The next two days where to be spent on the slow boat along the Mekong to Luang Prabang. Wikitravel suggested that the going rate for thr trip was about 250,000kip (£20). Our guest house offered a slow boat ticket, transport to the dock and a sandwich to eat on the journey for the same price. It's been our experience that buying tickets direct from the point of departure can save you a lot of money, with agents adding on massive commission but this seemed like a pretty good deal.
The next morning, we took a ride to the dock and waited for the guy from our guest house to sort our tickets. There were a few other backpackers with us, who had all apparently crossed the border that morning. Some had bought a package deal in Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang. Our guide handed out the tickets and set about giving us some advice on what to expect from the trip.
The boat journey would take around 15 hours, split over two days with an overnight stay at Pak Beng. Our seats today were numbered but the next morning it would be a free for all. Allegedly, there were scant few guesthouses in Pak Beng, most of which cost upwards of the $30 a night. The best and cheapest in town could be ours for the low, low price of $15 dollars. What with nearly a hundred boat passengers, we should book there with him to avoid disappointment.
I looked at my boat ticket. It cost 110,000 kip. We'd paid over double the asking price. Thanks Wikitravel! A few of our fellow backpackers signed up for a room. We grabbed our stuff and made for the boat. On reaching Pak Beng, we would find that there were thirty or more guest houses with the one we chose costing less than a fiver.
The journey itself was a bit cramped but well worth it for the stunning views. Our vessel glided along the toffee coloured water, lush vegetation and mist-shrouded mountains sliding past on either side. Most of the passengers where tourists. A smattering of locals would hop on and off at numerous stop along the way. The long boat would make a long, lazy turn toward a bank and come to rest at various villages. Adults would be waiting to welcome come friends and family. Small children would come running along the banks to stare the boat.
There's a ton of pictures below and, clench, fancy video. Unfortunately arranging pictures using Blogger's interface has given me more grey hairs than crossing all the roads in SE Asia, so you'll have to put up with an unsightly column on photos down the middle of the page.
It was a few hours from dusk when we pulled up at Pak Beng. Despite the fact that, the place seemed to exist for the sole purpose of putting up weary travellers half way through their journey, I liked it for its tranquility.
Another full day on the boat would see us to Luang Prabang.
The next morning, we took a ride to the dock and waited for the guy from our guest house to sort our tickets. There were a few other backpackers with us, who had all apparently crossed the border that morning. Some had bought a package deal in Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang. Our guide handed out the tickets and set about giving us some advice on what to expect from the trip.
The boat journey would take around 15 hours, split over two days with an overnight stay at Pak Beng. Our seats today were numbered but the next morning it would be a free for all. Allegedly, there were scant few guesthouses in Pak Beng, most of which cost upwards of the $30 a night. The best and cheapest in town could be ours for the low, low price of $15 dollars. What with nearly a hundred boat passengers, we should book there with him to avoid disappointment.
I looked at my boat ticket. It cost 110,000 kip. We'd paid over double the asking price. Thanks Wikitravel! A few of our fellow backpackers signed up for a room. We grabbed our stuff and made for the boat. On reaching Pak Beng, we would find that there were thirty or more guest houses with the one we chose costing less than a fiver.
The journey itself was a bit cramped but well worth it for the stunning views. Our vessel glided along the toffee coloured water, lush vegetation and mist-shrouded mountains sliding past on either side. Most of the passengers where tourists. A smattering of locals would hop on and off at numerous stop along the way. The long boat would make a long, lazy turn toward a bank and come to rest at various villages. Adults would be waiting to welcome come friends and family. Small children would come running along the banks to stare the boat.
There's a ton of pictures below and, clench, fancy video. Unfortunately arranging pictures using Blogger's interface has given me more grey hairs than crossing all the roads in SE Asia, so you'll have to put up with an unsightly column on photos down the middle of the page.
It was a few hours from dusk when we pulled up at Pak Beng. Despite the fact that, the place seemed to exist for the sole purpose of putting up weary travellers half way through their journey, I liked it for its tranquility.
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| Panorama mode - whoop whoop! |
Another full day on the boat would see us to Luang Prabang.
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