I want to fly to Laos (Vientiane or Luang Prabang) on the 19th or 20th. Can you someone tell me what airlines fly there from CNX? AirAsia don't seem to go, which is a surprise to me .....

Just back myself. Yes, you can go from Chiang Mai to Laos by air, but I suggest you contact a travel agent for details. Enjoy!

Edited September 14, 201114 yr by Mapguy

Laos Airlines fly CNX -LPQ direct.

Not the cheapest flight but try their office in town or a trusted travel agent.

Air Asia start CNX-Udon Thani flights October.

Otherwise it's a case of via BKK and then on to LPQ by Bangkok Airlines or Lao, or VTN with Thai or Lao.

Edited September 14, 201114 yr by folium

Many thanks for the answers. Seems the options are a bit limited (to Laos Airlines!)

If its too expensive or full, what are other good options for getting there from Chiang Mai? Must be a regular bus service right? Or minibus service used for visa runs etc?

Oh, and also, any kind of Visa needed for a short visit?

Edited September 15, 201114 yr by pete66

is the nok air flight from chiang mai to udon not running still? took that myself back in may i think it was.

is the nok air flight from chiang mai to udon not running still? took that myself back in may i think it was.

Struggling to understand why I would want to go to Udon? Its a bit of a detour on the way from CM to Laos no? .....

is the nok air flight from chiang mai to udon not running still? took that myself back in may i think it was.

Struggling to understand why I would want to go to Udon? Its a bit of a detour on the way from CM to Laos no? .....

you mentioned wanting to get to vientiane - one hour flight to udon followed by about an hour or so in a pick up truck and you're in vientiane. . .

is the nok air flight from chiang mai to udon not running still? took that myself back in may i think it was.

Struggling to understand why I would want to go to Udon? Its a bit of a detour on the way from CM to Laos no? .....

you mentioned wanting to get to vientiane - one hour flight to udon followed by about an hour or so in a pick up truck and you're in vientiane. . .

ah ok thanks. just thought it would be simpler to fly straight from CNX to Vientiane ..... I'll find out from Laos Airlines to day about cost, availability. If not, the Udon route could be ok .....

is the nok air flight from chiang mai to udon not running still? took that myself back in may i think it was.

Struggling to understand why I would want to go to Udon? Its a bit of a detour on the way from CM to Laos no? .....

you mentioned wanting to get to vientiane - one hour flight to udon followed by about an hour or so in a pick up truck and you're in vientiane. . .

ah ok thanks. just thought it would be simpler to fly straight from CNX to Vientiane ..... I'll find out from Laos Airlines to day about cost, availability. If not, the Udon route could be ok .....

Go to the Laos Air offices that are in the soi next to Nakornping condo on Huay Keaw. The website is not the best!! To Vientiane is a one stop flight via Luang Prabang. Small Russian ? aircraft, simple service but quite OK, but not cheap. You could go via BKK to Vientiane on THAI which has a daily service.

To Vientiane is a one stop flight via Luang Prabang. Small Russian ? aircraft, simple service but quite OK, but not cheap. You could go via BKK to Vientiane on THAI which has a daily service.

Lao Airlines use an ATR-72 on Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang, and a mix of A320s & ATR-72s on the busier Vientiane to Bangkok route.

Thanks everyone. I'll go to the Laos Airlines office tomorrow and see what gives.

As an alternative, I think the border crossing at Chiang Khong (in Chiang Rai province) sounds good. Its:

a) The nearest crossing from CM (into Huay Xai in Laos), and

The nearest crossing to Luang Prabang (I think)

If anyone has experience of this crossing, easy way to get there (apart from hiring a taxi in CM!), please share

(Though just read getting from Huay Xai border crossing to Luang Prabang isn't so easy, best way is two-day boat ride apparently!)

Edited September 15, 201114 yr by pete66

<br>Thanks everyone. I'll go to the Laos Airlines office tomorrow and see what gives.<br><br>As an alternative, I think the border crossing at Chiang Khong (in Chiang Rai province) sounds good. Its:<br><br>a) The nearest crossing from CM (into Huay Xai in Laos), and<br><img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif" class="bbc_emoticon" alt=""> The nearest crossing to Luang Prabang (I think)<br><br>If anyone has experience of this crossing, easy way to get there (apart from hiring a taxi in CM!), please share <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif" class="bbc_emoticon" alt=""><br><br>(Though just read getting from Huay Xai border crossing to Luang Prabang isn't so easy, best way is two-day boat ride apparently!)<br>

<br>i've done the 2-day slow boat journey previously. it's really pleasant and a nice way to kick back and relax for a couple of days. get a minibus from chiang mai to chiang khong, stay a night there, cross the river to the laos side in the morning, then depart on the boat. stay the first night in a tiny place in laos called pak beng where the town generator shuts off at 10.30pm leaving you with no leccy, arrive in luang prabang about 5pm the following day. not sure i'd do it while the rains are still so heavy though in fairness.<div><br>

</div>

<br>Thanks everyone. I'll go to the Laos Airlines office tomorrow and see what gives.<br><br>As an alternative, I think the border crossing at Chiang Khong (in Chiang Rai province) sounds good. Its:<br><br>a) The nearest crossing from CM (into Huay Xai in Laos), and<br><img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif" class="bbc_emoticon" alt=""> The nearest crossing to Luang Prabang (I think)<br><br>If anyone has experience of this crossing, easy way to get there (apart from hiring a taxi in CM!), please share <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif" class="bbc_emoticon" alt=""><br><br>(Though just read getting from Huay Xai border crossing to Luang Prabang isn't so easy, best way is two-day boat ride apparently!)<br>

<br>i've done the 2-day slow boat journey previously. it's really pleasant and a nice way to kick back and relax for a couple of days. get a minibus from chiang mai to chiang khong, stay a night there, cross the river to the laos side in the morning, then depart on the boat. stay the first night in a tiny place in laos called pak beng where the town generator shuts off at 10.30pm leaving you with no leccy, arrive in luang prabang about 5pm the following day. not sure i'd do it while the rains are still so heavy though in fairness.<div><br>

</div>

thanks. great reply. agree about the river levels though!

any ideas where to get minibus from in CM to go to Chiang Khong? I live out west-side, only actually been into the centre a couple of times !!

