dindong Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Starting tomorrow there is a new bus service starting, Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Price is 950 baht and it will take about 15 to 16 hours leaving from the new bus station every day at 1.oo p.m I have been told that a foreigner can do the visa on the bus but you would need to confirm this. The information is in Thai. http://www.chiangraifocus.com/forums/index.php?PHPSESSID=f3a927a43af3333dfd40ee31e9985826&topic=175485.0 วันที่ 19 มกราคม 2555 บริษัท บขส.เชียงราย เปิดบริการเดินรถบัสปรับอากาศ เส้นทาง เชียงราย - หลวงพระบาง ในช่องจำหน่ายตั๋วที่ 15 สถานีขนส่งเชียงราย (ตะเคียนคู่) ในราคาท่านละ 950 บาท รถออกเวลา 13.00 น. ทุกวัน (ผู้โดยสาร สามารถซื้อตั๋วโดยนำพาสปอร์ตที่มีอายุเหลือไม่ต่ำกว่า 6 เดือนไปด้วย เพื่อประกอบ การทำวีซ่าข้ามแดน) ขอให้ทุกท่านมีความสุขกับการเดินทาง...... ติดต่อสอบถามได้ที่ </span> </span> </span>053-774369</span></span> </span></span> </span> และ </span> </span> </span>053-711369</span></span> </span></span> </span> and a rough translation Transport routes to Chiang Rai - Luang Prabang. «. on. on January 14, 2012, 12:29:29 ». On January 19, 2555 the County Transport Service bus service. The Rai - Luang Prabang in the 15 Bus Ticket Home (Showcase pairs) at 950 baht per person off at 13.00 pm every day (. passenger can purchase tickets by bringing the sport of at least 6 months of age with a purpose. The transit visa), I will be happy to go ...... contact us at 053-774369.</span></span> and 053. -711,369.</font></span></span></span></span></font> 053-774369053-711369 </span></span> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sceadugenga Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Thanks dindong, that sounds interesting. The 15-16 hours on the bus doesn't though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pomchop Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 I wonder if you can break the trip up halfway or so and spend a nigth in some village and then do the second half the next day? i think about 8 hours on a bus would be all i could handle in one stretch without slicing my wrists.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrry Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 Just read that it is currently a second class bus and will be ugraded when bridge has been built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwentyBaht Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 Just saw on TV Twitter that webfact has also posted about this today in the Chiang Mai forum. Bus originating in Chiang Mai; 2nd class bus - 1200 baht - enroute 18 hours. When Chiang Khong bridge is finished; 1st class bus - 1500 baht 18 hours in a 2nd class bus, mostly in the night mountains of Laos? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sceadugenga Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 Looking at today's newspaper that shall not be named I see the first bus only had 15 passengers but organisers hope to get things up to 60% capacity on a regular basis. I predict this will happen when the next edition of Lonely Planet comes out. It would be a shame to go through that part of country at night, if the scenery is anything like that between Loung Phrabang and Vientiane I'd be sorry to miss it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AjarnP Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 The scenery is much better than the LP - Vientienne route, despite the fact that some areas have been spoilt with rubber plantations. Well worth the trip by road with an overnight in Luang Namtha where the hotels are clean and cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrry Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 The scenery is much better than the LP - Vientienne route, despite the fact that some areas have been spoilt with rubber plantations. Well worth the trip by road with an overnight in Luang Namtha where the hotels are clean and cheap. What is the road like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wileycoyote Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 15-16 Hours on a bus....sheesh kibab ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AjarnP Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 The road is good enough. I drove our 4x4 Vigo but never had to use the 4wd during the trip. The first section, Huay Xai to Luang Namtha is a great drive. There is a section about 60km out from Hyay Xai which was not yet surfaced but the grading was good enough to drive at normal speeds. From Luang Namtha to Udomxai the road was recently resurfaced but had some work being done on the verges. The next part, Udomxai to PakBeng is very bad. It's only 80km but took three hours to drive. The last section into LP is very good. Diesel, by the way is within a Baht of Thai prices and the Thai Baht is accepted everywhere. Just take small denomination notes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sceadugenga Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 I had a big bundle of kip but I gave it to my sister in law last year. It must have been at least 60 cents worth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekong Bob Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 Anybody have the road distances? Houaixay to Oudomxai? Oudomxai to Pakbeng? Pakbeng to ? ? to Louang Phabang? Thanks! