how long?

We are going to be in SE Asia in Novemember and are busy looking at flights from Hanoi to Luang Prabang, we intend spending 3/4 nights there before moving onto Chiang Mai in Thailand. Would that be long enough in Luang Prabang and are there are other places in Laos we should see?

Also any tips on getting from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai would be great, a speedboat has been suggested?

how long?

See other posts on this site about slow boat trips.

I can only comment on the speed boat trip from what I saw from the slow boat.

I believe the journey takes 6-8 hours, bouncing up and down,crouched down in a very basic speed boat ,passengers wear helmets and goggles (if there are enough to go round)and rain capes.

When I did the journey in July the river was near its peak and there were many large logs and other potential obstructions in the water -I don%26#39;t know what conditions are like in Nov.

Apart from the safety and comfort aspect you would be missing a large part of the charm of travelling through Laos which comes from the ever changing scenery alongside the Mekong-if you can spare the time/money defintely opt for the slow boat.

how long?

Thanks for your response, do you think that 3/4 days will be enough in Loas, if we take a slow cruise up the river, then maybe on 2 days as there will be another 2 days in travelling to the border. And how would be get from the border down to chiang mai ?

3-4 days is not long enough but if that%26#39;s the time you%26#39;ve got do what you can.

The boat trip ends at Huay Xai , a small town on the Laos side of the river,immediately opposite is Chiang Khong on the Thai side of the river-you pass through Loas departure customs get a boat across the river and then enter Thai customs on the other side .This is fairly straightforward but the boat company usually assist.From Chiang Khong you can get onward buses to most of northern Thailand( I would guess 4-5 hours to Chiang Mai)

3 to 4 nights is enough to get a good impression of Luang Prabang. Most folks go there to absorb the cultural heritage and see the temples. For exploring villages, there are more interesting options around the country. Speedboats are very dangerous, you will be taking your chances if you should decide to use one...

Luang Prabang is a small town. You can walk across it an hour. You could make a circuit of the major temples and monuments in a couple of days. But really the main drawcard of this town is atmosphere, so it is best not to rush it. Laos is a slow-paced country and it is best to bring a relaxed attitude.

Laos is not rich in the %26#39;sights%26#39; in the sense that its neighbours are. Its best ancient temple, Wat Phu, would be dwarfed by the smallest ruins at Angkor. Yet you will find that people here make time to talk to you. It is perhaps the sort of country where you have to work a little to get the most of it.

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