plain of jars outside luang prabang laos

hi. has anyone been to this place? i have seen a picture and now am considering going to laos just to see it for myself. any additional information would help...thanks

plain of jars outside luang prabang laos

Hello,

I visited the Plain of Jars in Laos just a few months ago. It was absolutely amazing and the mystery surrounding these giant ';jars'; was quite interesting. Well worth the detour and a worthy destination. Equally interesting was being in a location that was heavily bombed by the US and still seeing the effects all around.

Please visit my photo web site at www.pbase.com/jtodhunter/travel. I am tons of pics of the Plain of Jars there.

Jesse Todhunter

plain of jars outside luang prabang laos

This Plain of Jars-sounds fascinating to me. I wonder if it is doable in a day-Jesse, anyone? I would really like to see it on my upcoming trip to LP.

Yes, we did this trip in a day. It is ';doable';, but only just.

Perhaps a better way is to book a trip from Luang Prabang to the Plain of Jars (stay overnight) then onwards to Vang Vieng (caves) then on to Vientiane ( the capital).

We wished that we had done this as it breaks up the long journey.

There are lots of travel agents in Luang Prabang offering different combinations including a trip to the Plain Of Jars, then a flight to Vientiane.

For some reason, the flights to the Plain of Jars from Luang Prabang have ceased.

I have just published a review of our trip to Luang Prabang on www.epinions.com

(type in Laos where it says search).

I am just about to publish an account of our ';interesting'; trip to the Plain of Jars (Christmas permitting).It is written. I am just adding the final touches and trying to find the time to get it on the epinions website.

this is fantastic information. I live in 2 weeks for Laos and don%26#39;t have much planned but am very excited. Does anyone have a recommendation of a mid-range hotel (maybe 30 or 40 a night) in Luang Prabang?

Are there any recs of things to do in Luang Prabong and the surrounding areas?

Thanks!

OK.

I published my review early, especially for you.I hope that you have a good trip.

Try this website:

http://www.epinions.com/content_213614038660

Hopefully, it should direct you to my review on the Plain Of Jars.

If this fails go to www.epinions.com and type in Laos. Look under destinations or hotels and travel.

For cheap, clean accommodation with ensuite shower etc. ask for the newly opened guest house (20 USD per night) which is part of Tum Tum Cheng: email tumtumcheng@hotmail.com

It is at the quieter end of Luang Prabang just off the main street. Breakfast is not provided but you can get a basic breakfast for just over a dollar in most of the numerous cafes.

has anyone story behind this plain of jars ? why are they there etc.?

This is an extract from my review ( see the website immediately above your post):

The mysterious Plain of Jars waited for us, just as it had waited for thousands of years for others. Situated near the town of Phonsavan, several groups of enormous stone vessels are scattered across a vast high plateau. Over the centuries many armies have tried to gain control of these plains, including the Vietnamese and Siamese. Local legend has it that in the sixth century, King Khun Jeuam from southern China defeated the evil Chao Anka. In the ensuing celebrations hundreds of jars of lao-lao rice wine were drunk leaving behind almost three hundred huge, empty limestone and sandstone jars. They have been so pillaged that hardly any evidence remains to tell their true story. In the 1930%26#39;s a French archaeologist, Madeleine Colani, claimed to have discovered beads and bronzes and concluded that the jars were funerary urns.

what is the best way to visit plain of jars with 2 children. Is there organised ';comfortable'; tour from LP ? And if we arrive by plane from Vientiene at 12:30 and leave with the 16:30 plane on the next day, would that leave us enough time to look around ?

The Plain of Jars is miles off the beaten track and our day trip from Luang Prabang was practically THE ONLY day trip. Comfortable ? No way !

I am not too sure that I would take children there when there is so much to see and do in Luang Prabang and Vientiane. However, if you are really intent on going take plenty to drink and a picnic lunch and maybe some cushions.There are virtually no facilities at site one( which is all we got to see).

It is such a long day.

If you only have just over a day in Vientiane, you could hire a Jumbo and whizz round. Vientiane is not large. The airport is so near to everything. Where are you staying overnight? Things to see in Vientiane in just over 24 hours are:

The Golden Stupa- get there early as it closes at 11.30 am and opens again in the afternoon.

The Patuxai- Vientiane’s answer to the Arc de Triomphe.

A Wat or two—ask for the main ones.

The Black Stupa- sort of looks neglected

The stalls by the river are interesting – lots of barbequed fish, spare ribs.

There are also lots of restaurants by the Fountain Circle.

May be you might have time to see the local markets.

The History Museum, if you and your children are into that sort of thing, is next to the Lao Plaza. It is small but gives you an insight into the culture- and there is a Jar in there.

For a mere taste of what we did ( in a week) see our review of Vientiane:

http://www.epinions.com/content_217881874052

You can find three reviews altogether: Luang Prabang , Plain of Jars %26amp; Vientiane. Click top right on the page for all our reviews.

The tourist office on the main road ( Thanon Lang Xang) leading to the Patuxai may be open by now. It is marked number 28 on the map of Vientiane in the Lonely Planet guide to Laos.

Hope this is helpful.

I was in Luang Prabang %26amp; Vientiane in December and will be going back to LP this coming December. I intend to visit the Plain of Jars and spend 3 days there. Locals tell me the bus is 6-7 hours, and there are two flights per week from Luang Prabang (presently) on Sat. and Sun. (I have confirmed this on the Lao Airlines site.) Since I do not intend to spend an entire week there I will bus it in and fly back.