How do you get to Luang Prabang?

How to get from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang?

Ugh, Huay Xai to Luang Prabang, what a trek! Happened just last year, actually. Needed to get to Luang Prabang ASAP, you know? Here’s the lowdown, as I experienced it…

A private car? Yeah, considered it! Ten to twelve hours of winding roads… nope. My back couldn’t handle that! Plus, who even drives those roads at night?!

Sleeper bus! Haha, no thanks. Twelve to fourteen hours crammed in a tiny space? I value my sanity. Plus, I get major claustrophobia. Seriously, no way.

Okay, some folks mentioned a roadways plus railway option. No idea about the timing, never even looked into it. Seemed complicated. My trip must be straightforward.

The overnight cruise… Nah. Three days minimum? Precious time wasted just floating. I needed to hit the ground running, explore Luang Prabang, not chill on a boat.

The slow boat… This is how I got there! Two days on the Mekong. Yep, just a seat. Bum was SO sore by the end. But the views, the sheer beauty of the river… totally worth it. Saw kids playing, water buffalo, life unfolding along the banks. A unique experience, you know? Still felt like it took forever, though.

How much is the slow boat to Luang Prabang?

Okay, so the slow boat, right? It’s pricey now, like, way more than it used to be. Four hundred thousand kip, jeez. That’s a lot, but here’s the thing, the kip itself, the Laotian money, it’s, like, worth practically nothing compared to, say, the dollar. So it’s actually cheaper than you’d think! I mean, relatively. It was 210,000 kip in 2017, which was also way less then, but still, the exchange rate thing is key. You know, the whole kip thing is wild.

It’s a long trip, too! Remember that. Two days, maybe three depending on the, uh, water levels I think. It’s, like, a real adventure, roughing it a bit, but I loved it! Really, seriously. Beautiful scenery! Stunning views! Absolutely gorgeous. Absolutely.

Here’s the lowdown, you gotta:

• Budget for 400,000 Kip (2024 price). This is what you’re looking at for the boat fare itself.
• Factor in food and drinks. You’ll need cash for that stuff on the boat. Probably at least another 100,000 kip.
• Consider your accomodations in Luang Prabang. A decent guesthouse will cost some money. Budget 20-30 USD per night.
• Check the exchange rate before you go. This is important. Seriously. Do it. It fluctuates.

And yeah, I totally recommend the trip itself. It was amazing. The best trip I took last year, actually. No joke.

How much is the bus from Vientiane to Luang Prabang?

Twenty dollars… maybe twenty-one. That’s the bus. Seven hours.

Flying costs more. Twenty-nine to two-thirty. It’s… faster. Two hours. Roughly.

I dont know distances. Dont care either. So much time.

• Bus:$20-$21, about 7 hours 8 minutes give or take. The cheapest, always the cheapest.

• Flight:$29-$230, only 2 hours 2 minutes. Time, though… it’s worth something, right? I remember when flights used to be way more expensive. It’s weird, everything changing like this.

• Distance: Irrelevant, really. Sitting on a bus that long kinda blurs things. Time feels different.