Arriving in luang Prabang

Arriving in luang Prabang

Most buses and mini-vans arrive in luang Prabang a few kms from the centre, where many tuk-tuk drivers or representatives of guest houses will pounce on you as soon as you step off your bus. Most will show fotos of accommodation and will try to persuade you to stay there. Pick a suitable one, then they usually try to stick you in a tuk-tuk for a couple dollars, but it is quite easy to persuade them to give you free transportation should you decide to stay in their GH.

TRAVEL BY BUS HERE..NO RAIL..

LUANGPRABANG Whenever I can when travelling I always, if possible ,travel by train as I beleive it is the best and most comfortable way to travel...unfortunately there are no more trains in Laos so the next best cheapest thing is a bus..The busses are generally I found to be in good condition very modern,fast,and clean, for long distance services ..ie: Luangprabang-Vang Vieng-Vientienne..also they are very reasonably priced and usually full.so book a day or so prior to your journey..

Get yourself some wheels. A great way to get about Luang Prabang and the surrounding countryside is to hire a scooter, the all-purpose vehicle of Southeast Asia. Having ridden bikes as a young man, I am quite comfortable with scooters although I would suggest if you have limited or no experience, this region is maybe not the place to learn. In town, the traffic is the usual chaos with people apparently going where they want and road signs ignored totally. Out of town, apart from Highway 13, the roads can be a little tricky, especially if you cross to the far bank of the Mekong. If you are confident though, you can save yourself some money on the tours to the likes of Pak Ou caves, and the two main waterfalls.

I rented a bike from Pinekham Services as it was near my guesthouse. It was the standard 100cc Wave with 71,000 km on the clock and Heaven knows how many more not. It had brakes as soggy as an Irish February and had obviously seen much better days. However, it sufficed for my needs.

It cost 100,000 kip per day and, as is usual, you had to deposit your passport with them. You are required to leave the machine back full and there is a convenient Caltex filling station just along at the other end of Visounarath Road.

It is located on the (only) roundabout on Kisarth Settathirat Road, at the junction with Visounarath Road.


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Getting from Luang Prabang to Siem Reap

Getting from Luang Prabang to Siem Reap

Hi, Just wondering if anyone has flown Laos airlines route Luang Prabang to Siem Reap? Any advice on the safest way to get from LP to SR?

=> In terms of safety Lao are on a par with any of the other regional carriers... modern fleet of ATR Turbo Props and A320's... which means they're as safe as any other airline which can fly you from Luang Prabang to Siem Reap by whatever route... and all of those are significantly safer than any road option you might choose. No concerns.

=> Yes Capn but, it is just that when you have a "problem" you tend never to have any more. Suppose I am cynical because I like ships.

=> We flew with Lao last year from the Plain of Jars - Vientiane - Pakse and eventually on to Siem Reap and they were fine. If anything their aircraft interior decor is completely over the top with something that resembles a cross between a latter-day electric cool-aid acid test and being immersed in a tropical fish tank. Have to say though they are one of the only airlines in the world that I've flown with that consistently departed early once everyone had checked in.

=> fantastic, thanks for the replies. flights booked and I feel alot better about it now

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Getting from Luang Prabang / Laos to Siem Reap / Cambodia

Getting from Luang Prabang / Laos to Siem Reap / Cambodia

So, I'm in the midst of planning a trip with a friend in January-February 2013, covering Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. We're trying to get from Luang Prabang to Siem Reap, and it would seem we can either go down Laos (Bus to Vientiane, bus to Pakse, bus to Siem Reap) or through Thailand (Bus to Vientiane, overnight sleeper to Bangkok, train to the Thai-Cambodian border and bus from there to Siem Reap). Any advice out there as to which way to go? It would be nice to see more of Laos, but if it's at the expense of ridiculous amounts of time and effort.... Unfortunately it will not be overly long before Tet in Vietnam by that stage of the trip, so huge delays would be rather unfortunate (planning to be in HCMC by Tet). Any help much appreciated! :) ???

