Luang Prabang Travel Forum

HI there travellers! My partner and I are going from Luang-Prabang to Chiangrai on the 13th of october 2009, does anyone have details regarding (direct)bus, timetable, prices or whatever would be helpfull? What is the fastest way? maybe airplane but "may mee enough neugn!
All infos are warmly welcome.

Thanks to all

If I remember it right there are buses from LP to Luang Namtha (10hrs). Then another bus to Huay Xai(mornings I think - 4 hrs). You may have to overnight in Luang Namtha I think.

Another way is to take the slow boat (or the eardrum piercing fast boat) on the Mekong River from LP to Huay Xai. The slow boat will overnight in Pakbeng.

From Huay Xai take a boat crossing to Chiang Kong (the border town of Chiang Rai) then another 3 hrs by bus/van to Chiang Mai

I would take the slow boat, we did the reverse in 2006 and it was a highlight of our trip. From the Thai border, Chiang Khong its a about a 2-3 hour bus ride.

Hi there,

If you can afford it then i would suggest you go by plane. we done the reverse journey in january by bus and it was a nightmare. Got the bus from the border in Laos and were told it would take 9hours to get to Luang Prabang....13hours later we were still on the bus! it was the most uncomfortable bus journey weve ever done. Heard mixed reports about the slow boat, some say its really good but others have said once the novelty wears of then its pretty boring...but i would reckon alot more comfortable than bus. I wouldnt recommend the speed boat as it is pretty dangerous, especially when the river level is low, there has been quite a few accidents in the past. The cheapest way to do it is probably by bus but it certainly is not the easiest.

Hope this info helps, enjoy your trip.