Southeast Asia forum

For Bangkok to Chiang Mai options, give the following story a read ... there are a LOT of options!
What to see between Bangkok and Chiang Mai

Ubon, I'd break the trip at either Khorat (for Phimai ) or Buriram fro Phanom Rung

Take the scenic route - stop at Mukdahan and That Phanom -- the area around Nong Khai, both west and east of it, on the river, is lovely -- really stunning.

End of January -- Luang nam Tha or Muang Sing are the obvious candidates. Don't forget the Gibbon Experience

I assume you're flying, not lying to Pakse, as if you're lying, you'll need to allow more time ;-)

As per my suggestion on the other thread, I'd suggest crossing at Bo Y crossing, hit central Vietnam and work south to Saigon and the Delta. Cambodia is a wonderful place and I wouldn't be put off by chit chat, but if you are you can fly from Saigon to KL and continue from there.

Cheers

I've looked over things as much as I could and don't think it will, but does anyone see anywhere in this intinerary where weather might interfere? also, will river travel in laos still have high enough water in January? ( first time in laos )

Thanks. wonderful info.

Definately sounds like a very possible alternative. Since I basically want to spend 30 days north, 30 south, I can see why it would be better not to have to use part of the 2nd 30 days back tracking all the way back south. As for the slow boat, I've looked into many peoples stories and have heard good and bad, so I guess I have to decide whether i feel its worth it.....

Since thats the second time Mukdahan and Tha Phanom have been mentioned I can't see any reason not to find a way to include them.

As for the gibbon expierence, Well have to see whether money permits... but from what i've heard its probably well worth splurging here.... My budget for this trip is $4500 so its going to be tight at $30 a day roughly including transport, but a key thing is i don't drink, so theres no expensive nightlife for me....

I handnt thought about going straight to the top and just working down... would it be better than to just cross into huay xai from the start from thai side?

As for my interests in Laos are concerned, just take things slow and try to enjoy all the scenery. I've very laid back, and think it's a perfect place to spend the most time in. In general, I love ruins, temples, anything that makes you say WOW...

like when I actually spent 2 months staying at Wat Pah Nanachat in thailand as a monk in training nad there was a funeral where I saw a body being burned into ashes right before my eyes to so we could meditate on dying.... but thats a WHOLE nother thread :-P

haha... well i guess i dont really realize just how small singapore must be.....

thanks again

hmmmm

do you think changing the thai intinarary and making the chiang mai leg the last and do the northest first would be the best option?

also I've really only looked into crossing into laos from nong khai... Is the crossing at huay xai just as straightforward? more or less difficult?

thanks again

Looked over everyones advice, and came up with this revised gameplan and except for vietnam and malaysia where i need to fine tune, i think for the most part im going to stick with this, maybe stay a day or to longer at some places...


November

6 – 7 Bangkok
8 – 10 Ayutthaya
11 – 13 Lopburi
14 – 15 Phitsanulok
16 – 17 Sukothai
18 – 21 Chiang Mai and Flight of the Gibbon
22 Bangkok
23 – 29 Kanchanaburi for river kwai festival and Sangkhlaburi
30 Bangkok

December

1 – 2 Buri ram
3 – 4 Si Sa Ket
5- 6 Ubon Ratchathani
7 – 8 Mukdahan
9 -10 That Phanom
11 – 13 Nong Khai, ( possibly Sangkhom ) then enter Laos

14 – 15 Vientiane
15– 16 Vang Vieng
17 – 18 Phonsavan
19 – 20 Luang Prabang
21 – 26 Nong Kiaow and Muang Ngoi, possibly further north
27 – 28 Udomxai
29 – 31 Luang Nam Tha

Januaray

1 – 2 Muang Sing
3 – 6 Huay Xai, Slowboat to Luang Prabang
7 - 8 Vientiane , Fly to Siem Reap


9 – 13 Siem Reap and Angkor Wat
14 Phnom Phen
15 – 17 ?
18 Siem Reap, Flying back to Laos- Vientiane

19 - 20 Tha Khaek
21 – 22 Savannaket
23 – 24 Pakse
25 - 26 Champasak
27 – 31 4000 islands and some relaxing.

Febuaray

1 - 21 in vietnam, crossing in through Bo Y, still need to figure an itinerary Here

22 - 23 Kuala lumpor
24 – 28 ?

March

1 – 5 Islands

6 – 23 need to figure out my stops or malaysia or perhaps give some days to other places.....

24 – 25 Singapore
26 – 28 Brunei
29 -30 bangkok then home

Sure thing. that would be great.

I nothing changes ill get in touch a week or two in advance.

19-20 Luang Prabang

might be too short esp if you like temples, those there are rather different from what you'll see elsewhere in Laos (or the world). for a rough idea, go to this site & click on the categories (on right side) that have names starting with 'Wat'.

will be there the same weekend, but coming in opp direction (from Nong Khiaw). no idea how my schedule there might be (depends on friends there), but don't be surprised to see a cat wandering around.

for That Phanom , there's a little museum at the back (west side) with English info on the history of the stupa, & a branch of Mahachulalongkorn (Buddhist university) on the north side. really quiet town, when i was there two boys took their family's cows to graze right in the middle of town (between Wat That Phanom & the arch)...in the evening they hitched the cattle to the back of a tuktuk & drove home at a cow's walking pace...youngest tuktuk drivers i ever met :)

didn't stay overnight there, had to return to Sakon Nakhon by public transport. cat perception also shaped by living in one of the most densely populated places on earth ;)