Laos forum

Hi Madmac

I'm British, currently residing in Scotland (albeit I am actually English).

I should clariy above where I've said I am looking for somewhere with backpackers for socialising - the best nights I had in Cambodia were where there was a good mix of local Cambodians AND people travelling through Cambodia. I guess I am just looking to not be on my own in the middle of a jungle/whereever for long periods of time (which I did in Mexico and I got sick of my own company after a few days!)

Ah, well the name isn't real... it is just an internet moniker. :-)

Thanks for the tips - much appreciated.

I realise I wrote my two earlier posts in a bit of hurry and I didn't really make it clear what I am looking for. First and foremost I want somewhere with either a historical/cultural or natural beauty aspect. I am a big histroy nerd (ancient and modern - hence why I loved Cambodia and Vietnam so much)

The socialising plays second fiddle to that. I am not interested in just partying - I could stay in the UK if that were just my criteria. That said, as I've said above, I am keen to be in places where I am likely to meet people, be they local or traveling.

Thanks again for the reply.

AyanamiNal

Thanks for giving us a detailed view of your interests and rough itinerary (albeit over several posts). Having this detail really helps when seeking to offer support/advice.

First, as you've already read, I'm an advocate for taking the journey slowly so that you experience more and travel less.

To reinforce this point, I wrote elsewhere on Travelfish...

Do you want to see... heaps, but not experience much?

OR

Do you want to do (as in experience)... lots of enjoyable things, but see fewer places?

If you want to see, then it doesn't matter how you go, etc. All you are doing is travelling to see as much as possible. This focus means your journey is travelling.

However, if you want to experience what you do, then it really doesn't matter where you go as long as you go to places that will allow you to do (as in experience).

My view is that if you go to less places, and spend a bit more time in each of the places you go to, then you are going to do more (as in experience) and enjoy yourselves more.

That said, I think your journey is all about travelling heaps, and doing very little along the way. If you like the insides of buses, and waiting rooms, etc., sobeit.

I don't know why you are wedded to the boat trip from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang . There are other boat trips in the area that are equally enjoyable, and not as long, cramped, and tedious (as is this one).

You say you want to experience scenery, yet your journey largely by-passes the best scenery.

You also say you want to mix with other tourists AND locals, yet, again, your journey largely by-passes the places where this can occur.

I will suggest a journey that doesn't incur as much travel, allows you to interact with locals, and embraces scenery, etc. Sadly, you will visit less places, but I suggest you'll enjoy your journey more.

As you'll be travelling smack bang in the middle of the wet season, I'll also take that into account.

My experience from discussing the issue with the many younger single females in this area, the matter of being a single female is not an issue when travelling in the northern Thailand / Laos area (assuming, of course, that you exercise your normal self protection measures).

- - -

Sat – arrive KL
Sun – (Bangkok) - Chiang Rai – Chiang Khong

* Check to see if there is a direct BKK - Chiang Khong bus, and make sure your bus gets to Chiang Khong before 4pm (the border crossing can take the best part of an hour, and the border closes at 6pm). Stay the night in Laos at Huay Xai.

* If you had said you were into trekking and jungle stuff, I'd have offered 2 options here (1) book a 2 day with the Gibbon Experience, or (2) take the bus to Luang Nam Tha , go and book a trek in the Luang Nam Tha NPA via Vieng Phouka. If you ARE into trekking, come back to this link and I'll adjust my 'proposed' itinerary to suit.

Monday - bus to Luang Nam Tha.

* Luang Nam Tha has a great mix of adventurous tourists and locals (at the night market esp.). In Nam Tha, go to the Loas EcoCentre (or the more expensive GreenDiscovery) for info about tours/treks/etc. Hire a bike, (preferably small motorbike) and explore the area.

Another option is to go to Muang Sing. There, its like going back 20 years in time. And the ethnic interaction is encouraged.

Mon - Wed - Luang Nam Tha

Wed - bus to Luang Prabang (via OudomXay).

* An alternative is to take the bus to OudomXai, and change to another to Nong Khiaw. From there, either stay here for a day, or take a boat (1 hour) to Ngoi Neua and stay there. In Ngoi Neua you WILL engage with travellers AND locals!!!

From Nong Khiaw, take an all day journey down the very scenic Nam Ou (river Ou) into the Mekong to Luang Prabang. I did the reverse a couple of months ago.

option 1:

Thur - Nong Khiaw/Ngoi Neua

Fri - boat to Luang Prabang

Sat - Luang Prabang

Sun - Luang Prabang

option 2:

Thur - Luang Prabang

Fri - boat to Nong Khiaw/Ngoi Neua

Sat - Nong Khiaw/Ngoi Neua

Sun - boat to Luang Prabang

--

Mon - bus to Vang Vieng

Tue - Vang Vieng

Wed - bus to Vientiane

Thurs - Vientiane airport etc.

------

There are a variety of other options.

If you are interested, I did a blog on my recent journey through this area. Go to:

www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/brucemoon/

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Thanks John,

You are too kind.

Cheers

Hi AyanamiNal here - for some reason I couldn't log in under my old name so I had to register.

Anyway, just wanted to say thanks again for all the tips. I've revised my itineary quite a bit and have decided that 'less is more' for this trip, so whilst I am treading a well trodden tourist path, I hope to be able to do a few day trips / treks etc but also spend some time just relaxing without worrying about my next bus journey etc. For anyone that is interested, my itinaery is listed below - Again, comments are welcome but this is looking more like the 'end product'

Sat 26 Sept - arrive Kuala Lumpar
Sun 27 - KL
Mon 28 - KL
Tues 29 - Fly to Vientiene (arrive 9am)
Weds 30 - Vientiene / Vang Vieng
Thur 1 - VV
Fri 2 - VV - LP
Sat 3 - LP
Sun 4 - LP (full moon festival?)
Mon 5 - LP (my birthday!)
Tues 6 - Trekking
Wed 7 - Trekking (return LP late PM)
Thur 8 - LP to KL
Fri 9 - KL - London

Obviously quite a bit of time in LP but as I say, am planning a few boat trips/excurions out to the caves etc.

I'm not sure I quite understand what you mean, but I certainly didn't mean to be rude to anyone. Whilst I may not have ended up using some of Bruce's recommendations, I am very grateful to him for making me realise that 'less is more' with regards to my trip and I am still keeping the river trip he suggested in mind. I apologise if I've come across as somehow ungrateful after all his super useful infomation.

Ooh thanks. Really hope the dates are correct (have checked and it is a full moon on the 4th so fingers crossed - would certainly make my birthday extra special!). I'm booked into a guesthouse overlooking one of the wats up on the northern peninsula tip near where the rivers meet so hopefully I should get to see some beautiful sights without intruding too much!

I'm flying LP to Bangkok then onwards to KL (after a 4 hour layover) hence why it is only taking me a day :-)

Finally, I am super paranoid about missing flights so will heading to the airport in KL around 4am for the 8am flight to Laos. I figure I should be safe in a taxi that early!

You guys are just too helpful! I'm staying about a 5 - 10 walk from Sentral so will investigate the AirAsia bus if it runs that early.

Thanks again!

in that case check StarWira's list of hotels to see if you're staying at or within a short walk of any of their shuttle pickup points. that service is just RM15, which would be less than taxi to Sentral + SkyBus to LCCT, & saves you one transfer. but you need to call them to make arrangements.