What it Cost to Travel Laos for a One Month Vacation for Two

Champasak

Our goal with BoBo & ChiChi is to figure out ways to make people realize that they absolutely can start traveling the world, or planning their dream getaway, or epic adventure RIGHT NOW. We don’t always know how to say it but we are learning along the way.

In this post we want to share with you an epic month long adventure through Southern Laos, that only cost two of us on average $50 a day or $25 a person. This is to get you out of thinking you need tons of money to go on a vacation.

Imagine how awesome that is to have a month long vacation chasing waterfalls, exploring caves, motorbiking across a country or doing whatever you want for less than the price of your monthly rent.

Thakhek Laos

An Epic Adventure Awaits

It’s a lot easier than you would think. The biggest hurdle is changing your location. That’s why we headed out to S.E. Asia, a place where your dollar can get you far. The country we are highlighting for our first budget breakdown is Laos.

Don Det Bungalows

Ballin with a $5 Bungalow

The first stop of our month long adventure in Southern Laos was a Backpackers Paradise called Don Det located in 4,000 Islands (Si Phan Don). Laos is a landlocked country but the mighty Mekong River runs through it and is so big that there are islands inside of the river. This quiet little island is a perfect getaway with $5 bungalows with wifi and hot water (sometimes hot), delicious food, and two breathtaking waterfalls. Some may also enjoy the easily attainable and affordable marijuana sold just about everywhere.

We stayed here a week January 29th – Feb 4th for a total of $329.03 cents. An average of $47 a day. Our biggest expenses were food and the cost of getting to and leaving the islands. Can you imagine taking a week long vacation with your best friend and the two of you eating out for every meal and only spending $200 in the states? That’s 3 meals a day, 7 days a week for two people. A total of 42 meals totaling $200.41 or $4.77 a dish. We could have even eaten cheaper if we wanted too. The proof is in the pudding check out the expenses below.

Southern Laos Budget Breakdown
Our 6 days of riding through the Bolaven Plateau was a blast that left us hungry for more. So we ventured further up north to Thakhek and did another motorbike loop. This time we were riding through majestic mountains that we could vividly imagine dinosaurs must have once roamed. It was the backdrop for the Thakhek Cave Quest, a total of different 5 caves.

Southern Laos Budget Breakdown

Road to Kong Lo

Finally it was time for the beast, the grandaddy of caves. Kong Lor Cave. The last leg of our trip was a 180km motorbike ride to literally the middle of nowhere through some of the most breathtaking scenery we’ve ever seen. After almost losing my keys while taking photos, we were getting close to the Mac-Daddy of caves in Laos. After resting our bones we headed north to explore the infamous Kong Lor cave.

Thakhek LaosWe took a 45 minute boat ride through the dark as night cave that had us on the edge of our chairs the entire time. For just $12 that boat ride was one of the most amazing experiences of our lives. It was time to head for the road and make our way over the border to Thailand.

We had some other less noteworthy stops on this leg of the trip. Not mentioned is other activities in Thakhek, two days in Savannakhet, and leaving for Thailand. But we still ended up spending under $50 a day and you can see through our photos and posts what it was able to afford us. An adventure of a lifetime that is unbelievably attainable. You don’t need to be rich to have your dream getaway, maybe just change the location a bit. There are beautiful places all over the world yearning to be explored.

Here is a breakdown for this leg of the trip. There are a lot more expenses for bus travel and rentals than we mentioned above, but they are less noteworthy places.Not mentioned is other activities in Thakhek, two days in Savannakhet, and leaving for Thailand but the expenses are. If you want to know all the nitty gritty details just click the tab on the right for the itemized breakdown.

