Heading to Laos we decided to take the famous slow boat across the Mekong River, from Huay Xai in North Thailand to Luand Prabang in Laos. The boat sails for 2 days with an overnight stop in the Lao village of Pakbeng. Your other option is taking a bus which supposedly takes about 14 hours and is very uncomfortable, or of course the quickest and most expensive way of catching a flight from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang (direct flight with Lao airlines is about 110$). Despite the long journey the boat ride turned out to be a great experience and we recommend it if you are not pressed for time.
We were in Pai and we considered the options of doing the whole trip by ourselves versus buying a combination ticket that many agencies in Pai and Chiang Mai offer. We decided to book a combo ticket with Aya services in Pai, it is only a bit more expensive and saves a lot of hassle. the ticket is 1750 Baht per person and includes a van from Pai to Chiang Kong on the Thai border (5.5 hours), accommodation for the night in Chiang Kong and simple breakfast, transfer to the border and to the pier once in Huay Xai and the slow boat ticket. The extra fees you have to pay is the accommodation for the night in Pakbeng which is about 50,000 Kip (no need to book beforehand), and at the border you pay for your Lao visa (30$).
Before you get on the boat there is time to buy food and snacks for the ride, there are shops selling sandwiches, chips and beer. The boat leaves around 11 am, try to get on early because it is crowded and you want to get a good seat (don't believe anyone telling you there are assigned seats). You'll reach Pakbeng around 5 pm and it's easy to find a place to stay on the main road. The next morning the boat leaves at 9, again its best to get there early after grabbing breakfast and snacks for the day. The second day is longer, about 8 hours on the boat. It might sound boring but it's actually quite peaceful, the scenery is beautiful and you can pass the time reading a book or chatting with other travelers. In Luang Prabang you have to pay for a shared tuktuk from the pier (20000 Kip per person) to town, they'll drop you off at the guesthouse you tell them or suggest one for you.
In Luang Prabang
the town of Luang Prabang is quiet and lovely sitting between two rivers, the Mekong and the Nam Khan, with picturesque buildings and beautiful Buddhist temples. There is a nice night market with local souvenirs cheap food stalls on the main road. I recommend Utopia bar for a drink overlooking the river, they also host daily yoga classes on their deck taught by great teachers from Luang Prabang Yoga. We stayed in Phongboun guesthouse for 50,000 kip per night.
 |
| coconut pancake |
 |
| spring rolls and stuffed leaves filled with a peanuty paste |
 |
| vegetarian buffet in the night market |
Kuang Si Waterfalls
These bright blue waterfalls are an hour away from Luang Prabang (40,000 Kip per person in shared tuktuk). There are many shallow pools you can dip in and it is also possible to hike up to the top of the waterfall. It can get pretty crowded in peak season so it's best to come early in the morning. Included in the 20,000 Kip entrance fee is entry to a nice bear sanctuary on site.
 |
| Lao style papaya salad |
No comments:
Post a Comment