zoomoozophone

Looking for more helpful advice from all of you knowledgeable fodorites. Have just put together our itinerary for a 4-week trip to Thailand-Cambodia and Laos for the end of the year.

Take a look and please offer and advice/guidance as to things we should reconsider. Please note, we've purposely left out a Thai beach trip, so need to scold me on not including it

arrive 12/16 Bangkok
12/17 Bangkok
12/18 Bangkok
12/19 Bangkok
12/20 6-day Overland Tour with Diethelm Travel Bangkok-Ayuthaya –Pimai-Korat
12/21 Korat – Dan Kwian – Phanom Rung - Aranyaprathet
12/22 Aranyaprathet - Battamburg
12/23 Battamburg – Siem Reap (by boat)
12/24 Siem Reap/Angor Wat
12/25 Siem Reap/Angor Wat
12/26 Siem Reap/Angor Wat
12/27 Siem Reap – Vientiane (Lao Airlines flight)
12/28 Vientiane
12/29 Vientiane
12/30 Vientiane – Luang Prabang (trek/village tour with Diethelm Travel)
12/31 Vientiane – Vang Vien – Luang Prabang
1/1 Vientiane – Vang Vien – Luang Prabang
1/2 Luang Prabang (3nagas or Sala Prabang)
1/3 Luang Prabang
1/4 Luang Prabang
1/5 Luang Prabang – side trip to Nong Kiaow (Chan-a-Mar)
1/6 Luang Prabang – side trip to Nong Kiaow
1/7 Luang Prabang
1/8 Luang Prabang
1/9 Luang Prabang – Chiang Mai (Laos Airlines flight)
1/10 Chiang Mai
1/11 Chiang Mai
1/12 Chiang Mai
1/13 Chiang Mai
1/14 Chiang Mai – Bangkok (overnight train)
1/15 Bangkok
1/16 Bangkok-Home

althom1122

At first glance, I'd add a couple days to Bangkok and cut some Luang Prabang time. It also seems like too much time in Vientiene (although admittedly I haven't been there so that's based solely on what I've read). I'm not clear on the Laos section in general. What do you mean on 12/31 and 1/1 Vientiane – Vang Vien – Luang Prabang? You've already spent several days in Vientiane - why go from there to Vang Vien and Luang Prabang two days in a row? (I'm sure I must be misunderstanding what you mean.) Also, as much as I loved Luang Prabang, you have a bit much time there in my view - although I'm not one for lingering too long - it's just my style. I would add a day in Siem Reap, maybe, plus at least two days in Bangkok. We need more info on the Laos portion and the Diethelm Travel (both times). (No scolding on leaving out the beach part - I left out a beach when we went in February - although if I go back, will probably add a few days at the beach.)

zoomoozophone

Thanks - Sorry the Vientiane to Luang Prabang wasn't clear it's a trek/village stay journey from starting in Vientiane and ending in Luang Prabang with a stop in Vang Vien in between.

I had a feeling that we perhaps hadn't budgeted enough time in Bangkok - but was hesitant to rush Luang Prabang. Perhaps I'll switch a day or so of Luang Prabang for Bangkok, but I don't know that I'd want to give up more than 2 days there. Thanks so much for your input - Sara

Gpanda

I second the notion that too much LP time and not enough BKK time. I also note that there is no beach time. While the beaches are not unique, they do provide a welcome break.

zoomoozophone

ok, slightly reworked (had to adjust departure date because of avail flights)

arrive 12/16 Bangkok at 11:45 p.m.
12/17 Bangkok
12/18 Bangkok
12/19 Bangkok
12/20 Bangkok-Ayuthaya –Pimai-Korat (tour through Diethelm Travel)
12/21 Korat – Dan Kwian – Phanom Rung – Aranyaprathet (tour through Diethelm Travel)
12/22 Aranyaprathet – Battambang (tour through Diethelm Travel)
12/23 Battamburg – Siem Reap (by boat) (tour through Diethelm Travel)
12/24 Siem Reap/Angor Wat (Bopha Angor)
12/25 Siem Reap/Angor Wat
12/26 Siem Reap/Angor Wat
12/27 Siem Reap – Vientiane (Lao Airlines flight)
12/28 Vientiane
12/29 Vientiane – Vang Vieng (tour through Diethelm Travel)
12/30 Vang Vieng – Ban Tham Xang (tour through Diethelm Travel)
12/31 Ban Tham Xang – Luang Prabang (tour through Diethelm Travel)
1/1 Luang Prabang (3 Nagas)
1/2 Luang Prabang
1/3 Luang Prabang
1/4 Luang Prabang – side trip to Nong Kiaow
1/5 Luang Prabang – side trip to Nong Kiaow
1/6 Luang Prabang
1/7 Luang Prabang – Chiang Mai (Lao Airlines flight)
1/8 Chiang Mai
1/9 Chiang Mai
1/10 Chiang Mai
1/11 Chiang Mai
1/12 Chiang Mai – Bangkok (overnight train)
1/13 Bangkok
1/14 Bangkok - Home

BillT

This latest plan only really gives you 2 days in Bangkok because the first full day you will be jet lagged and won't get much done on that day. As others have suggested add one more full day for Bangkok- there is soooooo much to do and see 2 days is just not enough!

zoomoozophone

I seem to be having trouble giving anything else up for Bangkok! (I keep rationalizing that I'll likely get to Bangkok again in my lifetime, but Laos probably not)

Maybe a day less in Chiang Mai? Would then give me 2 days at the start (excluding jet-lag day) and another 2 days at the end

BillT

Yes that should do nicely- you can cover the must see/must dos in BKK in 4 days.

