Muang Ngoi/Luang Nam Tha/Luang Prabang

Hi all

I'm thinking of heading to Laos for the first time, for about 10 days in early-mid Oct. I'm flying in and out of Luang Prabang and concentrating on one area of the country this trip. Just have a couple of questions about the viability of doing the following in this time frame:

I'd like to spend a few days in LP first and then head out to do some trekking either in Luang Nam Tha or Muang Sing (LNT/MS). I would also like to spend a couple of days chilling in Nong Khiaw or Muang Ngoi (NK/MN) sometime during the 10 days too. My questions are as follows:

1) I don't know whether to firstly go by bus from LP straight to LNT or MS to do a trek, and then make my way back to Nong Khiaw/Muang Ngoi for a couple of days of hammock time (before heading back to LP), or do it the other way around...

I know it's a long bus ride (11 hours or so at best) from LP out to LNT/MS, and it doesn't bother me too much coz I'm in to see some great scenery.. However I'm not sure how easy it is to go straight through from LNT/MS to NK/MN in one day on the way back. Does anyone know whether it's possible to get from LNT to Nong Khiaw/Muang Ngoi direct in a day, and if so, where do you change buses?

2) The other alternative would be going from LP to Nong Khiaw/MS by boat, chilling for a couple of days, and then heading out to LNT/Muang Sing. Again, wondering if the journey from Nong Khiaw/MS to LNT/MS be done straight through in a day too?

3) Do you guys think it's better to wait to get up to LNT/MS and join up a tour there, or it would be just better to book a tour before I get to LNT? I would like to start the trek the day after I arrive, so not sure i I could organise this without pre-booking. I would also prefer going in a small group vs by myself, so not sure if organising the tour beforehand would allow the operator to book me in with others....

4) To fit in the trekking (no longer than 2N/3D), and couple of nights in NK/MN, taking into consideration all the travel time, do you think I'll be able to do this all in 10 days comfortably? I can always extend by 1 or 2 days if necessary....

5) Finally, if I ended up being lazy and not wanting to stray too far from LP, are there other trekking options out of LP or perhaps even out of Vang Vieng that you really enjoyed (I saw some tours out of Vang Vieng by Green Discovery that looked interesting)? I wasn't planning to head to VV, but then again, tubing could be fun (especially since I would have just climbed Mount Kinabalu the week before, so perhaps don't need anything too challenging in terms of adventuring...!).

Thanks in anticipation guys. Hope you are all having fun out there!

Ok ten days is pretty short time with a lot of travelling especially if you are starting out in Luam Phrabang, will pm you some info on Laos but would suggest skipping out Muan Sing and also Luam namtha
the most beautiful stretch is between Mong Noi and Sam Neue.
bus from Luam Phrabang to Non Khiaw boat up to Mong Noi, 2couple days trek there on your own through schoolyard to caves swim here and on to villages s.posted
back to non Khiaw and overnight bus to Sam Neue see caves then buis through Nam Moen to Posivon [plain of jars two days] amnd then bus to Vang vianne and chill out there but please keep clear of the friends reruns lots to do then bus back through mountains by day to Luam Phrabang

I dont think you can make MS from LP in a day. You will have to stop in LNT over night. Check out the Nam Ha treks there at the GD office the next morning or if you want to see more tribal peoples go to MS later in the day

Once you have finished in LNT province see how you are for time to get back to Udom Sai or Pak Mong for buses to Nong Khiaw...

I agree with #1 that the northeast (Sam Neua) is wonderful, but it takes time to explore as little tourist infra-structure is in place. Easy to get stuck here or there for a day or two. Takes two full days on a bus to just get from LP to SN (and two days to get back) - that's assuming connections are smooth and the bus doesn't break down or slide off the road (happened to me), and that it doesn't rain. Trekking in the northeast is not really established at all, although given a day or to I'm sure guides could be located (Laos Tourist Office in Sam Neua was most helpful!).

With only 10 days, I'd chill in LP for a couple days, then go for 5-7 days up the Nam Ou to Nong Khiaw, Muang Ngoi Neua (overrated in my opinion), and then Muang Khua (up the river a bit more - a cute and relatively un-touristed town). Excellent trekking can be had from all three of these towns (get info at the Nam Ou Guesthouse in Muang Khua). One can trek of these towns with a guide for any number of days desired, and then chill from these "basecamp" towns. Those Beer Laos are so good after three days of dusty walking!) Avoids all the sit-on-your-butt travel up to MS/LNT and back (about 4 days worth...).

All three villages (Nong Khiaw, Muang Ngoi Neua, Muang Khua) are easily accessible by boat from LP - a huge advantage since you're already there, and the boat trip itself is fun - all can be reached in a day or less. The scenery in the area is fantastic, and the people very engaging.

Still got an extra day or two? I'd recommend Phonsavan and the Plain Of Jars (6 hour minibus from LP, 8-10 hour local bus).

I'd second the info given by #3: Sam Neua is too far to get to with only 10 days. You'd do better to stick with your original plan of visiting LNT first BUT instead of taking the bus directly to LNT from LP, it's faster to take the bus or minivan to Oudomxai and transfer to the small bus for LNT. As Craig said, very unlikely to get to M Sing from LP in one day unless by minivan. consder doing a trek out of Luang

Like #3, I found Muang Ngoi not as great as it sounded, and although we liked the walk to the cave, we left the next day. Luang Namtha is a really long way to go just for a trek, and it may be better to take a trek elsewhere.

We also didn't enjoy our trek in Luang Namtha, and so getting there and back and stopping at MN kind of wasted an entire week for us! But everyone has diff experiences - just saying make sure you know what kind of trek you're going on beforehand. Also, there was only my husband and myself on the tour - so you may well be better off booking beforehand, so you can have the small group experience. Doing it again, I'd probably just go as far as Nong Khiaw and stay there for a night or a few, and trek from there. It looked to have nicer accom as well as budget, so you get a choice, unlike MN.

Leaving NK, we got a minibus for Oudomxai, hoping to later somehow get to Luang Namtha - but luckily saw the bus for LNT on the road, and our driver dropped us off so we could change over! Nice coincidence, but man, it made it a long day with no stops! You can fly in and out of Oudomxai, so this may be an option for you with limited time. BTW loved the scenery etc around Vang Vieng, but didn't trek there. The tubing and caving was super fun, so do make sure you go - it's really beautiful as well :)