Luang Prabang to Hanio overland trip

hi there

answers to the following questions would be appeaciated:

1. What is a realistic time to allow for this trip assuming no stops for sight seeing

2. Are there any regular buses that ply this route - can i buy one ticket and/or travel on one bus for the entire trip?

3. What are the options for this trip?

Thanks in advance

Luang Prabang to Hanio overland trip

Dont know if I qualify to answer this question as i havent actually taken the trip yet.... however I am at the end of Jan and have one quite a bit of research and everyone seems to say the overland trip can be pretty traumatic and there are quite a few nightmare stories. It takes 24hrs on a bus.

Dont know if its an option for you but I have finally opted for the recomended, much easier and overpriced flight. The more I red on this trip, the more it appealed.

Luang Prabang to Hanio overland trip

24-36 hours on the bus with little leg room, boxes on your lap, breakdowns, scary clifffaces, etc. Hmm

I%26#39;ve done the trip to Na Meo border half a dozen times both in cars and the bus - the bus to Phonsavanh from LP is fine, but the trip from there to Sam Neua and on to the border is mostly switchback roads clinging to a mountain side with sheer drop one on side. Landslides are common and can cause long delays.

You have to change buses at Phonsavanh and again at Sam Neua (or at least I did - its not a common tourist route and I%26#39;ve never heard of a through-bus, but might be wrong)

Personally I usually enjoy long bus trips, but not this one - once in the mountains the view is the same for hours, and the crazies overtaking round blind bends on the wrong side of the road don%26#39;t go well with the sheer drop offs.