boat trip chiang rai to luang prabang

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Chiang Rai To Luang Prabang Tour

• Duration 4 days
• Price from Price Inquiry
• Trip code TL04

Trip overview

• Duration: 4 days / 3 nights
• Activities: Sightseeing, Cultural, Cruising, Nature Discovery
• Tour type: Private Tour
• Themes: Mekong Tours

Tour itinerary

This morning you have an early morning transfer from the airport to Chiang Khong, the exit point from Thailand. After passing through immigration, you cross the Mekong River to HoueiSay in Laos where your Lao guide will be waiting for you at the immigration point. After completing border formalities, you board a ready traditional boat for the trip down the Mekong River. Serene, timeless Laos is one of Asia's most unvisited, unchanged countries. This once-powerful kingdom known as Lane Xang (Million Elephants) was founded in the 14th century with the help of the Khmers, and it went on to become one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia until its demise in the late 19th century. Bisected and bordered by the Mekong River, omnipresent symbol of Indochina, Laos today is an amalgam of cultural influences; Theravada Buddhism, animism, France, and the socialist ideal. It is a peaceful place, and the legendary hospitality, resilience and friendliness of the Lao people is much in evidence. Laos is Old Asia preserved. As your journey downriver you will stop at some tribal minority villages such as the Hmong, Yao and Khmu. Upon arrival in Pakbeng, we visit local market; experience daily lifestyle of colorful hill tribe traders exchanges their goods. Overnight in Pakbeng.

Breakfast, as you sail downriver as a second leg, you will pass areas of un-spoilt forest with little villages along the riverbanks and perhaps the odd elephant or two with his mahout. You visit a fishing village and a rice winemaking village and perhaps even taste some of the infamous beverage known as Lao Rice wine. You also visit the Pak-Ou caves, where thousands of Buddha statues are stored. You arrive in Luang Prabang around sunset and transfer to your hotel. This charming city of UNESCO world heritage site, The Luang Prabang is a small, dream-like town on the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers, in a beautiful mountain setting. From 1353 until 1545 it was the capital of Lane Xang before power was transferred to Vientiane. Despite the move Luang Prabang remained the seat of monarchical power and when the kingdom broke up in 1694, one of the deceased king's grandsons established a rival kingdom to those in Vientiane and Champassak. Though weakened, the Luang Prabang royalty endured until 1975, when after the reign of 63 kings it was formally dissolved. You spend the day exploring the temples and sites in what is called one of the last Shangri-La’s of Southeast Asia. You will visit Wat Xiang Thong, the most important Buddhist monastery in the country. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

We are exploring, Wat Visoun, Wat Khili and Wat Mai. Later, visit the former Royal Palace, now a National Museum where you will find ornate, gilded and brocaded reception rooms, as well as Buddha and Atacular artifacts including the Prabang, a large holy image, which was given in the 14th century by the Khmers to King Fa Ngum. At sunset climb the nearby temple-topped hill of Phousi where you'll catch a lovely view out over the town and the river. We excursion out the town to experience local lifestyle of Luang Prabang Villages and most beautiful waterfall in Luang Prabang. On the way, visit Phosi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional handicrafts, and continues visit local village of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay and Ban Thapene and the weaving village of Ban Phanom. Time permitting you may also wish to drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the pools or walk along the forest paths. Return to Luang Prabang city by late afternoon and visit Street Night Market, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Breakfast, We are strolling around and visit the Silver smith’s and the Central Market are not to be missed. Transfer to airport for flight departure. End of the trip. 

Trip Inclusion

• English Speaking Guide.
• Accommodation in twin sharing room.
• Meal as indicated (B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Diner)
• All transfers in private car/ van/ bus
• Boat cruise as indicated
• Entrance fees and permits during guided time.
• Service charge & Government taxes

Trip Exclusions

• International Airfares.
• International departure tax
• Meals not indicated
• Visas and visa arrangement
• Personal travel insurance 
• Personal expenses such as Bar, Telephone and Laundry bills.
• Tips and gratuities

Accommodation Categories

Standard: Standard accommodation equates to a Western 3-star standard, always featuring en-suite rooms and usually a restaurant. Sometimes these are a good affordable choice in cities where accommodation is very expensive, but where being centrally located is a prime consideration. Superior: Superior accommodation equates to a Western 4-star standard, featuring en-suite rooms and usually a restaurant and often a swimming pool and/or a fitness centre. This is the 'classic' hotel standard we use on most of our group based tours. Deluxe: Deluxe accommodation equates to a Western 5-star standard, usually featuring spacious, en-suite rooms, a restaurant, swimming pool and fitness centre and an array of amenities, excellent service and customer care. India and Southeast Asia have a fabulous array of top notch 5-star properties.

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Asia , Budget Travel Ideas , LAOS , THAILAND

Chiang rai to luang prabang: how to travel by boat & bus.

One of the most fun border crossings I’ve made in Southeast Asia was from the northern Thai city of Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang in Laos, mainly because 2 days of the journey were made on a boat down the Mekong River!

I mean sailing on the Mekong River to arrive at your destination does sound pretty fun, doesn’t it?

If you agree, then read to learn how I travelled overland from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang overland… and how you can do it too!

Related Posts

• 17 Amazing Things to Do in Luang Prabang
• Ultimate Budget Travel Guide to Chiang Rai
• 15 Top Things to Do in Chiang Mai

This page contains affiliate links meaning Big World Small Pockets may receive a small commission on any purchases at no extra cost to you.

Step #1: Begin in Chiang Rai

This journey begins in the city of Chiang Rai in Thailand.

A small city a few hours from the Laos – Thailand border, this is place is worth spending a few days on your way into or out of the country.

Famous for its temples, including the White Temple, Blue Temple and Black Museum, for more information about what to do in Chiang Rai , check out my specific post about this destination.

For now, the journey starts on your last night in Chiang Rai, which I highly recommend spending at Na-Rak-O-Resort – a gorgeous guesthouse, that’s very affordable, just off the main street here.

It offers some lovely, ensuite private rooms at good rates and is set in a very safe and quiet location within easy walking distance to the Chiang Rai bus station.

Try to change some Baht for Laos Kip if you can in Chiang Rai, otherwise, border crossing expenses can generally be paid in small USD notes or Baht too.

Get up early in the morning and head to the bus station to catch a bus to the border town of Chiang Khong.

Alternatively, you can get buses straight from Chiang Mai to Chiang Khong if you don’t have time to stop in Chiang Rai.

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Step #2: Heading to Chiang Khong

Buses leave regularly from Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong and you’ll pay 65 Baht to make this 3 hour-ish journey.

Try to take the earliest bus you can, so you stand a better chance of making the boat to Luang Prabang on the same day.

When you arrive, you’ll likely be dropped in the centre of the city and from there, you’ll need to take a tuk-tuk to the actual border.

Tuk-tuks are easy to find and you’ll be charged 60 Baht for the pleasure of this short journey if you’re happy to share / wait for 5 others to join you.

THE BEST TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA

I wouldn’t dream of travelling anywhere in Southeast Asia without coverage and always recommend travel insurance from World Nomads , which I’ve used throughout my time in Thailand, Laos and beyond.

I love this company’s easy online claims process, as well as their great customer support and the fact that you can buy or extend your travel insurance with them even if you’re enjoying your travels already.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for travel insurance with Covid-19 cover, then look no further than Safetywing’s great Nomad Insurance policies.

These guys will cover you at some seriously great prices, including if you have to quarantine!

Step #3: The Thai Border

The Thai border is delightfully clean and well organised, with some of the best toilets I’ve ever found at a land crossing… it’s the small things right?!

You’ll need to present the exit form you got when you arrived in Thailand to border officials here and then get stamped out of the country.

After that. it’s a bus journey across the bridge to the Laotian border, which will set you back 25 Baht.

These tickets can be bought at the booth after you exit Thailand.

This border can get very busy, but I made the crossing early in the morning and encountered no crowds at all, meaning I was through the whole process on both sides within 30 mins – hoorah!

Generally it is open from 8am – 5pm, but do check the latest information on the ground to verify this.

5 PACKING ESSENTIALS FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA

#1 Lonely Planet Guidebook – The Southeast Asia Lonely Planet is excellent and very helpful for any trip to this part of the world with lots of top tips and useful information.

#2 Birkenstocks – A good pair of sandals are king in Southeast Asia and I love my Birkenstocks which are perfect for keeping my feet cool, supported and for kicking on and off easily when you visit temples or hit the beach. Literally wore them all day every day in this part of the world!

#3 European & British Power Adapters – Southeast Asia use a mix of power outlets, but generally opts for a mix of European and British ones, so make sure you come prepared with a Skross world adapter .

#4 Camera and Lens – I love my Sony A6000 mirrorless , which was ideal for capturing this crazy and beautiful region.

#5 Sarong – A great multi-purpose travel item that can be brilliantly used through Southeast Asia as a beach towel / dress , a pillow / blanket on bus rides and for covering shoulders when you visit temples or your head if you visit any mosques. A good sarong really is a Southeast Asia travel must have in my book

Step #4 The Laos Border

You’ll need to complete another immigration form to enter Laos as well as a visa application.

For many European nationals, as well as Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada, single entry tourist visas can be obtained at the border here for around $30 USD and last for 30 days.

You’ll need to have at least 2 free pages in your passport (the visa is a full page sticker, plus they then stamp you in and out on another page), as well as 2x passport photos.

Check your particular Laos visa requirements here .

Do be prepared to pay a $1-2 USD “handling fee” to get your Laos visa FYI!

Once you’ve made it into Laos, you’ll need to take a tuk-tuk from the border to the main town centre / port of Huay Xi. This costs 50,000 Laos Kip (₭). You can also pay in USD or Baht.

BOOKING BUSES ONWARDS FROM CHIANG RAI & LUANG PRABANG

You can book bus tickets for destinations across Thailand and Laos, as well within other countries in Southeast Asia online via the website 12Go , which I used throughout my time here and highly recommend because it’s simple and straightforward and offers secure online payment.

Step #5: In Huay Xi

The Laos border town of Huay Xi is where you’ll arrive by tuk-tuk.

Ask to be taken to the port and if you’re early enough, you’ll be able to catch a boat travelling to Luang Prabang – this is why it pays to start you day super early from Chiang Rai!

If you do get stuck, the best place to stay in this otherwise uneventful town is the River Hotel, which is right next to the pier with views of the Mekong – perfect sunset material.

The staff give approximately zero f*cks, but the location is very handy and facilities fairly good, including decent wifi.

A room here cost me 150,000 ₭ for a basic ensuite room with aircon. It’s 100,000 ₭ without aircon.

You can book your boat tickets for the following day through these guys. or just head down to the pier itself.

A 2 day ticket, excluding 1 night accommodation enroute in Pak Beng will cost you around $25 USD.

If you haven’t already, I suggesting buying some snacks / water for the boat and downloading some Netflix stuff or Amazon Audible audiobooks to get you ready for the next 2 days!

Step #6: Day 1 Mekong Boat Ride

That’s because, while you can take a pricey cruise down to Luang Prabang from Huay Xi, the cheaper, funner and more authentic way is to take a local barge.

Like a pricey river cruise, this will take you 2 days, but at a snip of the price – only $25 USD instead of $200+ USD.

Have breakfast before you board the boat and make sure you’ve got food and water with you for 1 day.

Normally the boats leave around 8am… Laos time!

There is literally nothing to do on the boat except soak in the experience and enjoy the views of the Mekong as you dock at tiny, isolated villages on your way to Luang Prabang.

Boat conditions vary and you’re likely to have different boats on day 1 & 2 of your adventure.

Some come with wooden benches tables and charging points, making working bloggers like me very happy!

Others come with filthy old bus seats loosely stapled to the floor and jack all else – but the gamble is all part of the fun remember!

On day 1, you’ll then sail as far as Pak Beng, arriving here around 5pm in the evening

Step #7: Night in Pak Beng

This town literally only seems to exist to service the stop over on the Mekong River ride from Luang Prabang to Huay Xi, so don’t expect too much!

Not to worry, you’ll only be here the night, and there’s plenty of places to stay on a budget and shops where you can buy snacks and water for day 2 of your river journey.

There’s also a bar here called Hive Bar, where backpackers seem to congregate of an evening.

In Pak Beng, on my 2nd night from Chaing Rai to Luang Prabang, I stayed at Syvonsack Guesthouse – they touted me as soon as the boat docked and I was happy to make life easy and go with them.

There’s many touts waiting for the boats from Huay Xi to come in, and they all seem to offer pretty similar deals, so it’s much of a muchness choosing between them.

Syvonsack Guesthouse offered me a private room with a fan and wifi for 50,000 ₭ which included a free return transfer service to the boat.

I found out when I got to the guesthouse that it was 50,000 ₭ more for aircon (happy to pay when it’s 42 degrees outside) and that they had a small café for breakfast and dinner.

The women here can also make you lunch for the next day if you want.

Just beware, the first room I went in – #5 – had a dead bedbug, stuck to the wall – yup that kind of place!

I’m guessing it was a friendly warning from some previous travellers and I was very grateful for it!

I then moved to room #10 and slept well and bed-bug free under my aircon!

The room was ensuite and the shower cold, but seriously people, when it’s 42 degrees, this is small fry!

Step #8: Day 2 Mekong Boat Ride

At 8am in the morning, after breakfast, it’s back onto the boat you go, for pretty much more of the same.

I had to say a lot of sleep was had, especially given the heat, which sears into your brain and pretty much renders you unable to do anything else!

People-watching is of course always good fun for the times you are awake and more beautiful Mekong views can be enjoyed.

You’ll arrive into Luang Prabang around 5pm again, depending how much village stopping you’ve done on the way!

Step #9: Enjoy Luang Prabang

Welcome to one of the most chilled spots in Southeast Asia.

Yes Luang Prabang is a delight and I ended up spending 1 week here doing, well, not a whole lot really apart from café sampling and temple ticking!

It has to be said, I also spent a fair amount of time trying to stay cool around the swimming pool in my great hostel there – Freedom Friendly’s Place (totally recommend this spot FYI).

You can learn more about this great town in my post about the best things to do in Luang Prabang , but top of my highlight list was visit the Kuang Si Waterfalls … don’t miss it!

Don’t forget, you can also miss out the boat ride and just take a bus between Chiang Rai and Luang Prabang. Compare journey times and prices for these services here .

PIN IT TO PINTEREST!

And so there you have it, the complete guide on how to travel from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang overland.

Have you made this Southeast Asian journey?

Do you have any advice to add to the above?

If so, please help other travellers out, by leaving any relevant info in the comments below…

Creator of Big World Small Pockets, Stephanie Parker is a travel addict! Originally from Jersey in the Channel Islands, Stephanie adventures the world collecting tips, advice and stories, to share with a smile

6 thoughts on “ Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang: How to Travel by Boat & Bus ”

I have a question for the boats you took (between Thailand and Laosand then to Luang Prabang), there is toilet/bathroom on the boats ?? because it’s long trips ! I would like to try this big adventure ! 🙂 thanks for all !

Hi Emma, good question. Yes there is a toilet onboard. But do warned, it’s basic and not the cleanest you’ll have seen! Hope that helps. Happy travels, Steph 🙂

Great information, thanks so much. It’s helped me a great deal 🙂

That’s great to hear Carla! Thanks so much! Best, Steph 🙂

Hi Steph, do you remember how long is the boat ride for those two days? Thanks!

Hi Hanna, It’s all day, like 6-9 hours depending on the loading logistics, weather etc. Hope that helps. Happy travels 🙂

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Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang: Slow Boat on the Mekong

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I smiled to the captain – our only form of communication – and stepped onto the bow of the boat. I stood in the sunlight, surveying the solitude of our surroundings. We were traveling from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang on a Slow Boat on the Mekong River. The trip was most certainly more about the journey than the destination. 

A herd of water buffalo cooled themselves in the muddy shallows near the riverbank. A flock of white birds occupied the tallest branches of a leafy tree. A waterfall, nearly concealed by thick forest, tumbled into the river. A lone butterfly the size of a sparrow fluttered by on the wind.

Puffy white clouds dotted a brilliant blue sky that was free of the smog that plagues the cities in SE Asia. Interwoven layers of lush green mountains stretched out before us, crisscrossing the deep valley carved by the milky brown Mekong River. This was the backdrop for our two-day cruise on a slow boat as we made our way from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang.

In this Mekong River travel post, we are detailing our adventure on the slow boat from Chiang Rai to Laos. We offer more travel tips at the end of the article. 

Getting from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang

In the days leading up to our departure, we were indecisive about how to get from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang. The two cities are only 150 miles apart (roughly the same distance between New York and DC ), but a quick and efficient route was eluding us (as transport is rarely either in Southeast Asia).

There is no direct Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang flight; to fly would have required a bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai and then a flight on to Luang Prabang.

It is possible to take a bus from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, but the thought of a 15-hour ride – most likely in a non-air-conditioned bus – over bumpy, neglected roads sounded awful.

The third option involved a slow boat to Luang Prabang – and although the journey takes two days, there was something utterly alluring about floating down the Mekong River in a wooden boat.

A Slow Boat to Laos or Mekong River Cruise?

Once it was decided that we would take the slow boat to Laos, we still had to choose which boat we wanted to take: the public slow boat to Laos or a Mekong River Cruise to Laos.

The public boat option better aligned with our travel style; not only are we budget-minded, but we appreciate the challenge of deciphering processes and schedules in foreign languages.