<br>Thanks everyone. I'll go to the Laos Airlines office tomorrow and see what gives.<br><br>As an alternative, I think the border crossing at Chiang Khong (in Chiang Rai province) sounds good. Its:<br><br>a) The nearest crossing from CM (into Huay Xai in Laos), and<br><img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif" class="bbc_emoticon" alt=""> The nearest crossing to Luang Prabang (I think)<br><br>If anyone has experience of this crossing, easy way to get there (apart from hiring a taxi in CM!), please share <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif" class="bbc_emoticon" alt=""><br><br>(Though just read getting from Huay Xai border crossing to Luang Prabang isn't so easy, best way is two-day boat ride apparently!)<br>

<br>i've done the 2-day slow boat journey previously. it's really pleasant and a nice way to kick back and relax for a couple of days. get a minibus from chiang mai to chiang khong, stay a night there, cross the river to the laos side in the morning, then depart on the boat. stay the first night in a tiny place in laos called pak beng where the town generator shuts off at 10.30pm leaving you with no leccy, arrive in luang prabang about 5pm the following day. not sure i'd do it while the rains are still so heavy though in fairness.<div><br>

</div>

thanks. great reply. agree about the river levels though!

any ideas where to get minibus from in CM to go to Chiang Khong? I live out west-side, only actually been into the centre a couple of times !!

i'm sure pretty much any travel agent will do it mate. they'll also usually pick you up at your place the morning you leave i think.

<br>Thanks everyone. I'll go to the Laos Airlines office tomorrow and see what gives.<br><br>As an alternative, I think the border crossing at Chiang Khong (in Chiang Rai province) sounds good. Its:<br><br>a) The nearest crossing from CM (into Huay Xai in Laos), and<br><img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif" class="bbc_emoticon" alt=""> The nearest crossing to Luang Prabang (I think)<br><br>If anyone has experience of this crossing, easy way to get there (apart from hiring a taxi in CM!), please share <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif" class="bbc_emoticon" alt=""><br><br>(Though just read getting from Huay Xai border crossing to Luang Prabang isn't so easy, best way is two-day boat ride apparently!)<br>

<br>i've done the 2-day slow boat journey previously. it's really pleasant and a nice way to kick back and relax for a couple of days. get a minibus from chiang mai to chiang khong, stay a night there, cross the river to the laos side in the morning, then depart on the boat. stay the first night in a tiny place in laos called pak beng where the town generator shuts off at 10.30pm leaving you with no leccy, arrive in luang prabang about 5pm the following day. not sure i'd do it while the rains are still so heavy though in fairness.<div><br>

</div>

thanks. great reply. agree about the river levels though!

any ideas where to get minibus from in CM to go to Chiang Khong? I live out west-side, only actually been into the centre a couple of times !!

i'm sure pretty much any travel agent will do it mate. they'll also usually pick you up at your place the morning you leave i think.

ah ok, cool. forgot about travel agents since I don't live with any near me .... have to find out about water levels as well. Hate to be stuck with a treacherous 10-hour road journey instead if the boats aren't running.

ah ok, cool. forgot about travel agents since I don't live with any near me .... have to find out about water levels as well. Hate to be stuck with a treacherous 10-hour road journey instead if the boats aren't running.

Some people love the 2-day slow boat, others hate it. It all depends on how over-crowded your boat is and there is no way to find out in advance. If you get stuck on a boat with 80 drunk tourists that was meant to hold 50 people, you might not be so happy. imho, if all you want to do is see Luang Prabang and Vientiane, you should fly.

The boats on the Mekong may not run when the river level is too low but I've never heard of them cancelling because the high water level made it unsafe. But if I'm wrong, the bus from Houie Xai to Luang Prabang (via Luang Namtha and Oudom Xai)is much longer than 10 hours. There's plenty to see and do along the way. Pick up a guide book and do some research.

ah ok, cool. forgot about travel agents since I don't live with any near me .... have to find out about water levels as well. Hate to be stuck with a treacherous 10-hour road journey instead if the boats aren't running.

Some people love the 2-day slow boat, others hate it. It all depends on how over-crowded your boat is and there is no way to find out in advance. If you get stuck on a boat with 80 drunk tourists that was meant to hold 50 people, you might not be so happy. imho, if all you want to do is see Luang Prabang and Vientiane, you should fly.

The boats on the Mekong may not run when the river level is too low but I've never heard of them cancelling because the high water level made it unsafe. But if I'm wrong, the bus from Houie Xai to Luang Prabang (via Luang Namtha and Oudom Xai)is much longer than 10 hours. There's plenty to see and do along the way. Pick up a guide book and do some research.

In the end, I went with a flight, just because it was the "safe and easy" option, first trip to Laos for me plus potential flooding issues (more a road issue, boats are designed to float, but still....). I picked up a hotel (2 nights) + return flight deal to Luang Prabang for 9,500 baht, and I can get the return date changed if I want to stay longer.

Thanks for all the help everyone. Definitely look for a more adventurous route in 3 months time!!