Laos forum

saxomophone

Yes, you do sound excited: good on you...

As you may have noted if you've read any of my suggestions to other travellers, I'm not into rushing around just to 'be there'.

Personally, I think you are trying to do / see too much, and will end up not doing /seeing much at all of the stuff that matters (unless you like the inside of a bus).

For example, you suggest...

Vientiane 14-16 July [so as the last bus leaves @ 2pm, there's half a day gone on travel - so only really 2 days in Vientiane {see also note way below}]

Vang Vieng 16-17 July [bus to Luang Prabang = 7 hours, so only the 16th really!]

Luang Prabang 17-21 July (+ a 1-2 day hike in the surrounding area). [Are you sure you can fly to Phonsovan on a Tuesday?]

Phonosavan 21-22 July (fly from LP, visit Plain of Jars) [ you need a day to 'do' the PoJ, so when do you think you're going to bus it to Sam Neua ? - a 10 hour trip?]

22-25 Sam Neua ...

- - - - -

The point I am making is that you are doing a lot of bussing around, but (in the above segment) other than Luang Prabang, are really only spending a few hours in each place.

As for Trekking, as you want to go up around Luang Nam Tha, why are you wanting to trek from Luang Prabang? Frankly, the trekking in the Nam Tha province is rated much better than in the Lunag Prabang area (because less tourists go to Nam Tha, actual villagers are used as guides, you can go directly into the Nam Tha NPA, etc.).

I don't want to tell you how to plan your holiday (ie, do this, don't do that, etc.).

Rather, I suggest you get a Lonely Planet, look at the places you have listed (above) and work out how much time you'll ACTUALLY be in a bus or boat, etc.

Also, when looking at the places you're planning to go, ask yourself WHY you are actually going there. That is, what do YOU want to achieve while visiting that place.

You know that when most people arrive in a new place, first they take time to get accommodation organised, then they look around the city / town to get oriented and acquainted, and that usually fills the first day. Maybe in that first day, they may organise something for the next day. If not, the organising happens on the second day. So, when getting to a city/town after travelling, few actually achieve anything other than 'being' on the first day (not that there's anything wrong with that).

So, after you have taken away the time for travel, and taken away the time for 'being', then ask yourself why you want to be in that city/town, and how many days will it take to achieve what it is you want to achieve.

I suggest if you do this, you'll be rushing around less, enjoying what you want more, and giving yourself the opportunity to having a really great time.

Cheers