However, this time around we just weren’t feeling up to the task. Blame it on the stifling heat, the horrible public boat reviews or simply the desire to feel a little spoiled, we uncharacteristically opted for a Laos Mekong River Cruise. We booked our 2-day Laos slow boat with Mekong Smile – and let them sort all the various details of getting us from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang.

Day One: Chiang Rai to Pakbeng

The day started with an early wake-up call and a groggy minivan ride through rural Northern Thailand as the sun started to peek out.

Getting from Chiang Rai, Thailand to Laos

Although the ride is often referred to as the ‘slow boat from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang’ the boat does not depart from Chiang Rai, Thailand; the Mekong River slow boats to Luang Prabang leave from Huay Xai, a border town in Laos that is 65 miles east of Chiang Rai .

There is public transport between the two cities, but rather than organize a Chiang Rai to Huay Xai bus, cruises with Mekong Smile included a driver to transport us from Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong – where we would cross the border from Thailand into Laos.

Our driver promptly arrived at dawn. He spoke English, but we mostly rode in silence, watching as the towns and villages we passed stirred from their slumber. On porches, men lit small fires for the women to prepare breakfast. Monks walked barefoot and silent, collecting the morning alms. And, later, children dressed in uniforms shuffled along the roadside to school.

We followed a meandering river past an empty floating market and traveled through the countryside, which was an endless landscape of patterned rice fields, interrupted only by an occasional karst mountain protruding from the farmland.

Chiang Khong, Thailand to Huay Xai, Laos Border Crossing

After an hour and 45 minutes, we arrived at the Thai border and Chiang Khong Border Crossing. The station was eerily vacant; at the early hour, we were the sole travelers crossing from Thailand into Laos. Our driver escorted us to an officer who collected our departure cards and branded our passports with the all-important exit stamp, then handed us tickets for the bus to the Huay Xai Border Crossing in Laos, pointing us in the right direction through the empty building.

We boarded the bus and, with only one other passenger, we crossed the Friendship Bridge into Laos and to the Huay Xai Immigration Office. The Mekong Smile Cruise owner and our cruise guide – Mr. Pheng and Choy – were awaiting our arrival.

Together with the forms they had prepared, we handed our passports and $35 USD (each) to an officer manning the ‘Visa On Arrival’ booth. While we waited for approval, we met the four other passengers on our Laos Mekong River Cruise and exchanged the remainder of our Thai Baht to Laotian Kip.

Once we were officially permitted to enter Laos, we bid farewell to Mr. Pheng. Choy led us to a van that would take us to the docks to board the slow boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang. Our journey so far – from Chiang Rai to Huay Xai – had taken less than three hours.

Huay Xai to Pakbeng

Long, slender Laos slow boats lined the docks like sardines in a can. Busy crew members lugged boxes onto boats and teenage boys sat on the boat rooftops, waiting to aid in untangling the boats at departure.

We found our Huay Xai to Luang Prabang boat and Choy introduced us to the crew – a family of four, with one more on the way. Boarding the boat from the bow, it was just big enough for a bench along with a small spirit house.

We passed through the door into the wheelhouse, which wasn’t enclosed and opened into a lounging area that had a retractable roof. Two steps down on brilliantly polished, creaking wooden floors led us into the belly of the boat. Four-top tables lined the sides of the boat back to a small bar, the toilets and the family’s private quarters. 

Within minutes of boarding, the captain was maneuvering us away from the dock. Our Mekong Laos boat trip had officially begun!

Still morning, clouds hung low in the sky, blanketing hilltops and nestling in valleys. By 9:00am, it was already humid, but as the boat motored down the Mekong River, a cool breeze circulated through the open windows.

Choy apprised us of the itinerary for our slow boat Huay Xai to Luang Prabang trip: our two-day voyage included two stops in riverside villages, a short visit at a cave and an overnight stay at the half-way point town of Pakbeng.

We fell into easy conversation with our fellow shipmates: a British couple on an extended honeymoon traveling through Southeast Asia and an American father-and-son traveling for the first time together. We swapped travel stories, shared tips and sat in comfortable silence as we floated downstream. 

Whether we were chatting at a table, lounging on mats or standing on the bow, we were engrossed in the river scenes that passed by like a Mekong documentary.

Choy provided the narrative filled with facts and interesting details about Laos; the region, people and religion. He pointed out temples and farms, named a variety of tree species and showed us where both banks of the Mekong River became Laos, no longer representing the border with Thailand.

We witnessed fishermen in wooden canoes tending to nets, children splashing at the river’s edge below their ramshackle villages, golden temples peeking through hillside trees and taxi speedboats zipping upriver.

It was surreal. Humbling. Peaceful.

Mekong River Village: Ban Houy Pha Lam

Within a couple of hours, we arrived at the village of Ban Houy Pha Lam – the first stop on our Mekong River slow boat trip. We followed Choy up a muddy slope into the quiet community of wooden, stilted houses and roaming chickens. As Choy dictated a brief history of the town – a town that just two years ago had no electricity – a group of teenage boys passed us by, ignoring our presence.

We moved further into the village, where pigs, dogs and goats wandered freely and curious children peered at us intently through dark doorways and from behind trees. Villagers bathed in the clean – but not potable – water that is piped into small platforms; the new source of water creating public squares of sorts. Houses in the village don’t have running water, yet – quite perplexingly – satellite dishes and mobile phones were prevalent.

Similar to small villages around the world, there was a school, a community gathering building and a rustic mini-market that was housed in a wooden shack and sold basic individual necessities – like toilet paper, flour, sugar, oil and soap – that were broken out from larger economy packs. 

Afternoon on the Mekong River Slow Boat

Back on board, we continued our Huay Xai to Luang Prabang slow boat cruise. Prepared and waiting for us was a scrumptious lunch of classic Laos noodle dishes and fried chicken drumettes made by the captain’s family. After the filling meal, we resumed our observation of the simple, but fascinating, life along the Mekong.

Pakbeng, Laos

We arrived in Pakbeng, Laos – the halfway point in our journey – with plenty of light left in the day. We scattered to our hotels, as none of us booked at the same one, and rejoined Choy a half hour later. He showed us around the town that seemed to exist solely for the purpose of accommodating travelers taking the Huay Xai to Luang Prabang slow boat.

The main road is a cluster of simple guesthouses and restaurants. Kids, dogs and chickens played in the streets and couples stood in the late afternoon shade playing badminton. At the top of the street, Choy guided us through the local produce market, where women sold fresh vegetables, herbs and rat-on-a-stick from blankets spread in a row on the ground.

We walked to the town’s small temple, which was slightly faded, but still striking in detail. Choy shared more about Buddhism, telling us about when he was a novice monk and how all males are expected to don the saffron robes for a period of their lives. Two young novice monks, probably not yet teenagers, watched us from the temple window but disappeared when it was time to begin chanting.

Back on our own, we wandered through Pekbang to the riverside Peace Bar that has the reputation of being the only bar in town. Before we had even descended the steps, the bartender was handing us shots of local Lao Lao whiskey, which we would later learn is a custom in Laos.

We were the only patrons in the outdoor bar, perhaps due to it being shoulder season or maybe because of the early hour. We chased our shots with a round of beers and bobbed our heads to the cliché Bob Marley soundtrack and then retraced our steps to one of Choy’s recommended restaurants for dinner. Greeted with another round of Lao Lao, we sipped this one slowly while waiting for our traditional Laos meal of chicken and bamboo shoots.

Day 2: Pakbeng to Luang Prabang

We had an 8:00am departure on Day 2 of our slow boat Mekong cruise with the same boat, crew, guide and fellow passengers.

The sky was mostly clear with a just a few wispy clouds clinging to mountaintops. Across the river from the docks, two elephants from a nearby sanctuary were getting a morning bath. The boat’s retractable roof was open when the captain steered us away from the Pakbeng docks and continued our downriver Mekong journey by boat to Luang Prabang. 

Mekong River Village: Ban Kok Eak

When we docked in Ban Kok Eak, we were greeted by townspeople waiting for another boat to take them to a market. One man carried a small squealing pig in a bag, hoping to sell it that day. The children that had been playing in the river ran ahead of us – one small boy stopping often to launch rocks from his homemade slingshot with incredible precision.

The kids led us into a village that was bigger than the one we had visited the previous day. Hmong (Highland) people live in the village and Choy told us of their unique alphabet and courting customs (one of which involves kidnapping a wanted bride…a frightening tradition that is now frowned upon, but still occurs).

An elderly woman watched us from her doorway as we passed her house; she smiled and posed – just like the children – to have her picture taken and then wanted to see her image on the screen of our devices.

Another woman sat on a low stool stitching a pattern for a dress while young girls stood around her looking on. Children appeared holding bracelets for sale and young mothers hurried to display handmade scarves and bags, in hopes we would buy one.

Floating down the Mekong River

After another delicious on-board lunch, I stepped onto the bow of the ship. I marveled at the captain’s skill as he navigated the boat through rapids. It was rainy season, which meant the landscape was lush, but the river was swollen and moved swiftly downstream, often carrying natural debris like large tree trunks along with it.

There is no formal training for slow boat captains; the trade is passed down from father to son. Captains must know every rock on the Mekong in order to safely transport passengers from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang – and our captain maneuvered the boat effortlessly. 

Although our eyes had been glued to the water for the past two days, we hadn’t tired of the scenery. Every bend in the river, every cloud in the sky, every fisherman in a canoe captivated us.

We sensed that the river has remained untouched for centuries, but noted that changes are soon coming. Train tracks are being laid. Bridges are being built. Plans are in the works for dams to stop the natural Mekong River flow.

While the changes are touted as bringing progress to the area, we can’t help but wonder how that will alter the landscape and affect the people whose livelihood is dependent on the Mekong.

Buddha Cave, Laos

As our boat headed east, green hills gave way to rocky karsts; the craggy monoliths a striking contrast to the rolling hills and tree-covered mountains of our journey so far. Inside many of the rock formations are hollowed caves. Pak Ou Caves (Buddha Cave) – of which there is an upper and lower cave – has been visited by river boats for centuries, including ours today.

In ancient times, the lower caves were used as a place to offer sacrificed animals to the river spirit. In the 16th century, the cave was transformed into a temple and now more than 1,000 Buddha statues, brought for good luck by believers, reside in the lower cave.

The upper cave is accessed by a steep staircase and has a door, as monks at one time lived inside. We walked the depth of the dank cave, using our phones as flashlights, to the end where Buddha statues stood on altars. 

Storm on the Mekong

Back on the boat, we were ready for the final stretch of our journey from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang. The sky to the north – and in front of us to the east – was picture-perfect for the ride. But, creeping over the top of the Buddha Cave karst was a dark, foreboding storm.

For most of our trip, we had evaded the rain, only enduring a few, short passing showers. When we set sail from the caves, however, a black cloud was following us and there was no way to outrun the downpour.

Whipping wind blew huge drops of rain into both sides of the boat. We hauled our bags away from the edges and positioned ourselves in the center of the boat for stability and the captain calmly steered us closer to shore. The fast-moving storm quickly diminished visibility; the mountains we saw so clearly a few minutes before were shrouded by a deluge of water. 

The captain was focused, but unfazed by the sporadic weather. His entire life has been spent on the Mekong. Just as rapidly as the storm approached, it dissipated. And, a few minutes later as the captain docked the slow boat in Luang Prabang , the sun was shining again.

Tips for your Trip from Chiang Rai, Thailand to Luang Prabang, Laos

We have detailed our experience on the 2-Day Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang Slow Boat – which provided not only a mode of transport between the two cities, but also an unforgettable travel experience. That said, navigating from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang by luxury boat is the most expensive way to make the journey.

Luxury Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang Cruise Price

Many companies (like this one ) offer an excursion on a luxury Mekong River cruise from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang. Each boat tour offers package deals for a single day or multiple day trips. The ticket prices range from about $150 and up (and it can go way up depending on which company and boat amenities you choose). 

Alternate Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang Routes

We chose to book our Laos Slow Boat on the Mekong River with Mekong Smile Cruise, but there are other ways of getting from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang – and vice-versa from Luang Prabang to Chiang Rai. Travelers can opt to fly, take a mini bus, ride the public bus or use the public boat. 

Flights from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang

As we already mentioned, there is not a direct flight from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang. There are connecting flights from the Chiang Rai Airport to Luang Prabang through Bangkok (which will take about 6+ hours in total). 

Alternatively, visitors can take a non-stop flight from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang, which only takes about an hour. (However, you will have to sort out how to get from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai; the bus is the most popular route and it takes about 3.5 hours). 

Mini Bus to Luang Prabang from Chiang Rai

Tourist agencies organize mini bus trips from Chiang Rai to LP for fairly affordable prices. We recommend checking at the local agencies for information. 

Chiang Rai Bus to Luang Prabang

The cheap Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang Bus is an overnight bus that takes about 18 hours. The Chiang Rai bus only runs on certain days of the week – and departs from the Chiang Rai Bus Station Terminal 2 (which is outside the city center). The bus tickets cost around $30 USD.

There are no toilets on board, but it does make stops along the route. We think it is always best to ask around for current schedules and information before you go. 

Public Slow Boat Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang Route

It is possible with a little bit of effort to travel from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang via public bus and public slow boat, which costs much less than a luxury slow boat cruise. The boat won’t make stops in villages or at the caves and there is no provided lunch.

Your accommodation can help arrange specific details and answer common questions about the public Mekong slow boat to Luang Prabang. 

More Mekong River Adventures

We absolutely loved our 2-day Slow Boat Cruise on the Mekong River…but it’s not for everyone. There are several options for exploring the Mekong River – from day trips to fishing trips to kayaking – in several countries, including Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Check out these Mekong River Adventures , which you can book in advance!

Where To Stay in Pakbeng, Laos

Travelers who opt to take the slow boat to Luang Prabang from Chiang Rai will almost certainly make a stop in Pakbeng (whether taking a luxury boat or the public boat). For the overnight stay, it is best to make your hotel reservations in advance. 

During our stay in Pakbeng, we stayed at DP Guesthouse . Our room was small, but sufficient with a large shower and – most importantly – air conditioning. Free wifi and breakfast were available in the ground floor open-air cafe. 

There are many Pakbeng hotels to choose from (take a look here ). Also check out these top-rated hotels (based on guest reviews) for your upcoming trip: The Sanctuary , BKC Villa and Mekong Riverside Lodge . 

What To Bring on the Mekong River Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang Boat

We have just a few final tips for traveling from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang by boat. You can find all of our advice on our dedicated Travel Packing page. For now, grab your Free Packing Checklist !

Good Camera with Zoom Lens

We’re certain you’ll be snapping tons of photos during your Chiang Rai Luang Prabang boat trip. Rather than relying on your mobile phone to capture the sights, upgrade to an actual camera for higher quality photos. 

We travel with a Canon Rebel and use a 18-135mm lens . This camera is great for capturing sights from the luxury slow boat to Luang Prabang. 

The Right Travel Shoes

We brought both flip flops and versatile sneakers on our Mekong Slow Boat cruise – and we are glad we had both! Read our tips on the best  travel shoes for your trip!

Durable Day Bag

While our luggage was always at hand on our Mekong River boat cruise, we kept day bags close by with all of our necessities and everyday travel essentials !

Trip Insurance

If you haven’t already obtained travel insurance for your Mekong River boat trip (or overall Southeast Asia trip), consider traveling protected with a trusted company, like World Nomads .

Destination Information

We spent ample time in both Chiang Rai and Luang Prabang – and we have tips on the best things to do in each destination! 

Read our advice for the top Things To Do in Chiang Rai . When you arrive in LP, use our advice for the best Things To Do in Luang Prabang ! 

Mekong Travel Planner 

As you make your plans and reservations for your trip, staying organized is essential. We highly recommend using our Travel Planning Printables that are great for keeping all of your details sorted! 

Start planning your trip to Southeast Asia ! Search for the lowest airfares , the best accommodations and fun things to do …then start packing !   Want more travel advice? Head over to our Travel Planning Page for more tips on traveling – and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page !

Pin it! See all of our travel pins on our JetSetting Fools Pinterest Board .

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10 thoughts on “ Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang: Slow Boat on the Mekong ”

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Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang - all the options compared - bus, boat, plane

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Recently, like many travelers do, we decided to go from Thailand to Laos. We were in northern Thailand exploring the awesome Chiang Rai and one of the most popular destinations to get to from there is Luang Prabang in Laos. Initially we planned to do the (in?)famous slow boat, but it turns out there are so many different options to make this journey! Online many people share their experiences about a particular way to travel, but I wanted to summarize all the options we discovered, so if you want to get to Luang Prabang from Chiang Rai you can choose the one that fits your mood and budget best.

Let's start with some key points, also take a look at  this map from , it will help "mapping" things in your head:

• Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1 - that's the one in the center of the town, right next to the Night Bazaar, chances are it is within walking distance from your hotel or guest house. In addition to the buses mentioned in regard to getting to Laos, there are plenty of other local buses from this terminal, including the very cheap (20 baht) blue buses that can get you to the White Temple.
• Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 2 - about 6 km (15 min) south of Terminal 1, larger station with a mix of domestic and international buses stopping there.
• Chiang Khong - the small town on the Thai side of the border, a bit more than 100 km (2-3 hours) from Chiang Rai. Chances are you will not even reach it, most buses drop people off (or make a turn) at an intersection with a road going to the Immigration office.
• Houay Xai (Huay Xai) - the Laos counterpart of Chiang Khong, again most travelers do not explore the town, not a big loss - nothing to do there and by heading to the docks or a bus terminal one can soon get to the interesting parts of Laos.
• Fourth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge - the bridge over the Mekong river that connects Chiang Khong and Houay Xai and is several kilometers south of both.
• Slow boat docks - at the north end of Houay Xai, 13 km (25-30 min) from the Laos Immigration counter, using this departure point will take you through the town of Houay Xai.
• Speedboat docks - 7 km (15 min) from the Laos Immigration counter after the bridge, south of town.
• Bokeo bus terminals - Keo Champa and Phetaloon, both about 5-6 km (10-15 min) from the Laos Immigration counter after the bridge, south of town, same as the speed boat docks - you won't even see Houay Xai.

