Itinerary help - Northern Laos

How old is your guide ? I went when the road had just opened and under construction Ha! Ha! (I hitchiked on back of small truck ) it is easier to get the other way around as now there is a bus over the mountains (fantastic views of mekong ) This road is paved and now also the road Xanakan to Vientianne also for me the best bit is the speedboat from houyxai to LuamPhrabang
suggestion only and easiest way to arrange transport and connections
1) Fly Luam Phrabang OR go Changmai 1 day trek includes lunch elephant /Bamboo rafting trek 2 hrs mtn and waterfalls swim plus white water rafting (gentle not severe )and next day 2,000baht all inclusive trip to Luam Phrabang with speedboat stopping overnight GH border from Luam Phrabang they do a 2 day van trip to Ponsivon plain of jars if not then early am busto Ponsivo I stay Kong Kheos on the mkt (old runway) next am day trip 3 sites and next am back to Luam Phrabang or Pouh Khoum and then bus to Sayanbouli and then pick up to Pak Lai and bus to Vientianne.
from Vientianne you could leave there and go back to Bangkok but also you have time to Visit konglor Caves Nahin and leave Laos for Nakhon panom/Thakek for overnight bus to bangkok bus direct or on to Udonthani and maybe fly from Udonthani etc

Hi,

Thanks for the quick response! There's definitely food for thought here...

So it's easier to go the other way around? The Luang Prabang - Vientiane bit through Sayaboury and Paklai? That's useful info - thanks.

I can see a road that goes from Phonsavan - Nam Neua - Nong Khiaw - is that the one you mean? We thought that going back through Luang Prabang might have been quicker/easier - that was all.

We're kind of tied into getting the train at one end of the journey simply because of costs but we could easily do that at the end rather than the beginning.

Cheers

No I avoided that route because of time factor ie Houyxai to Oudamsai to to Nong Khiaw /Mong Noi to Nam muang (maybe sam neyue if time allows )and onto Ponsiovon -Vang vienne - Luam phrabangSayboury -Pak lai -Xanakhan and vientianne - Nahin (bus goes direct from sth terminal take pick up from central bus station vientianne (breakfast is long enough for Vientianne ) then as said Thakek abn bangkok by overnight bus

Click here for map

another option if you attempt to go south from thailand via huay xai is to detour up to Luang Namtha and then bus down to Nong Khiaw and continue on the rest of your travels. I've heard mixed reviews about the 2-day boat to luang prabang from travelers I met, and overall was glad I skipped it. You can also take the boat from NK to LP. That was a really nice trip as well, and only about 4-5 hours, although I was able to share a private charter with a few other travelers instead of taking the public boat. Can't speak to the rest of your spots except that LP to Phosavan is a really great bus ride. Just have something that prevents car sickness if you are so inclined, as the route is pretty twisty.

Reading your post with interest, as we've come up with a very similar itinerary over Dec-Jan too.

Vientiene to Pak Lai by boat looks a little tricky, as it seems it doesn't leave very often. Thought that the bus might need to be used if the boat isn't an option.

What are you planning to do at Sayaboury? We're thinking the Elephant Conservation Centre sounds good.

We haven't kept the Plain of Jars in our list, as it adds so much travel time and we didn't want to be stuck in a bus for the whole time.

Keep us updated with your research.

interestingly I enjoyed the pick up ride from sayaboury to Pak lai as it is lots of Timber felling with many elephants on the way also houses constructed differently this area