Laos Travel Answers

One more, maybe stupid, question. Is there an option to travel from Pakse to Vientiane on the Mekong?

I travelled the other way from Vientiane down to Muang Khong (Four Thousands Islands), stopping off at Tha Khaek and Savankhet but only stayed for one night in each place, not a great deal to see but Savankhet is the place to break the long trip to Vientiane. As for Ban Na, I don't know this place, can't see it on the map.

As for a boat trip on the Mekong, I havn't heard of one going the whole length, not for tourist anyway. maybe the only way you can achieve that go is to find a small cargo boat going that way.

Thank you for your info. Can you please tell me how many hours I'm looking at? I'm guessing you took a "regular" bus. Were there any breaks, like bathroom / food stops? Would you remember what it cost?

The first bus from Vientiane to Tha Khek should take 4 hours but I was cursed in Laos with constant breakdowns on many buses, in the end the journey took me 8 hours. I can't remember how much I paid but it's dirt cheap. As for hotel I stayed at it was called Mekong Hotel5 per night. From Tha Khek to Savankhet a minibus trip was 2 hours with no breakdowns, cost was 20000kip. I stayed at the Nongsoda Guesthouse on the banks of the Mekong. From Savankhet to Pakse it was 5 and half hours but can't remember the price but will be dirt cheap. Hope this helps but I did my trip back in 2005. So guess things maybe a litle more expensive by now but still very cheap by our standards.

Sorry forgot to mention I don't recall stopping anywhere for breaks but buses usually stop for about 10 mins or so after every 2 hours.

Sorry forgot to mention I don't recall stopping anywhere for breaks but buses usually stop for about 10 mins or so after every 2 hours.

From Vientiane and then would like to go on to Sayaboury to visit the Elephant Conservation Center. Has anyone been there and how could I get there? Hi, I thought I knew Sayabouly province quite well but never heard there is any conservation centre for elephants. In which town? - If in Sayabouly (as capital) then it's better to go to Luang Prabang first and take from there songthaew or bus directly to Sayabouly. It's about 4 hrs ride on non paved mostly road in old buses. - If in Hongsa, then you have to go to Sayabouly again and then take shared taxi to Hongsa, another 5 or so hrs ride, goregeous scenery but non paved. There are other options as well to get to Hongsa, by river + sonthaew but its more expensive. A little note, when we travelled Sayabouly-Honga in 2008 or so, there were only once per week shared taxis travelling that route. There were elephants and there is elephant mobile clinic in Hongsa. Its lovely little town. - If in Pak Lay, then it's better to go from Vientiane by local bus from northern bus station, long ride, about 9 hrs or so if the road hasn't improved yet (they say they're doing the work now), unfortuantelly the Mekong travel has been discontinued between Vientiane-Pak Lay. -There is Elepehant conservation centre near Luang Prabang where many Sayabouly elephants were taken to. Earthflier is quite right, you cannot travel between Pakse and Vientiane by Mekong and I agree Tha Khek is worth a stop over few days. I've heard also there is daily connection with Ban Na, there are also agents in Vientane who drive tourists there. But since youre going to see wild elephants, there are actually chances that you maybe won't see them. Every year there is elephnat festival in different locations in Sayabouly province in February, organized mainly by ElefantAsia group. They're NGO and you could contact them on their site, I guess trying won't cost. Hope this helps, good luck, v.

Thank you both for your very helpful information. I will look at the map and see if I can find Tha Khek and Savankhet. If I have enough time, I might just take the bus (good to know that they take bathroom breaks ;-), otherwise I'll fly into Vientiane and spend more time in the north. The Elephant Conservaton Center is new, if I'm not mistaken it only opened up in Oct. 2011. It is located outside of Sayabouly by the Nam Tien lake, I believe it's called. The link is: elephantconservationcenter.c.... I will look at the map in detail over the weekend and see which way I might want to go. Again, thank you both very much for all your feedback.

Oh, great! Thanks for that news. Nam Tien is short distance to Sayabouly town, we got to lake by tuk tuk from centre (good local restaurant is there with delicious food). My husband said there are also direct buses to Saya (city) from Vientiane Northern Bus station but they split from Rd 13 to side road into province close to Luang Prabang, the ride is about 12 hrs long - more or less. You can also travel between Pak Lay and Sayabouly, once or twice daily there are shared 'taxis' (means sitting on open trailer if inside next to driver gets full) - and dusty road that is, quite remote! I also recomend you to look at travelfish.org web site - they have pretty decent travel information on Lao/SEA with updated prices and bus schedules... it's good site to check out. Have great time in Laos and let us know how it was :) vesna

Thank you, Vesna, always great to hear from someone who has been there that's why I love this forum!! 12 hours is a very long ride but I will do some reading and see if there is something to see between Vientiane and Sayabouly. I do love seing places that aren't completely crowded with tourists. Well, as I said, there is still a lot of reading I need to be before I leave on Dec. 23. Will start in Cambodia, Seam Reap and work my way up to northern Laos. Can't wait.

You've got good timing - January and February is festival season accross villages in Sayabouly, it's great if you can see some - and Sayaboulis are really nice folks to hang out with :) And only a few tourists go there. If you like scenery, go to have a look at rice terraces near Pak Lay en route to Thongmyxay... they're not really YuanYang as in Yunnan, but lot smaller version. I'd also recommend a trip through Nam Pouy NPA if you can get good guide, it's jungle with for now a lots of wildlife. Don't go there alone because if something happens nobody will know where you are. Scenery around Hongsa is also pretty and village itself is quite interesting. Well, just in case you're interested... Good luck, v.

Great, always glad to get some leads. Have noted them. Will try to post during my trip. So curious to find out about the Elephant conservation center.