Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Hieu Huynh]

Hi again
This trip is giving me grey hairs!
I am trying to figure out the boat situation. If you have done the slow boat/fast boat thing from N.Thailand to Laos(Luang Prabang)

1) Which section of N.Thailand do I get the slow boat from?
2) How long does it take?(needs to be accurate, am debating about flying back from Laos to Phuket)
3)How much does it cost?

If someone can help me out with this itiniary it would be awesome. This is what I am thinking, not sure if it's the best idea
**Bangkok-Chaing Mai(bus)
slow boat from where ever to Luang Prabang (4days or so)
From there need to go down to Phi Phi and the beaches.
Then back to Bangkok to fly back to Canada.
Have been looking on Air Asia(some very good deals, but nothing really works from these locations)

Once again I need your help and anyone who can take the time to answer these questions for me would be truly amazing.
Thanks again ;P
HH

[Binch Lover]

I did the slow boat thing the other way, from Luang Prabang to the Thai border. It takes two FULL days and if you are going towards LP departs from the Laotian town across the river from Chiang Khong (can't remember the name). So what you need to do is get to Chiang Khong the day before you want to catch the boat because it will leave early in the morning.

The boat trip itself can be good fun. I met lots of people on it (including some cute K-girls) and had a laugh. It's definitely not comfortable tho! Also, you have to stay the night in a village halfway there.

There is also the option of taking the fast boat which takes only a day. However it's pretty scary (you wear a crash helmet!) and apparently the loud engines disrupt the wildlife. But it's MUCH quicker.

Getting from LP to Phi Phi is not really feasible unless you do it by air (Bangkok Airways), although you could go LP to Vang Vieng (great place... you won't want to leave) then onto Vientiene and back down to Bangkok. This is the well worn backpacker path in Laos so don't expect too many surprises and it will take you a couple of weeks to do properly.

There's lots of info on thorntree.lonelyplanet.com. Good luck!

[Hieu Huynh]

Thanks binch lover!
You really helped to clear a few things for me.

Have a good one
Cheers,
HH