Looking for feedback and advice on a Thailand-Laos-Cambodia itinerary plan (page 4 of 4)

Hi Songsam,

Yes, I’m back after a week, and I wanted to thank you for all your advice—it turned out to be really valuable and helpful.

Here’s all the info, including schedules and fares! ;-)

For the Kanchanaburi to Uthai Thani route, I did what you suggested first: took a bus to Chainat (191 THB). But when I got off the bus in Chainat, they immediately asked where I was going, and when I said Uthai Thani, they explained I had to stay on the bus to continue to Nakhon Sawan (63 THB)! Even though it’s not obvious on the map (Chainat is closer), there’s no direct bus connection between the two towns. So I continued to Nakhon Sawan, where I could catch another bus to Uthai Thani (40 THB).

Departure at 6:40 AM, arrival at 1 PM! Total cost: 294 THB, about 8 €.

PS: I really enjoyed the two days in Uthai Thani—nothing much to see or do, but the people were super friendly. Even though few spoke English, it didn’t stop the smiles or the warmth. Non-touristy areas are great for that, and for the same reasons, I loved my trip through Isan.

PS: I really enjoyed the two days I spent in Uthai Thani. There isn’t much to see or do, but the people were so friendly. Even though few spoke English, it didn’t stop the smiles or the warmth. Non-touristy areas are great for that, and for the same reasons, I loved my trip across Isan.

I don’t quite agree with you, but you do need to take the time to do some research.

Here’s some of what you can see in the region: https://voyageforum.com/forum/thailande-naturel-d9734063-6/

Hi Pled,

I really enjoyed my trip across Isan.

How did you travel from Roi Et to Nakhon Phanom? Direct bus or with a transfer somewhere?

Hi Songsam,

Heh heh, you’ve got a knack for asking about the tricky connections! 😉 This was the only leg I couldn’t do as planned... Here’s the story:

I was in Roi Et at the end of the year, and that didn’t make things any easier... When I went to the bus station to book a ticket to Nakhon Phanom for 12/26, they first said okay (tomorrow at 6:30 AM), then caught up with me and explained in very broken English that there were no buses the next day—Saturday—or Sunday. A taxi driver suddenly appeared out of nowhere and offered me a ride for 3500 THB, then quickly dropped it to 3000 THB... I hesitated—it was all happening a bit too fast—but I still said okay for 8 AM the next day, and we exchanged phone numbers.

On my way back from the bus station, I started wondering if I’d made a mistake—was this a scam? Hard to tell, especially with the language barrier. Later, back at the hotel, I talked to the receptionist, who called a private bus company she knew, but no luck—it was fully booked because of the upcoming New Year’s festivities. I took the chance to check the price of a GRAB taxi: 2500 THB. So, I asked the receptionist to call the taxi guy and cancel. He offered to lower the price, but I refused. Plus, I’d seen his pickup truck—it was a total wreck! 🙁

Once in my room, I checked Booking.com to book a place in NP, but surprise—only expensive hotels were left, thanks to the holidays. I looked at the map and spotted Mukdahan, a bit farther south along the Mekong, with a border crossing to Laos... There were plenty of hotel options, so I booked two nights. A GRAB taxi there would cost 1500 THB (a bit closer to Roi Et).

That afternoon, I went back to the bus station, where I ran into the taxi driver—he didn’t look happy. He spoke to me in Thai, and I explained I wasn’t going to NP anymore because of the hotel situation. He eventually walked off, grumbling. I found the ticket counter for Mukdahan, but the woman told me there was only one bus a day, and it was probably full—if it was, it wouldn’t even stop in Roi Et. I could try my luck in the morning, but no guarantees... This whole thing was turning into a nightmare! 🤪

The next morning, I got up at 6:30 AM and headed to the bus station to try my luck. As expected, the bus was full—no chance. I grabbed a coffee at the nearest 7-Eleven and tried GRAB again, but no luck—no cars available (the area isn’t well-covered by GRAB, apparently). I tried Bolt instead, and found a driver who took me to Mukdahan for 1200 THB (2 hours and 15 minutes). And off I went—I finally made it to Mukdahan!