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benl Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 From which bus station in Chiang Rai does the bus leave? I assume busstation 2, 7 km outside town, right? Where can you buy the tickets? We are in Chiang Mai, and want to spend 1 day and night in Chiang Rai before going to LP. I assume that you can only buy the Chiang rai to LP ticket in Chiang rai at the bus station? If so, since the bus leaves at 1 pm, how much in advance do we need to be at the station, to be sure to have seats? Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwentyBaht Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 We have further checked about this bus. As reported, it leaves from Chiang Mai and is routed through Chiang Rai. The bus terminates here in Chiang Khong, at the Thai Immigration crossing to Laos. Passengers go through the normal Thai Imigration processing, and take the small ferries across the Mekong to the Laos Immigration in Huay Xai. Upon exiting Laos Immigration, the passengers are taken by tuk-tuk about seven kilometers out to where the regular Laos VIP Bus leaves at 5:00 PM everyday, and overnights to Luang Prahbang. This VIP Bus has been running from Huay Xai to Luang Prahbang for over a year now. And, tickets on the Lao VIP Bus can be arranged locally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dindong Posted January 22, 2012 Author Share Posted January 22, 2012 (edited) From which bus station in Chiang Rai does the bus leave? I assume busstation 2, 7 km outside town, right? Where can you buy the tickets? We are in Chiang Mai, and want to spend 1 day and night in Chiang Rai before going to LP. I assume that you can only buy the Chiang rai to LP ticket in Chiang rai at the bus station? If so, since the bus leaves at 1 pm, how much in advance do we need to be at the station, to be sure to have seats? Thanks in advance! It leaces from the new bus station.If you come to Chiang Rai by bus you can buy the ticket at the bus station, get the 10 baht bus into town and come back the next day and onward to Luang Prabang. If you do, do this please let us know what the trip was like. Happy journey. Edited January 22, 2012 by dindong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AjarnP Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Total distance by road Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang 610km. Eighty percent of the road is very good but narrow single carriageway but Huay xai to Boten (China border) is quite wide and being upgraded now. I surveyed the trip with a view to making it a cycling route. It's just too hard though unless you have cloven feet. Cars, pick-ups and motorcycles would make the trip easily. Anyone interested can pm me for my travelogue which gives more details. Sorry, I don't want to publish it generally at this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwentyBaht Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Further information, as of today; The "999" bus office here in Chiang Khong is now selling Chiang Khong to Luang Prahbang tickets for 735 baht. (This is the office of the newly advertised bus service that originates in Chiang Mai and routes through Chiang Rai and Chiang Khong onto Luang Prahbang.) Passengers at the Chiang Khong Office with tickets by 3:00PM will be taken by tuk-tuk to Thai Immigration, ferried across the Mekong, and tuk-tuk to the Laos 5:00PM VIP bus departure, about seven kilometers out. We're told the ferry and tuk-tuk both sides are included in the 735 baht. The Chiang Khong "999" bus office advertises to be open from 6:00AM to 5:00PM. Enroute on the Laos VIP Bus is reported as 12 -15 hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benl Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 We have further checked about this bus. Upon exiting Laos Immigration, the passengers are taken by tuk-tuk about seven kilometers out to where the regular Laos VIP Bus leaves at 5:00 PM everyday, and overnights to Luang Prahbang. This VIP Bus has been running from Huay Xai to Luang Prahbang for over a year now. And, tickets on the Lao VIP Bus can be arranged locally. Do you mean that we can only buy the ticket for the Laos VIP bus in Laos. I understood that you would buy the whole package from Chiang Rai to LP at the Rai bus station? Will there be seats available on the VIP bus if we can't pre-book it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benl Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Further information, as of today; The "999" bus office here in Chiang Khong is now selling Chiang Khong to Luang Prahbang tickets for 735 baht. (This is the office of the newly advertised bus service that originates in Chiang Mai and routes through Chiang Rai and Chiang Khong onto Luang Prahbang.) Passengers at the Chiang