Most people need a visa for Laos but getting one is easy. The cost is $30-40 U.S. for one month.

In many cases you can get a visa at airports on arrival and at land borders but double check the situation before you set out. One place you cannot get a visa on arrival is when you’re coming from Cambodia by land. In this case, you should get one at home or at an embassy during your trip. The Phnom Penh embassy can do a visa for you in 24-48 hours.

When you get to the border, Lao guards often ask for an extra $1 U.S. per passport for the entry stamp. This is annoying but unavoidable. They won’t even get out of their hammock unless you pay up.

The standard tourist visa is issued for 30 days and can be extended for up to a month at a cost of $2 U.S. a day in Vientiane. The visa renewals are done within a day. You can also get agencies in Vang Vieng or Luang Prabang to send your passport back to the capital and renew the visa for you. If you really plan to cycle all of Laos from top to bottom, getting a 60 day tourist visa in the first place may well be cheaper.