Thailand forum
17 day trip to Thailand and Laos (Is it feasible?)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1000 for 5 weeks: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam - Feasible??? ... By quddus on 11 Nov 2008 | 2 | 4266 | 12 Nov 2008 |
| 3 weeks in Laos: 1 for the south and 2 for the north. It is feasible ? ... By vuh on 2 May 2007 | 4 | 2130 | 29 Jun 2007 |
Dutch
Joined Travelfish
19th March, 2012
Posts 9
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
My girlfriend and I are planning a 17 days trip to Thailand and Laos at the end of August. After doing some research this is our (current) travel itinerary/day planning:
Day 1: arrival at Bangkok at around noon.
Day 2: Sightseeing in Bangkok and night train to Chiang Mai
Day 3 and 4: Sightseeing/activities in Chiang Mai
Day 5: Bus to Chiang Khong (arrival at about 4pm). Getting a visa to Laos.
Day 6 and 7: Slowboat on Mekong river to Luang Prabang (through Pek Beng)
Day 8: Sightseeing/activities in Luang Prabang
Day 9: Flight Luang Prabang to Vientiane, bus to Nong Khai. Visiting the Sala Kaew Ku park.
Day 10: Bus to Udon Thani
Day 11: Sightseeing/activities around Udon Thani
Day 12: Flight Udon Thani to Bangkok, train to Bang Saphan Yai
Day 13 - 15: Resting and relaxing at the beach of Bang Saphan.
Day 16: Train back to Bangkok.
Day 17: Flight back home
Link to map:
http://www.delijstemaecker.nl/thailand-laos-map.png
Any expert feedback on our itinerary would be much appreciated! Things I'm not sure (/worrying) about: Is it wise to put so many km's in 17 days? Are we going to be able to catch our planes if we have some minor holdups? Should we spend more time in Chiang Mai and skip the beach?
It's going to be our first backpacking trip. After numerous holidays on the islands of Greece we're trying to find some more adventure in Thailand (but of course we still want to be able to call it a holiday!)
Any advise is more than welcome!
Cheers,
Dutch
#1 Posted: 19/3/2012 - 08:37
eastwest
Joined Travelfish
17th December, 2009
Posts 724
Member profile
Profile page
Private message
It is feasible but very short time in each place. You'll probably regret having to leave Luang Prabang after 1 day already.
I would personally cut out Udon Thani and fly from Vientiane to BKK because that would give you more time to spend in LP. If you're done in LP after 1 day you can always decide to add Udon Thani at the last moment
#2 Posted: 19/3/2012 - 08:57
Advertisement
MADMAC
Joined Travelfish
6th June, 2009
Posts 5091
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
I would strongly recommend against this. A lot of people come here with these packed itineraries because they don't understand a few key differences between SEA and western civilization:
1. Transportation infrastructure here, especially outside of Thailand, tends to be pretty slow. It just takes longer to get from A to B. It also tends to be pretty uncomfortable.
2. SEA is much less about seeing things than, say, Europe is. What makes this place cool is the pace of life. It's slow and easy - especially when you leave Bangkok (which admitedly is not).
SEA isn't about seeing tons of things - it's about chillin'. And racing around from place to place isn't chillin'
If it were me (and it's not), I would not attach timelines to anything. Get off the plane, have a general direction of travel. Leave one place when it's no longer fun or interesting and move on to the next place on the list. You get to what you get to, and don't sweat wherever you don't get. If you end up spending you whole vacation in Bangkok, so be it. The goal is to have a good time and relax. If you want to sight see - do that in Europe. It's much better.
#3 Posted: 19/3/2012 - 09:15
------------------------------
Victory in Pattani
MADMAC
Joined Travelfish
6th June, 2009
Posts 5091
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Laos has no trains though...
