Thailand-laos-cambodja

[pdejaeger]

Would like to have some advice for my journey to those 3 countries..

1) I'll arrive in Bangkok the 25th of July.

- Would like to stay there for a few days: what are the must do's & must sees in 2 or 3 days?

- Want to go to Chiang Rai afterwards cause that's the easiest way to get to Laos afterwards. Is Chiang Rai worth staying for a few days (regarding I have only like 23 days holiday?! ) Do I book my ticket from Bangkok to Chinag Rai in advance?

2) Would like to get in Luang Prabang afterwards...

- What is the easiest way and what is the nicest way (can I get my visa overthere?)

3) Would like to stay a few days in Luang Prabang and discover the surrounding by bike (special must sees or not not sees?)

4) The best way to get to Vientiane is by bus?? Is there any other possibility so we can enjoy the trip and some of the villages between those 2 cities?

5) Would like to stay in Vientiane for a few days... What is special overthere and in the neighbourhood??

6) From there we would like to get to Cambodja... But are there any special places where we should go to in the centre and the south of laos? And what's the nicest way to get to Cambodja from there... Can we try to follow the Mekong as much as possible?

7) In Cambodja we would like to visit as well Siem Reap & Phnom Pen... Which one we should do first, regarding we're comming from Laos and regarding we'll have to get back from Cambodja to Bangkok the 14 of August.

Everyone who has some good advices, just shoot!! Cause I think it are 3 of the nicest countries in the world and wouldn't like to miss out something while i'm there!!!!

Thanks in advance!!

Grtz and will let you know how it has been!!!

[Jimjim]

Laos -- Plain of Jars and Luang Prabang

Cambodia -- Angor Wat

Thailand -- Ping Pong show, Grand Palace, Wat Po, Wat Arun, Ayutthuya, some islands, etc.

[Chaimai]

Laos -- Plain of Jars and Luang Prabang

Cambodia -- Angor Wat

Thailand -- Ping Pong show, Grand Palace, Wat Po, Wat Arun, Ayutthuya, some islands, etc.

Could I respectfully challenge the ping pong show - the one I saw was awful ! Agree with all the other candidates and (not just because it is topical) Khao Phra Wihan, Phanom Rung and Sanctuary of Truth (only because somebody called it a pile of timber !)

[Jimjim]

Ping Pong show is a must see at least once in your life.

[Chaimai]

Ping Pong show is a must see at least once in your life.

Don't disagree.....but ahead of the Grand Palace

[JOHN2]

Would like to have some advice for my journey to those 3 countries..

1) I'll arrive in Bangkok the 25th of July.

- Would like to stay there for a few days: what are the must do's & must sees in 2 or 3 days?

- Want to go to Chiang Rai afterwards cause that's the easiest way to get to Laos afterwards. Is Chiang Rai worth staying for a few days (regarding I have only like 23 days holiday?! ) Do I book my ticket from Bangkok to Chinag Rai in advance?

2) Would like to get in Luang Prabang afterwards...

- What is the easiest way and what is the nicest way (can I get my visa overthere?)

3) Would like to stay a few days in Luang Prabang and discover the surrounding by bike (special must sees or not not sees?)

4) The best way to get to Vientiane is by bus?? Is there any other possibility so we can enjoy the trip and some of the villages between those 2 cities?

5) Would like to stay in Vientiane for a few days... What is special overthere and in the neighbourhood??

6) From there we would like to get to Cambodja... But are there any special places where we should go to in the centre and the south of laos? And what's the nicest way to get to Cambodja from there... Can we try to follow the Mekong as much as possible?

7) In Cambodja we would like to visit as well Siem Reap & Phnom Pen... Which one we should do first, regarding we're comming from Laos and regarding we'll have to get back from Cambodja to Bangkok the 14 of August.

Everyone who has some good advices, just shoot!! Cause I think it are 3 of the nicest countries in the world and wouldn't like to miss out something while i'm there!!!!

Thanks in advance!!

Grtz and will let you know how it has been!!!

Buy a lonely planet book, it will tell you everything you need to know.

Thank me later.

[haybilly]

Would like to have some advice for my journey to those 3 countries..

1) I'll arrive in Bangkok the 25th of July.