Ok, after sorting out the basic geography for the region here they are, all the different ways to get to Luang Prabang from Chiang Rai, starting with...

By plane - fastest, $$$$$

If you are in a hurry and have money to spend this is your best option. Unfortunately there are no direct flights between Chiang Rai and Luang Prabang, so if you don't want to fly Chiang Rai - Bangkok - Luang Prabang (even more expensive and not fast) there is a better way. The nearby city of Chiang Mai has a daily flight directly to Luang Prabang and getting there from Chiang Rai will take about 3 hours.

First step is to book a flight from Lao Airlines , departing almost every day at 15:15 from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang. Price is $130, including 20 kg luggage.

Then you have to get from Chiang Rai to Chaing Mai Airport. With the flight departure time in the afternoon you have plenty of time. Below I've listed some options:

• taxi can always be arranged for the ones ready to splurge, but it will cost you several thousand baht
• shared van will be cheaper, book through a travel agency
• buses with ticket price ranging between 150 and 400 THB will get you to the city, add a taxi or a tuk-tuk to the airport

Traveling this way I would advise to leave early in the morning trying to catch a bus around 9:00, making sure to be at the airport before 13:00. Catching the flight at 15:15 and landing at 16:25 means you will be in Luang Prabang in time for dinner the same day.

Getting to Luang Prabang by bus is one of the cheapest ways and can be a really comfortable trip. The only downside is you will miss all the river sights, but if that's a sacrifice you are willing to make - please keep on reading, the bus will also give you an opportunity for a whole night sleep.

Cheapest - sleeper option 1, $ ( + information how to get across the border )

This option is the most popular, reliable and easy to organize. There are several hops, but everything is straightforward and easy to do. Plan for about 4 hours travel to get from Chiang Rai to your departure point in Houay Xai, be it the docks or a bus station.

First leg is from Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1 (Night Bazaar) to Chiang Khong. The dingy old red buses depart every hour on the hour starting at 6 am, cost 65 THB, paid on the bus. After about 2 hours you will be dropped off at the highway where tuk-tuks await to get you to immigration.

The tuk-tuk ride to Thai immigration is about 5 minutes, costs 50 THB per person, potentially negotiable if travelling in a larger group.

After clearing immigration at the Thai border you have to buy a ticket for the shuttle bus that takes you across the Fourth Friendship Bridge to Laos. The ride is about 2 minutes, but waiting for the bus might take close to an hour. Price is 25 THB.

If you already have a visa for Laos just head to the counter, otherwise fill the forms, provide a photo and pay the visa on arrival fee ($30-$40 depending on nationality). It is best to have US dollars to pay for the visa, paying in kip is more expensive, just make sure your greenbacks are in perfect condition. There is an exchange booth with surprisingly fair rates.

There will be agents trying to sell you bus and boat tickets at higher prices, try negotiating or best - avoid.

Once you get the visa and are in Laos get a tuk-tuk to your next stop - price will vary between 20 000 and 50 000 kip depending on where you are going.

To get the cheaper sleeper bus ask for Keo Champa bus station. It is a small bus terminal with several restaurants and massage shops around, the best thing about it is here you can get on a sleeper bus to Luang Prabang for only 120 000 kip. Departs daily at 16:00 and is the same quality as the more expensive sleeper departing from Phetaloon. After about 12 hours you will wake up in Luang Prabang, might even be on time for the morning Alms Giving Ceremony.

Convenient - sleeper option 2, $$

To avoid the multiple hop-ons/hop-offs of the cheapest option above you can catch a bus that takes you directly from Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 2 to Bokeo - Phetaloon, which is the main bus terminal on the Houay Xai side. The convenience is that the same bus will take you to the border, wait for you to cross it, carry you through the bridge, wait at the Laos border and after that take you to the bus station for the next leg of the journey. This bus is scheduled to depart daily at 10:00 and 16:00, which makes it easy to catch the sleeper bus at 18:00 if you get the morning one. The problem is that this schedule is unreliable and you will need to confirm the day before, best by visiting the counter at Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 2. Ticket price is 220 THB.

Once at Bokeo (Phetaloon), you can get on  this sleeper bus for 170 000 kip and after 12-14 hours you will be in Luang Prabang.

Direct, all the way - $

According to HoboMaps  there is a bus departing from Chiang Mai that stops in Chiang Rai and continues into Laos all the way to Luang Prabang. At a total price of 950 baht this is the cheapest option to travel, but booking can be difficult and the schedule is unreliable. For more information check Bus Terminal 2 in Chiang Rai or call Transport Co. Thailand at 053 241 449.

Going down the Mekong river can be a great way to travel as you can enjoy the scenery. Most people headed this way have heard of the slow boat, but this is just one of the options, here they are:

Speedboat - adventurous, $$$

* This part of the journey begins at the  Houay Xai speedboat docks, how to get there from Chiang Rai read in the "By bus" section above.

These boats are noisy but make the trip to Luang Prabang in about 6 hours. Please keep in mind that some travelers have complained from very uncomfortable seating arrangements and wearing the provided life jacket and helmet at all times is strongly recommended (accidents really happen!). Ticket price at the docks varies between 340 000 - 400 000 kip per person, but may go even higher if there are not enough passengers. Booking a ticket through an agency in advance will most likely cost more. The speedboats depart in the morning, make sure to be at the docks before 11 am.

Slow boat - backpacker style, $$

* This part of the journey begins at the Houay Xai slow boat docks, how to get there from Chiang Rai read in the "By bus" section above.

The slow boat is a popular choice because it is an affordable and in many cases - enjoyable trip. Price per person is 210 000 kip which includes two days on the boat. Day one takes between 6 and 8 hours to get from Huai Xai to Pakbeng, day two the journey continues to Luang Prabang for another 5 to 7 hours. Actual travel times depend greatly on the number of locals embarking/disembarking the boat as every stop delays the already slow boat. Accommodation in Pakbeng is not included, the town is just a stop along the way, nothing to see and do there, budget guest houses available. Boats depart around 11:00, so do your best to catch the earliest buses from Chiang Rai to have enough time to reach Chiang Khong. Depending on the season (and your luck) the boat might be overcrowded, some people have spent most of the time standing or sitting on the floor.

Cruise - luxurious, $$$$$

Several companies will make your trip pleasant by providing a complete tour including hotel pick up, border transfers, accommodation, meals, tour guide and stops at tourist spots, but all comes at a price. Depending on the package expect to pay between $150 and $500 per person. Do some research to find the best match for you, here are some starting points:  Mekong Smile Cruise ,  Luangsay Cruise ,  Shompoo Cruise .

• Every tour agency in Chiang Rai offers transfers to Luang Prabang. Usually a hotel pick up is included then it follows one of the options explained above, with somebody leading you along the way, for a fee, of course. Although it is not too expensive for the convenience, doing it on your own is easy and straightforward.
• If in an emergency change of plans you have to get from one of the Chiang Rai bus terminals to the other - no need to pay for a taxi, there are big blue tuk-tuks (songatews) going back and forth for 20 THB per ride.
• All travel plans here are in the Chiang Rai - Luang Prabang direction, but they are like those cool two face jackets - reversible! If you are headed from Laos to Thailand the information here should still be helpful in terms of what can be done and how much it costs, just check what the schedules are in your direction.
• Prices and schedules are accurate as of June 2018. If you are aware of any changes or new options - please share in the comments section below.

Destinations

• Luang Prabang
• useful information

From Chiang Rai : 2 Days 1 Night Slow Boat to Luang Prabang

• Air-conditioned vehicle from Chiangrai to Chiangkhong
• Travel accident insurance
• Bus Across the Border
• Lunch on the boat
• Visa to Lao for 40 $usd and 2 Photo (Take the photo at the shop near the border)
• Room 1 night at Pakbang. Lunch on boat Any other expenses not mentioned in the package.
• Please provide a pick-up address and room number, and we will confirm a time for pick-up at least one day in advance. This is a shared transfer, and pick-up could be early or late. *The pickup time is about 05.00–05.30 am. Please arrive at the location 10 minutes before the departure time. The van starts by picking up guests from the city area before moving to the next location.
• King Mangrai Monument, WR6R+536 ถนน ห้าแยก Tambon Wiang, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Rai, Chang Wat Chiang Rai 57000, Thailand
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Not recommended for travelers with back problems
• No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Most travelers can participate
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• Wat Rong Khun

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• Danbury1929 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Not a quiet cruise down the Mekong…. The 7 hour trip from Chiang Mai to Thai border was crowded, but doable.10 people and their luggage packed into a mini van. Tour did a good job getting us through customs. Hotel in Huay Xai was the worst hotel I’ve been in ever! Slept on box springs, no mattress, no toilet paper in room, bugs all over…gross! The worst part was the cruise…I’d envisioned a quiet cruise down the Mekong…as it turned out we were on a boat with about 200 people, mostly backpackers and it was like a college frat party. Sitting down you couldn’t see over the sides of the boat and you had to stand to see the scenery. The boat was nothing like the one pictured in the ad…either hard wood benches or repurposed car bench seats that were not permanently affixed and moved around. There are better boats out there…find one! Read more Written March 7, 2024
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Luang Prabang, Laos

A sleepy peninsula at the heart of northern Lao mountains where time stands still, Luang Prabang will slow your pulse and make your holiday unhurried with its easygoing vibe and world-class comfort. If this historic town is on your bucket list, make sure you give it more a couple of days to experience all of its incredible charm, from cultural gems to natural wonders and fun outdoors. Set at the sacred confluence of the Mekong River and the Nam Khan River that almost surround the city, Luang Prabang is the former capital of Laos and becomes world-famous when its ancient town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. The whole townscape is a delight for taking a stroll and traveling back in time to uncover much of the town’s history past. As a visitor, you cannot help but get amazed by the exceptional fusion of Lao traditional urban architecture and 19th century European colonial style buildings, which is all co-existing in a perfect harmony with the verdant greenery and rugged mountains of the sacred Mount Phousi.  Let’s start your cultural trip in Luang Prabang with an early wake up to witness Tak Bat or the Alms Giving Ceremony. Every morning before the sun rises, the monks in saffron robes will walk barefoot with their alms bowls to silently collect almsgiving from the faithful Theravada Buddhists, from the main street of the town spreading out to all the side streets. The tranquil scene is one of the most meaningful experiences in Laos, and tourists are expected to watch the old tradition respectfully from a distance. Continue your journey towards a collection of historical structures in this beautiful town. The most famous site is Wat Xieng Thong, the oldest monastery in the city built in 1560. The temple is noted for its typical roofs in Lao style and a stunning 'tree of life' mosaic on the western exterior wall. Other noteworthy attractions are Royal Palace Museum, Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham, Wat Pa Phai, and Wat Mahathat. While in the town, you can also spend time exploring local centers like Ock Pop Tok Living Craft Center or Big Brother Mouse to learn more about the culture of Luang Prabang residents and how they try to make the life better. For foodies, participating a cooking class is an excellent option to sample authentic Lao cuisine as well as take home some great recipes. If you get enough discovery on culture and heritage, venture out of town to the nature. You can choose a host of outdoor activities with varied levels of difficulty, such as taking a swim in the spectacular Kuang Si Falls, river cruising to Pak Ou Caves, trekking with elephants through lush jungle, getting off the beaten path along meandering mountain-bike trails, kayaking or rafting along the river of Nam Xuang.

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 Being romantic cruise on Mekong River cruise in Laos

 The cruise is the blend of traditional Laotian artwork with French-colonial accents.

 Meeting friends at Café-Bar & Lounge, relaxing on terrace deck with sun loungers and cabanas and experiencing Bodhi Spa on board. 

 Your luxurious room feels like home from the very first moment.

 Preparing the rich and flavourful cuisine of Laos and Southeast Asia with the best and freshest ingredients.

 Interesting activities on board: Local dance & music performances, sandbank barbecue and cocktail events,cooking class, evening cinema, kayaking, traditional welcome ceremony.

Upstream Golden Triangle Traverse

Downstream golden triangle traverse, upstream laotian serendipity.

 Have chance to admire the natural beauty of Laos and Thai Land on luxurious cruise. 

 Enjoy 5 -star services during 11-day cruise with affordable price

 Ideal cruise for visitors who would like to discover the life on Mekong river along Thailand and Laos. 

 Visit to the opium museum in the Golden Triangle

 Have chance to take part in the largest elephant festival in South East Asia, usually in February

 Visit the jungle pools and dramatic Khaung Si waterfall, a butterfly garden and elephant camp

 Explore of the delightful French city in Laos.

 Be the first river expedition since pre war days to cross all Laos.

Chiang Saen to Vientiane

Vientiane to chiang saen.

 Have chance to admire the natural beauty of Laos and Thai Land on luxurious cruise. 

 Enjoy 5 -star services during cruise journey with affordable price

 Ideal cruise for visitors who would like to discover the life on Mekong river along Thailand and Laos. 

 Visit tribal villages and explore into jungle and countryside

 Discover the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Luang Prabang

 Be the first river expedition since pre war days to cross all Laos

 Enjoy traditional Laos dancing on the upper deck late afternoon

 Exploring the unique Pak Ou Caves, a Buddhist sanctuary with spectacular limestone cliff faces

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Slow boat to luang prabang | everything you need to know.

Ready to take the famous slow boat to Luang Prabang in Laos? Here we have everything you need to know about making the journey from Chiang Rai through to the charming town of Luang Prabang. You will find out how to get to the border, all about the 2-day route, and where to purchase your tickets at the best prices.

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How to get to the Lao border 

Many travellers head from places in the north of Thailand into Luang Prabang, as this is the most obvious route along the banana pancake trail. To do this you will first need to reach the Thai/ Lao border at Huay Xai. To get there you can either go directly by bus from Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai. A local bus from the bus station in Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong costs 65 Baht ($2.08) and takes 2 hours. After the morning drive, you will be dropped off on the roadside and greeted by tuk-tuks. You will then need to hop in a tuk-tuk and cross over the friendship bridge to the immigration point. The cost of the tuk-tuk is around 30 Baht ($0.96) per person.

Passing through the Thai/ Laos border

When you arrive at the border you will need to fill in an immigration form to get your visa. For U.K. passport holders the cost of the visa is 30 USD for 30 days’ single entry into Laos. After getting your visa stamped into your passport, proceed to the Lao side of the border. You will then come out into a small bus terminal. From here you can take a short bus ride to the nearby town of Huay Xai. Now you have two choices; if you have managed to get to Huay Xai early enough, you can jump straight on the boat for the first leg of the slow boat journey. If you miss the boat that day, you can stay the night in Huay Xai. The small town is lined with guesthouses for you to choose from before continuing the slow boat journey to Luang Prabang.

Where to buy tickets for the slow boat to Luang Prabang

The pier to board the slow boat to Luang Prabang is easy to find. You should buy both parts of your ticket from the dock at the pier. The total cost for the ticket is 220,000 Kip ($24.77) per person. Be aware that many places in the town will try to sell you the tickets beforehand at an inflated rate. Make sure to keep your ticket safe. This is your pass to carry on the journey the following day. The slow boat to Luang Prabang is scheduled to leave at 11:00 am. Therefore, we recommend arriving at the pier at 10:00 am to be sure to get a ticket and a good seat on the boat.

The slow boat to Luang Prabang experience

The first leg of the slow boat to pakbeng.

The first leg of the journey takes around 7 hours. The next day is around 6 hours. Along the way, you will float down the river that is surrounded by lush green mountains and clear blue skies. Whilst onboard, take the opportunity to meet new people to have an awesome time within Laos. You can buy snacks and drinks on the boat, but the prices are slightly higher than they are on land. If you don’t fancy paying the prices on the boat, you can always buy a few things beforehand and take them with you. Tip: The seats are relatively comfortable but try to sit at the front of the boat. The closer you get to the back, the noisier it is because of the engine.

Stay the night in Pakbeng

Whilst on the boat a worker comes around asking if you want to pre-book your accommodation. They will probably try to scare you by saying you risk not having anywhere to stay because the guesthouses are full. The truth is, is there are plenty of nice places to stay! When you get off the boat you will be met with plenty of hotel and hostel owners. If you agree to stay at their place they will give you a free ride in their truck up the 1km long hill.

The average cost of a private double room is around 100,000 Kip ($11.26) for the night. There isn’t much to do in Pakbeng, but there are many eateries for you to choose from for your evening meal. After tucking into a nice meal, get a good night’s rest ready for the next leg of your boat journey the next day.

The second leg of the slow boat to Luang Prabang

After the 6-hour journey for the second day in a row, you may be starting to get a little restless. When you arrive in Luang Prabang you will need to walk up the muddy riverbank and worm your way past all the touts that are asking you to stay at their hotel. We managed to find a private double room with a bathroom for 110,000 Kip ($12.38). We also managed to get a free ride there in the back of a truck. Finally, after a tiring but fun and exciting 2 days, you can relax and enjoy the sights and charm of Luang Prabang.

