Luang Prabang Travel Forum

I'm going to be visiting Luang Prabang for 4 days in May and was wondering if you could give me some advice on how much I should expect to pay for food/tours? I'm interested in river cruises and elephant treks.

I've booked my accomodation already. Tours advertised online seem quite overpriced. Can anyone recommend an agency I can book with, or i it's better to wait until I arrive.

Thanks!

I'm going to be visiting Luang Prabang for 4 days in May and was wondering if you could give me some advice on how much I should expect to pay for food/tours? I'm interested in river cruises and elephant treks.

I've booked my accomodation already. Tours advertised online seem quite overpriced. Can anyone recommend an agency I can book with, or i it's better to wait until I arrive.

Thanks!

Hi there, can someone recommend the best way to reach Hanoi from Luang P? Is there a regular frequency?

What are the costs & duration involved?

Many thanks in advance

Darsh

Has anyone tried the Mekong Cruise or Luang Say cruise as it's also called? If so how was it. Any problems with hotel pick ups etc?

Cheers

Arriving in Laos on February 7/06. We will be leaving Luang Prabang on March 7th for Bangkok. How soon in advance should we book our airline tickets? To avoid extra charges, should we skip using a travel agent in Luang Prabang? What's the cheapest way to book our tickets and where? Do you recommend Bangkok Airlines? Does Angel Air fly this route? If so, what's their safety record like? Thanks! JT

We'r wondering about picking up a jacket in Luang Prabang. I take it it's colder in Luang Prabang compared to Vientaine and Vang Vieng? Is that correct?
We will also be travelling north of Luang Prabang. We're trying to avoid packing heavy. We will be in Thailand for approx 17 days, then onto Vientaine approx Feb 1/06. We'll stay one-month in Laos. 3-4 Vientaine, 3-4 Vang Vieng, remainder of trip Luang Prabang and further north. Trying not to cart around our jackets because we won't need them until we get to Luang Prabang and further north. What type of jackets do they have? What would be best to buy to keep warm when it gets cold at night? Do you recommend Luang Prabang a good place to make our jacket purchase?
Thanks! JT

Which place has the better rates of exchange? Thanks in Advance! JT

If we have Kip leftover, can we use it towards the departure tax? Can we exchange the Kip at the Luang Prabang airport back to US$ or Thai Bhat? Thanks in advance! JT

Can we pay the departure tax in US$ and in Kip?

We ( 2 people) will be staying in budget guesthouses (approx $US5.00-15.00 per night) Four nights we might splurge and do $US20.00 per night.
Low to mid-range food/eating at stalls/restaurant.
One or 2 beers a day.
Bus trips - Vientaine-Vang Vieng-Luang Prabang-Nong Khaiw-Luang Namtha
Tuk Tuks when needed for short day-trips
Caves/Falls entry fee and tour to get there
May be taking a couple of boat trips, when not accessible by bus.
We will be doing a tour which will cost CDN$444.00 for the 2 of us.
Flight from Luang Prabang to Bangkok - I believe it's approx. $US150.00 per person.
I'm from Canada, and I always convert to my money. Everything is either quoted in US$ or Kip so I'm trying to guess how much US$ we will need for a month in Laos. I worked it out to US$2,300.00 (this also includes a bit of emergency money, if needed, shopping, buying extra film, odds and ends that come up). Thanks in Advance! JT

I've read that a lot of travellers use US Dollars to pay for accommodation, etc., when in Laos. We will be staying at Guesthouses ($US5.00-US15.00) per night. We're budget travellers. Do you bring mostly small denominations of US$ to pay for accomm, food, transport, etc?
Would like to also hear from those who never use US$ and only Kip and why?
Thanks in Advance, look forward to your replies. Jacquie

Hey,

Does everything shut down at midnight in Laos due to cerfew? Will bars in up-market hotels keep oppen?