- Would like to stay there for a few days: what are the must do's & must sees in 2 or 3 days?

- Want to go to Chiang Rai afterwards cause that's the easiest way to get to Laos afterwards. Is Chiang Rai worth staying for a few days (regarding I have only like 23 days holiday?! ) Do I book my ticket from Bangkok to Chinag Rai in advance?

2) Would like to get in Luang Prabang afterwards...

- What is the easiest way and what is the nicest way (can I get my visa overthere?)

3) Would like to stay a few days in Luang Prabang and discover the surrounding by bike (special must sees or not not sees?)

4) The best way to get to Vientiane is by bus?? Is there any other possibility so we can enjoy the trip and some of the villages between those 2 cities?

5) Would like to stay in Vientiane for a few days... What is special overthere and in the neighbourhood??

6) From there we would like to get to Cambodja... But are there any special places where we should go to in the centre and the south of laos? And what's the nicest way to get to Cambodja from there... Can we try to follow the Mekong as much as possible?

7) In Cambodja we would like to visit as well Siem Reap & Phnom Pen... Which one we should do first, regarding we're comming from Laos and regarding we'll have to get back from Cambodja to Bangkok the 14 of August.

Everyone who has some good advices, just shoot!! Cause I think it are 3 of the nicest countries in the world and wouldn't like to miss out something while i'm there!!!!

Thanks in advance!!

Grtz and will let you know how it has been!!!

Each one of the countries mentioned has enough to keep you busy for the whole 23 days--sorry not to be more helpful but I really think you will just be rushing from A to B to C.

[bonobo]

In Phnom Penh, you need to see the Killing Fields and S21. Neither are as well developed at say Auschwitz in Poland, but both are a chilling reminder of what humanity is capable.

Other posters are recommending many feel-good places, so the one day of sobering history is not to much of a price to pay for this experience.

[enyaw]

A good day trip from Luang Prabang is Kouangxi waterfalls:

The falls have pools where you can go for a dip.

Travelling between Luang Prabang and Vientienne plan a stop in Vang Vieng:

Tube down the river, very tranquil.

Edited July 15, 2008 by enyaw

[technocracy]

If you want an 'alternative' Laos experience - travel up to Chiang Khong and cross at Huey Xai then spend a few days at the Gibbon Experience (http://www.gibbonx.org/) then you can either for a bit of a thrill take the speedboat from Huey Xai to Luang Pranbang - okay it uncomfortable and relatively dangerous but you'll be in LP the same day. Alternatively for an off the beaten pass trip get the bus to UdomXai then travel onwards from there to LP.

When in LP explore all around push bike or on foot no problem, there is the Pak Ou caves to visit but personally I don't think they are very interesting. The Kwang Si falls are well worth a days visit as is the Elephant Park.

Road trip over to Vang Vieng - do some tubing, maybe some caving, maybe Kayak down towards Vientiane. You can do an organised Kayak trip part van driver part kayaking which take you to Vientiane (Green Discovery)

Vientiane - shopping, eating, see the sights (Wat Pra Keo, That Luang, Patuxai, the buddha park) there is plenty to keep you amused. Even a trip to the Phou Khao Khoauy park for some trekking.

If you want to visit Xieng Kouang (Plain of jars (Phonsavanh), see the devastation from the war) then go the before heading to Vang Vieng from LP, as to make the journey from Vientiane means backtracking.

Then there is the South . . . but in your time frame I don't think you'll have time for visiting down but I supposed you could fly from Vientiane to Siem Reap and stop off at Pakse on the way . . but Pakse isn't much to shout about it's the surround areas which are of interest.

But I am sure there is plenty to go there . . .

[kieranspt]

Hi, i was planning the same trip almost . we are going in feb and im stuck on getting from vientiane to siem reap. we don't have the luxury of time or money unforunatley so i was wondering which would be the best.

1- traveling straight south through thailand till we get to sime reap by bus (any idea how lng that would take?)

2- traveling into the thai border and flying to the thai cambodia border then by land to siem reap (any idea which airport?)

3- following the meekong straight into Cambodia from laos (that takes quite a while doesn't it? and how long from the border to SR?)

or if any one had any other ideas it would be greatly appreciated!