Luang Prabang

[ya5702]

Hello to all TV users:

1. Has anybody visited Luang Prabang by road from Chiangrai? If so, how was it?

2. Can I do Luang Prabang in one day (April) and return to Chiangrai for the night?

3. Can one obtain easily the Laos visa at the Thai/Laos border crossing? How much for the visa?

4. Are there any precautions to take during the visit to Luang Prabang?

5. Any other information will be appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

Edited January 17, 2006 by ya5702

[ya5702]

Oops! Listed under the wrong Forum. Can somebody move this topic to the Travel Forum, please?

Hello to all TV users:

1. Has anybody visited Luang Prabang by road from Chiangrai? If so, how was it?

2. Can I do Luang Prabang in one day (April) and return to Chiangrai for the night?

3. Can one obtain easily the Laos visa at the Thai/Laos border crossing? How much for the visa?

4. Are there any precautions to take during the visit to Luang Prabang?

5. Any other information will be appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

[suegha]

And here I was waiting for a sophisticated punch line!

[davidgtr]

Chiang Rai – Chiang Khong = 120 kms approx

Huay Sai – Luang Nam Tha = 180 kms approx

Luang Nam Tha – Udom Xai = 115 kms approx

Udom Xai – Luang Prabang = 203 kms approx

The road from Huay Sai – Luang Nam Tha is now under re-construction & is a bit of a mess.

Take a look at

http://board.gt-rider.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1097

and

http://board.gt-rider.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1132

if you want to see some photos of the road in December.

Laos visas (2 weeks) cost US$30 at the border.

Crossing the Mekong river with your car requires use of the car ferry (bug) boat.

This does not always go at regular times & if it is not booked by a truck, then you might need to hire the boat yourself & it will cost a few thousand (negotiable) baht one way.

It would take you 1 day to get to Luang Nam Tha & then another day to get to Luang Prabang from Luang Nam Tha.

You’d then need to spend at least 2, if not 3 nights in Luang Prabang, before coming back again the same way.

Luang Prabang is a wonderful city & well worth a few days.

[zzap]

Great info!

I haven't done the trip, yet.

I also read that during the rainy season the road often gets flooded and is unpassable.

[ya5702]

Thanks a lot David for sharing your information. The distance is much farther than I had originally thought, and probably quite problematic. A 1-day trip is definitely out of the question. I will fly to Luang Prabang, if there is such a flight. Cheers!

Chiang Rai – Chiang Khong = 120 kms approx

Huay Sai – Luang Nam Tha = 180 kms approx

Luang Nam Tha – Udom Xai = 115 kms approx

Udom Xai – Luang Prabang = 203 kms approx

The road from Huay Sai – Luang Nam Tha is now under re-construction & is a bit of a mess.

Take a look at

http://board.gt-rider.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1097

and

http://board.gt-rider.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1132

if you want to see some photos of the road in December.

Laos visas (2 weeks) cost US$30 at the border.

Crossing the Mekong river with your car requires use of the car ferry (bug) boat.

This does not always go at regular times & if it is not booked by a truck, then you might need to hire the boat yourself & it will cost a few thousand (negotiable) baht one way.

It would take you 1 day to get to Luang Nam Tha & then another day to get to Luang Prabang from Luang Nam Tha.

You’d then need to spend at least 2, if not 3 nights in Luang Prabang, before coming back again the same way.

Luang Prabang is a wonderful city & well worth a few days.