I stayed there for two days. It’s a really nice little town with a very active Vietnamese community—I don’t regret stopping there. From there, I took a bus to Nakhon Phanom in the morning and then connected straight to a bus to Thakhek, crossing the border.

Phew! 😎

Hi Pled,

At first they told me it was OK (tomorrow at 6:30 AM), then they caught up with me and explained in very broken English that there were no buses tomorrow, Saturday, or Sunday. A taxi driver suddenly appeared out of nowhere and offered me 3,500 THB for the ride, then quickly dropped it to 3,000 THB... I hesitated—it was all happening a bit too fast—but I still said OK for tomorrow at 8 AM, and we exchanged phone numbers.

Now that I’m back from the bus station, I’m wondering if I made a mistake—if this whole thing isn’t a scam?

In my opinion, it definitely was one. Especially since weekends are when Thais travel the most, so it doesn’t make sense for a bus company to cancel service on those days.

Plus, I saw his pickup truck, and it was totally beat up!

A taxi that’s *also* a pickup truck—and a beat-up one at that... weird.

I checked Booking.com to book a room in NP, but surprisingly, only pretty expensive hotels were left

There were also accommodations that work with other booking sites besides Booking, plus those that *are* under contract with Booking but had no more quotas left, and those that aren’t partnered with any booking site at all.

Mukdahan!

I’ll stay there for 2 days—it’s a really nice small town with a very active Vietnamese community. I don’t regret stopping by.

Thanks for the tip—I’ll have to check it out sometime.

While in Nan, there was also an interesting place to discover, MAE SALONG. There's a paragraph about this small town in an old 2009 Lonely Planet guide. We went there in December 2023, but transportation was a bit complicated. To get there, we first took a bus to Chiang Rai. Upon arriving in Chiang Rai, there were no buses to Mae Salong, 80 km away... I'm sure things have improved since then. But we had to take a taxi arranged by a bus station employee. The driver had never been to that area and didn’t realize the distance or how difficult the road was. So he charged us way less than he should have, especially since he had to return to Chiang Rai afterward. The road is good until Mae Caen, then narrow and winding for the remaining 40 km. Beautiful scenery along the way. It took 3 hours and 30 minutes.

When we arrived late, we checked into the hotel we had booked, Hill Top Home, which included breakfast. Rice soup, fried eggs, fritters, cantaloupe toast, blackberries, soy milk, coffee, tea... fantastic. 35 € per night.

The area is typically Chinese: most of the inhabitants are descendants of a Kuomintang regiment that fled China in 1949. Chinese hotels, Chinese restaurants, signs in Chinese. Even the school is half-Thai, half-Chinese. The village seems prosperous and surrounded by tea and coffee plantations. Very few tourists, only Chinese travelers in small groups of four by car, and they don’t stay overnight. We only met one foreigner during our stay, a Chinese guy from California 😉.

The next day, we did a 15 km loop hike starting from the village at 1,700 meters and going up to 2,500 meters, with multiple climbs and descents. Almost the entire time along the paved road, but very few cars. Beautiful views of the hills and valley. Some tea plantations that weren’t very well maintained. Apparently, farmers are shifting to coffee cultivation. Several small temples or large Buddhist pagodas to visit, sometimes after steep climbs.

We passed through the "Veterans Village," with architecture typically Chinese. Founded in the 1950s by Chinese soldiers from a Kuomintang regiment fleeing the CCP. The land was given by Thailand in this remote mountainous area where everything had to be built from scratch. Thanks to the hard work of these inhabitants and help from Taiwan, they turned this once-jungle-covered, remote area into a prosperous region. Well, tomorrow we’re heading back to Chiang Rai, and still no bus or taxi. The hotel owner found us a songthaew that will take us directly to Chiang Rai.

I think you might have posted your recommendation in the wrong discussion, because the original poster here isn’t planning to go anywhere near the North at all, and I don’t remember anyone mentioning Nan.

That said, thanks for this little travelogue—recommending Mae Salong is a great tip for anyone planning a trip to the North. It’s a village where it’s worth staying a few days for several reasons (Chinese culture, beautiful countryside, nearby villages easily accessible on foot without needing to walk too long...). I’ve actually been there several times myself.