#4 Posted: 19/3/2012 - 13:08
------------------------------
Victory in Pattani
altmtl
Joined Travelfish
18th May, 2009
Location Earth
Posts 765
Member profile
Profile page
Private message
I would skip Udon Thani...
and frankly I would skip Laos, since you are going to Chiang Mai, - Pai may be a good option to LP. I do think Bang Saphan Yai is a good beach choice, but there is not much to do except relax on the beach... you can of course rent a motor bike and visit the nearby attractions there. I agree with MADMAC - relax and chill.
The night train is a good idea... you can book your ticket online in advance, I suggest this because it's a popular route... http://www.thairailticket.com/esrt/Default.aspx?language=1 - 2nd class sleeper is fine.
#5 Posted: 19/3/2012 - 13:08
altmtl's social networks[Twitter] [Facebook]
------------------------------
Join the FB Group: South East Asia 2013 - Travel buddies and more...
stefanw
Joined Travelfish
10th December, 2010
Posts 39
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
I would definitely cut down on the number of places. Get rid of Udon Thani and Bang Saphan Yai unless you really want to have some beach time. Possibly skip Chiang Mai and spend an extra day in BKK, if you think you'll prefer BKK over CM. Also spend longer than a day in LP.
It's much better to spend a few more days in places you really want to go rather than go to every place.
#6 Posted: 19/3/2012 - 15:40
altmtl
Joined Travelfish
18th May, 2009
Location Earth
Posts 765
Member profile
Profile page
Private message
Added point: Going to Laos just to take the slow boat & just to visit LP? It really doesn't sound worth it to me - wasting 2 days on a boat. Save Laos for another time when you can really visit the country.
Focus on Thailand. - Kanchanaburi & Ayutthaya, as well as the floating market at Amphawa are pretty close to BK.
#7 Posted: 19/3/2012 - 21:10
altmtl's social networks[Twitter] [Facebook]
------------------------------
Join the FB Group: South East Asia 2013 - Travel buddies and more...
BrettC
Joined Travelfish
17th March, 2012
Location United States
Posts 9
Member profile
Profile page
Private message
I guess the obvious one for me is fly from Chiang Mai to LP. Save yourself the two days and spend them relaxing. Alternately, take a trip that just goes from Bangkok to Chiang Mai to LP to Vientiane. You'll be amazed at how little time it feels like you have, and spending only a day or two in any one city will leave you feeling disappointed, especially since once you factor in travel times you may only have a few hours in a given city.
To make it feasible you'll need to cut something, preferably two things.
#8 Posted: 19/3/2012 - 23:01
------------------------------
lambdavagabonders.blogspot.com
MADMAC
Joined Travelfish
6th June, 2009
Posts 5091
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Cut the distance - cut out Laos. Not enough time to do it right. Bangkok and a beach. You got enough time for that.
#9 Posted: 19/3/2012 - 23:09
------------------------------
Victory in Pattani
Dutch
Joined Travelfish
19th March, 2012
Posts 9
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Thanks for the all the advise! Admittedly I did hope for the "feasible, go for it!"-reply. I guess we should really cut some things then. (Though Isn't being in hurry part of the backpacking experience? j/k)
Some quick replies to your (much appreciated) feedback:
--- MADMAC #3: "I would strongly recommend against this. A lot of people come here with these packed itineraries because they don't understand a few key differences between SEA and western civilization:
1. Transportation infrastructure here, especially outside of Thailand, tends to be pretty slow. It just takes longer to get from A to B. It also tends to be pretty uncomfortable" ---
It's true that I've never been to SEA. But I have been doing quite a lot of reading on the subject of transportation so I do like to think I understand (at least to some amount ) the differences in infrastructure in comparison to Europe.
--- altmtl #7: "Added point: Going to Laos just to take the slow boat & just to visit LP? It really doesn't sound worth it to me - wasting 2 days on a boat. Save Laos for another time when you can really visit the country" ---
I kinda liked the idea of being on the Mekong for two days, I didn't really see it as a waste of time. Wouldn't it be a fun experience?
