From Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai

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From Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai

Admin May 15, 2017 6:34 GMT

If you’re traveling from Luang Prabang, Laos, to Chiang Mai, Thailand, there are many options available, taking a bus or including flying and ferry combination. But if you’re not on a busy schedule and you want to do a small cruising, then taking the slow boat up the Mekong to the Laos/Thai border is a great option. The entire trip takes about 2 days and a half, but gives you the opportunity to ride the mighty Mekong, cast your eyes on some of the riverside villages, while moving you along on your travel itinerary. Indochina travel Laos

Visa

When we were in Vientiane, Laos, we took the time to apply at the Thai Consulate. Side note: to get a visa, you must go to the Consulate, not the Embassy. Applications for visas are accepted between the hours of 8:30am and 12pm, Monday to Friday. You need to fill out the application form, which you can get inside the Consulate (don’t listen to any of the tuk tuk drivers outside), prepare 2 passport-sized photos, and a photocopy of your passport photo page and Lao visa page. If you can’t get access to a photocopier, there is one available on-site for a fee. You’ll also have to pay for your visa fee in Thai Baht (so make sure to have Thai currency on you). A 60-day visa cost us 1,000 Baht each (roughly $33 CAD).

Come to Thai Consulate in office hours- source: internet

Make sure to grab a ticket number when you first arrive, then fill out all the important paperwork. When your number is in turn, take your documents to the window and an attendant will check your forms and take your passport (to attach the visa to). You’ll be given your numbered ticket back and be directed to head inside the main building of the consulate. You’ll be likely to wait again, this time to pay. When your number is called, come to the ticket window and pay your fee. You’ll then get an official receipt.

Chiang Mai- source: internet

Your visa will be ready for pickup the next day between the hours of 1pm and 3pm. Total processing time of dropping off and picking up your passport in here is two days; pretty quick! Laos tours packages

From Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai.

In the past, the slow boat along the Mekong was known for its discomfort. The lack of seats and 9 hours on the river made us movery sore and aching bottoms. When we boarded our boat we were very surprised to see that there were in fact seats, though ones that looked like they belonged in passenger vans. The seats were mounted on wooden bases and could be removed or added, depending on how full the boat was. We found a set of seats that had ample legroom and stowed our bags on the floor in front of us. During the next hour, tourists and locals alike were slowly finding their way on board. Many of the locals were bringing a lot of things, including bottle water, fresh food, and even furniture.

See more:

5 THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE GOING TO LAOS