Laos Travel Forum

Hello, Im planning a trip this December starting in BKK heading north to Chiang Mai. Then my plan is to head to Louangphrabang overland somehow, then heading south to Vientine and onwards basicaly to Phnom Phenh, Cambodia. Looking at the map my entire route is along the Mekong river, would that be my only way of travel throughout Laos and onwards to Cambodia ? Ive done a little bit of research and it seams roads dont really exist throughout Laos ?

Anyways, any information would be appreciated

Cheers, Ryan (Wales, UK)

From Thailand, the popular journey is to cross the border into Laos at Huay Xai, and then go by boat along the Mekong to Luang Prabang. As I didn't do that trip myself, I will leave it to others to give you more information.

Yes, the roads from Vientiane south all the way to Phnom Pehn are fine, they basically follow the Mekong almost all the way to the Cambodian border. Other than getting a boat from Pakse to Champasak, it is pretty well impossible to do the trip on the river. I did the trip in March by bus, travelling during the day & stopping overnight at Tha Khaek, Savannakhet and Paske. Boat to Champasak then bus to Don Khong (make sure that you spend some time in this area, it is beautiful). Hired a driver to take me to the border, taxi to Stung Treng (in Cambodia) and then another bus to Phnom Pehn. From PP, you can catch a bus to Siem Reap & see the Angkor Wat temples, or a bus to the coast to Sihanoukville, both places a well worth the time.

Have spent 5 weeks in Laos back in 2005 and then travellers where coming in from Chiang Mai via Hauy-xai on the border to Luang Prabang and then splitting up to go North or South. I went as far as Phongsali in the far North the back south to the 4000 thousand Islands on the Cambodian Border.

Your trip south will be by bus but if you decide to go further North from Laung Prabang then if possible try taking boat it is a fantastic way to get around Laos in the North.

There will be plenty of traveller in Laos as it was very popular for backpackers in 2005.

There are few ways to travel between CM to LPB and Vientian, but not all are comfortable and straightforward.
Simpliest way and most often done by tourists is slow boat ride from Houay Xay to LPB with one night stop over in Pak Beng. Scenery is nice, worth doing if you like to travel by boats. Faster, more expensive, less comfortable and more dangerous is the speed boat between those two places, it takes you to LPB in one day (about 6 hrs, depends).
If you want to travel by buses you'll travel via Luang NAM Tha and Oudomxay to LPB. That's long way but it's scenic and nice. Here you'll see lot more than from the boat. HX to LNT is nowsadays about 4 hrs (new - chinese - road). LNT to LPB is between 9-12, depends on road. LNT to Oudomxay is normally 4 hrs.

Another, less touristy alternative to above mentioned: enter Laos at border check point in Hongsa (Lao side), Sayabouly province. It's very remote place but very nice, though not the easiest place to travel. From Hongsa you can take a pick up to Mekong and then take the rest of trip by boat to LPB. Or you can take a pick up to Sayabouly then LPB, then Vientiane. Or Hongsa -Sayabouly - Pak Lay - slow boat or speed boat to Vientiane.


Between VTE and cambodian border there are places worth stop, like before mentioned. Near Thakhek in Khammouane province there's very nice scenery, then Phou Khao Khuay NPA, Pakxe, Bolavens plateau, Mekong falls and islands.... lots to see, really.

Good map is necessary for individual travels so try to get yourself Laos map by GTRiders in Chiang Mai, the scale is fine 1 : 666 666. You'll see more than enough roads for your overland trip.

Thanks for the informative and positive answers people :)

The pleasure is all ours, Ryan.

Just another thought for you, make sure that you keep some time between Luang Prabang and Vientiane to spend a couple of days (at least) in Vang Vieng. It's an absolute mecca for young'uns like yourself with tubing down the Nam Song River, caving, swimming, bars with drinks sold by the bucket...you get the idea. I met a few backpackers here that had been there for a few weeks! Just avoid the bars playing re-runs of the TV show "Friends".

I think your travel query has been answered I just wanted to say enjoy. Laos is wonderful and yes do visit Vang Vieng it is a mecca for the young in saying that us 45+ had a ball. Luang Prabang is beautiful hire a bike and ride around the town especially down by the river after the tourist boats have gone for the day just to check out the day to day living. We hired a min bus to take us from LP-Phonsovan-VV as there were 6 of us we saw so much of local life that you dont see just sticking to the tourist route it is well worth the drive. Cambodia check out Capitol GH in PP they run torus to the Killing Fields and the Tuen Sleng museum a must for anyone who visits PP. Siem Reap have a go of Dr Fish foot massage we had such a giggle at the night market loads of little fish nibbling your feet $US3 and worth every cent you can hear people laughing as you approach.Not sure if Battenbang is part of your plan we took the bus here from PP it is a charming little town but loads to see check out the Smoking Pot cooking class $US8.50 for 3 hours brilliant. We just got back a month ago from a quick trip to PP and SR I envy you. Just had to put my 2 cents worth in haha

Hi there,

I would like to recommend another place to visit in Laos, and that is Si Phan Don (Four Thousand Islands), which is in the South of Laos. We got an overnight bus from Vientiane to Pakse, then from there to Si Phan Don, we chose to go to Don Det because we were recommended by fellow travellers as it was one of the nicest and quietest islands. We spent 5days simply relaxing and chiling out and swimming in the Mekong River. There are no banks on the islands so to avoid any trips back to the mainland i would recommend that you take enough money to cover you for however long you wish to stay. It was one of the cheapest places we visited in SEA, but by far one of the nicest. If peace and relaxation is what your after then this is the place to go.

Hope this info helps.

You can change money on Don Det now. I was there this March. Yes this place is paradise, well worth visiting Southern Laos.

Gona have to check out Vang Vien and the four thousand islands down South now, they do look pretty cool !!

One more question, does anyone have any current prices of say buying a bottle of 'Beer Laos'? At least a price from 2009 anyway. I found most of Thailand very cheap and can only imagine Laos to be cheaper still right ?

between 8,000 and 10,000 kip Ryan, for a big 640ml bottle.

So around US$1.

Nice beer too.

But IMO Laos in a little more expensive than Cambodia, Vietnam etc.

OK thanks for the info :)