Find Scooter & Motorcycle Hire in Laos
Enter your city, island or destination below to search available scooters and motorcycles.
Enter your city, island or destination below to search available scooters and motorcycles.
Explore Laos on Two Wheels
From Luang Prabang’s golden temples and peaceful riverside streets to the mountains beyond town, having your own two wheels gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace.
Beyond the historic centre, roads lead through lush countryside, rice fields and traditional villages, revealing the quieter landscapes and everyday life of northern Laos.
A scooter or motorcycle makes it easier to venture beyond the main sights, discovering waterfalls, viewpoints and winding rural roads surrounded by spectacular scenery.
Discover Hidden Waterfalls
Ride beyond Luang Prabang to beautiful waterfalls, jungle scenery and peaceful countryside.
Follow Mountain Roads
Explore winding roads through dramatic mountains, rice fields and traditional villages.
Escape the Busy Sights
Leave the main attractions behind and discover a quieter, more authentic side of Laos.
Explore Laos
More places to ride in Laos
Considerations Before You Ride in Laos
If you are visiting from the UK, you should have a full UK driving licence that covers the type of scooter or motorcycle you intend to ride. A car-only licence does not automatically entitle you to ride a motorcycle abroad.
You should also carry a 1949 International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside your UK licence when riding in Laos. An IDP is not a replacement for your normal licence, so take both with you.
Rental companies may have their own licence and experience requirements, particularly for larger motorcycles. Always check these before booking and make sure your travel insurance covers you for the size of bike you intend to ride.
Useful links
GOV.UK – Laos travel advice: road travel
There are no general tourist restrictions that prevent you from exploring Laos by scooter, but some areas should be avoided or approached with extra caution. Always obey local signs, checkpoints and instructions from the authorities.
The UK government currently advises against all but essential travel to Xaisomboun Province and recommends particular caution in parts of Bokeo Province around the Golden Triangle. These restrictions and security conditions can change, so check current advice before planning a longer ride.
In rural Laos, unexploded weapons remain a serious hazard. Stay on established roads and well-used routes, never ride onto unmarked tracks or across fields, and avoid picking up unfamiliar metal objects. Poor roads, flooding and landslides can also make some routes difficult or impassable, particularly during the rainy season.
Useful links
GOV.UK – Laos regional risks
GOV.UK – Laos safety and security
A helmet is compulsory when riding a motorcycle or scooter in Laos, and you should wear one every time you ride. If you are carrying a passenger, make sure they have a helmet too.
Do not assume your rental scooter will come with a helmet. GOV.UK specifically warns that motorcycle rental companies in Laos may not provide them, so check what is included before booking. If necessary, you may need to bring your own or buy one locally.
Other protective clothing may not be compulsory, but closed shoes, long trousers, gloves and suitable clothing are strongly recommended. Laos has some rough roads and unpredictable traffic, so even on a short journey it is worth dressing for protection rather than just the heat.
Useful link:
GOV.UK – Laos travel advice: road accidents and safety
Yes. Rental companies in Laos can set their own minimum age, so there is no single hire-age rule you should assume will apply to every scooter. The minimum age and any riding-experience requirements should be shown with the individual rental.
For overseas visitors, the important point is that you must also be old enough to hold the appropriate motorcycle licence for the scooter you are hiring. Having reached a rental company’s minimum age does not by itself mean you are legally entitled to ride.
Check the conditions for your chosen scooter before booking, particularly if you are a younger rider. Your travel insurer may also impose its own minimum age, licence or experience requirements, so check those separately.
Yes. If you are travelling from the UK and intend to ride a scooter or motorcycle in Laos, you should carry a 1949 International Driving Permit (IDP) together with your UK driving licence.
An IDP does not replace your UK licence. You need to carry both, and your UK licence must entitle you to ride the type and size of scooter or motorcycle you are hiring.
Rental companies may also have their own documentation requirements, so check these before booking. Your travel insurer may require the correct licence and IDP for your motorcycle cover to remain valid.
Useful link
GOV.UK – Laos travel advice: road travel
In Laos, traffic drives on the right, so UK riders should take extra care at junctions, roundabouts and when pulling onto a road. A helmet should be worn, and you must obey local speed limits, traffic lights and road signs.
Driving standards can be unpredictable, particularly around towns where scooters, cars, tuk-tuks, pedestrians and animals may all share the road. Ride defensively, leave plenty of space and avoid assuming other road users will signal or give way as you expect.
Outside the towns, roads can quickly become rough, poorly lit or affected by potholes, flooding and landslides. Avoid riding after dark where possible and take particular care during the rainy season, when rural and mountain roads can deteriorate rapidly.
Useful link
GOV.UK – Laos travel advice: road travel and safety
Insurance may be included with some scooter rentals in Laos, but you should not assume you are fully covered. What is included varies between rental companies and vehicles, so check the insurance details for your chosen scooter before booking.
Look at whether the rental provides cover for damage, theft and third-party liability, as well as any excess or security deposit you could have to pay. Some types of damage may be excluded from the standard cover.
Your travel insurance is separate from any insurance supplied with the scooter. Check that your policy covers riding a motorcycle or scooter of the engine size you are hiring and that you meet its licence, IDP, helmet and other conditions.
Useful link
GOV.UK – Laos travel advice: insurance
Possibly. The advertised rental price may not include every cost, so check exactly what is included with your chosen scooter before completing the booking.
Depending on the rental company, extras could include a security deposit, additional insurance, an extra helmet, delivery or collection, an additional rider or a one-way return fee. Fuel is also normally your responsibility during the rental.
Check the rental conditions carefully and pay particular attention to how the security deposit is taken and returned. It is also worth checking for charges relating to late returns, damage or exceeding any mileage limits.
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