Laos forum

What's the best way to enter the south, Champasak, from Bangkok?

bigfatcuban

longtail driver
Posts: 6

Hi I am Planning my 2nd trip to Laos and need to get from Bangkok to the south fast. Is there an overnight train or something from Bangkok to the border? This trip must be done a lot but I have not found anything on the topic.
bigfatcuban x

#1 Posted: 18/12/2007 - 06:07
somtam2000

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Hi BFC,

Best bet is the overnight train from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani and then take a bus to Chong Mek (for the border). Once you're on the other side, songtheaws or share-taxis do the run into Pakse. There's through buses all the way to Pakse if you want, but you need to have your visa beforehand to be able to use those.

#2 Posted: 18/12/2007 - 09:24

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bigfatcuban

longtail driver
Posts: 6

Thanks, Is Bangkok the best from Europe, Is it easier to fly London - somewhere else... to get to South Laos? - still to book flights.

#3 Posted: 18/12/2007 - 09:56
bigfatcuban

longtail driver
Posts: 6

PS this site is GREAT! Have already told three people and bought the book!

#4 Posted: 18/12/2007 - 09:58
somtam2000

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Glad you like the site!

Some of the best deals out of London to Asia are via the Middle East. Emirates have some good deals -- a quick search on their site had fares around the 600 quid mark. Another option is to use a tool like Kayak which will compare different airlines for you, and may be useful if London isn't your #1 choice.

Hope that helps.

#5 Posted: 18/12/2007 - 10:31

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bigfatcuban

longtail driver
Posts: 6

Thanks, I'll look. Wasn't really after a deal more the quickest route. Is the closest major international airport centre Bangkok or is it easier to get to Pakse etc from Hanoi, or Cambodia? I am flying from Sydney to Europe for a few weeks then coming back via Laos.

#6 Posted: 18/12/2007 - 12:37
somtam2000

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You can fly to Pakse from Bangkok, Siem Reap and Phnom Penh but that's about it for international flights. There's also a few domestic flights -- see the Lao Airlines website for more information.

Cheers

#7 Posted: 18/12/2007 - 21:01

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bigfatcuban

longtail driver
Posts: 6

Thanks a bunch.

#8 Posted: 19/12/2007 - 04:49
regina5

flashpacker
Posts: 32

We are doing Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani with Nok Air. Ticket cost per person 635 Baht! From Ubon it'll be either the direct "international bus" (have not found out if it stops for acquiring a visa) or a combination of buses. Estimated travel time from Bangkok to Pakse: Flight: 1 hour Bus: max. 3 hours.

#9 Posted: 20/12/2007 - 02:45
regina5

flashpacker
Posts: 32

We are doing Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani with Nok Air. Ticket cost per person 635 Baht! From Ubon it'll be either the direct "international bus" (have not found out if it stops for acquiring a visa) or a combination of buses. Estimated travel time from Bangkok to Pakse: Flight: 1 hour Bus: max. 3 hours.

#10 Posted: 20/12/2007 - 02:46
jesseroth

longtail driver
Posts: 10

any information about the Nam Hinboun River? e.g., is it beautiful, worth spending a few days on?

I was signed up to do a 3-day Boualapha Limestone Forest trip with Green Discovery Laos out of Thakhek but they cancelled it and are now suggesting I do a 4-day trip down the Nam Hinboun River. I can find very little info online and none in the Rough Guide Laos, but i

#11 Posted: 22/12/2007 - 20:47
regina5

flashpacker
Posts: 32

Have you tried this wording: Nam Hin boun River

#12 Posted: 22/12/2007 - 21:45
Antaro

newbie
Posts: 3

Did the trip 3 weeks ago. Some facts:

- Nighttrain 2nd Class Sleeper/AC, Bkk-Ubon, 20.30 pm to 7.30 am (740 Bht)
- Songthaew Nr.2 from Ubon Trainstation to main Busstation (10 Baht)
- 9.30 am AC Bus from Ubon to Pakse (3h, 200 Baht). The bus stops at the border and waits for everybody to get the Visa. Was no problem. Cost for the visa is from 30-42 Dollars, depending on nationality. Better to bring Dollar, otherwise you get a real bad Exchange rate for Baht (Pay 1300 Baht instead of 30 Dollars ...). Don't forget to bring a photo!

#13 Posted: 13/1/2008 - 22:49
somtam2000

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Thanks for the report back Antaro - appreciated.

#14 Posted: 14/1/2008 - 08:19

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SR

newbie
Posts: 2

Hi... I'm looking at going to Don Dhet from Bangkok.

Is there any direct bus from Bangkok to Pakse? How long it takes and how much is it?

Thanx

#15 Posted: 15/8/2010 - 01:50
Tilapia

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SR, there is no bus that goes straight to Pakse from Bangkok to the best of my knowledge. Better to take the train or bus to Ubon Ratchathani and then take the International Bus from the UR bus terminal to Pakse. Costs about B200. They drop you off at customs, then pick you up on the other side and continue on to the VIP bus station in Pakse near the southern market.

#16 Posted: 16/8/2010 - 23:37
SR

newbie
Posts: 2

thanx a lot for the tips. Just wondering if there's any faster way to get to pakse? Perhaps taxi? Will it be very costly? Coz i'm a girl and i might travel alone. If i use the train to UR, then bus to pakse, can i arrive within the same day or i have to overnight somewhere?

#17 Posted: 16/8/2010 - 23:48
Tilapia

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If you are traveling alone, your least expensive and most convenient option is probably going to be the International Bus unless you get a lift from someone. Taxi might be faster, but it will be a lot more expensive. If you hired a taxi with a bunch of people it might be better than taking the bus, though.

You can take the overnight train from Bangkok to UR, then Songthaew #2 (if memory serves correctly) from the UR train station to the bus terminal. They are quite far away from each other. You could also go by taxi or tuk tuk. Don't bother trying to walk as it's about 10 km. If you took the overnight train on, for example, Monday night, you could be in Pakse by late morning or early afternoon on Tuesday. I think that the 8:30 pm bus out of Bangkok will get you into UR at 7:30 am.

#18 Posted: 17/8/2010 - 03:58