Luang pro bang to anghor wat via Mekong river, will be traveling this month with my two college age children. Will travel from Chiang san to lung prabang. Any suggestions for traveling further to anghor wat by boat or air and then return to Chiang Rai. Not exactly backpacking but also want to frugal.

Angkor Wat (Siem Reap) is not on the Mekong so you can't easily connect from Luang Prabang by boat.

You can probably do most of it by boat but it will probably take over a week by doing it in several segments. Then you would take a boat up the Tonle Sap.

Overland travel from Luang Prabang to Siem Reap is very time consuming. There are several daily flights but pretty expensive.

Returning to Chiang Rai is easy. You fly from Siem Reap to BKK and connect to CR.

the above is way too optimisitc-sorry to yet disturb another dream. There simple is, except that stretch you mention NO regular=scheduled boats along that river-buses have taken over, and trucks for freight. Along Laos-till the falls deep south, you can try, if determined and willing to spend-to hire a private boat-or wait ages till some remaining freighter is willing to take you-DO thoroughly check what you get before committing and think twice with kids-its VERY basic if not middle-age.

Another, maybe regular, boat remains for the determined bekpekker south in laos, pakse to those 4000 isles/nearby.

Nothing left in Khmerland-except for some tourist boats on that lake=Tonle Sap.

In fact the above is too pessimistic for going by bus-actually when lve LP morning-arr VTE afternoon-overnight sleepbus to Pakse to connect next morning with Khmer bus to PnPn-change halfway-arr. SR eve of 2nd day-with a few hourlong breaks only in between. or go via TH-which does not cut off much time anymore.

the above is way too optimisitc-sorry to yet disturb another dream. There simple is, except that stretch you mention NO regular=scheduled boats along that river-buses have taken over, and trucks for freight. Along Laos-till the falls deep south, you can try, if determined and willing to spend-to hire a private boat-or wait ages till some remaining freighter is willing to take you-DO thoroughly check what you get before committing and think twice with kids-its VERY basic if not middle-age.

Another, maybe regular, boat remains for the determined bekpekker south in laos, pakse to those 4000 isles/nearby.

Nothing left in Khmerland-except for some tourist boats on that lake=Tonle Sap.

In fact the above is too pessimistic for going by bus-actually when lve LP morning-arr VTE afternoon-overnight sleepbus to Pakse to connect next morning with Khmer bus to PnPn-change halfway-arr. SR eve of 2nd day-with a few hourlong breaks only in between. or go via TH-which does not cut off much time anymore.

No worries on disturbing the dream; I also have the same idea - but two adults who are worldly (and a bit stupid to try) to travel the Mekong. I figure it would take more than one "spend to hire" boat to get the length. Can you recommend any jump on and off spots and where best to find these "spend to hire" boats. Any stretch that would be the best to see and best to avoid? What about border crossings? Thanks to all members who take the time to to help.