Questions about itinerary and weather for a 1-week family trip to Laos

Hello, We’re a family of four with two teens aged 16 and 18. We’re heading to Thailand this summer. We’ll arrive in Bangkok and plan to take a flight to Luang Prabang. I’ve seen there are some great visits and excursions to do (temples, markets, waterfalls) and maybe even venture a bit north to places like Nong Khiaw, Muang Xay, Muang Ngoy, or Oudom Xay. But I’ve also heard about the Bokeo region with the Gibbon Experience. Since we won’t be able to do everything, I’d love to hear about your experiences, impressions, and advice on the two options I’m considering, especially since we’ll be meeting family in Chiang Mai, Thailand, afterward.

Option 1: A loop from Luang Prabang heading slightly north, then a flight from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai.

Option 2: A few days in Luang Prabang, exploring within a few dozen kilometers around, then heading to Bokeo province for the 2-day/1-night Gibbon Experience. For this option, I saw on Rome2Rio that it’s possible to book a ferry trip on the Mekong from Luang Prabang to Huay Xay—they mention about 8 hours. But is that realistic? What type of boat is it? Then, to get to Chiang Mai, there aren’t many options—bus or minivan—but how does crossing the border work?

Finally, for those of you who’ve been to Laos in August, what was the weather like? We’ve already visited Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia during the same period over the past four years and weren’t really bothered by bad weather.

Thanks for your feedback! Best regards, Aurélien

Hello,

from Luang Prabang to Huay Xay, they say about 8 hours: but is that really the case?

No. It’s actually 2 days of 8 hours each, with an overnight stay in Pakbeng at your own expense. Plus, you wouldn’t be able to reach Chiang Mai by the evening of the 2nd day—you’d need another night in Huay Xai or Chiang Khong. There’s no need to book the boat in advance. The type of boat is the one I’ve attached two photos of below.

I’d go with option 1—flights from Bangkok to Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai—in your case, it’s perfect. Luang Prabang alone deserves at least 5 nights, so you shouldn’t try to cram too much into the rest of the trip.

You’ll still get to cruise the majestic Mekong on the Pak Ou Caves excursion.

Hi there,

I saw there are some great visits and excursions to do (temples, markets, waterfalls) and maybe head a bit further north to places like Nong Khiaw, Muang Xay, Muang Ngoy, or Oudom Xay.

For this part, I’d suggest checking out our travel journal—it’s very recent. Some info in there might help you decide and avoid certain mistakes... Luang Prabang starts here: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=11255057;a=11255057 Nong Khiaw and the northern villages will be up soon.

Hi, Thanks for your feedback. You're right—if the trip takes 2 days, it'll eat up a lot of our week in Laos. I think we'll go with option 1.

Aurélien

Hello

I saw there are some great visits and excursions to do (temples, markets, waterfalls) and why not head a bit north to Nong Khiaw, Muang Xay, Muang Ngoy, or Oudom Xay.

For this part, I invite you to read our travel journal—it’s very recent. Some info might help you choose and avoid certain mistakes... Luang Prabang starts here: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=11255057;a=11255057 Nong Khiaw and the northern villages will be coming soon.

Thanks so much, Kate! I just skimmed your journal—it’s awesome. I’ll keep an eye on it to plan our trip

Hey, great question and I’ll give you my honest take after spending quite a bit of time in the area.

Honestly, I’d lean toward option 1—the northern loop from Luang Prabang. Here’s why: I’ve noticed that a lot of families trying to do it all end up wiped out after 3 days. Your 16- and 18-year-olds will really dig the waterfalls and the vibe of small villages like Nong Khiaw—it’s way cooler than yet another temple between tourist queues, so it won’t drain your days with endless travel.

Luang Prabang is max two days for temples, the night market, and chilling with Beerlao by the Mekong. After that, head north via Nong Khiaw (the spot with those insane karsts), then loop back down through Oudom Xay. The roads aren’t great, but that’s exactly where you see the *real* Laos, not the tourist version. Personally, I took a minibus with locals, and you get some wild conversations.

Bokéo’s cool for the gibbons, no doubt, but honestly… it’s a detour that eats up precious time, and the prices are way higher than the rest. Like 80-120 € per person for the gibbon experience—that’s not nothing for half a day. I don’t think it’s worth sacrificing the northern loop for that, especially with only a week. It’s the same trap as trying to cram everything into overloaded itineraries without really enjoying it.

So my advice: stick to the northern region from Luang Prabang. Your teens will unwind, and you’ll save energy for Chiang Mai afterward. Safe travels! !

Hi there, I just read your question. I’d also go for option 1 because travel times in Laos are really long, and you only have a week. In my post here, I shared travel times and other info from 2023. Kate’s travel journal is more recent and will give you some other tips too.

Hi Karine, My opinion isn’t objective since I haven’t been to the Gibbon Experience, as several sources advised against it. The boat trip is pleasant—2 days with two stops. The Thousand Buddhas Cave and a distillery with a small market (they also showcase at Luang Prabang’s night market). The stop in Pakbeng is nice, with a view of the elephant reserve where they come to bathe in the late afternoon on the Mekong’s banks. The hassle is getting to Chiang Mai. Option 1 seems more motivating and varied, mixing boat trips for certain sections of the Nam Ou despite the dams, and LP (Luang Prabang), which hasn’t been too degraded by tourism—except for the night market (in my opinion)—but is very rich in diverse places to visit on both sides of the river. Excursions like Kuang Si Waterfall or even a trip to the Thousand Buddhas Cave. Otherwise, a loop: LP, Nong Khiaw, Muang Ngoy, Muang Khoua, Muang Xai (Oudomxai), back to LP, skipping Luang Prabang. For the weather, trust your lucky star that keeps you safe in August. Happy travels, Eric

Hello,

The boat trip is pleasant, 2 days and we had 2 stops. The cave of 1000 Buddhas and a distillery with a small market

Was it a regular ferry like the one I posted a photo of earlier (which normally don’t stop for visits) or a cruise boat (with visits, meals on board, and accommodation in Pakbeng included)?

Pakbeng is nice (...) . The hassle is getting to Chiang Mai.

Not that much of a hassle. To get to Chiang Mai from Pakbeng without spending a second day on the boat all the way to Huay Xai, you can enter Thailand via Nan province. It won’t be faster than going through Chiang Khong, but it’s an alternative that’s worth it for getting off the beaten path. From Pakbeng, take a bus or a songthaew in the morning to the Nam Ngeun (Laos)/Huay Kon (Thailand) border crossing. From Huay Kon, minivans leave for Nan (the capital) every hour until noon. From Nan, several daily buses (including one overnight) go to Chiang Mai. It might be a good idea to take the opportunity to visit the lovely Nan province and its equally charming capital.