Dear travellers, could you please comment on my itinerary here. I would appreciate any help. So they only time I can travel is summer and I have 2 months. I was Thinkinf to slowly go through these places and stay as long as needed according to weather. Bangkok -Ayutthaya -Sukhothai -Chiang Mai -Chiang Rai -Huay Xoi-Luang Prabang - VangVieng -Vientiane -Bangkok -Siem Reap -Sihanoukville and KohRong (if good weather)-Kep??- -Bangkok-(Koh Tao if Cambodia is too rainy). Is it too little for 2 months? Should I somehow include more of Cambodia or maybe Vietnam. I dont wanna rush...Thank you for your help.
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2925 results for Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
ansileran
Hi everyone,
I'm finally going to Laos for four weeks, 3 weeks from now (had to cancel a shorter trip last year). I've got the following:
Day 1: Arrival in Luang Namtha around noon (? crossing the border from China)
Days 2-8: ???
Days 9-11: Luang Prabang
Days 12-14: Vang Vieng (incl. getting there)
Days 15-17: Vientiane (incl. getting there)
Days 18-23: Thakek loop (+getting there from Vientiane)
Days 24-26: 4000 islands
Days 27-28: Champasak
Day 29-30: Get back to China
I'll be traveling on a bicycle and taking the bus for the longer stretches of road. I'm trying to get a mix of different experiences in, a little bit of everything. I don't mind trekking, for 2-3 days tops, but only if there is absolutely no other way AND it gets me to something amazing not seen anywhere else...
Now the questions:
1. Is the timing reasonable? I'm not too set on anything, just that I need to do LP and VV before day 18 (Start of the Chinese New Year holiday), and maybe Vientiane too, to avoid the Chinese crowds.
2. Does anyone know about the Wat Phou festival starting on February 14th? I've pushed back the visit to after the 4000 islands to catch it. Is it possible to visit the site during that time? How crowded does it get on the 1st day? Is the whole thing worth backtracking, instead of visiting on the way to the 4000 islands?
3. Bicycle: Do I absolutely need a mountain bike? I have a weird travel bike configuration, great on sealed roads, done a few stretches of unsealed road with it, but nothing that would require a 4x4... Also, how easy is it to take local buses with a bike? If I need a MTB, I can get a foldable one but won't have much time to try it before I set out.
4. China-Laos border crossing. Did anyone hear about the one in Phongsali? It closed down earlier last year and I can't seem to find any updated information. I'd rather enter from there, if it's possible (I'm NOT Chinese).
5. Days 2-8: I have so many options, and I can't seem to pick one...
Option A: Sam Neua (Vieng Xai caves + Night Safari) + Plain of Jars. I'm mostly interested in Sam Neua, not sure about Phonsavan, but it's on the way. Seems like a lot of travel though and might be better left to another trip.
Option B: North to Phongsali. Sounds really off the beaten track (+) but maybe too of the beaten track for a first trip. I'm also concerned about the weather: how cold / wet / misty does it get in January? Better if the border crossing is open...
Option C: The classic Luang Namtha to HouayXai, then the 2-day boat trip to Luang Prabang. Plenty to see / do, but I'm not sure I'll enjoy spending 2 days on a (crowded?) slow boat...
Option D: The elephant conservation center in Sayabouri has some interesting programs...
Option E: Add more days somewhere else?
Thanks a lot for your help!
1
mstep
Well, it depends. if you want to do the trip overland, you'd probably start in Vientienne, and work your way south though central and southern Laos, and cross into Cambodia via the 4000 islands regions. I actually really loved this part of Laos, with the beautiful towns on the Mekong river, the Champasak ruins, and all those lovely islands where the Mekong river splits into so many parts. It's not just Don Det/Don Khon where the backpackers stop.
And there are really great towns along the Mekong that you can do in Cambodia too, before you reach Phnom Pehn and take a bus to Kep.
On the other hand, Luang Prabang for most people is the really essential place in Laos, and it's easy to do organize a 2 week trip just for north Laos, going to places like Nong Kiaw, Muang Noi, possibly Phonosavan or Luang Namtha. If you did that, you could fly to Phnom Pehn from LP at the end. It won't be a direct flight, probably connecting in Bangkok.