Date Type Category Subcategory Vendor Payment Currency Amount Note Receipt
2015/2/25 Business Checking Misc   Mart Cash USD -0.66 Coconut candy  
2015/2/25 Business Checking Misc   Pharmacy Cash USD -2.30 Toothpaste 2 toothbrush  
2015/2/25 Business Checking Food Dinner Restaurant Cash USD -9.67 Pad Thai Pad kapow 2 Chang  
2015/2/25 Business Checking Transportation Taxi/Cab Tuk tuk Cash USD -1.60    
2015/2/25 Business Checking Travel Hotels Hotel Cash USD -10.00    
2015/2/25 Business Checking Transportation Taxi/Cab Tuk tuk Cash USD -3.75    
2015/2/25 Business Checking Transportation Bus Bus Cash USD -5.00 To Thailand  
2015/2/25 Business Checking Food Lunch InithrA Cash USD -7.50 Pizza  
2015/2/25 Business Checking Misc   Mart Cash USD -2.50 Gas Beer  
2015/2/25 Business Checking Misc   Motorbike friend Cash USD -6.25 Ride to repair  
2015/2/25 Business Checking Food Beverages Mart Cash USD -1.25 Beer  
2015/2/25 Business Checking Auto Gasoline Gas stop Cash USD -2.50    
2015/2/25 Business Checking Food Breakfast Channtha guesthouse Cash USD -4.50 2 fried eggs with toast Tea coffee  
2015/2/24 Business Checking Food Dinner Restaurant Cash USD -6.50 2 fried eggs with bacon and toast (bercon) Beer Lao  
2015/2/24 Business Checking Vacation   Konglor cave Cash USD -15.88    
2015/2/24 Business Checking Travel Hotels Channtha guesthouse Cash USD -7.50    
2015/2/24 Business Checking Food Lunch Restaurant Cash USD -10.38 Sticky rice Pork bbq Fried egg Fried rice 2 beer  
2015/2/24 Business Checking Food Beverages Market Cash USD -1.60 Pepsi and chips  
2015/2/24 Business Checking Auto Gasoline Gas stop Cash USD -1.25    
2015/2/23 Business Checking Food Beverages Mart Cash USD -3.00    
2015/2/24 Business Checking Auto Gasoline Gas stop Cash USD -2.50    
2015/2/24 Business Checking Food Breakfast Resturant Cash USD -6.25 Museli 2 yogurt Tea coffee  
2015/2/23 Business Checking Food Dinner Restaurant. Cash USD -13.63 Hot pot  
2015/2/23 Business Checking Vacation   Cave fee Cash USD -5.00    
2015/2/23 Business Checking Food Lunch Restaurant Cash USD -5.63 2 pho Big water Small beer 2 coconut drink  
2015/2/23 Business Checking Vacation   Buddha cave Cash USD -2.25    
2015/2/25 Business Checking Transportation   Motorbike rental Cash USD -12.50    
2015/2/24 Business Checking Transportation   Motorbike rental Cash USD -12.50    
2015/2/23 Business Checking Transportation   Motorbike rental Cash USD -12.50    
2015/2/23 Business Checking Travel Hotels Thakhek travel lodge Cash USD -12.50    
2015/2/23 Business Checking Food Breakfast Thakhek travel lodge Cash USD -6.50 American breakfast Lemongrass tea Muesli and yogurt  
2015/2/22 Business Checking Food Dinner Thakhek travel lodge Cash USD -6.88 Pork lap Chicken curry Sticky rice Beer  
2015/2/22 Business Checking Food Lunch Thakhek travel lodge Cash USD -6.25 2 chicken with basil Sticky rice 2 beer  
2015/2/22 Business Checking Travel Hotels Thakhek travel lodge Cash USD -12.50    
2015/2/22 Business Checking Transportation Taxi/Cab Tuk tuk Cash USD -1.88    
2015/2/22 Business Checking Transportation Bus Bus Cash USD -7.50 Tickets to thakhek  
2015/2/22 Business Checking Food   Market Cash USD -3.00 Snacks for bus Water Coffee  
2015/2/22 Business Checking Transportation Taxi/Cab Tuk tuk Cash USD -1.88 To bus stop  
2015/2/22 Business Checking Food Breakfast Restaurant Cash USD -3.75 2 pho  
2015/2/21 Business Checking Food Dinner Restaurant Cash USD -12.25 Pizza Beer Bread  
2015/2/21 Business Checking Personal Self Improvement Massage Cash USD -12.50 2 one hour body massage  
2015/2/21 Business Checking Food Lunch Restaurant Cash USD -10.63    
2015/2/21 Business Checking Transportation   Motorbike rental Cash USD -10.00    
2015/2/21 Business Checking Travel Hotels Guesthouse Cash USD -10.00    
2015/2/21 Business Checking Food Breakfast Restaurant Cash USD -6.25 2 omelette 1 bread with jam 1 tea 2 coffee  
            Total -300.62    

Not only was this an amazing month long adventure with my best friend, but this once in a life time journey only cost a whopping total of $1,414.65 for us both combined! That’s $50 a day for a couple. Imagine doing something like this at home! The cost would be outrageous. This is why we want to encourage people all over to get out there and travel. The vacation of your lifetime is more attainable than you think!

Falang River View in Laos

 

The biggest expenses are food and travel. You need to eat, so the best way to make your money last longer is to travel slow because the slower you can afford to travel, the cheaper it will be.
Bolaven Plateau Loop

 

If you are planning a trip to Laos you may want to read the 4 Must See Sites for your Southern Laos Itinerary. If your ever in any of these areas and have any questions, leave them in the comments below or message us on facebook. We want you to have the best time possible.

Need more inspiration? Check out this post on backpacking Laos for everything you need to know before your trip.

Southern Laos Budget Breakdown

Total Budget Spent