Destination: Laos
LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION
Itinerary: Northern Loop
ONE TO TWO WEEKS/HUAY XAI TO VIENTIANE
Pass quiet village ports and rugged gorges on the Mekong to Luang Prabang, then follow Rte 13, which winds high into the mountains between Kasi and Vang Vieng toward Vientiane, to complete this 700km route.
Travellers have been doing this circuit since before the 1975 revolution, and it's still one of the best samplers for anyone who wants a good dose of Laos in a relatively short time-span.
Entering Laos via ferry from Chiang Khong, Thailand, to Huay Xai, board one of the slow boats that ply the Mekong between Huay Xai and Luang Prabang. This two-day voyage requires an overnight in the small riverside district of Pak Beng, a trading nexus for hill tribes where one can arrange short treks. Along the Mekong River is terrific scenery consisting of villages, limestone cliffs and intermittent forest.
Boats may stop at Pak Ou so that passengers can visit Buddha-filled caves there. Sightseeing in and around Luang Prabang, Laos's atmospheric former royal capital, can easily occupy a week.
From here, continue southward to Vientiane by bus or van along Rte 13, stopping in Vang Vieng, a modern-day travellers centre surrounded by craggy, cave-studded limestone peaks. After a few days of river-tubing and cave hikes, head to Vientiane, Laos's semibustling capital city.
Lonely Planet recommends World Nomads Travel insurance