27
Captain_Bob
It's more of an issue for people living here year after year experiencing the annual haze season and the associated politics and promises. Many short-time tourists hardly notice it.
A "burn ban", as usual, has been announced starting March-1st until end of April. So that can mean more burning in Feb until the deadline and/or more again in May, but perhaps some reduction during the ban. Let them try ;-)
https://chiangmaione.com/chiang-mai-to-introduce-61-day-fire-ban-from-march-1st-2412
1
Johnhinman
My wife and I have booked round-trip tickets from Atlanta to Narita airport in Japan. Depart 1/29 - return 2/19 We plan to spend two weeks in Thailand and then one week in Japan. Is it possible to purchase the following plane tickets one or two days in advance?
Narita to Bangkok
Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Or should we go ahead and purchase them immediately?
Also, it would be helpful if we could store winter clothing at Narita or the Bangkok airport and then retrieve the clothing when we return to Japan. what do you recommend?
All suggestions are much appreciated.
John and Kathryn
6
ambarush
Presume you have looked at the Green Discovery website. Expensive but no elephants. Tiger Trail also have no elephants.
Most of the places offering trekking/kayaking/tours etc in Luang Prabang are on the main street which takes about 30 minutes to walk up and down. It is possible to book the day before and you can often find trips which people have already signed up for and which get cheaper the more people join.
Silvim
Starting of from Mid November we'll (2 friends) be traveling for 1 month threw Laos. Starting in Thailand, Chiang Mai the first 2 days, from there, the 3rd by bus to Laos. I read about an express-bus from Chiang Mai to Luang Namtha, but the information about that bus is summary. Is there any one with some more information about this bus and/or someone who has experienced this trip to Luang Namtha?
During our first days we want to spend some time at Luang Namtha or Muang Sing to do some hiking. Which one of these places are 'better' when it comes to hiking?
From here on we want to travel to Muang Khua and Muang Ngoi, then by boat to Luang Prabang. Is it still possible to get there by boat?
Hope to get a reply from any one of you. Thank you in advance.
Kind regards, Silvi.
Caspersmith
We (Mum, Dad, 1, 4 & 6yo) are holidaying in Thailand this Sep Oct. Following arrival and four nights in Bangkok, we have three nights in either Kanchanaburi or Nam Tok before taking one of the overnight trains to Chiang Mai. I'd appreciate any advice or suggestions regarding:
-the merit of getting a private mini-van to Kanchanaburi, see a couple of things there, then getting the train to Nam Tok; versus train all the way.
-staying in Kanchanaburi vs Nam Tok.
-whether we would be better returning to Bangkok for the train to Chiang Mai or meeting the train in Ayutthaya.
-transport from Nam Tok or Kanchanaburi to Ayutthaya, including approximate cost and booking ahead.
-the merit of an afternoon in Ayutthaya before the train to Chiang Mai.
-whether there'd be a problem buying training tickets from Hua Lamphong to Chiang Mai but boarding in Ayutthaya.
As a young family, we want to minimise travel and need to lower our expectations of what we can achieve in one day. We're considering Nam Toc as a more rural alternative to our stays in Bangkok, Chiang Mai (4n) and Khao Lak resort 8n). I'm keen to see Hellfire pass museum and we were things a waterfall or two. We've previously travelled Vietnam as a family of 4 and us adults have done a fair bit of budget and adventurous travel. Budget wise we like to minimise spend and get good value but can occasionally splurge when we see good reasons to do so.
biankabanki596206
So it turns out I was stupid and organized the following SE Asia trip:
I arrived to Phuket from New Zealand (I'm a Hungarian citizen though) and did some island hopping for a few weeks. I'm in Bangkok at the moment, leaving for Cambodia and Vietnam tomorrow.
The plan was to come back from Hanoi to Chiang Mai and see the mountainous region for a week or so and then to head to Myanmar.
But I just realized that I only aplied for a single entry visa instead of a multiple one.
Can I still apply for a multiple entry visa or is there a way I can come back to Thailand once again in a week weeks or did I completely blew my chance?
Thanks very much in advance!