Thailand forum

It's exciting to plan ahead a bit, but I'd suggest you get to Chiang Mai and make arrangements from there. You can book package deals with slowboat or speedboat to Luang Prabang, every travel agent and guesthouse has this available daily or you can do it yourself by public bus, cross the Mekong, get a Laos visa on arrival, buy a boat ticket - simple. Many travellers do this every day so you'll have plenty of company along the way. Allow around 10 days to do this and the other fav spots in north Laos, Vang Vieng, Vientiane, maybe a side-trip to Nong Khiaw and Muang Ngoi with a boat down the Ou river to LP, or out to the Plain of Jars near Phonsavan. Also good trekking options further north near Vieng Phoukha, Luang Namtha, Muang Sing. Spend a few days around Chiang Mai and share ideas. Decent white water rafting just north of here on the Taeng river, although in early Jan the level is dropping a bit. Also rafting in Laos on the Nam Ngum river north of Vientiane. Cheapest trekking is based from Chiang Mai but beware some are very commercialised, especially the very cheapest. Expect to pay about 1500 baht ($50) for a good 3-day trek with max 12 people, or for something more specialised pay a private local guide about $30/day per person, maybe just you and a couple friends. There are also more recently-opened trekking routes in the more remote corners of northern Laos.