All in all, the slow boat to Laos was an experience, to say the least. Similar to our overland journey from Laos to Myanmar , this sow boat journey is one that will stay ingrained in our memories for a lifetime. So before booking that flight, remember there is always the 2-day slow boat adventure to get you there.

Where to stay in Luang Prabang

Sok Dee Guesthouse – The guesthouse is located in a quiet area, but within walking distance to the market and shops. The guesthouse is clean and boasts very spacious rooms, equipped with a TV and dressing table.

For more prices and deals on properties in Luang Prabang, CLICK HERE.

Essential resources for travelling in Southeast Asia

Travel Insurance – No matter where you’re travelling to, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re covered for any accidents or losses. We spent days and weeks searching for insurance, but most insurers would not allow us to take out a policy as we were already abroad. Our personal choice is Safteywing . You can opt for automatic monthly payments, just like a subscription. More importantly, it is available in 180 countries and can be purchased whilst already travelling. There is no cap on the duration of travel.

Visa – Before you travel to any country, make sure to check if you need a visa. iVisa is a fantastic website that is super easy and quick to use. Just type in where you are from. and where you are going. to check if you need a visa. If you do, you can quickly make an application online.

Accommodation – Bookinging.com is our go-to when looking to pre-book accommodation online. Booking.com tend to almost always have the best rates and a FREE cancellation policy for most properties.

Overland transport – Our go-to website for overland transport is Bookaway . Bookaway offers multiple forms of transport, from buses, mini-vans, trains, and ferries. The routes on offer are extensive and certainly cover most of the backpacker trails. Bookaway works a little like Skyscanner but for overland transport. You will find plenty of transport options from a range of companies. All you simply need to do is book online and receive your ticket by email. The email will contain essential information, such as where the bus leaves from and departure and arrival times.

Tours & Activities – If you want to book tours and activities online, make sure to check out Get Your Guide . Get Your Guide takes the stress out of booking activities abroad. You will also find a range of benefits, such as skip-the-line passes, lunch included in your tours, and so much more.

Travel tips ebook -Before you head off on your adventure, make sure to download our free ebook. It has a whopping 109 budget travel tips to help you make your hard-earned cash go further. Click here to download your FREE ebook.

Now you have arrived in Laos, you’re probably planning to see a bit of the country. Check out this backpacking Laos itinerary!

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Chiang Rai To Luang Prabang by Slow Boat.

General Information

The van will pick up customers at the meeting point at 8:30 a.m. Customers need to arrive at the meeting point before 8:30 a.m. (recommended at least 8:00 a.m.). There will be a change of vehicle when reaching Chiang Khong as it is the Thai-Lao border. An employee or driver will take the customer to the border and provide a cross-border shuffle ticket. At the Lao border, our staff is already there waiting to facilitate you. When the passport is finished Our staff will escort you to the boat to continue your journey. The boat will stop and spend one night at Pak Bang.

8:30 a.m. Travel by boat from Pak Beng to Luang Prabang.  On the way before reaching Luang Prabang, The boat will stop at “Tham Ding” which is an archaeological tourist attraction. Then continue walking Will arrive at Luang Prabang Port at 5:00 p.m.

8:30 a.m. Travel by boat from Pak Beng to Luang Prabang.  On the way before reaching Luang Prabang, The boat will stop at "Tham Ting" which is an archaeological tourist attraction. Then continue walking Will arrive at Luang Prabang Port at 5:00 p.m.

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How to travel from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang?

What You’ll Find in this Blog

How to travel from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang? You have a few options to choose: direct flight, buses, and slow/ speed boats. Let’s discover the best way that fits for your travel interest, your timeframe, and your budget.

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang flight

If you want to save time and can afford a flight ticket, choosing to travel by airplane is the fastest way. There is a daily direct flight from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang for 1 hour & 10 minutes so you can get to Chiang Mai after 3-hour drive only.

The flight is operated by Laos Airlines and Bangkok Airways and it may cost from US$90 to 150/ticket depending on your travel dates.  

As the flight may take off in the mid-afternoon in Chiang Mai, you can leave Chiang Rai in the early morning by bus and reach the airport before 13:00 for check-in before taking the flight to Luang Prabang Laos. The landing time is around 16:30 that allows sufficient time for resting and dinner after a busy day with long transfer.

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang bus

Getting to  Luang Prabang  by bus is the cheapest and most comfortable way. The approximate duration is either 2 days or 3 days depending on your choice of sleeper option or direct bus.

The direct bus is highly recommended as you do not need to change the buses and have comfortable sleeper berths and spacious leg space. Price is US$30/ticket with a duration of 18 hours.

To purchase the ticket, you should arrive at the Terminal 2 bus station of Chiang Rai a day before departure to ensure the bus ticket is still available for you, especially in high season from November to March. 

There is another way for border crossing from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang but inquires a lot more hop on hop offs. You may experience a few routes as follows:

• Chiang Rai Bus Station Terminal 1 to Chiang Khong for 2 hours
• Chiang Khong to Thai Border by tuk-tuk for 5 minutes
• Thai Immigrations to Laos Immigration by a shuttle bus across the 2 countries
• Laos Border to Bokeo Bus Station in Huay Xai 
• From Huay Xai to Luang Prabang for 10-12 hours

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang b y boat

Choosing to travel by boat can be a great way to enjoy the amazing river view. There are two options: slow boats and speedboat. Whatever way you choose, the journey may start from Huay Xai side at the speedboat/ slow boat docks. The ways to get from Chiang Rai to Huay Xai is clearly stated above.

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang by speedboat

It may take up to 6 hours from Huay Xai slow boat docks to Luang Prabang. You are required to show up at the docks before 11:00 as this boat may depart in the morning and there is no afternoon boat for your schedule.

In the peak season, the slow boat can be overloaded for more than 100 people so many complaints about the unpleasant seatings and the noise for a long hour. To overcome the boat trips, you should bring a pillow and wear life jackets and helmet all the time for a good sleep.

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang by slow boat

The trip will last for 2 days and is divided into 2 parts: Day 1 lasts for 8 hours from Huay Xai to Pak Beng, Day 2 is followed by the trip to Luang Prabang for another 6 hours. 

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang by luxury Mekong river cruise

You can absolutely enjoy a pleasant journey by booking an all-inclusive package by travel agents in Chiang Rai or Luang Prabang, from the accommodation, meals, cruises, tour guides and stops along the way. The expected cost for a 2 or 3-day trip is between US$200 to 500/person.

Here is one of the tour samples for joining this luxury option

Day 1: from Chiang Rai – Chiang Khong – Pakbeng

Early in the morning at 6:15 am, private car to pick up from your hotel at the lobe, by road 135 kilometers, it takes about 1.5 – 2 hours. You will get to Chiang Khong border about 8 am. Then check out from Thailand, our driver will pay a shuttle bus ticket for you. It takes a couple of minutes to cross the bridge to Huay Xai border. The Cruise teams wait on the Laos side to prepare the arrival card and visa form for you, so you have to prepare a photo for the visa. It will cost 40 baht if you don’t have one. There are two banks and ATM at the Laos border, you can exchange your money to kip, we have a van to pick you up to the boat.

After that, we take Mekong Cruise down the mighty Mekong River to Luang Prabang. The boat will depart at the slow boat pier, the passenger will enjoy both sides of Mekong River. It takes 1.5 hours to pass Laos and Thai border, calling Phadai mountain, then the river which comes to Laos for about 30 minutes. The boat has to stop Pak Tha, the border checkpoint. It take 45 minutes to Mekong village to learn the local’s culture and relax. In the end, you come back to the cruise and a buffet lunch will be served on board.

After lunch is your free time to relax and enjoy the Mekong River. The cruise arrives at Pakbeng before sunset for an overnight stay at your hotel.

Day 02: Cruise downstream from Pakbeng to Luang Prabang

Departure time: 8 am.

Early in the morning, you can visit the Pakbeng market (optional). After breakfast, we depart at 8 am to journey down the Mekong River. The first stop is at Ban Baw where you will observe the traditional whiskey village, weaving village, handicrafts, and textiles. A buffet lunch is served on board. The boat stops again to visit Pak Ou caves . There are two caves, ‘Tham Ting’ and ‘Tham Phoum.’ The caves contain thousands of Buddha images. The Mekong cruise arrives at Luang Prabang, a UNESCO world heritage city, before sunset; and we have the van to pick you up at the main pier to Luang Prabang. Trip ends.

To discover the various attractions and hidden gems in Luang Prabang, don’t miss our comprehensive guide on things to fo in Luang Prabang with tips to beat the crowd .

Here is the infographic cover basic information about travel from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang you might want to save:

Suggested Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang tours

• Jewels Of Laos 13 Days
• The Elephant Journey 10 Days

I believe you may find an overview of the border crossing that matches your budget and timing before leaving Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang. If you have any questions or need help organizing a tour, please feel free to contact us by filling out the form below. We’re excited to accompany with you to explore the new side of Laos and Thailand. 

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Enjoy traveling!

Linh Chu – Travel Specialist

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Slow Boat to Luang Prabang, Laos: The Ultimate Guide

Last update on:

We took the slow boat from the Thai – Laos border to Luang Prabang in Laos first hand at the beginning of 2023 , so all the information in this article is valid as of January 2023. Please be aware that things in Asia can change quickly so if anyone finds conflicting information, please leave a comment .

Need to know

• Our Rating: ★★★★ An absolute must for all travellers going from Thailand to Laos!
• Minimum time: 2 days
• Costs: approx. €10-€15 per person per day

Most travellers wanting to travel from Thailand into Laos to continue their backpacking journey will have heard of the slow boat to Laos. This popular route is practically a rite of passage for backpackers following the banana pancake trail up through northern Thailand and into Laos .

The slow boat in Laos takes a leisurely pace down the Mekong river, taking 2 days to reach the cultural capital of Laos, and UNESCO world heritage site, Luang Prabang . The first day of the slow boat will be about 7 hours long, while the second day will last about 8 hours. It sounds like a lot, but for us the hours flew by! The slow boat will give you the opportunity to relax and soak in the scenery of the world-famous Mekong River . Spend time reading a good book, or make friends with the other passengers, drink a beer or play cards; there will be plenty of time and things to do.

If, like us, you’ve heard both good and bad stories about this method of transportation, and want to understand if it’s the right thing for you, then you’re in the right place. Short answer, it’s great and we loved it! In this article you will find our experience, tips and tricks we learnt along the way, including crossing the Thai – Laos border, so you can experience this once in a lifetime journey to its best, and not get scammed and save money on the way. 

Getting to the border in Thailand

Crossing the thai – laos border, huay xai – the slow boat border town, slow boat day 1, the overnight stop in pakbeng, slow boat day 2, arriving in luang prabang, safety, concerns and useful information, what to do next.

Most people will plan their journey on the slow boat starting in the northern capital of Thailand, Chiang Mai . This city is firmly on the list of every backpacker and traveller in Thailand and is easily accessible from all over the country.

To get to the border with Laos you need to first reach the city of Chiang Rai , which is a 3-4 hour journey from Chiang Mai by bus. Buses go multiple times a day from Chiang Mai bus Terminal 3 and cost 6.5 euros / 250 baht . Check ticket prices here.

From Chiang Rai you need to take another bus to Chiang Khong . There are a few different options here including a mini bus service aimed at tourists and backpackers, which costs around 10 euros, or the option we opted for; The local bus .

This local bus service seems to operate on a “when it’s full, it leaves” system, as our bus was an hour delayed setting off until it had filled up. This local bus service leaves from the Chiang Rai bus terminal in the centre of town, and costs just 65 baht, or 1.5 euros . We found this bus journey quite laborious as it was very slow, and stopped every 5 minutes to deliver post and parcels (it seems the bus service doubles up as a delivery service) but after 3-4 hours we arrived at the border. You’ll want to disembark the bus before the final stop of Chiang Khong, and get off directly at the border crossing area (the stop just before Chiang Khong).

Once at the border you’ll have to cross Thai border control, then purchase a border bus crossing ticket ( 40 baht / 1 euro ) and wait in line to be picked up. This bus is mandatory and just takes you across the Thai – Laos friendship bridge. It will drop you off at the Laos border control booths. Once here you’ll have to fill in your visa application forms, pay the processing fee ( $35 USD ) and wait for your visa application to be approved. 

Make sure you have a passport photo for this border crossing otherwise you’ll be forced to buy one at the border for an inflated price!

After you receive back your passport with your fresh Laos visa, you’re free and officially in the country of Laos. At this point you can haggle with the tuk-tuk drivers and group with other backpackers to negotiate a deal to get to Huay Xai , the border town on the Laos side where the slow boat departs from. These tuk-tuk drivers will accept Thai baht, but there are ATMs available at the border where you can withdraw the Laotian currency, KIP .

There isn’t much to do in this town other than catch the slow boat and spend the night. If you, like us, arrive in this town after noon, you’ll have to wait for the following day to take the slowboat. Therefore, use this evening in Huay Xai to prepare for the journey , get supplies , order lunch (more on this below) to take with you on the boat, and relax before the 7 hours on the Mekong tomorrow. In the evening, I chose to go for a run down the Mekong, which offered a very scenic view. The locals found it amusing to see a tall westerner jogging through their small local villages. We then sat in a restaurant owned by a French expat and ate some Italian food (weird right?) and reflected on the previous few days’ travels before getting back to our homestay to sleep.

Where to buy the boat tickets in Huay Xai, and how much should they cost?

Boat tickets can be purchased from the Slow Boat Pier , about a 20 minute walk from the central area of town. The office to purchase tickets closes at 4pm so you need to be there before then if you want to buy your ticket for the following day. We missed the opening times due to the lengthy border crossing, but were still able to purchase tickets for the slow boat in the morning the next day, just make sure you get to the office for when it opens ( 8am ).

Tickets cost 300k kip , which works out at 14 euros for the 2 days . You can also buy a ticket just to the halfway point, Pakbeng , for 150k kip, in case you want to spend a few days there. Don’t forget to keep your passport handy to book the tickets, so don’t forget to bring it with you. You will also be assigned a seat number with your ticket, but don’t fret too much if you aren’t next to your SO, you can easily rearrange on the boat.

Note: There are multiple tour offices in the town that offer to sell the boat tickets to you. Most hostels also offer this service. But this is always more expensive than just going to the pier yourself and buying the tickets in person, so it isn’t worth it. You all end up on the same boat with the same amenities, so anyone that tries to tell you otherwise isn’t being honest.

There are some operators selling luxury private boat tours down the Mekong to Luang Prabang, but expect to pay upwards of $150 USD for the journey, as opposed to the $15 for the local boat.

Where to stay in Huay Xai?

If, like us, you arrived in the afternoon in Huay Xai, you’ll want to find somewhere to stay before the boat ride the following morning. For hostels we liked Over the Moon Hostel , for its cheap price and clean rooms. And for guesthouses we recommend Sabaydee Guesthouse where double rooms can be had for around 10 euros a night. 

Note: Another option is to visit the guesthouses in person and negotiate a room rate when you arrive. Lots of guest houses in Laos aren’t on booking websites, and it’s often cheaper to ask in person if rooms are available; Just show up and see for yourself!

Hotels in Huay Xai View all

Over the Moon Hostel

Sabaydee Guesthouse

Little Hostel

• See all available hotels in Huay Xai

What to do in Huay Xai?

• Order lunch for the boat – Nearly every shop, restaurant and hotel in Huay Xai offers a packed lunch service to take on the boat with you. It’s true that the boat has a small shop on board, but food options are limited to potato crisps, or instant noodles; and prices are very high. We recommend you order a sandwich to take with you on the boat in case you get hungry.
• Buy some snacks – As well as the packed lunch it helps to purchase some snacks beforehand too, such as bottled water, nuts, chocolate. The boat journey is a long 7 hours each day so being prepared is key.
• Find entertainment – We searched around for a shop selling playing cards to keep us occupied during the journey. We found some at the shop where the lady running it was exclaiming “I sell everything!”, and she really seemed to 🤣. You can also pick up some English language books in town, or magazines to pass the time. Maybe charge up your laptop / kindle too so you have something to do other than gaze out the side of the boat at the passing landscape.

You’ve slept, you’ve charged all your devices, picked up your packed lunch and had your breakfast. Now it’s time for the boat journey to begin. 

First you’ll need to get to the pier, so if you need a tuk-tuk, try grouping with other people in your hostel / guesthouse to share the cost. When you arrive at the pier you’ll be faced with the mass of other tourists waiting to take the boat with you. When you hear the boat being called you can head down to the water with your luggage, put it into storage, remove your shoes and head onto the boat to find your seat. 

Note: Before departure, people will come onto the boat and urge you to purchase a night in a hotel at the halfway point, Pakbeng, to avoid being left out when you arrive. This is not necessary! Pakbeng has numerous hotels and hostels, enough for everyone in the boat to sleep comfortably, and the cost of a night is considerably cheaper if you book on arrival as opposed to from these salesmen, or even online.

After departing you are free to move around the boat as you want. Find a spot on the front of the boat in the sun and work on your tan, or check out the back where the engine is ( just be warned it’s extremely loud! ).  The seats are comfortable but not bolted to the floor, so legroom comes and goes as people adjust their seat positions. We spent our time mingling with other travellers, playing cards, eating lunch and trying to fend off leg cramps by wandering around as much as possible. It is also good fun to “people watch” for the afternoon, seeing the travellers flirting and forming relationships, watching the loud and drunk (and usually British) travellers falling over themselves or singing at the top of their lungs, or the most introspective travellers, just reading or writing love poems.