Anyway, I guess it's back to the drawing board! Things I don't want to cut out:
- Chiang Mai
- The beach: my girlfriend really wants to stay a few days at the beach, so I don't really want to cut that out.
The other destinations are open for reconsideration. I hope you guys are willing to criticize a new (less packed) itinerary in a few days. Thanks all!
#10 Posted: 20/3/2012 - 05:28
Advertisement
chinarocks
Joined Travelfish
17th June, 2011
Posts 378
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
17 days --> stick to one country. Bangkok, Chiang Mai and a beach would not be unrealistic for a relaxing 17 days.
Isn't being in hurry part of the backpacking experience?
Not at all. The opposite actually I would have said.
#11 Posted: 20/3/2012 - 06:53
MADMAC
Joined Travelfish
6th June, 2009
Posts 5091
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
China is spot on here. Rushing around shouldn't be a vacation experience ever. The whole point of a vacation is to relax and have fun.
Chiang Mai, Bangkok, a beach... You'll be glad you limited yourself to that.
When you have a few months, you can start to spread out and move around more.
#12 Posted: 20/3/2012 - 07:46
------------------------------
Victory in Pattani
BrettC
Joined Travelfish
17th March, 2012
Location United States
Posts 9
Member profile
Profile page
Private message
The big advantage of doing just Bangkok, a beach or two, and Chiang Mai is that you can sleeper train most of your travel, which is uncommon in SE Asia. Traveling while you sleep will help alleviate some of the travel fatigue that comes with long hours on buses. You'll also find it cheaper and more relaxing than flying around, although you should get used to slight delays - arrival times for trains in Thailand tend to be overly optimistic, but it's not as bad as the travel agents trying to sell you bus tickets would have you believe.
#13 Posted: 20/3/2012 - 21:14
------------------------------
lambdavagabonders.blogspot.com
MADMAC
Joined Travelfish
6th June, 2009
Posts 5091
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Brett
I think Plane beat train any day - unless you have a beautiful woman sharing your cabin with you for those long hours. But train is a touch cheaper, and for those who fear flying it's probably safer and certainly feels safer. That counts for me. But I can take one hour to fly to Bangkok from Ubon or something like 10 hours to take the train. Even if I am sleeping on the train, I'm eating a lot more time and that's an evening I could be out in the city that I am not because I am on the train.
#14 Posted: 21/3/2012 - 00:09
------------------------------
Victory in Pattani
BrettC
Joined Travelfish
17th March, 2012
Location United States
Posts 9
Member profile
Profile page
Private message
Even most natives I've discussed it with have preferred the train to flying. Having said that, these conversations almost exclusively took place on a train. As for a beautiful traveling companion, I think OP did say s/he was traveling with their girlfriend, which makes the train meet your self-declared criterion for beating the plane. As for price, a first class sleeper cabin to Chiang Mai is 1500 baht each way. A Round Trip Flight is on the order of 4500 baht with Bangkok Airways.
Not to be disagreeable, but I'm not seeing the downside, other than maybe missing a few hours of salsa.
#15 Posted: 21/3/2012 - 00:41
------------------------------
lambdavagabonders.blogspot.com
MADMAC
Joined Travelfish
6th June, 2009
Posts 5091
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Missing a night of salsa - that's a pretty huge downside for me.
People who can afford it almost always fly. That is indigenous persons. Backapackers tend to be looking for some sort of "experience" and thus avoid flying unless they are pressed for time.
I take the crappy bus for 750 baht because it makes economic sense. But I loathe it.
#16 Posted: 21/3/2012 - 03:28
------------------------------
Victory in Pattani
theChosenOne
Joined Travelfish
26th March, 2012
Posts 12
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
It is doable but one thing I would say is do not book anything apart from the first few days. I have met loads of people who change their mind about their itinerary and regret cementing their plans before arriving.
#17 Posted: 27/3/2012 - 00:22