The Best of Cambodia & Laos

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SUGGESTED CAMBODIA & LAOS ITINERARIES
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THE BEST OF CAMBODIA & LAOS IN 3 WEEKS
Day 1: Journey to Luang Prabang
Once you have completed immigration
formalities in Huay Xai, walk down to the
left of the immigration building to where
the slow boats to Luang Prabang are
moored. These used to be commercial vessels
for which you had to haggle hard to
get a decent price for passage, and you
shared the journey with farmers (and often
their livestock). Now there are boats specifically
assigned for tourists. The journey
to Luang Prabang is 2 days of scenic views,
sticky rice, and if you are lucky with your
fellow passengers, convivial chitchat. You
will stop for the night in Pakbeng. Be on
the lookout for scams (and this, sadly,
includes the children). Don’t let people
carry your bags for you when you get off
the boat. This once very basic little onestreet
town situated on a rocky bend of the
river is now fairly developed. There are a
number of guesthouses and even some
midrange hotels and chichi cafes.
Day 2: Arrival in Luang Prabang
Continue your slow trip down the
Mekong. Enjoy the dramatic forested
limestone mountain scenery, the passing
rapids, and the village life along the riverbank.
You will arrive in Luang Prabang at
about 4pm. Once you have checked into
your hotel, have a wander and take in the
tranquil beauty of this most beautiful of
towns. Enjoy the coffee, the baguettes, the
wine, and the sunset.
Day 3: Luang Prabang
Tour the area’s temples and sights. Try a
bowl of Vietnamese pho for lunch. Have a
gander around the central market in the
daytime and the night market in the
evening.
Day 4: Pak Ou Caves
Visit Pak Ou Caves and see the massed
Buddhas (p. 280). In the afternoon enjoy
a herbal sauna and massage—Luang Prabang
has become famous for them. Once
suitably relaxed, head to where the longdistance
ferries stop and watch the sunset
as the sun glows red behind the mountain
on the opposite bank of the river.
Day 5: Arrival in Phonsavan
Take the bus to Phonsavan. It will be your
base from which to explore the Plain of
Jars. It’s a grueling 10 hours but the
incredible scenery is worth the slog.
Phonsavan is not a very interesting town
(in fact, it’s downright dreary). Get fed
and watered and call it an early night.
Day 6: The Plain of Jars
The best way to see the Plain of Jars is by
booking a tour with one of the guesthouses
in town (p. 294). Most of them
offer a package, costing about $14 per
person. You can do it on your own, but it’s
not recommended—since the jars are
spread out in a number of groupings you
might miss something significant.
Day 7: Rte. 13 to Vang Vieng
Take the bus to Vang Vieng. This is an
8-hour drive where once again you are
treated to some fantastic scenery along
Rte. 13.
Day 8: Vang Vieng
Cross the Nam Song River and spend the
morning wandering around the limestone
outcrops on the other side. After heading
back to town for lunch, enjoy the pointless
but fun activity of “tubing”—drifting
down the river on an inflated tractor inner
tube.
Day 9: Arrival in Vientiane
Take a bus or minibus to Vientiane (about
3 hr.). After lunch, take in some of the
sights such as Wat Pha Kaeo and Wat Si
Saket (p. 231). Have dinner in one of the
big Lao riverside restaurants by the
Mekong.
Day 0: Vientiane
Spend the morning visiting the National
Museum (p. 228) and then take a drive
around the city, being sure to pass the
impressive but very Gallic Patuxai Monument
(p. 230). In the afternoon, visit Talat