3 days, what to do....

If you had 3 full day%26#39;s in Luang Prabang in January 09, where would you stay (how about a botique hotel, mid range, and what would your game plan be? What is absolutely not to be missed? We don%26#39;t need guides, we just want to day pack it and spend at least 1 day on the river...what about weather in January???Should we expect mosquito%26#39;s? What do you all think? What is the best price we can expect flying from Laos to Bangkok (what airlines)...one way?

Thanks

Karma/Trouble

3 days, what to do....

I can certainly recommend the Lotus Villa - mid range, very clean, excellent breakfast and friendly helpfulstaff and owners. It is very well situated. Personally I think much of the charm of the town is just relaxing and soaking up the atmosphere - you dont want to rush around! There are lots of good restaurants and of course wats, but you dont need to see them all! Climb Mount Phousi just before sunset, experience Tak Bat, which you can do from the front of the Lotus Villa, visit Wat Xieng Thong, just along the street, or a cooking class at Tamarind, along the street in the other direction. I loved just wondering around without a %26#39;game plan%26#39;, walking along the river banks and yes a trip on the Mekong is great - hire a boat and just spend as long as you wish (preferable than going on an organised %26#39;tour%26#39; of which there are many). I can assure you - you will wish you were staying longer than 3 days!

Bangkok Air flies from LP to Bangkok (about $212) So does Lao Air(about $253).Lao Air also flies from Vientiane to Bangkok (about S173). I dont knowif it will suit your plans but I flew Vientiane to Kuala Lumpur with Air Asia (brand new plane/arrived early) for under $60

3 days, what to do....

Hi and thanks, that was really helpful. I really liked your advice about a private boat down river. What would you expect to pay for the day in U.S. Dollars. All your suggestions we%26#39;re great. I didn%26#39;t tell you this but will be coming from Chaing Mai to Luang Probang. We will be spending 12 day%26#39;s in Myanmar and then take a timeout in one of our favorite places in the world, Chaing Mai. By the way, we are seriously thinking South Africa next year. Do you think we are on the right track!

Sincerely,

Roger

San Diego!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Roger

I paid $10 for a very enjoyable hour on the Mekong,just the two of us in our own boat. Sorry don%26#39;t know what a full day would cost - probably $60?? There were always plenty of boatmen ready to offer their services and strike a deal.

Have you thought of taking the boat downstream from Houeisay to Luang Prabang with Asian Oasis (www.asian-oasis.com) - they can include a private transfer from Chiang Rai.

S.Africa is also agreat destination - Cape Town and the Winelands offers so much for the visitor. I don%26#39;t know anyone who comes here who is not bowled over by what they experience. If you want %26#39;safari%26#39; then you have to go to the Kruger area or at least the Eastern Cape to experience that.

(I spent an enjoyable few days in San Diego about 10 years ago).

LP is great for just wandering and enjoying the ambience of the temples and coffee shops ,further out of the town you can go trekking white water rafting.I stayed in the 3 Nagas and was very happy(see my review)

Probably one of the most enjoyable trips was to get one of the boatmen to take you across the river where you can wander along the bank through a small village and see several semi abandoned Wats.There are also great views back across the river to LP.For a few dollars you can arrange for the boat man to drop you off then pick you up again further along the river.

hi there

what is your travel plan from chaing mai to Luang Prabang?

Hi,

I am also trying to get to Luang Prabang from Chiang Mai. Lao Airlines flies there but I%26#39;m having a hard time booking a ticket online. The real site http://www.laoairlines.com/ doesn%26#39;t respond when you click book now. I%26#39;m weary about using the bogus site http://www.lao-airlines.com/

Can anyone recommend a good travel agent in CM?

Thanks,

Jay

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