BillT

You have quite a vacation planned here, lets ask some basic questions just to be on the safe side:

1) Have you been to Asia before?

2) Are you used to hot/humid weather?

3) Are you used to being away for 4 weeks at a time. (we prefer only 2 weeks as we are ready to come by that time).

rhkkmk

looks over the top to me...lots of moving around...you are in peak period for price, but i assume you know that

rhkkmk

i hope you have your hotels already for both SR and LP as both will be difficult on holiday weeks, esp. LP...

zoomoozophone

Yes, we've traveled to SE Asia before and have spent more than a month in India. This is a fairly laid back itinerary for us - in India we were moving to a new place every other day

Am fully aware that we will be paying peak prices - that's what we get for travelling that time! We already have two places booked in Luang Prabang (3 Nagas AND Sayo - trying to decide which one to keep)

zoomoozophone

rhkkmk - By over the top, do you think we have too many things on the itinerary? The sections with lots of moving around we're going to do through a tour company, hopefully alleviating some logistics problems. We hoped that overland travel between Bangkok and Siem Reap and between Vientiane and Luang Prabang would allow some time to really get off the beaten track - but maybe it's too much?

welltraveledbrit

zoomooz,
Just my 2 cents...while I'm not familiar with all the places you're visiting I think the itinerary has a nice balance of overland vs decent amounts of time in one place eg 4/5 night stays in Siem Reap, chiang Mai etc. Also the overland portions are divided by some comfortable hotel stays.

I don't think this looks rushed or that it's alot of moving around, after all this is an itinerary with an overland component and moving around is the name of the game. I just think this is a difference of opinion as to the type of holiday.

We prefer to spend 3 nights in each destination but when we're on an overland style trip in more rural areas we normally moved on every night.

However, just to add the Vientiane comments - my husband and brother are leaving in a week for several weeks in Laos and I don't think they're planning nearly as much time in Vientiane as you have in this itinerary.

HOpe this helps!

zoomoozophone

welltraveledbrit - thank you! Yes, the first iteration of the itinerary shows Vientiane on more days than we are really going to be there. Second version hopefully a little clearer - arriving via flight on an afternoon, overnight in Vientiane, full day, overnight, then we leave overland. Curious how long your relatives have planned...

welltraveledbrit

They have 3 weeks mostly in Laos. They leave next week and apart from the international flights they haven't planned anything!

I think there was some mention of booking a couple of nights in Vientiane but that was it! Part of the reason for their trip trip is to do something completely unstructured...to get back to the backpacking thing, which explains why I'm not going!

I'm meeting them in Siem Reap which means the quality of the hotels will be going up dramatically and there will some organization, hotels/guides booked etc! We'll then have another 3 weeks mainly in Vietnam.

It is fun to travel in a less structured way, but I tend to be a planner and I know it's definately not something they would be doing at Christmas!

alibi13

I love your itinerary. I love how much time you are budgeting for Laos and that you have a week in Luang Prabang. We loved it there and could've spent a week there easily. We love the feel of Laos.

It seems like you guys love nature and natural beauty, which makes me think that you have plenty of time budgeted for Bangkok. If anything, I might trim a night or two off at the front end of the trip. I agree with you that you will pass through Bangkok again.

At the end of your trip, when you go back to Bangkok, you might consider staying at the Peninsula. It is such an amazing way to end your vacation.

It's good that you are seeing Ayuthuya before Angkor Wat.

In Chiang Mai, you should consider hiring Sargeant Kai for a day or two and going to Doi Inthanon. It is an amazing national park, an hour south of CM, with amazing cloud forrest hikes.

I love that you are spending some time in Vientiane. We love the vibe in Laos so much that we wish we would've gone there too.

You MUST post a detailed trp report when you come back.

zoomoozophone

Alibi, wow, thank you so much for all of the very helpful information. Yes, we are definitely geared toward natural beauty and the great oudoors, which is why we have focused on rural areas instead of the cities. I will definitely consider the hike near Chiang Mai, had never heard of that park.

Did you happen to travel through Vientiane? Trying to decide if overland between Vientiane and Luang Prabang is better than side trips from Vientiane to do kayaking, etc. and then flying to Luang Prabang.

Thanks for the tip on the Penninsula - hadn't considered it, but will now!

alibi13

Hi Zoom,

We did not travel through Vientiane. In my fantasy return-trip, we take a boat, Luang Say, from the Chiang Rai area into Luang Prabang and then stay there a week, and head to Vientiane via Vang Vieng.

The Peninsula is a pricey hotel, but if you reserve through Asiarooms.com or one of those discount websites (only purchase the rooms if you are about 98% on the dates and everything as I've heard it's a drag to get a refund), you can get a rate of a little over $200 a night. I know that's a lot, but the place is so magical. It will be such a great ending to a wonderful trip. And they are so attentive and helpful. Like if you're packing, and realize you need some help, they will come up with something. The gym there is more luxurious than most spas. Speaking of spas, from the Peninsula, you can just take the two-minute ferry across the river and get an hour-long Thai massage for like five bucks.

In my mind, Bangkok is great for eating great food and shopping. If you're there on the weekend, definitely go to the weekend market. It is amazing.

I hope you have at least 3 full days in Angkor Wat. That's what we had (we stayed 4 nights) and that was fine, but another day wouldn't have hurt; the ruins are so amazing that it would've been neat to re-visit some. My big tip for Siem Reap is take a day trip to the River of the Thousand Linga and Bang Melea. It will rock your world. It will get you out in nature and away from the hordes. You should be able to combine Banteay Sarei with that excursion. It will cost more, but it will be worth it.

I am looking forward to hearing about all your treks.