=> from central bus station Vientianne take pick up outside morning mkt next dorr to sth east bus terminal and bus to Nahin for Konglor caves and after back to junction route 8 & route 13 and take overnight bus to Pakse and don det Pakse travel do a deal from Pakse rto Phnom pen or siemn reap with stoppover on don det and you just get GH to telephone them and they will arrange to collect you and put you on bus to Phnom pen from mainland. If possible get your Cambodian visa before you enter as scams are afoort also in Pakse and don det they will rip you off for vis fees so go toe Cambodian embassy in Vientianne for your visa. at border they try and charge you extra $3-$5 and also avoid thetemp health check $2 scams plus $2 keep my family rich leaving laos scam Ha! Ha! you leave don det around 830am and arrive late evening in Phnom pen

=> 5 countries in 2 months, looks like you will spend half your time on a bus. LP to SR by bus will take about 36 hours. 

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Airport Taxi to the center of Luang Prabang, Laos

Airport Taxi to the center of Luang Prabang, Laos

Can anyone tell me if I can make arrangement with the airport shuttle after I arrive at Luang Prabang Airport and pay in USD?

=> Tuk-tuks are your best and cheapest bet. It's only a 15 to 20 minute tuk-tuk ride from the airport to the town centre. If you know what hotel you are staying at, the driver will drop you at the door. Probably around 50,000 kip.

=> There is a monopoly at the airport and there are no tuk-tuks. You pay in advance for a mini-van to take you to the center of town and it is 50,000 kip or US$6 (yes you can pay in $). No need to reserve in advance.

=> Tuk tuk into town is nowhere near 15-20mins ride! Try about 5-7 mins max. You can pay the minivan service (as noted 50,000kip or $6USD) and it's ridiculously easy to walk 100m to outside the gates and grab a tuk tuk. If you have some Lao and good negotiation skills you may be able to get a ride for 20,000kip (but they may not take USD), or 30-40,000 if you're not strong on either!


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Luang Prabang Taxis & Luang Prabang Rental Cars

Luang Prabang Taxis & Luang Prabang Rental Cars

Don't leave your fellow traveler floundering on the curb. Tell us whether a car rental is important in Luang Prabang or if taxis are the way to travel. What's parking like, how much does it cost, and what are the local driving laws a visitor should know? How do you hail a cab, signal that you need a ride and tell if a taxi is available?

Luang Prabang Traveller Article: http://www.tripadvisor.com

Vientiane to Luang prabang by taxi/private car ?

Vientiane to Luang prabang by taxi/private car ?

I want to travel overland but NOT by bus or boat. Ha anyone done this by private car or have any idea of cost? Any agent to organise this?

=> There are a few agencies in Vientiane who could arrange this for you. It would be quite expensive, I imagine,

=> Seems to me also quite expensive as you will need to pay for the driver and car to return to Vientiane. But you could try and ask for a quote from the driver I had in LP for a quote come get you. He does drive folks around the country. If you are interested, PM me and I will send you his name, phone and email.

Laos forum / http://www.tripadvisor.com

7 days in Luang Prabang

7 days in Luang Prabang

I will be in Luang Prabang for a week.....what are your suggestions? What specific tour companies would you use for day trips etc? Thanks for your help!!!!!

=>> I wouldn't use tour companies. Absolutely no need.

Suggestions: In addition to visiting the wats in the main part of town, also visit those off the tourist track. Pause and talk with the monks.

Visit the old Palace, which is now a museum. Quite an odd collection...

Walk up Mt. Phousi

Hire a tuk tuk or car and driver to take you to the water falls - there are two different sets of falls.

Hire a boat to take you to the Pak Ou caves, a Buddhist pilgrimage site for hundreds of years. The river journey is a treat in and of itself.

Visit the weaving co-op outside of town.

Have a long, lingering lunch on the balcony of the Villa Santi.

Wander the markets.

=>> Reading Stalking the Elephant Kings by Christopher Kremmer will significantly enhance you experience of Luang Prabang. It is long out of print, but you'll be able to find it online somewhere.

The Pak Ou caves are one of those places where it pays to understand what you are looking at. It is a 500 year old Buddhist pilgrimage site, with offerings of Buddha images. It has been looted by tourists and locals to sell to tourists, so some images are broken, and the most beautiful of the images are gone. But it is still imbued with the spiritual power of a centuries old religious pilgrimage site. If this appeals to you, go, if not, don't. I'd avoid he usual stop at a Lao-Lao village on the way.