Laos forum

Quickest way to Luang Nam Tha from Luang Prabang

callarda

motodop
Posts: 25

Hi-

I would like to get from Luang Prabang up to either Muang Sing or Vieng Phoukha via Luang Nam Tha so that I can do a village trek? What is the fastest way for me to get there (without doing the speedboat thing)? Are there any flights? Which is faster -- boat or bus? Is it feasible to get from Luang Prabang to Muang Sing or Vieng Phoukha in a day if I leave early in the morning from Luang Prabang?

Finally does anyone have any recommendations for good touring companies for village treks out of Muang Sing or Viene Phouhka that are culturally rich but not awkwardly invasive for the locals? I've got my LP recommendations but would love recent feedback.

Thanks,
Andrew

#1 Posted: 31/5/2010 - 04:11
LaoNow

flashpacker
Posts: 38

There is no reasonable boat trip option since Luang Namtha is on the Nam Tha (river) while LP is on the Mekong. It's a 2 day boat trip by charter only to travel the Nam Tha river up to Luang Namtha from the Mekong. Your only real option is by road and it's not a bad trip but slow due to massive long road construction in the Oudom Xai area. The trip takes about 9 hours and can be done by minivan, big buses or my favorite, those mid-sized local public buses that tourists never take. These local buses for this route have two legs, the first from LP to Oudom Xai and the next from there to Luang Namtha and continuing to Huay Xai. Hopefully, the 2nd leg bus will be waiting for the first leg bus to arrive and will depart shortly thereafter which makes an ideal transition in Oudom Xai and if so the total travel time is the same as big buses. The big buses have much trouble navigating thru all the ongoing road construction (narrow lanes) and the minibuses are loaded with smelly falang tourists. Better to break away from the herd and endure the smelly local buses. Bound to see some hill tribe people on them who often get sick after about 20 minutes.

#2 Posted: 31/5/2010 - 09:31
somsai

som tam seller
Posts: 523
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And yes it can be done in a day, but timing is everything. You want to catch the last bus over the hill to Muang Sing. Remember the words "fast" and "Laos" don't always go together.

Agree about the local busses, freindlier. There are a whole bunch of busses, even the long distance ones out of Vientaine stop at Luang Prabang en route to Huay Xai and Luang Nam Tha.

Bus Boat Schedules Laos
http://laomeow.blogspot.com/2008/07/bussongthaew-schedulesdetails.html

#3 Posted: 31/5/2010 - 10:27
LaoNow

flashpacker
Posts: 38

Any bus going from LP to Huay Xai or from Luang Namtha to Huay Xai will pass thru Vieng Phouka and you can get off there and is reachable in one day from LP. To get to Muang Sing in one day you would get the earliest bus out of LP to Luang Namtha and go directly to the central minivan bus station in Luang Namtha to hopefully get a minivan to Muang Sing but you'll probably miss the last bus. The main bus station on the outskirts of Luang Namtha doesn't have buses to Muang Sing. The Luang Namtha map at http://hobomaps.com has the minivan bus station indicated.

#4 Posted: 31/5/2010 - 11:20
callarda

motodop
Posts: 25

thanks for the tips! I am now thinking it might be easier for me to go to Nong Khiaw or Muang Ngoi Neua for my village homestay treks, since they seem quicker and easier (one bus in the case of Nong Khiaw) to get to than Muang Sing. Any tips on getting to these places by bus in terms of the timetable and how long it would take me from Luang Prabang.

Basically, I don't want to have to stay in an intermediate town on my way to the village trek places because of bus connecting issues, which is why I am moving my destinations closer to Luang Prabang.

Andrew

#5 Posted: 1/6/2010 - 00:14