Khong Office with tickets by 3:00PM will be taken by tuk-tuk to Thai Immigration, ferried across the Mekong, and tuk-tuk to the Laos 5:00PM VIP bus departure, about seven kilometers out. We're told the ferry and tuk-tuk both sides are included in the 735 baht. The Chiang Khong "999" bus office advertises to be open from 6:00AM to 5:00PM. Enroute on the Laos VIP Bus is reported as 12 -15 hours. Anybody who knows if a similar ticket is offered in Chiang Rai, including the Chiang Rai - Chiang khong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dindong Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 Further information, as of today; The "999" bus office here in Chiang Khong is now selling Chiang Khong to Luang Prahbang tickets for 735 baht. (This is the office of the newly advertised bus service that originates in Chiang Mai and routes through Chiang Rai and Chiang Khong onto Luang Prahbang.) Passengers at the Chiang Khong Office with tickets by 3:00PM will be taken by tuk-tuk to Thai Immigration, ferried across the Mekong, and tuk-tuk to the Laos 5:00PM VIP bus departure, about seven kilometers out. We're told the ferry and tuk-tuk both sides are included in the 735 baht. The Chiang Khong "999" bus office advertises to be open from 6:00AM to 5:00PM. Enroute on the Laos VIP Bus is reported as 12 -15 hours. Anybody who knows if a similar ticket is offered in Chiang Rai, including the Chiang Rai - Chiang khong? Go to the original post at the top of the page. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dindong Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 Opening ceremony for the launch of this bus route. http://home.transport.co.th/th/2011-09-29-09-29-13/309-chiangmai-luang-prabang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwentyBaht Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Benl, We understand tickets Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong-Luang Prahbang can be purchased from any "999" office en route. The new Thai-side bus is basically routing and ticketing onto the existing Laos VIP Bus service. And, shuttling back to Chiang Mai. Passengers have reported the Laos VIP Bus leaving from Huay Xai as having seating for about thirty persons. We hear a straight through International Bus will operate when the Chiang Khong Bridge across the Mekong is completed. And, the right side/left side driver certifications are worked out. About 1-1/2 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekong Bob Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 more info (attached) 0n new bus service between Chiang Mai and Louang Phabang bus to LP.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekong Bob Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Can I secure a Lao tourist visa (30-day) during a short stay in Chiang Rai? My trip to Laos (via Nong Khai - Vientiane) is scheduled in February, and I would like to have visa in my passport before I arrive at Friendship Bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benl Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 We are at Chiang Rai terminal, with a ticket, and a bus waiting for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benl Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Ticket Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benl Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Bus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sceadugenga Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Can I secure a Lao tourist visa (30-day) during a short stay in Chiang Rai? My trip to Laos (via Nong Khai - Vientiane) is scheduled in February, and I would like to have visa in my passport before I arrive at Friendship Bridge. I asked around the usual suspects a couple of years back and they all said the same thing... get it at the border. It's no big deal, download your forms and have them filled in if you like, sometimes they accept them and make sure you have your photos ready. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sceadugenga Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Can I secure a Lao tourist visa (30-day) during a short stay in Chiang Rai? My trip to Laos (via Nong Khai - Vientiane) is scheduled in February, and I would like to have visa in my passport before I arrive at Friendship Bridge. I asked around the usual travel people a couple of years back and they all said the same thing... get it at the border. It's no big deal, download your forms and have them filled in if you like, sometimes they accept them and make sure you have your photos ready. Edit: I doubt it could be done quickly anyway, I suspect your passport would have to go the the Lao embassy in Bangkok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dindong Posted January 26, 2012 Author Share Posted January 26, 2012 We are at Chiang Rai terminal, with a ticket, and a bus waiting for us. Great, hope you have a nice trip. Please let us know what the trip was like and maybe a few photos as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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