Cheers

Frederik

Compared to: Luang Prabang-Siem Reap, Luang Prabang-Hanoi?
My mom's friend was over the other night as she has travelled throughout SE Asia, and we wanted to ask her some questions. She thinks one-month in Laos is too long and that we should shorten our stay and check out either Vietnam, or Angkor Wat/Cambodia. Approx 21 days Laos/10 days-Vietnam or Cambodia.
Jan 28 - Feb 28 - dates for Laos and another country, if we choose to do this.


Hi Fernando - I like the itinerary you layed out from my previous question. Do you think it would be pushing it to also do on of the above?
Thanks!

I just came across a website that said you also have to boil water for washing (yourself).
Comments please. How in the heck would you do that at the guesthouses?
Jacquie

I just received an e-mail from a tour company in Luang Prabang. They told me to bring a thick jacket. We're trying to pack light. We were hoping to get away with bringing 2 long sleeve cotton shirts and a sweater. Looks like this won't be warm enough? Should we bring our fleece jackets? When does it warm up in the morning? When does it cool down in the evening? Are you cold in the Guesthouses - cold during the night while trying to sleep? Is this for all the areas we may travel to: Vientaine, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, Luang Namtha? Should we bring heavy cotton pants too? Would one pair be enough? Or do you find you're wearing your heavier cotton pants and shirts in these areas I've mentioned and to bring more warmer clothes instead of thin cotton clothes?
I have an acrylic/polyester pull-over sweater, which I could wear a long sleeve cotton shirt underneath - would that be sufficient and skip bringing a windbreaker jacket or a fleece jacket.

Footwear: I was only going to bring my runners. My mom was only going to bring her sandals. The tour company said that we'll be walking in streams and mud sometimes. Wondering if I should bring my aquasocks (rubber soles/shoe part is made of mess & spandex stretchy material) be smart to bring?

We'll be in Laos for the month of February. Should we also bring umbrellas, even though it's the dry season?
Thanks in Advance!
Jacquie

Itinerary for Feb/06. Udon Thani - bus to Vientaine (3-4 nights). Bus to
Vang Vieng (1 or 2 nights). Bus to Luang Prabang (3 weeks stay).

I wished I had started my research in reverse. I just started inquiring with 2 different tour companys about doing tours from Luang Prabang, as we will be there for the longest time - that could change too). The highlight of the trip to Laos was to visit the hilltribe people. Now I find out that with one tour company, kayaking is involved to reach the hilltribe areas. The other company doesn't do short overnight or a few day tours - their tours are much longer.

We can't swim. We don't do kayaking. Boats are fine as long as the water is not rough. We're not interested in going to Caves because we've seem so many already. I know they're all different, but mom opts for skipping them.

The Vang Vieng area seems like it's all about caves and water sports. I read that the view is beautiful around VV, and that's one of the reasons I chose to go there. Also, I thought, if we take the bus from Vientaine-Vang Vieng-LuangPrabang, that would be a great way to see villages and locals tending to there daily activities, and see the countryside.

I just called my mom to tell her what the 2 tour companies said, and she said, let's go to Cambodia instead. I said - please don't do this to me after all the research I've been working on, and I'm ready to get things more finalized.

I thought we would spend the longest part in Luang Prabang and area. If we can't get to the hilltribes, what else do you recommend we see and do? I'm so disheartened right now. When I travel, that's always the highlight - visit the hilltribe people. Anyway, I'm at a loss and don't know what to do.
Your guidance and suggestions are very much appreciated!
Jacquie

Where do you recommend we go Elephant Trekking in Laos? We will be in these areas: Vientaine. Vang Vieng. Luang Prabang. Thinking we may have to take
tours to go further north from Luang Prabang. Would like to avoid tours, but we'll have to so we can visit the hilltribes/villages.
Thanks in Advance! Jacquie

Could you please tell me how you get to Nong Khiaw from Luang Prabang? Can you get there by road only, or do you also have to go by boat? Would you recommend going there? How long does it take to get there from Luang Prabang. Can we do it on our own, or would you recommend a tour? Please recommend a budget guesthouse. Do you think we can get a place for 2 people for $US5.00? How much for a budget GH if we want our own toilet/shower?
Thanks in Advance! Jacquie