After a leisurely 6-7 hours cruising down the Mekong, you arrive in Pakbeng !

Once you arrive at Pakbeng at the end of the first day, tired and ready to stretch your legs, a mad rush will unfold as everyone tries desperately to get off the boat and find their guesthouse. At this point, if you have already booked a guesthouse, you just need to look around for the person holding up the sign with the name on it. If, like us, you decided to book on arrival and save as much money as possible, you can start haggling with the guesthouse owners to see what the best deal you can get is. We managed to negotiate a twin room for 120k kip, or 5.5 euros with breakfast included (an absolute steal compared to the online prices!). Some other people we made friends with managed to get a dorm room with breakfast for around 3 euros per person . 

At this point you can jump into the back of the tuk-tuk for your guesthouse as it makes its ascent up the hilly roads of Pakbeng. This place really is built onto the hillside so unless you have just a 5 minute walk to the place, we recommend taking a tuk-tuk. Ours was free for people staying at the guesthouse, as was the drop off the following morning.

By the time you arrive at the guesthouse, check in and finally shower 🙏🏻, it will likely be getting dark outside. There isn’t much to do in the town of Pakeng other than restock supplies for the next day, have dinner and a well earned beer. Don’t forget this evening to place a packed lunch order for the boat the next day! We spent our evening swapping stories with other travellers we met on the boat earlier in the day that were staying at our guesthouse whilst enjoying a hot meal and a few cold beers before hitting the hay around midnight.

After a good night’s sleep you can enjoy breakfast at the riverside, and if you’re lucky see the elephants go down to the Mekong to bathe whilst you sip your morning coffee. The guesthouses start ferrying people back down to the pier about 9 am to catch the boat again.

At this point you should know what to expect from the previous day. The people that spent the previous day heavily drinking and singing are likely more subdued at this point, nursing a hangover and catching some Z’s. The scenery is more of the same from day 1, with a few more stop offs at local villages to pick up and drop off packages. 

After a few hours we made a few stops at local towns where people were selling bracelets and trinkets to us through the sides of the boat. We picked up a handmade bracelet for around 1 euro which we still have on our wrist to this day, 1 year later.

By hour 5-6 you will likely be ready to get off the boat, and the end is in sight. Once you pass under the massive modern high speed train bridge built by the Chinese you are only about an hour from Luang Prabang.

Being on the slow boat for two days gave us the chance to feel free as never before, contemplating the sheer nature around us. 2 days without internet and therefore without the possibility of being distracted by social networks. We met some fabulous people during these two days, who are still our friends today! And we also witnessed the birth of a few loves here and there, us included 🫶!

On arrival in Luang Prabang, you will be dropped off at the Slow Boat Terminal , about 5 km outside of town. At this point you only really have one option, to queue for an official tuk-tuk taxi ticket. This costs about 2 euros and once they are full, they will leave and drop you off in central Luang Prabang , right next to the night market. 

You’ve arrived! Time to enjoy some hot noodles and a coconut smoothie at the night market before heading off to find your guesthouse and reflect on the 2 days worth of journey you’ve just experienced. At times uncomfortable, maybe a little long, but interesting, diverse and scenic from start to finish. For us this was a very enjoyable experience, and we hope it will be for you too. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below; did you enjoy the journey? Do you have any tips we didn’t share here?

• Bring toilet paper! The boat toilets aren’t great and the toilet paper provided won’t last more than a few hours on the boat. Bonus points for wet wipes!
• As stated previously, do not book accommodation in the half way place, Pakbeng, in advance . You will pay 2-3x more than booking when you arrive in person. This includes the people that come onto the boat before you leave on the first day urging you to book with them .
• Order a packed lunch for both days in town and take it with you onto the boat. You can find noodles, fried rice, or a selection of baguettes with fillings like cheese, peanut butter, even nutella! The boat shop options are limited to instant noodles or crisps, all of which are super overpriced!
• Avoid sitting at the back of the boat if possible. It is extremely loud in the engine room. If you have to, use your headphones to drown out the noise.
• For some people, their Thai sim card worked for most of the journey, for us it didn’t. We recommend downloading some music, books, films, netflix episodes on your phone / laptop to keep you amused during the journey. This also means making sure everything is fully charged including power banks if you have them (which you should!).
• Bring sunscreen and apply liberally , especially if you spend any time sunbathing on the front of the boat. Bring mosquito repellant for the evenings .
• Travel insurance is a must for any travel abroad, especially in south east asia. Although problems rarely arise, you want to be covered in the case that they do. We use SafetyWing and recommend it for anyone travelling around the world.
• When spending money abroad we use the WISE international debit card . You can withdraw up to 200 euros in cash per month free of charge. After that, you only pay a very low withdrawal fee.
• If you don’t have your accommodation booked in Luang Prabang make sure you arrive at your intended homestay as early as possible, as places book up quickly in the city unlike Pakbeng. Best to book before you arrive to avoid any issues !

If motorbike loops are your thing, there are 2 incredible ones in Laos, the Thakhek loop , and the Bolaven Plateau loop . Check out our guides on them so you can know what to expect!

Or for more articles on Thailand or Laos , check out the rest of the blog !

Planning a trip to Laos? Check out our Ultimate Laos travel guide for more information. This guide covers everything you need to know from places and attractions, saving money and staying safe.

Did you know that…

Meet us on the Road is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support – Ben & Camilla. ♥️

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Ciao! 👋 We’re Ben & Camilla ⏤ from England 🫖 and Italy 🤌! We met doing what we love most: travelling! 🌏 This is our blog Meet us on the Road, where we share our travel stories and adventure guides. To find out more about us, or get in touch.

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Slow Boat to Laos – The Best Tips and Advice

• Last Updated: February 5, 2024

Everything you need to know about the slow boat to Laos from Thailand.

Prices for the slow boat to Laos are have been updated for December 2016. Subject to change.

So you’re looking to take the slow boat to Laos from either Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pai or Chiang Khong in Thailand and want some tips on the best way to do it? Here is everything you need to know before you board and once you’re on the boat!

Table of Contents

Chiang Rai – 1550 Baht ($47.50)

Chiang mai – 1700 baht ($52), pai- 1750 baht ($53.50), can i do this on my own and not through an agency and what are the costs, where do i get some laos kip, what’s the go with my slow boat ticket, how long will the slow boat to luang prabang take.

• ON THE BOAT

Where should I stay in Luang Prabang?

Speedboats from huay xai, bus from huay xai, can i book the slow boat to laos through an agency.

Yes, there are many agencies that can arrange this for you in each place. Sometimes even your accommodation can organise this for the same price as an agency. Just ask at your reception.

Don’t miss our latest guide on the best  things to do in Luang Prabang !

You get picked up from your Chiang Rai accommodation at 6:30-7am. There is a 2-hour ride to Chiang Khong, which is the closest town to the border, arriving at around 9am.

You then cross into Laos. Once you have officially entered the country you hop on the shuttle and get transferred to Huay Xai where the slow boat leaves. This is a 2-day journey, including shuttle and slow boat to Laos.

There are many agencies you can book this through in Chiang Mai . The typical schedule is 10:00am Pick up from your Chiang Mai accommodation.

It is a 4-hour drive to Chiang Kong where the border is located. You will be transferred to your accommodation in Chiang Kong and stay there for the rest of the day.

Pick up in the morning at 8:30am and transfer to Thai Immigration. Cross into Laos by shuttle bus. At 10:00am board the slow boat to Pakbeng.

Packages do include accommodation (either just in Chiang Khong, or sometimes Pakbeng as well), but depending on the price will determine your accommodation standards.

This is a one-day journey in the shuttle to the border town and 2 days on the slow boat to Luang Prabang.

If taking the 2-day slow boat from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang seems like too much of a headache and takes too much time, check out the sleeper bus. You can book it on Bookaway .

Leave Pai at 2pm or 6pm, Fuel up on the outskirts of Chiang Mai to continue on towards Chiang Khong. The trip is long and you will arrive in Chiang Khong around 1-2am.

This package does include all your transport and your one night accommodation in Chiang Khong.

Don’t expect anything fancy with the accommodation. In the morning they will drop you at the border around 9am. This is a one-day journey in the shuttle from Pai to the border town and 2 days on the slow boat to Laos.

If you’re going to be in this town, check out our complete guide on the best things to do in Pai.

Yes you can, but it might not flow as nice as an organised booking. Although it will work out cheaper. You may have to travel to Chiang Khong one day and then do the border crossing the next day to be in time with the slow boat to Laos.

The information below is making the journey from Chiang Rai

• Bus from Chiang Rai to the Border- 65 Baht ($2) Get the bus to Chiang Khong. Ask around at the bus station and let them know you are going to the Laos border.
• Shuttle over the Friendship Bridge- 25 Baht ($0.75) This is the bridge from Thailand to Laos. Foreigners can no longer take the ferry across.
• Visa on arrival- $30 US
• Shuttle from the border to boat dock- around 30,000- 50,000 Kip ($3.50 – $6) This price is an estimate as we asked various drivers but they didn’t seem to know what we were asking. They all gave different prices but we couldn’t determine whether we were on the same page, as they assumed we had everything pre-organised
• Slow boat organised from the border – 1200 Baht/ 300,000 Kip ($37.50)
• Slow boat organised from the boat dock in Huay Xai – 900 Baht / 220,000 Kip ($27.50)
• Tuk tuk into Luang Prabang- 15,000-20,000 Kip ($1.80- $2.50) We bartered and got it down to 15,000 kip per person. The tuk-tuk mafia will tell you that you have no option but to pre-purchase a ticket. We refused to and started walking. Eventually a driver offered to take us for the cheaper price.
• Note – We have since heard of some travellers who refused to get off the boat outside of Luang Prabang. They started an argument with the boat captains, demanding they take them the rest of the way, along with the locals. Eventually the boat men kicked everyone off the boat, LOCALS INCLUDED. For the sake of trying to save a few dollars, don’t do this.

I have no US cash for my visa payment, where do I get some?

In Chiang Rai we went to a large bank near the clock tower. The smaller branches and exchange centres do not have foreign money. Look for the larger branches and banks. Chiang Mai there a lot more options.

Before you receive your visa and cross through customs gate there is a currency exchange counter. There is also one on the other side, but I would recommend exchanging your money before you officially cross through. It will be quicker because most people obtain their visas first then deal with the currency once they enter Laos. We found the exchange rate to be market price and they didn’t charge a fee.

If you are on a tour, they will stop into the agencies and explain what’s going on to you. We had to give our passport to the owner, and he explained that to get the tickets you need to show your passport entry stamp and they will write down your name and passport number. He passes it on to the driver to get the tickets with the money to pay.

Laos is still behind when it comes to technology and everything is done by hand. So by giving your passport to the driver, the process will be faster with the same language spoken and this is a daily routine for them. If you are a little hesitant about handing your passport over to a stranger (we were), you are more than welcome to go with the driver and watch while your ticket is being processed.

If you are flying solo just go to the ticket box located up from the water on the left when you are walking down to the boat dock.

Two days all up. The first day will have you on the water for up to 7 hours. You leave Huay Xai at 11am and arrive in Pakbeng around 6pm. You will then spend the night in Pakbeng in accommodation at your own cost.

On the second day it will take up to 8 hours. You leave Pakbeng at 9:30am and arrive in Luang Prabang at 5:30pm.

On the second day make sure you get to the boat at 8:30am or earlier to choose your seat. Otherwise you may end up stuck in the engine room. These times all depend on the season, due to the changes in river height.

Is there food and drinks on board?

There is food, drinks and alcohol on the boat that you can purchase, but it is double the price compared to the main land. I would recommend getting your food and drinks before you board.

If you want beer some mini marts at Huay Xai sell Styrofoam boxes and ice to keep them cool. By purchasing everything before boarding it will be cheaper and you will have a larger selection to choose from.

On-Board and Land Prices (in Lao Kip)

Luang Prabang has a whole lot of different options for hotels and hostels. It’s not the cheapest place in the country, but still you can expect to find a room for around $10 a night or less if you do some searching around. In the peak season it is not uncommon to walk around for hours trying to find something in your budget (which is exactly what we did).

If you would rather show up in town with something already organised, we definitely recommend checking out the options on Agoda and Booking.com

NOMADasaurus readers get an exclusive 10% off your accommodation on agoda . Use the code: AGODANMD10 at checkout.

What are my other options if I don’t want to take the slow boat to Laos?

You can get to Pakbeng and Luang Prabang by speedboat too. It leaves from a different pier as the slow boat in Huay Xai, but if you have booked through an agency you will be picked up and taken there.

If you do decided to do it on your own the boat cost (when full, 6 people per boat) is 190,000 kip to Pakbeng and 320,000 kip to Luang Prabang. It is harder to organise at the pier, but if you have a group of 6 all ready, you are laughing.

It takes 3 hours to Pakbeng and 3 hours to Luang Prabang, with a long break between places to have lunch and change boats.

Be aware that if you pre-book the speed-boat in the off-season then it is not guaranteed to be operating the day you want it to, despite what the travel agent says.

If you get to Huay Xai and are informed that it is not running, they will offer you either the slow boat or the bus, and refund you the difference in price. This way is definitely the quickest way to get from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang but not the safest.

The drivers wear helmets but (from what we saw) the passengers didn’t, but I could be wrong. It doesn’t have the best safety record and there are many hazards when the river water level is low. Unless you have a death wish reconsider and take the slow boat to Laos.

*****WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS OPTION*****

This way is also a quicker way but a long route – 500km. There is a few bus terminals in Huay Xai and it can get a little confusing.

There is a station north (Kiew Lot Sai Nuan station), one south (Naluang Station), and another one where the minivans leave from which is also south of town (Naluang Mini Bus Station).

Most tourists prefer the minivan. Songthaew drivers know which station has which buses or minivans so just ask.

If this is the form of transport you have chosen then you will need to catch a songthaew out there, which may cost between 15,000- 30,000 kip depending on how many people you have.

Don’t forget to barter, it doesn’t hurt to try! You can catch the normal bus for around 120,000 kip or the VIP bus for around 145,000 kip.

Don’t have high expectations for the buses just because they have the VIP name tag. Definitely confirm if the bus has air conditioning or not.

There are multiple destinations, 3.5 hours to Luang Namtha, 7 hours to Oudom Xay and a long 12 hours to Luang Prabang. Make sure you bring a good book or have some good music on your music player. You can organise this on your own or with an agency.

With an agency it may cost around 1500 Baht, Leaving Chiang Mai at 10am and arriving in Luang Prabang at 5am, driving through the night.

Packages usually include mini bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Khong, shuttle across the friendship bridge to Huay Xai, and the bus from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang.

The buses are filled to capacity and sometimes more. The roads are still under construction so in sections can be very bumpy. If you get motion sickness, don’t forget your tablets.

We still think the slow boat to Laos from Thailand is the best way to go! What do you think?

Alesha and Jarryd

Hi, We’re Alesha and Jarryd!

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I’m going to south east Asia in February and was wondering if they do the slow boat trip the other way round? Can you start the trip from Luang Prabang and end up in Chiang Rai/Thailand?

Thank you 🙂

Hi Ellie, it was a while ago when we did the slow boat to Laos. Sorry I am not sure if they do it the other way during that time. Your best option is to contact a travel agent in Luang Prabang and see if they could help you. Sorry we couldn’t be helpful. Hope you have a great trip. 🙂

Oh, Thank you for your all the informations. Where can I buy the „Chiang Rai Option, starting in the early Morning, boat departs the Same Day“?

Hi Barbara, ask you accommodation or a travel agent and they will be able to help you. All the best.

Is March good time for traveling to Luang prabang from Huay xai in slow boat??

Hi, thanks for the article! Does the slow boat go everyday including in the rainy seasons? Thanks

Hi Nischal, we are not too sure. If you are in Chiang Mai or Pai, best to ask you accommodation or a travel agent. They would know best and can call and find out for you. Sorry we can not help you.

Apologies if I missed this, is the Thai immigration office in Chiang Khong?

Hi David, It was there. The bus transfer took us there first then we hopped on the slow boat.

Yes it is. No need to change money if you’ve baht. It’s accepted everywhere along the route. The first night you’ll get off the boat at sunset . Walk up a hill to look for a place to stay, there are many in village or the road to the left just before entering village. Oh the boat will have lots of backpackers and they’ll have a good time but they’ll be really quiet in the hotel. Oh if you’ve come with a tour they make a big song and dance about changing money after custom’s in a shop they’ve taken you, don’t the rates are terrible. Getting to Luang Prabang, after exiting boat go up hill turn left and you’ll find lots of places to stay along the river. Most have a restaurant across the street toward the river, some are good. If you’re in Thailand on a tourist visa but if a type “o” check with customs first. Most tours take you to a cheap hotel but there’s a large house used to be a Governors home in the area that’s a nice place to stay that’s not expensive. Also most tours will take your passport to do customs on the Thai side for you, do what you think best.

My partner and I will be travelling with a baby whilst on maternity leave and reading some of the above comments I wondered if the slow boat would be safe or even practical with a less than one year old or if I am completely crazy to even consider this option?

