Laos forum
Travelling SaPa to Chiang Mai through Laos - Best Route?
Have questions? Jump to our menu of forum quicklinks
Add your reply
You need to be logged in to add a reply.
Not a member? you can join here.
| Possibly related discussions | Replies | Views | Latest reply |
|---|---|---|---|
| BKK to BKK circular route (Jan 4th to 24th): BKK-Chiang Mai-Laos-BKK ... By Greatlookinguy on 16 Dec 2012 | 0 | 237 | 16 Dec 2012 |
| Best route from Chiang Mai through Laos to Kunming,Yunnan ... By gonganath108 on 2 Apr 2008 | 1 | 6058 | 17 Apr 2008 |
| Hanoi > Sapa > Laos > Chiang Mai ... By gottagetaway on 21 Jun 2011 | 2 | 2091 | 21 Jun 2011 |
| In Chiang Mai, travelling to Laos in a bit... ... By ange7a on 16 Mar 2012 | 4 | 302 | 23 Mar 2012 |
laydeesian
Joined Travelfish
28th January, 2013
Posts 2
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
I am travelling from SaPa to Chiang Mai via Luang Prabang next month. I have about 9 days to make the journey (including spending 3-4 days in Luang Prabang) and am considering 2 different options and would like your thoughts on which of these would be best? Or if there is another route you would recommend?
Option 1 - Train from SaPa to Hanoi - fly to Luang Prabang - slow boat to Huay Xai - side trip to Nam Ha NP - bus to Chiang Mai
Option 2 - Bus from SaPa to Dien Bien Phu - bus to Muang Khua - boat to Nong Khiaw - boat to Luang Prabang - fly to Chiang Mai
Option 1 was my original plan but I will have already been to Hanoi before SaPa and am not keen on going back on myself so thought if I could overland from SaPa into Laos it would make a more interesting journey. If I travelled this way I would want to spend a couple of days in Nong Khiaw but would then have to miss out Nam Ha NP and the slow boat on the Mekong due to time. But is the boat trip down the Nam Ou and trekking around Nong Khiaw just as good? And are the buses and boats in my option 2 route reliable as it seems to be less travelled?
Also, I'll be leaving SaPa on 11th/12th Feb, just after the New Year. Will this affect my travel plans at all?
Thanks in advance for any advice!
#1 Posted: 28/1/2013 - 11:22
somtam2000
admin
Joined Travelfish
21st January, 2004
Location Indonesia
Posts 6406
Member profile
Profile page
Private message
I'd definitely recommend #2
The boat trip from Muang Khua to Nong Khiaw is great. You can also trek from Muang Khua, though low numbers and fairly "informal".
Some further reading:
Trekking from NK
Trekking from LNT (in Nam Ha, this is from a couple of years ago)
Wouldn't expect New Year to be an issue.
#2 Posted: 29/1/2013 - 01:34
somtam2000's social networks[Twitter] [Facebook] [Flickr] [Google+] [Instagram] [Pinterest]
------------------------------
Travel films for Southeast Asia
Advertisement
mooball
TF writer
Joined Travelfish
19th June, 2010
Location Australia
Posts 217
Member profile
Profile page
Private message
Definitely option 2.
#3 Posted: 2/2/2013 - 21:37
mooball's social networks[Twitter] [Google+] [Instagram]
------------------------------
www.bacaresepdulu.com