So , from Bangkok we want to get to Laos and make our way round to cambodia ...then down to the south islands!
hey i have done the bangkok to chiang mai trip i took a train at 8.30 am and was meant to be 12 hours due to so many delays we were on this train for 15.5 hours! DO NOT do this trip - always take the overnight sleeper train as so many people have recomended it (im doing it tomo back to bangkok). I recomend Parami guesthouse in chiang mai, cheap, friendly, quiet location but within 10 min walk of everything.
From chiang mai to laos you can either get a bus or the boat to laos, and to cambodia you can get a bus which is meant to be a good an exciting journey so i have heard, or you can always fly!
You can book all this through the travel agents which are everywhere in chiang mai - dont book in bangkok.
Sleeper train is the way to go if you don't want to pop for the airfare between the Bangkok and Chang Mai, or take it in smaller chunks. I wouldn't want to miss Sukoithai which is about half way between them - and a stop in Lampang to see the elephant rehabilitation center (you can stay at the center) is pretty cool too. Lampang is a bit more off the tourist trail - except for thai tourists and was really a neat place to visit.
Getting into Laos - I'd probably take the bus over the Friendship Bridge from Nong Khai - which is an awesome little town for exploring, eating and biking through the countryside. As well as visiting the Salakaewkoo sculpture garden and staying at the Mut Mee guesthouse. Reserve well in advance and get one of the private little bungalows - you'll enjoy it.
As to getting there - I've only gone by sleeper train from Bangkok, so from Chang Mai I don't have a guess.
any advise on the easiest mode of transport to get us from bangkok to chiang mai - - laos- - cambodia? we dont have a time limit on our trip so would like the journeys between to be as exciting as anything else!
Hi Charnmike, from BKK to CM, overnight sleeper, 2nd class with aircon, the 18.10 one is very popular followed by the 19.35 train. From Chiang Mai, get the 8.30am bus (bus departs from the arcade terminal) to Chiang Khong. Costs around 272 Baht and gets to CK about 3.00pm. Overnight in CK, border crossing is between Chiang Khong (Thai) and Huay Xai (Laos). From here you could either stay overnight or get a slowboat down the Mekong to Luang Prabang. Boat takes two days and stops overnight at Pakbeng. I don't recommend the one day speedboat.
Alternatively you can fly CM to LP. Bus Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng, the bus Vang Vieng to Vientiane. If you have time, allow 4 or 5 nights at LP, 2 or 3 at VV and 3 in Vientiane.
From Vientiane to Siem Reap, Bus/taxi/songthew to Nong Khai. From Nong Khai, train/bus to Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat), then get a bus to Aranya Phrathet. Cross over the border to Cambodia, VOA, then shared taxi to Siem Reap. IF you're lucky it can be done in 24 hours - depending on the connections.
Or fly - Vientiane>KL, then KL>SR with Air Asia. Their flight to SR from KL leaves at 7.00am is a two hour flight and arrives in Siem Reap at 8.00am (one hour time difference). I can recommend in Siem Reap. Gordon is a good chap and his tuk-tuk drivers are very knowledgeable.
An excellent webiste -
Edited to add: You can also travel Nong Khai to Nakhon Ratchasima by bus. Change for bus to Aranyprathet, then a tuk-tuk to Poiphet, then a taxi from Poiphet to Siem Reap.
[ 30-Jan-2011, at 00:08 by Araluen ]
0 Response to "Laos and cambodia ??? transport/ accommodation :) "
Post a Comment