Could someone please advise whether there were many/ any babies or young children on the boat or would you say this type of crossing is unsafe or just shouldn’t be attempted given your experiences or do you think it would be doable? I don’t particularly like sound of an overcrowded or non air conditioned bus with a baby so I was thinking slow boat, or just fly into Bangkok

Thanks in advance

Hi Justine,

Congratulations on your new baby and travel with your baby too.

When we were travelling on the slow boat, we didn’t see any tourist with babies. We saw locals but they were getting off at their villages along the way. The boat does not stop the whole day only at the final destination.

It is up to you both because you know your baby. The days can be long. All the best and happy travels

My wife and I just did this two day trip. Arrived in Luang Pabang today August 15th 2019. From Chiang Rai total cost 960 Thai bahi each. We have been traveling for almost three years now so we are experienced travelers. From Chiang Rai Terminal 1 take the red bus to Chiang Khong. We stayed the night here. Most hotels offer cheap tuk tuk or equivalent transport to the border. Suggest leaving your hotel no later than 8 am. Thai immigration is really quick. Walk outside and take the bus across the Friendship Bridge to Laos Immigration. Loads of paperwork and big lines here. Patience! You will need 30 to 35 USD fee in clean notes with no tears. This is important. Another 1 USD or 40 baht if you have not got a recent passport photo. When you walk out from all of this there will be loads of cheap transport to the “slow boat pier” Two scams to be aware of – 1 – Just use the ATMS on the Laos side to get Laos Kips. The money changers will tell you the ATMs have a 10 USD fee. Not true. 2 – when you exit Laos immigration to buy your tuk tuk ticket to the pier you will be pressured to buy your slow boat ticket as well. All sorts of lies etc why the cost is 260K kip per ticket. We paid 200K kip per ticket at the pier. You also should buy sandwiches and drinks her as they are expensive on the boat. Don’t over think all this. It is all really organized and works very well. Brief review on the trip itself… Absolutely fantastic and more on the trip to Pakpeng. Big boat and almost no stops. Helpful crew. The second day boat to Luang Prebang was a nightmare. Yes, a much smaller boat the second day. Very very cramped and overcrowded. People were fed up even before leaving. Multiple stops along the route to pick up and drop of locals. Considering the money spent and the fact that the boat was packed with about 90% tourists ( almost 100 ) I question this. Very fed up and tired passengers when disembarking. Unhelpful crew did not help. The last bit of my review might be controversial but I am just reporting my updated experience. Hope it helps!

Thank you so much Brian for the updated information. We will update the article. Have a great trip

Hi all, there are actually 2 different bus companies that do the journey from Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong: the red bus and the blue bus. We caught the blue bus but both are old and decrepit vehicles. Also, be aware that if you are leaving in a Sunday not all of the (hourly) departures will be running,

Thank you so much for all the info! Very useful for my trip to Luang Prabang.

We’re planning on taking this boat in a few weeks after we leave Chiang Mai so thanks for all the information, it’s really useful and good to see that it looks reasonably easy to do!

Hi Oli, have a great time. Glad the article could help. People say the boat is boring but we really liked it. It was relaxing. Definitely bring a book but also you can turn out from the world. Have fun travelling Laos.

Thanks again for all this info! We had a successful boat trip, did it all ourselves from Chiang Mai instead of booking a tour and it went really smoothly (and cheaply!). We didn’t find it boring at all and having a book did come in handy. Saw what you meant about the speedboats, they looked like death traps! The only real disappointment was seeing all the locals just throwing all of their rubbish into the river 🙁

Do you know of any agencies that can book this trip in advance for a reasonable price?

Sorry Zachary, we are not too sure. Our advice is to get to Chiang Mai and shop around. All the best.

Hello, Informative post. Thank you. I haven’t been able to find info on if taking the 2 day slow boat from Chiang Klong is nice-fun-interesting or if people choose it more as a get from point A to point B decision. I am trying to decide how to spend about a week at the end if December 2017. (After a week in Chiang Mai and before going down to Krabi.) I am pretty wide open. Traveling with husband and 12 yo son. Right now I think we’ll rent a car and drive around N Thailand (Chiang Rai, Golden Triangle, Pai, some possibilities.) When considering driving- visiting over border into Laos I saw this boat trip. But now I’m guessing it’s not overly interesting because in 3 different postings no one has mentioned enjoying it. Any advice on that or how to spend a week would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks for the awesome blog. Jennifer

We took the Mekong River journey in October. It was great. Nothing strenuous, except for climbing the stairs from the boat in Luang Prabang. We used Smile tours for the boat trip. It was not the low dollar pedestrian boat, yet it was surprisingly competitive considering value for comfort. Nice booth seats with a table, local food was prepared onboard, beverages were economical. Spectacular beauty. We took a bus from Chaing Mai to Chaing Rai where we spent a night. We were going to take the bus to Chang Klong but a cabby offered to take us in an a/c car for $600 baht, so we took the cab as the Chaing Rai bus didn’t have a/c. Smile picked us up at our Chang Klong hotel at 7:30, took us to the border where we caught the bus to the Laos immigration point. There was an ATM at immigration which was great. I got $1,500,000 kip which cost $180 USD.

Having kip made Pak Beng costs and tips easy. Paid $250,000 kip for an a/c room in Pak Beng. Great remote village. Traveled hundreds of km on the Mekong through a real wilderness. There was only one bridge between Chang Klong and Luang Prabang.

This is a must do, spectacular, even iconic journey, for even retirees like my wife and I.

“This is a must do, spectacular, even iconic journey”

We did the reverse on October10/20018: Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai by slow boat for a total of $48/person. This trip was the best of our travels across Asia, an exquisite enjoyment. The slow boat is so serene and the views are magic. We booked through a local agency in LP who picked us up from our hostel to take us to the tuk tuk that took us to the pier. The boat leaves around 9:30 AM, stops in Pakbeng for the night around 7:00 PM (was supposed to arrive @ 6:00). Extremely smooth ride zig-zaging across the Mekong as the level was low and there are loads of sandbanks and rocks across it. Next morning departure @ 8:30 with a different boat but just as comfortable to Huay Hai (the border town), arrived around 6:00 PM. Next day we were picked up by the agency and taken to the Thai border where we then transferred on to a minivan that took us to Chiang Mai in 4 hours with half an hour break for lunch. We packed food and water for the boat trip but it was available on board. This was a local boat with few tourists aboard. The accommodations in both villages/towns are not included in the price; the price includes the trip from our hostel in LP to Chiang Mai bus station, including all transfers in between. It cost us an additional 100 BHT to reach our hostel. Each night between the trips cost us $13 and $18 for a private double room with bath, we walked the distance to our accommodations. We found this type of travel a wonderful experience and a great way to see a country from a different perspective. Naturally this won’t be the right choice if you have ADHD as we remain seated most of the time although it is doable to get up and walk around a bit, especially in this season when both boats were half full. They used bus seats on board which are extremely comfortable, even for ppl our age. We saw several of those speedboats but the agencies we visited in LP do not recommend them: they are very uncomfortable (you sit on a hard seat for 6 hours), they are extremely fast so the ride is far from smooth which means that every bounce and hit on the water goes through your body; they are dangerous. We only saw locals traveling in speedboats, it might be alright for a short distance but not recommended at all for 6 hours. Whereas our ride was so peaceful some even slept during the trip. All in all, the best trip we’ve had so far, quite adventurous and oh so enjoyable. So happy we did this.

Hey, thank you so much for this information. I’m going to Thailand next week (last minute) and going to Luang Prabang. I’ve been to Chiang Mia before and loved it. Wouldn’t mind going again. Haven’t been Chiang Rai and Pia. Any suggestions where I should go? BTW, I am 59 years old.

Hi Monica, Definitely check out Pai. Some say it is over rated but we didn’t think so. It is beautiful. Don’t stay right down town. We stayed just across the river over the bridge and it was perfect. You are close enough to town that yo.u can rent a bike or book a tour and then get away from the hustle and bustle (especially at night). Here is our article with some tips. https://www.nomadasaurus.com/10-things-to-do-in-pai-thailand/ Chiang Rai is a beautiful place also. We unfortunately didn’t give it enough time. I know there is a bit to do around there also. Don’t do a day trip from Chiang Mai. It is just too far for a day trip and it’ll be a very long day. Have a great trip.

Great post! I am traveling to Thailand in November and I would like to book the slow boat in advance to get from Pai to Luang Prabang. Do you know of a good agency I could do this through online?

How do you book a two day tour from chaing rai before arriving in Thailand at the lower prices? All the tours available online are $200 or more!! This is incredibly inflated. 🙁

I need proof of my onward travel as flying into Thailand with an outboubd flight but I don’t want to pay over the odds.

It might be easier to just book a flight after all 🙁

They won’t check your onward transport when you fly into Thailand. If they ask just say you’re crossing by land into Laos or Cambodia 🙂

Hi, do you know if it is possible to travel in the opposite direction, from LP to Huay Xai ?

I have heard that many locals choose the Speed boat option. Did you see any locals on the slow boat?

HI Wilson, Sorry about the late reply. We did see other and on speed boats but not sure if these were the ones you are talking about. We have heard you can do it but we did not know much information about going the other way. Sorry

Pictures before entering Laos.

1. Chiang Rai to border Thailand – Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1, Bus leaves at 6am, … 6.30am, 7am… – – 65 Baht to Bus Terminal in Chiang Khong -> TukTuk to border (30-40Baht) – – or 100 Baht to the border (bus driver will ask)

2. Friendship Bridge (Border Thailand – Laos) – Bus: 20 Baht/Person

3. Border Laos to Slow Boat at Huay Xai (Huai Sai) – TukTuk 25.000 Kip/Person to the Slow Boat

4. Slow Boat Ticket Office – 220.000kip from Huay Xai (Huai Sai) via Pakbeng to Luang Prabang (1 Ticket)

5. Slow Boat Stop at Luang Prabang – TukTuk to Luang Prabang City Centre: 20.000kip

Thank you so much Tina for the updated information. We will be sure to change it above. We hope you had a great trip.

Thanks for the information. We are in Pai right now and leaving for Laos early next week. Did you have to get pictures for your visa before you went into Laos? Thanks

Hi Rebecca, sorry for the late reply. We know you would have already done this boat trip. We can not remember if we needed them or not. We always recommend carrying passport photos of you when travelling. Sometimes we have needed them at the borders and were not expecting this. Hope you had a great trip/.

You can pay a dollar and they will photocopy your passport instead. Ours were done on pink paper. Don’t know if that’s the norm!

I have just completed this route so thank you for this comprehensive guide which made the process a lot easier.

As a brief update, the bus from Chiang Rai (6am) took us all the way to the border for 100 Baht, so similar price but one less tuk tuk required.

When in Laos, the price to take us to the dock was 25000Kip per person.

The boat tickets were still 220k Kip but we had to buy separate tickets to (a) Pakbeng and then (b) Luang Prabang (from Pakbeng)

The going rate for accommodation in Pakbeng is 40-50k Kip per person per night.

The boat still drops 10km outside of Luang Prabang, however it is a fixed price of 20k Kip per head to a central point (night market location) and didn’t see many attempt the walk and haggle!

Overall, very straightforward to complete without a package, and comfortable timeframe to complete from Chiang Rai with an early departure.

Thank you so much for your message and updates Dave. We are glad we could help. We will definitely update the above information. We are glad it was straight forward for you. Hope you had a great time in Luang Prabang. All the best.

Can you also get the slow boat from Luang Prabang back to Thailand? I am arriving from Vietnam

Definitely. Not many people do it, but it is definitely possible.

can I apply for a visa on line? or pick one up in Bangkok prior to traveling on the slow boat?

Sorry about this late reply Thomas. You can get the visa on the border. This is what most people do.

I really enjoyed the information about crossing from Thailand in Laos. It was well presented and easy to follow. My first trip to Laos was in 1994 and we crossed by boat and the visa was very hard to get. So looking forward to repeating the experience in 2015.

Thank you so much Marilyn. We appreciate your comment. I bet a lot has changed in 10 years. We hope you had a great trip and the visa was easier this time round. All the best.

This is a great video. My cruise also runs on the Mekong River. The cruise Luang Prabang is a two-day luxury cruise from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang. Please join us on our luxury cruise on the mighty Mekong River.

Can you get on the boat from the Laos side? We’ll be crossing the border from Thailand to Lao and going on the Gibbon Experience for three days. After that we would like to take the two day slow boat. Do we have to go back to Thailand to again cross the Laos border? Hopefully not.

You sure can. Best to ask around in Luang Prabang.

Hi, great post! I’m heading to Thailand to travel on my own so it was great to read some tips! I was wondering whether you knew if the slow boat to Laos was available year round, as I am heading there in the low season? If you know that would be great as I can’t find the trip in my Lonely Planet! Thank you! Chelle 🙂

Hi Chelle, the slow boat is available year round, however sometimes it doesn’t run if the river is too low. Usually though the slow boat runs, while the speed boat can’t. Enjoy the trip 🙂

Hi..i want to ask if how much is the fare from golden triangle to laos?what boat to ride? We are just group of 3 and we wanted to have it not in tour package in our travel.We are pinoy instant and quick travelers :). Thank you.

The Golden Triangle is a big area. The slow boat only leaves from the one spot. You don’t need to go on a tour package. Have a read of the post to find out how to do it on your own 🙂

Thank you so much for this detailed blog!!! I am venturing off to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia then back through south Thailand.

I was unsure about boarder crossing through Laos due to many sights having the old details before the new friendship, but this was perfectoooo!!!!

Glad to be of service, Zoe. Enjoy the slow boat! 😀

Lovely reading all about the slow boat to Laos, you explain everything so clearly and in detail, most appreciated. I will be traveling solo woman aged 63. For sure I would love to contact you nearer the time with some question regarding my trip. My travels start from South Africa on the 6th of October. Razia

Glad our article can help a bit, Razia. Happy travels!

Thanks for the post. Loved Luang Prabang last time I was there, but really looking forward to taking the slow boat there this time around as opposed to the bus from Vientiane.

Mostly sure on the whole process, but was wondering if you have an idea if it is preferable in Pakbeng to use US$, Baht or Kip for the best options/deals in lodging and food.

Thanks again for the write up, happy to provide updates in the next week or so if you would like after we arrive in Luang Prabang.

In Pakbeng it will be better to use Kip, I think, as you may get a bad exchange rate on anything else. Looking forward to your updates from after the boat trip. Enjoy it, Chris 🙂

Thanks for the great post. Most concise and accurate that I found. One update, at least for US citizens, visa on arrival is now $35USD. We are running a little tight on time and decided to take the bus. Unequivocally the worst bus ride we’ve had through Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. Mostly gravel roads, supremely aggressive drivers that chain smoked the whole 12 hours and blasted Katy Perry and Maroon 5 at concert level volumes, and passengers that were either vomiting or eating corn and spitting. We’ve been on plenty of busses, many overnight, but this was the biggest challenge yet. Shoulda taken the boat…

So glad you found our post useful, Andrew. We bought our motorbikes in Laos, so after the slow boat we never ended up taking public transport again. Sounds like we didn’t miss too much with the buses though, haha. Thanks for reading!

We are meeting up with my son ([email protected]) and his wife,Caryl, who sent me a link to your blog. to join them on part of their travels for a few weeks. We have planned to take the Slow Boat to Laos in February travelling from Chiang Rai to Huay Xai. Loved reading your blog whichI found very helpful and informative, well written with a light-hearted touch. Having clear, up-to-date information is invaluable. And your photos are excellent. Great to have the information about food for the journey, especially as we are all vegi/vegan and don’t ever like to go hungry. Much appreciated. Am I right in thinking that you can get visas at this border crossing, and does payment have to be in dollars? Happy travels eileen

Hi Eileen, thanks very much for the comment. Sounds like you are going to have an epic trip with you son and his wife. Definitely take some food that you are comfortable eating. Options are limited on the boat, unfortunately. You can definitely get your Lao visa at the border. They will accept Thai Baht or Lao Kip, but the exchange will be horrible. Best to have the correct change in US dollars. Thanks for the kind words, and happy travels!

Wow .. best slow boat review ever! I’m planning to go Hanoi, Thailand and Laos in Feb. After reading your review, I decide my mine to ride slow boat to get to Laos! Thank you for gorgeous review:D I especially thanks for great comparison of costs. God speed 😀

Thanks very much buddy! Glad you enjoyed our article. I’m sure you’ll love the slow boat. Best way to enter Laos, for sure! Happy travels.

Enjoyed reading your blog very useful advice as i am travel to Laos this December, and will be taking the slow boat. Thanks for your advice Happy traveling

Thanks so much for reading Liz. Glad our advice is helpful 😀 You will love Laos, and the slow boat. Enjoy your amazing adventure.

This makes me terribly nostalgic for Laos (Luang Prabang in particular) and next time I’m there I will trade the train for a slow boat!

Definitely! The slow boat is the way to go. Hope you can make it back to Laos soon. Thanks for reading.

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Luang Prabang To Chiang Rai Tour

• Duration 5 days
• Price from Request a Quote
• Trip code TL05

Trip overview

• Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
• Activities: Sightseeing, Cultural, Cruising, Nature Discovery
• Tour type: Private Tour
• Themes: Classic Tours

Tour itinerary

Arrival Luang Prabang, which is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos. On arrival, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham. We then climb up to the top of Phousi Mount for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

This morning you may want to wake up early and participate in the daily early morning ritual of saffron-clad monks with their black Alms-giving bowls being given offerings from the local people, including the ubiquitous sticky rice. The National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign, and the Central Market are not to be missed. We visit these sights, today before we drive to Ban Hmong hill tribe at Ban Nam Ouay, a lowland Lao at Ban Ou, a village that boasts its cotton production and Ban Thapene. We then spend the remainder of the day at the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfalls. The water tumbling over multi tiered limestone formations into the cool and clear pool is ideal for anyone seeking an enjoyable escape when the heat becomes unbearable. Over in Luang Prabang.

