservoir. It has a bit of an older, 90s-resortfeel, but the mountain air makes it much more comfortable to play 18 holes in the middle of the day.
• Lao Country Club: For a more classic round, try this. It isn’t as flashy as Lakeview, but they’re solid, local favorites with mature trees and a more relaxed pace.

Remember, this is just the starting point. Depending on your preferences and desired locations, you might consider exploring other courses, like the SEA Games Golf Club or Pakse Golf Club.

Find Off-Course Activities

While Laos offers fantastic golfing, there’s a whole world waiting for you beyond the course! In Luang Prabang, you can explore the captivating temples and witness the traditional alms-giving ceremony, a serene and spiritual experience that offers a glimpse into Laotian beliefs. In Vientiane, visit the iconic Patuxay monument, a striking Arc de Triomphe-inspired landmark, or delve into the fascinating exhibits at the COPE Visitor Education Center, learning about Laos’s recent history and ongoing bomb clearance efforts.

If you have some downtime between rounds, there’s plenty to do beyond the golf course. Most people end up taking a boat trip on the Mekong at some point—it’s the easiest way to see the mountains and the small villages along the riverbanks without a lot of hiking. If you’re in Vang Vieng, the scenery is dominated by these massive limestone cliffs; kayaking the Nam Song is the best way to see them, though it’s a bit more active. For something quieter, the waterfalls at Kuang Si are worth the drive from Luang Prabang, especially if you want to swim in the natural pools.

The food is a huge part of being here, too. It’s a lot of sticky rice, spicy papaya salad, and grilled meats, usually with a lot of fresh herbs and local chilies. If you want to take a bit of the culture home, you can find a cooking class or just spend an evening wandering through the night markets. They’re great for picking up handmade textiles or just grabbing some street food like skewered pork and spring rolls while you walk around.

After a long day on your feet, a traditional Lao massage is probably the best way to recover. It’s a mix of stretching and acupressure that’s a bit more intense than a standard spa rub, but it works wonders for a sore back. You can also spend some time at the local temples; they’re incredibly peaceful and give you a good sense of the Buddhist traditions that keep the pace of life here so relaxed.

Suggested Itinerary for 5 Days Golf in Laos

Day 1: Arrive in Laos. If time permits, you can join a half-day city tour to visit major tourist destinations like the Patuxay Monument, Pha That Luang, Wat Si Muang, Wat Sisaket, etc.

Day 2: Golf at Mekong Golf Resort. This is quite an easy-to-play golf course in Laos with wide fairways and just a few water hazards. Most fairways are lined with thickets of natural vegetation and hundreds of indigenous trees. The greens are always well-maintained to ensure a good golfing experience all year round.

Day 3: Golf at Lao Country Club. This is one of the oldest golf courses in Laos with rolling hills, relaxing greens, and challenging waterways. After the game, you can relax at the clubhouse with some delicious Laos dishes.

Day 4: Golf at Dansavanh Golf Club. This 14,800-hectare golf course will bring you an experience of golfing amidst the breathtaking nature as it covers part of the Nam Ngum Lake and Phou Khao Khouay Mountain.

Day 5: Depart Laos.

>>> If you are interested in this tour, check out Laos Golf Package 5 Days for detailed information on the price, inclusions, exclusions, etc.

>>> If Vientiane with the above-mentioned golf courses is not your favorite destination, embark on this 5 days golf in Luang Prabang for a different experience of golfing in Laos.

Foods to Eat in 5 Days in Laos

Sticky Rice (Khao Niao)

You can’t really talk about Lao food without starting with Khao Niao. It’s a thick, sticky rice that’s steamed in bamboo baskets rather than boiled in a pot. Because it’s so dense, you don’t use a fork; you just tear off a small ball with your fingers and use it as a sort of edible spoon for everything else on the table. It has a distinct, slightly sweet smell from the bamboo, and it’s surprisingly filling, especially when you’re pairing it with something spicy or charred from the grill.

Laab (Lao Minced Meat Salad)

If you only try one local dish between rounds of golf, make it Laab. It’s a minced meat salad (usually pork or chicken) that hits every flavor profile at once – sour, salty, and usually pretty spicy.

What makes it unique is the toasted rice powder they stir in at the end; it adds a toasted, nutty crunch that prevents the texture from being one-dimensional. It’s packed with kaffir lime and lemongrass, so it smells incredible. It’s almost always served with a pile of raw long beans and cucumber, which you’ll definitely need to cool down your palate if you tell the cook you want it “Lao spicy.”

Ping Gai (Lao Grilled Chicken)

You can’t really go to Laos without eating Ping Gai. It’s a straightforward grilled chicken, but the marinade – a mix of lemongrass, shallots, and fish sauce, makes it much more interesting than a standard BBQ.

The trick is the charcoal grill; it gives the chicken a smoky, charred skin while keeping the inside tender. It almost always comes with a side of jeow (dipping sauce) that’s heavy on the lime and chili. It’s the kind of meal that’s meant to be eaten with your hands and a side of sticky rice. If you’re looking for a quick, reliable lunch between rounds of golf, this is the one to get.

A five-day golf trip to Laos usually turns into something much more interesting than just eighteen holes a day. You’ll likely finish the week with a few less-than-perfect scorecards, but a much better sense of why this part of Southeast Asia is so special.

It’s a refreshing break from the typical, over-manicured golf holidays you find elsewhere. If you’re looking for a trip that actually feels like an adventure, Laos is the place to do it. You’ll go home with some great stories, a bit of a tan, and probably a plan to come back and see the parts of the country you missed between rounds.

Read more:

• Top 6 Best Golf Courses in Laos
• Laos Travel Cost: How Much Does It Cost for a Golf Holiday in Laos?
• Laos Golf Holiday 7 Days