My mom will be 90 on Jan 1/06. My 50th is Oct/06. To celebrate these special birthdays we are going to Thailand/Laos. Could you please tell me the names of places where you can go dancing in Vientaine and Luang Prabang?
I would like to post a message when we're in Vientaine & Luang Prabang if any travellers would like to join us to celebrate my mom's 90th. I would like to surprise her with something different and have travellers join in on the celebration. Looking forward to your feedback!
Jacquie

Could you please tell me which airline you would recommend from LP to BKK?
Also, we may fly within Laos and would prefer to avoid Laos Aviation.
What other airlines fly within Laos?
Thanks! Jacquie

Has anyone stayed at La Résidence Phou Vao also called Pansea. If so how was it?

Also how is Luang P during the rainy season?

Cheers

Frederik

Since August, I have search the web, posted question, e-mailed the Laos Embassy and I'm still not sure how to get a one-month visa for Laos.
Volunteers respond to e-mails sent to the Embassy. As it's mentioned everywhere and on one of the Laos Embassy's webpages, they stress not to go
to the Laos Embassy in Bangkok because it's a hassle to get there.
They told me to get a 2-week visa from a travel agent on Khosan Rd., then get the other 2 weeks upon arrive at a boardcrossing into Laos. I think this information is not correct.
If you did get a one-month visa for Laos, please share with me how you went about doing this. 3 months of this, and I'm really getting frustrated. If we can't get to second base, my partner wants to cancel the trip b/c we definately want to spend a month in Laos. HELP!
Can you also recommend an excellent travel agency. I've read that the travel agencies on Khosan Rd are full of scams and overcharge for services.
Thank you, Thank you - I need to get this part of organizing our trip off my mind.
Cheers from Canada!

Do you know if we get a better rate of exchange (change Canadian dollars to Kip) in Bangkok, or wait until we arrive in Laos?

Thanks!

We will be travelling through Thailand and Laos. We were gong to bring Canadian Cash.
Also, can we use our bank cards in Luang Prabang at ATM's?
Do you bring your visa card for cash advance at the bank? I believe this is more costly - high service charge - is that correct?

Thanks - much appreciated!

Twice I have come across information on the internet that mentions bandits and buses being robbed on the road btw Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang.
Also, I've read that Laos Aviation has a very poor safety record.

Our plans are to go from Vientiane to Vang Vieng then to Luang Prabang. What would you recommend is the safest way to do this route?

Thanks - much appreciated!

Hi all!!

I'm planing to celebrate new year in Luand Prabang and i have few question about that and other stuff too...

First..i would like to know any good hotels or guesthouses around LP??

Second..I'm planing to go back to Bangkok with slow boat (Mekong) and with bus to chiang mai..How long is it going to take (how many days)? Is there boat connection every day (I'm leaving from LP to Bangkok on second of january) and how much they cost? Also..what time the night train leave from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and how much that cost with sleepingcapin and is there timetables available in internet for those trains?

Thank u!!

Hi. I was just reading in the Lonely Planet that the air in Luang Prabang gets very smoky during March and April due to some slash & burn fires in the surrounding moutains. It went on to say that even local people have trouble breathing at that time, and that taking landscape pictures is impossible because the air quality is so bad during those months.

I plan to travel in mid-March. Has anybody been there around that time and experienced this?? Also, how hot does it get?

Thank you.

Hi there,

Can anyone advise how to get to Luang Prabang from chiangmai by road? I'm not intending to fly so how many days will i need to travel to LP by road? buses or trains??

Please advise


regards
gary

hi i am coming to luang prabang in early september. is there anything special anyone would recommend for that time of the year (or avoid)? if not ill follow my instincts and lonely planets suggestions.

also, any advice on getting from bangkok to luang prabang? i probably would fly...

thanks

Hello-
Just got back from the travel clinic where they advised me against swimming in any freshwater in SE Asia because of the risk of Schistosomiasis- from flukes... am feeling totally crestfallen because I was really looking forward to the waterfalls, etc.. around LP. Does anyone have any input on how serious a problem this may or may not be, is it worth the risk to go ahead and brave the waters? Thanks.