Heading out of the town, we take a cruise upstream on the Mekong River which also gives us a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. We then continue our boat trip to the riverside town of Pakbeng. Overnight in Pakbeng.

After breakfast, we visit the local market where many hill tribe people converge from the outlying valleys and hillsides to sell their goods and buy provision. Upon leaving Pakbeng, we re-embark on our boat for the second leg of our journey toward HoueiSay, which is close to the famous Golden Triangle. The cruise is long, but the unequalled, rive rain scenery will make for an interesting day. Overnight in HoueiSay.

The surrounding areas of Houeixay are home to a wide variety of ethnic minority groups. After an enjoyable visit to the Lu hill tribe people at Ban Namkeung, we take a short drive to the border gate for Chiang Khong, Thai land and meet our driver for the transfer to Chiang Rai town. End the tour from Luang Prabang to Chiang Rai at your hotel or airport in Chiang Rai. 

Trip Inclusion

• English Speaking Guide.
• Accommodation in twin sharing room.
• Meal as indicated (B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Diner)
• All transfers in private car/ van/ bus
• Boat cruise as indicated
• Entrance fees and permits during guided time.
• Service charge & Government taxes

Trip Exclusions

• International Airfares.
• International departure tax
• Meals not indicated
• Visas and visa arrangement
• Personal travel insurance 
• Personal expenses such as Bar, Telephone and Laundry bills.
• Tips and gratuities

Accommodation Categories

Standard: Standard accommodation equates to a Western 3-star standard, always featuring en-suite rooms and usually a restaurant. Sometimes these are a good affordable choice in cities where accommodation is very expensive, but where being centrally located is a prime consideration. Superior: Superior accommodation equates to a Western 4-star standard, featuring en-suite rooms and usually a restaurant and often a swimming pool and/or a fitness centre. This is the 'classic' hotel standard we use on most of our group based tours. Deluxe: Deluxe accommodation equates to a Western 5-star standard, usually featuring spacious, en-suite rooms, a restaurant, swimming pool and fitness centre and an array of amenities, excellent service and customer care. India and Southeast Asia have a fabulous array of top notch 5-star properties.

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2 day luxury boat cruise to luangprabang (laos), description:.

Our boats, made Rosewood, are strong and safe. The limited numbers of seats ensure a lot of space and comfort on board. Our experienced crew, cooker and English speaking tour guide will make your journey very unigue and relaxing

Departure from Houay Xay every MONDAY / TUESDAY / THURSDAY / SATURDAY

• We guarantee departure on the planned dates only if there is a minimum of 8 guests registered. Please check availability with us before any confirmation.
• Supplement cost for Single room occupancy (see details below)
• Under 4 years old : Free of charge with lunch.
• Between 4 and 12 years old : We charge 80% of the price indicated above.

DAY 1 : HUAY XAY – PAKBENG

Our guide will wait with a SHOMPOO CRUISE sign from 8:30 AM in front of the Lao immigration office. After having completed the VISA procedure, we will go to the Houay Xay boat pier by tuk tuk. Then, you will embark for the first time on one of our luxury boats for the Mekong downstream cruise. On the way, the boat will take its first stop in Pak Tha, to have necessary boat documents signed. The second stop will be to visit a Hill tribe village along the Mekong River. Our guide will explain the way of living and the origins of these rural populations. Lunch is served on board, and during the afternoon, you will be free to relax and taste local flavors with seasonal snacks and drinks. The boat will arrive in Pakbeng before sunset, where you will retreat to your accommodation for the night.

DAY 2: PAK BENG – LUANG PRABANG

At 08:00 AM, the boat leaves Pakbeng. Use your free time in the morning for asking some questions about Luang Prabang and Laos to our guide. Lunch is served on board. In the afternoon, we will make two stop. First, we will visit the famous Pak Ou Caves (Tham Ting) and its thousands of Buddha images. The second stop will be at the Lao Lao village, commonly known as the Whisky Village. In there, the guide will provide information about the locally made rice whisky, and you will have the chance to taste it if you wish. You will also have time to enjoy the charm of this small and authentic village, its temple and local artisans. You will be served a typical snack and drink on board in the afternoon. We will arrive in Luang Prabang around 04:30pm.

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Taking The Slow Boat To Luang Prabang: BEST Tips 2024

Thinking of taking the slow boat in Laos? Find out absolutely everything you need to know such as costs, where to take it from, what to bring, what to expect, and more important information on your slow boat to Luang Prabang!

Taking the slow boat Laos seems to be a right of passage for many travelers backpacking around Southeast Asia. The 2-day journey takes you from the Laos border town of Huay Xai down to Luang Prabang .

Some people refer it to as the journey from hell. Though trust me it isn’t that bad taking the slow boat Luang Prabang!

I have read numerous horror stories about taking the slow boat Thailand to Laos. Though, obviously not phased enough by the infamous rumors I decided I would take the journey and form my own opinion on the two-day adventure.

The slow boat is no doubt the most popular way for all types of people to travel between Northern Thailand and Luang Prabang, Laos. Though, it is certainly not for everyone.

I have actually taken the slow boat Laos twice. Once on the public slow boat and the second time on a private operator. If you have done any long bus journeys or plane rides it isn’t worse than those. Though there are certainly a few tips and tricks that will make your journey a lot more bearable!

In this guide, I will let you know anything and everything so your slow boat in Laos journey is as stress-free and easy as possible! From departure points, costs, what to expect, and more.

Taking The Slow Boat In Laos: EVERYTHING You Need To Know

🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Thailand & Laos: 12Go Asia

Why Take The Slow Boat To Luang Prabang

If you have ever traveled into the countryside of any Southeast Asian country you will appreciate the slower lifestyle. No one is in a rush and you can just simply relax and watch the world go by. Well, this is exactly how I would describe the slow boat to Luang Prabang.

It provides the perfect opportunity to slow down and breathe.

With a constant stream of fresh air, you can take In your surroundings. Watch the water buffalos play on the shore, see the locals who live along the river that connects them with the rest of the world, and look at the landscapes changing along the way.

Sometimes, especially when traveling, you forget to appreciate the smaller things in life and this provides the perfect opportunity for this.

The journey is in no way luxurious, even on the private slow boats. Though you will be able to bask in the sunshine, meet other travelers, and reminisce on all the memories you have been able to make on your travels so far.

Crossing The Thai-Laos Border

The first step in taking the slow boat to Laos is crossing the border from Thailand. We took a tuk-tuk to the border from Chiang Khong which cost us $4.50. Racing through the town the cool morning breeze is a refreshing change from what we are used to.

The roads are busy with vendors selling food at the morning markets. Dust looms in the air from the dry landscape. Soon enough the hustle and bustle disappear behind us and the landscape opens up to a large building in the distance.

Being early morning the border is extremely quiet. We are quickly processed through the Thai side and officially exit the country. To get between the Laos and Thai immigration offices you will need to pay $0.75 for the bus.

The ride lasts about 10 minutes and goes over the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. However, we had to wait about twenty minutes in line with about thirty other people for the first bus to depart. Of course, the bus driver was late, a typical occurrence on this side of the world.

When you jump off the bus on the Lao side it is a mad rush to get your forms filled out to avoid delays. Just make sure you write it out correctly and have a pen with you! The visa fee was $30.00, though this amount changes depending on where you are from.

In case you don’t have USD there is an ATM a few steps away so no need to worry about getting cash beforehand. All up the process probably took about thirty minutes to receive our Lao visas and the majority of this time was spent waiting in line.

Types Of Slow Boat Laos Journeys

There are actually a couple of different slow boat options you can choose from. One is a lot cheaper than the other. Though with that comes the crowds. I have done the journey on both the public slow boat and on a private slow boat as part of a tour. The experiences varied greatly.

Though I will get into the positives and negatives of each below.

Public Slow Boat: The Public Slow Boat was what the majority of people taking the slow boat to Luang Prabang do and it was what I did during my first trip to Laos. The boat was full of locals and travelers of all backgrounds.

It is a much cheaper option when it comes to getting to Luang Prabang via the Mekong River. Though as a result these boats are usually filled to the brim.

It is a mad rush to find your seats and I would relate this more to being stuck in a bus or plane where really you just sit down, look out the window, and get up to use the bathroom every so often.

Slow Boat Tour Package: Alternatively you have the tour package. This is a lot more pricey coming to around $150.00 per person. Though it is much more of an experience than just a simple journey. The group sizes are also a lot smaller so you won’t be stuck squished into a seat the whole way.

You will find meals are typically included, as well as a stop at Pak Ou Caves which the public boat doesn’t do. This journey is a lot more relaxing where you can walk around, change spots, and it also has cleaner toilets. You can check out more about this journey in the below video.

Where To Catch The Slow Boat In Huay Xai

Once you have crossed the Thai Laos border you can head to the slow boat pier. This is around a 30-minute walk from the main town. Though with all your luggage I recommend getting a tuk-tuk instead.

You must simply advise the tuk-tuk driver to take you to the slow boat pier. They will know what you mean as that is where 90% of travelers in the area go. This should just cost you a couple of dollars.

Slow Boat To Luang Prabang Price

Once to the pier, you will need to buy your tickets for the slow boat Huay Xai to Luang Prabang. The ticket booth is on the top of the hill above the road. The price is $20.70 / 430,000 LAK for the 2-day journey to Luang Prabang.

You will need to bring your passport and cash along with you when you book it. They will give you a ticket and a seat number in exchange.

You can book the slow boat in the town of Huay Xai itself rather than having to go down to the pier. However you will pay a few dollars more for the luxury of a third party organizing it all for you, but it will include a tuk-tuk transfer. The price of this is $21.20 / 440,000 LAK.

If you are on a strict itinerary it will be best to spend 1 night in Huay Xai so you can book tickets for the boat the day prior. Though you can risk it as I did and simply turn up on the day and hope for the best.

First Day On The Slow Boat Thailand To Laos

After taking a tuk-tuk from the border to the pier we are quickly directed to the ticketing booth to purchase the slow boat tickets which would take us to Luang Prabang . They took our passport information and we were given allocated seat numbers.

Heading down to the boat we dump our bags at the back and wait patiently at our seats. There are about ten other people on the boat. Though the list at the ticketing office was already quite full. Unfortunately, James and I are not seated together.

Though, we just switch around a couple of pieces of paper with ‘seat numbers’ written on them and chill out. Many other people did this as well. It ended up being the solo travelers sitting together and those coupled up in another group.

At this point, it is still mid-morning and the boat doesn’t depart until 11 a.m. We stock up on snacks from a couple of nearby stores. It is six hours until we would next be off the boat so food is necessary.

As the boat begins to fill up the weight pushes us deeper into the water and the crew starts preparing to depart. The majority of people on the Laos slow boat are tourists. The seats on the boats are surprisingly comfortable.

They are chairs ripped out of old vans. Though, they are not bolted to the ground so it’s a fight for legroom.

We head off not long after we are meant to and begin our journey down the river. The countryside goes by and it quickly becomes the same view for the next six hours. The speed we are traveling provides an extremely enjoyable breeze, a great relief from the hot temperature.

A six-hour boat trip with no books to read and a limited amount of battery left from the previous hours I spent playing Candy Crush has left me with not much left to do. I decide to grab a cup of noodles from the vendor at the back of the boat.

The overpriced $1.20 cup keeps me entertained for the next thirty minutes as I stare at our location on Google Maps slowly getting closer to Pakbeng.

Staying In Pakbeng

Arriving in Pakbeng was a great relief, I could not wait to get out and start stretching my legs. We arrived an hour earlier than expected and this is in the dry season when the water levels are low.

There is a mad panic with everyone grabbing their bags quickly. Ours is at the bottom since we were one of the first to arrive that morning, so we chill out and wait for the crowds to disperse a bit.

Departing the boat numerous people are standing around the river’s edge holding signs up with available rooms. Pick-up trucks wait on the road to take people to their guesthouse. Pakbeng is quite a hilly area so the cars are much appreciated.

We booked at the Phomephithak Guesthouse for $14.00 total. We were one of those stupid people who booked via the guys who came onto the boat at the start.

Arriving at our guesthouse in all honesty it was not that organized. People were directed to rooms that were already full and not having enough available, even though it was all pre-booked. We ended up in a room with a double bed, private bathroom, and air-con.

At night we head down the road to find somewhere for dinner. My advice is to find somewhere with a good view of the river. We ended up at a restaurant just up from the Happy Bar. The food was reasonably good and by the time our meals came out the place was full.

I just ate a sandwich for $3.90.We also order our lunch for the next morning as well before heading off to bed at our Guesthouse.

The following day we get up to a slight chill in the air and the sound of roosters. Back down at the same restaurant as the previous night we grab breakfast and watch the elephants across the river have their morning bath.

The breakfast and packed lunch cost $5.40. Afterward, we grab our bags and head down to the slow boat pier.

Second Day On The Slow Boat To Luang Prabang

Heading down to the slow boat the crowds are already lining up on the river’s edge. We get worried it’s too late to get a decent seat. Luckily as we line up they start filling up a second boat and we manage to snag a couple of seats near the front.

Continuing down the river for our last day on the journey we are all a little over it. I quickly fall asleep to the rocking motion and hearing the river rush by. I wake up to a wee bit of a commotion as the boat makes its regular stops along the river to drop off locals to their village.

A tourist’s backpack and been taken off by someone thinking it is one of the locals. The Laotian people don’t understand why this foreigner is freaking out and we tourists don’t know how to say to the locals to stop driving away.

Luckily a young local woman can translate and they pull back into the river’s edge to collect the bag. The young backpacker’s life is restored and we all cheer in relief.

Continuing down the river, still equally as bored as the previous day it is time for noodles round two. I am vegetarian and I have no idea what type of noodles are which, especially as the lady behind the counter makes them.

I basically check which one appears less meaty, pick up any lumps of meat-looking substance. The overpriced noodles of $1.20 have kept me sane a little longer.

The last couple hours away from Luang Prabang the scenery on the river finally begins to change. It becomes a lot more mountainous with limestone karst jutting up out of the ground.

Personally, I think this is the most picturesque part of the journey and certainly gets you excited for the adventures to come in this amazing new country.

Arriving In Luang Prabang

One of the main things you will read online about the Laos slow boat journey is being dropped off in the middle of nowhere and having to pay ridiculous prices to get into the center of Luang Prabang . This is ALL old information.

Docking up at the port everyone forms a human chain to help get the bags off in a timely fashion. The late afternoon heat is intense and the sun is blaring down. Once we receive our bags it is a short but steep climb up the river bank. At the top is a formal tuk-tuk stand.

Here we gave our details, paid $2.40 per person, and then jumped on the next tuk-tuk leaving. In all honesty, it is extremely organized and no one was demanding ridiculous prices.

As we are leaving a few people walk along the dirt road to flag down a tuk-tuk. It is known that you will get a cheaper rate. Though, I could not imagine lugging my bag down there in this heat.

Additional Tips For The Slow Boat

• The toilets on these boats are not great . In all honesty, the toilet itself was not too bad, but lord did it flood. Try to go relatively early on in the trip and then hold on until you arrive in Pakbeng. I am going to assume it’s water from the bucket that is used to flush the toilet, and fingers crossed no other kind of liquid!
• Do not book your accommodation in Pakbeng in advance unless you are wanting to stay somewhere super-duper fancy! Even in saying this no place in Pakbeng is truly fancy and certainly not worth the prices you see online!
• Do not listen to the man who will come onto the slow boat at the beginning of the journey and start selling accommodation. These beds are overpriced and it is a scam.
• At Huay Xai buy some baguettes to bring onboard . Peanut butter and bananas were a favorite of mine. You can also preorder if you are staying in town to pick it up the next day. No one should live off cup noodles.
• It’s well known that the Laos slow boat seats in the back are the worst as the motors on the boat are literally deafening. This is no joke, they are crazy loud! Arrive early to get yourself a seat up the front half. You won’t regret it.
• Your Thailand SIM card will work for the majority of the journey! Yes, even though we are not in Thailand we are so close to the border that Thailand SIMs work and Laos ones do not. You can buy a Laos SIM card in Huay Xai. However, you will only be able to use it for a small portion of the journey on the first day.

What To Pack For The Slow Boat In Laos

While onboard the slow boat Huay Xai to Luang Prabang your main bag will be at the back of the boat and be basically unreachable until you get to Pakbeng, then the following day until Luang Prabang. As a result, you will want to bring a day pack with all of your necessities to ensure you have a smooth trip.

Jacket: The mornings on the Mekong River can be foggy and cold. Until the sun really starts shining you may find yourself a bit cold. Bring along a hoodie or jacket you can easily take off. This can also double as a pillow for ultimate comfort levels.

Sunblock: If the boat is facing a certain direction you may find yourself stuck under the sun. Definitely bring sunblock to prevent yourself from getting burned. You are basically stuck in those seats for the journey so there is no way to move.

Sunglasses : It’ll definitely be worth bringing sunglasses along with you. The sun shining off the Mekong can be super bright so protect your eyes by bringing along a pair of sunglasses.