When arriving in Chiang Rai, no bus to Mae Salong, 80 km away... I’m sure things have improved since then.

Public transport (songthaews) *does* exist to get up to Mae Salong. There’s always been some form of it ever since a drivable road was built in the 70s, but as far as I know, none have ever left from Chiang Rai. Originally, songthaews to Mae Salong left from a crossroads in Ban Basang on the Mae Sai road (which is served by plenty of buses). Back then, there was one departure every hour via a *very* winding mountain road that always made me sick. Nowadays, songthaews leave from Mae Chan, another village on the Mae Sai road. A few years ago, there were 5–6 departures a day via a more "comfortable" route, but these days, it’s been reduced to just 2 departures per day. Unfortunately, the super convenient service of the 3 songthaews that used to run daily between Mae Salong and Tha Ton (way up north in Chiang Mai province) has been completely discontinued. Bottom line: it’s still possible to get from Chiang Rai to Mae Salong using public transport—now via a connection in Mae Chan—but sadly, the options are dwindling.

In a songthaew on the way back from Mae Salong to Mae Chan:

All this makes me want to visit northern Thailand next time! Though I could do without the winding mountain roads that make you sick—I know that feeling too...

But I’m adding Mae Salong to my map! Thanks for the tips @Monday!

Yes, sorry, I clearly posted in the wrong discussion. Too late now—I don’t have time to find the right recipient. Catch you later, maybe, on another topic.

sorry,

To start with, there was no need to apologize—especially since your description of Mae Salong has inspired Pled (and maybe others?) for an upcoming trip. It’s even less necessary now. You didn’t just recommend a place; you also made sure to spark the reader’s interest in following your suggestion. That’s great and not as common as you’d think.

2 months in northern Thailand? We can chat about it in a new thread whenever you're ready.

My feedback on a Thailand-Laos-Cambodia trip

Hey! I did a similar route, so I thought I’d share my thoughts.

Thailand (10 days): Bangkok for 2 days + overnight train to Chiang Mai (ticket for 12 € in a sleeper berth). Chiang Mai for 4 days. Then a bus to Chiang Rai for 2 days, and the Laos border at Huay Xai.

Laos (7 days): The slow boat on the Mekong to Luang Prabang, 2 days of sailing. Luang Prabang for 3 days. Van to Vang Vieng for 2 days.

Cambodia (7 days): Siem Reap for 3 days to visit Angkor (3-day pass for 55 €). Phnom Penh for 2 days and Kampot for 2 days to relax at the end.

Total budget excluding flights: 1,200 €–1,500 for 3 weeks as a backpacker.

My feedback on a Thailand-Laos-Cambodia trip

Hey! I did a similar route, so I’ll share my thoughts.

Thailand (10 days): Bangkok for 2 days + overnight train to Chiang Mai (ticket for 12 € in a sleeper). Chiang Mai for 4 days. Then a bus to Chiang Rai for 2 days, and the Laos border at Huay Xai.

Laos (7 days): The slow boat on the Mekong to Luang Prabang, 2 days of sailing. Luang Prabang for 3 days. Van to Vang Vieng for 2 days.

Cambodia (7 days): Siem Reap for 3 days to see Angkor (3-day pass for 55 €). Phnom Penh for 2 days and Kampot for 2 days to finish on a relaxed note.

Total budget excluding flights: 1,200–1,500 € for 3 weeks as a backpacker.

Reading the thread title isn’t enough—you also need to check the original post and the replies that followed. That way, you won’t give feedback that’s totally off-topic or way too late.

No worries! It’s the enthusiasm of youth! And besides, he’s new too...

Ah, thanks—I missed your reply! We’ll see, probably next year (winter 2027). I’d love to hear your tips and recommendations!! 👍 I’m starting to think about a trip like northern Thailand - Laos (north and central) - then we’ll see, Cambodia or Vietnam. Both are interesting.

Thanks for your offer anyway, that’s really nice!

That’s the enthusiasm of youth! And it’s a new one too...

In both cases, I seriously doubt it.

Unrelated to your reply but related to theirs—have you seen that the Vang Vieng-Siem Reap route is now done by teleportation?

It's backpackers who steal, nothing surprising about that, right?