Toilet Paper: The toilets on the boat are not the best and trust me just bring toilet paper or wet wipes. This is something you should always carry in your day pack from Southeast Asia anyway as you never know when you could get stuck.

Snacks: Feel free to live on overpriced cup noodles. Though instead I highly recommend bringing your own snacks on board. I mean you don’t go on a road trip without snacks, so don’t do the slow boat without them either! There are shops down at the slow boat pier which sell a variety of nibbles.

Entertainment: Now I don’t know what you do for fun, but I presume it’s not taking a 2-day slow boat in Laos. Anyway best to take some sort of entertainment. Whether that is a battery pack to charge your phone, or some paper to write your adventures down in.

Unfortunately, there are no tables so I wouldn’t bother with cards, etc.

Where To Stay In Luang Prabang?

There are plenty of choices when it comes to choosing accommodation in Luang Prabang . From the impressive 5* resort, historic hotels, simple hostels, and locally owned guesthouses, you will find something to fit your budget and needs.

During our recent visit, we stayed on a quaint little side street minutes from the center and Mekong River. I fell in love with this little spot. There are a few budget guesthouses and nicer hotel-style accommodations available down this street.

Check out Mylaohome Hotel & Spa for comfortable rooms, an awesome spa, and a delicious cafe onsite from $23.00 per night. There is also Villa Pumalin which has an indoor pool and beautiful wooden rooms starting at $30.00 per night.

FAQs About Taking The Laos Slow Boat

Where do you get the slow boat from to laos.

The slow boat starts in the border town of Huay Xai in North Laos. You can catch the boat to Luang Prabang from the slow boat pier.

How long is the slow boat from Thailand to Laos?

You will spend 2 days on the slow boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang with an overnight stop in Pakbeng. How long you spend on the boat depends on the water levels, though you can expect to spend 6 to 7 hours each day onboard.

How much does the slow boat to Laos cost?

The price is $20.70 / 430,000 LAK for the 2-day journey to Luang Prabang.

Does the slow boat to Laos run every day?

Yes, the slow boat to Laos runs every day. In the high season, you may find there are multiple morning departures.

What time is the slow boat to Laos?

The slow boat leaves for Luang Prabang at 10.30 am from Huay Xai. If you already have tickets then I recommend arriving 30 minutes prior. However, if you don’t already have tickets you will want to arrive as early as possible to try to book a spare seat.

The slow boat starts in the border town of Huay Xai in North Laos. You can easily catch the boat to Luang Prabang from the slow boat pier a short drive out of the town center.

Other Things To Do In Luang Prabang

There are plenty of awesome things to do, so much I recommend spending at least three days in Luang Prabang . It’s an awesome city with gorgeous landscapes, some of Laos best waterfalls , and delicious food.

Ready For The Slow Boat To Luang Prabang

Now you have read absolutely everything you need to know about taking the slow boat to Laos you should be able to do this 2 day journey with ease!

Don’t fall for the scams, snag yourself a comfortable seat and bring some snacks and your journey from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang will fly by.

LIKE IT? PIN IT!

Want more Laos Inspiration? Check out….

• 2 WEEKS IN LAOS ITINERARY
• BACKPACKING LAOS ON A BUDGET TRAVEL TIPS
• COST TO TRAVEL LAOS & MY TRAVEL BUDGET
• COMMON SCAMS IN LAOS
• BEST WATERFALLS IN LAOS
• CHIANG KHONG TO HUAY XAI: THAI LAOS BORDER CROSSING
• TAKING THE SLOW BOAT TO LAOS
• CHIANG MAI TO LUANG PRABANG TRANSPORT GUIDE
• 3 DAYS IN LUANG PRABANG ITINERARY
• BACKPACKING LUANG PRABANG TRAVEL TIPS
• VISITING THE LUANG PRABANG NIGHT MARKET
• WHERE TO EAT IN LUANG PRABANG
• BEST HOTELS IN LUANG PRABANG
• KUANG SI FALLS TIPS FOR VISITING
• THE BEST HOSTELS IN LUANG PRABANG FOR BACKPACKERS
• VISITING PAK OU CAVES: IS IT WORTH IT
• TRAVEL LUANG PRABANG TO VANG VIENG
• BEST HOSTELS IN VANG VIENG
• THAM CHANG CAVE & BLUE LAGOON TWO IN VANG VIENG
• BLUE LAGOON THREE IN VANG VIENG
• BEST RESTAURANTS AND WHERE TO EAT IN VANG VIENG
• TUBING IN VANG VIENG LAOS
• VANG VIENG TO VIENTIANE
• ONE DAY IN VIENTIANE ITINERARY
• VISITING KONG LOR CAVE
• TAD YUANG WATERFALL IN PAKSE

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. So, if you click on it and purchase something, I get a small percentage at no extra cost to you. As always all opinions are my own and your support is much appreciated.

Photo credit: “ Chiang Khong, Thailand 22 ” ( CC BY 2.0 ) by JamesAntrobus . “ The slow boat up the Mekong River in Laos ” ( CC BY 2.0 ) by DanSearle

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Tasha Amy is a true backpacker at heart and has been discovering the world on a budget since 2015. Based in Gisborne, New Zealand she will spend many months each year traveling overseas as a solo female traveler before coming home and sharing her adventures online with you.

49 thoughts on “ Taking The Slow Boat To Luang Prabang: BEST Tips 2024 ”

Thanks! What time of year did you go? Wondering if it’s cold all year round or specifically when you went.

Hi Tasha, thank you for your narrative for this journey. Wife and I will be doing the trip this coming February and was wondering who the company you used for the trip. Looks comfortable and sparse in the number of people on board. You mentioned $150 p/p. Assuming that was the cost when you traveled. Thank you again

Unfortunately the company is no longer operating post covid. If you are wanting to book something in advance Luxury Cruise Mekong or Luang Say Cruise booked through Mekong Cruise have options. For cheaper prices you may need to wait until you are in Chiang Rai / Chiang Khong / Huay Xai to shop around for a deal and be flexible with dates.

Just took this journey end of july 2023 after reading this guide many times.

Firstly, the price from the docks was ~430,000lak and from the hostel in huay xai including a tuktuk to the dock (which left ridiculously early and we ended up sitting on the boat for about 2 hours, welcome to lao time) cost 440,000lak. Found this out only because we hadnt found anything recent on the internet regarding prices and couldnt tell if we were getting ripped off.

We had beautiful weather and the journey involved meeting all sorts of foreigners, locals and kids who just jumped on at unmarked stops. Highly recommend buying a cooler and filling it with beerlao at one of the convenience stores in huay xai.

Pakbeng is a very charming town, with ~200 families who all know each other. Upon arrival we found a guesthouse with about 9 rooms available that were ~200,000 lak per night for 2 people. Cheaper than the 9-beds-to-a-room hostel on booking.com (it did not get great reviews from our boat buddies). There’s definitely more options in town than the apps suggest, so dont be too worried about booking in advance. The happy bar is open late and is THE bar in town. Worth a look and a few drinks over a game of pool.

The second day’s boat was more comfortable and less crowded, and knowing what to do, what to bring and how it all worked after the confusion of day one was nice. There scenery is good but just keep in mind the mekong is an incredibly polluted river. It is brown and full of plastic, and once you reach luang prabang you can see the difference between the small tributaries (with no plastic) and the mekong.

Speaking of luang prabang, yes, the boat drops you off ~45minutes from the city by tuktuk. The tuktuks do set pricing per person, so singles have to find a group (usually min. 4 people) or wait for the tuktuk to fill.

Luang prabang itself was beautiful, one of the most picturesque cities ive seen in asia.

Some people we met took the bus which was 18 hours straight of bumpy roads and they shared sleeper beds with strangers on the bus, so I’m not sure i would recommend this route. On the other hand, some people taking the boat a few days after us got drenched in non stop rain for two days and had a very different opinion of the boat journey, so your milage may vary.

Thanks for the comment! I have updated the prices in the article to reflect your recent experience for future travelers who may read this post. You have listed some good tips so thank you for taking the time to write this.

Enjoy your travels!

Do you know if this immigration point accepts e visas?

As Of April 11, 2023, Thai=Lao Friendship Bridge IV does NOT accept e-visas for US passport holders. However, it is fast and easy to get a visa on arrival. I recommend having you visa photos in hand to expedite the process.

Slow boat departs at 9.30h every morning (the ticket staff said its been like this for a year). We (and several other tourists) lost ours today thinking it was at 11.30h.

It is now impossible to get the first bus at Chiang Rai and arrive in time for the slow boat, so now this tiring journey will waste 3 of your beautiful days.

thank ypu for all the information. I have 2 questions. Firstly want to get the slow boat from luang prabang to huay xai in july but can only find out about the tour package ones and unfortunately they only run on a Wednesday and sunday. I can’t do either of those days. I cannot get information on the public boats what days they run? anyone know? Also I know it is rain season but how rain is that??

Took the journey today. Boats now seem to be running every day of the week. I saw multiple other boats packed with tourists. Mine was 95 percent full. Departed Huay Xei at 11 am. So its quite possible to stay in chiang rai the night before and get picked up between 6 and 7 am and still have plenty of time. Border crossing now quite straighforward. 40 dollars for the visa for most nationalites. The package i bought in CR was 1690 baht and included boat ticket and all transfers Good to book ahead for accommodation in Pak Beng i think. The hotels include transfers. I opted for mekhong guesthouse. Only 12 usd or so on agoda. Nice room with a view and decent food offerings for em dinner and breakfast. The first day voyage is from 11 am to 5 pm and the 2nd day 9am to 5 pm. For some reason the boat travels slower (10 knots) on the 2nd day for the latter half of the trip, instead of the average 15 knots otherwise. Lao sim cards work well most of the way. Thai sim cards have coverage if you’re roaming. Lao sim the better way to go. 5 days unlimited data for 200 baht. Noodles, snacks and beer on board, not much more expensive than on land. I wouldn’t mess with an ice box) . Large ice cold beers at the bar for 25000 kip certainly made a long slow journey more bearable. A pleasant journey all in all even for non backpacker types like myself in my sixties. Certainly a novel and cheap way of getting from Northern Thailand to Laos.

The very fast speedboat is way better. An absolute thrill and only takes 5 or so hours, with a stop in the middle for lunch at a restaurant on stilts in the middle of the river. You also change boats for the second part of the journey. I watched the slow boat people arrive while I was sipping a drink at a bar in Luang Prabang, it was the second night after we arrived having last seen them in Huay Xai. Probably best not to do this in the rainy season though as it’s more dangerous.

Hi Colin, Were you able to book the speedboat in advance from Chaing Rai or can you just turn up and find one. i am going in November and want to have the certainty of booking as only have a few days there. thanks. Julie

I am also going in November, on the 3rd. Did you find out if you can book this speedboat in advance?

Thanks for this intersting article! Regarding the public slow boat, do you know where we can find more detail on the hours of departure. I will sleep in chang rai the day before and I want to know if i have to rush to laos in the morning or if there are afternoon departures . Also do you recomend to book in advance.

I was just thinking the same!! We’re planning to do this crossing too and are looking for more info!

Hey! Departures are usually between 9am to 10am in the morning, the amount of travelers affects how many boats there are, but they usually head off around the same time. I would recommend staying in Chiang Khong or Huay Xai the night before, but not Chiang Rai. As far as I am aware there are no afternoon departures. I have stayed in both Huay Xai on the Laos side and Chiang Khong on the Thai side. On the Thai side we left at around 8am to catch the first bus across the Friendship bridge at the border, and ended up with about an hour spare before the slow boat departed.

Oh one more thing. I booked ahead for Pakbeng and we were all met and taken to our accommodation for free. Same deal in the morning, back to boat, no charge.

I completed the journey yesterday. The slow boat only runs Monday and Thursday at the moment. No private boats at all. There is a tour company in Chiang Rai called Kochaporn Tour who were fantastic. For 1690 THB you are picked up at your accomodation (6 to 6.30am) driven to the border, go through Thai border, tour guide meets you and gives a ticket for short bus ride. You are handed the Visa form plus entry/exit card for Laos. You then go through the various booths to be processed (all up, perhaps 1/2 hour) get on the tour transport to the boat. Easy……suggest you weigh up the cost but I think this option is pretty good value for money.

Hi Kate, thank you for this really helpful info from a recent experience! I will be doing something similar in October. Did this price include the fare for the slow boat journey, or do you pay for the boat on arrival at the dock? And did you pre-book any accommodation in Pakbeng or arrange that on arrival? Sorry for all the questions, any advice is hugely appreciated! Thanks!

For those buying your own slow boat ticket it’s currently 300000 kip per person and 80000 kip for a bicycle. As of 22nd Sept the boat only leaves on Monday and Thursday at 11.30 am.

Ahhh I’m convinced! It sounds looooong but great. Just to clarify, the journey you describe and picture above, is this the public boat?

Hey! It is a long day, but if you have done long bus trips it is no different, actually, it is better because the views here are awesome. Yup that is the public boat in the pics, though the majority of people on it do need up being travelers, with only a handful of locals who disembark at their villages along the river.

This is such a thorough and helpful post! Thank you so much. Planning on taking this route in October!

Ahhhh awesome! It’s so cool to see people traveling again, you are going to have an amazing time!

Hallo. Hast du diese reise im 2022 gemacht? Wir suchen hoffnungsvoll nach anbietern von luang prabang nach huay xai

Thanks for the good article. Do you have any recommendation for a private tour operator? Apparently, all the ones we contacted are shut down since the pandemic.

Thanks in advance!

Wow, these pictures are so cool. Just awesome. I also plan to go on a trip and I want to take a slow boat. This article helps me. Thank you very much for sharing your experience.

What month did you do this journey in? I’m looking to do it in September and wasn’t sure whether the fact that it is rainy season would affect my ability to do son?

Hey Chloe! I did this journey in February. Though as far as I am aware the boats run regularly throughout the year. I have heard that the boat trip is actually faster (and more bearable) during the wet season and after the wet season as the water currents are stronger, so in my opinion September would be a perfect time to do it. Maybe just spend a night before in Huay Xai to ensure you get onto a boat as its likely they do less trips per day in the wet season.

This post is so so helpful! I’ve saved it for when we do the same trip in April. Thank you!

I will be taking the slow boat in a few days and feeling a bit nervous! Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I loved how well you described exactly how it went which is easing my nervousness. I am looking forward to the experience!

Hey Christina! I am glad you found this helpful! The slow boat is often made out as a horrible journey, though it truly is not! The ride is not as long as they claim (we always arrived at least one hour earlier than what the crew advised) and make sure you dont get ripped off by prebooking accommodation, you can get the same room once you arrive in Pakbeng for half the price! Let me know how it goes :)

Ooh, I’m planning to do that trip in the next few weeks and am so looking forward to it. Great post!

Hope it went well

I always love reading your blog posts and this one is no different! You have AMAZING photos like usual! And I will be planning my entire trip to Asia based on your trip. So I will be following in your foot steps. Looking forward to it! Hahaha. Perfect info, thanks!

Thanks :) I appreciate the feedback! If you have any questions about planning your trip let me know :)

Wow I never thought about taking the slow boat, looks like a cool and cheap way to get around. Cant wait to visit this area!

Wow! This looks super adventurous! Going to be in Chiang Mai in December. Now you’ve got me interested!

What an amazing adventure. i love that you took a risk and tried something very different and it paid off! The boat trip sounds so worth it and like it would create amazing memories. I also really appreciate all the links you embedded into your post. Happy exploring!

Was interested to read this because I considered doing it but really didn’t have the time so I flew from Chiang Mai to LP instead. I would like to do this sometime (even though it sounds like a mission with crazy Asia BS…as I fondly call it after being there 3 months). It looks like a memorable experience and so very SE asian. I LOVED Luang Prabang and hope you did too!

Wow, this sounds like a great journey! Thanks for the reccommodation! Saving it for my South East Asia trip next year

Thanks for your guide Tasha, I’m in Luang Prabang now and was thinking of doing the slow boat trip but after reading your article I’ve decided not to. I’m a 61 year old man who’s been backpacking since I was 18 so I’ve done plenty of hard travelling and know when I’ve had enough of it. It’s refreshing when someone is honest when writing about the downsides of a particular journey. I’ve no need to go to Huay Xai so after going from here to Nong Khiaw and maybe further north I’ll head down to Vientiane and Nong Khai in Thailand which I visited in 1988 before you could go to Laos.

Very interesting. Doesn’t sound too bad to me except for the toilets – I am not sure if I would be able to handle that. I also can’t believe how cheap everything is in that area!

This looks so much more enjoyable than taking the bus from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai (20+ hours, what I did!!) I agree the scenery on the river close to LP is incredible – with a good book to read and plenty of food (and not too much to drink!) this journey looks incredible! And definitely better than the bus ;-).

I actually had no idea there was a boat option to thailand! Thanks for this!

I didn’t even know this was a way you could travel from Thailand to Laos. Very cool! Although, I do think I’d probably be pretty stir-crazy by the second day. Sitting isn’t really my thing. :) Still, great way to travel, see pretty scenery, and do it all on a budget!

Yeah there are not too many overland options to travel between Laos and Thailand, though this is definitely the best way! It honestly isnt too bad, its just like taking a bus two days in a row!

Oh my word! What an experience! I love Thailand, but I had never thought about catching the slow boat to Laos… until now! You’ve convinced me :) (And, being a broke millennial scraping by in Sydney, your price breakdown of food and accommodation day-to-day is making me drool.)

Thank you so much for sharing!

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