julies

If we wanted to combine both of these countries and do more than just quickly hit the highlights, about how much time would we need? We'd like to have time to slow down a bit, see some places in depth, do some light hiking, do some low-key but interesting daytrips from the popular cities, take a couple day boat trip, and see a few things that aren't on the typical fast itineraries. We are older and are not looking for a backpacker type of experience just hanging out in places for days on end. If we plan a trip, we have flexibility in terms of length of stay so would want to make sure to allow adequate time. Would a month be about right? Or, less or more time?

Most likely we would fly in and out of the US to Bangkok and then transit from there. I know we'd need to add in additional days to cover that part of the trip. Thanks.

Kathie

I'd suggest a minimum of two weeks for each country, but up to a month in each depending on exactly what you want to do.

sartoric

If I may suggest, given you'll transit via Bangkok, a few days in Chiang Rai in the north of Thailand. It's very pretty countryside and near to Chiang Khong which is the starting point for the Mekong river cruise to Luang Prabang. The company we used is Luang Say cruises with an overnight in beautiful wooden bungalows.

There's a guide in CR called Jermsak, we had a lovely day with him floating down the Mae Sok river on a bamboo raft while his wife cooked lunch. If you like cooking a lady named Tik runs cooking classes at her home in the countryside.

Progol and Yestravel/Gotravel both did great trip reports which I used for ideas.

Six weeks is about my limit for SEAsia, with that amount of time you would have a lovely slow holiday.

re

I am interested in the answers to your questions as we too are planning a visit to Northern Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. Would like to know the best time to travel-lowest humidity and heat.

crellston

re - Best time IMO would be late November - Feb. Earlier, the temps and humidity will be lower. Much past mid Feb and you run the risk of hitting the burning season and the resultant dramatic drop in air quality.

Julies, Give the travel style you outline above, I would go for eight weeks, maybe 4 in Laos, 3 in Cambodia and a few days to top and tail the trip in Bangkok.

I like Sartoric's suggestion of travelling via Chiang Rai/ Chiang Khong down river to Luang Prabang. We have done that twice, once by public boat ( not recommended) and anotaré time we hired a boat and driver - cheaper, but not as luxurious as Luangsay.

Highlights for us were a round trip of the far north by boat and car - Luang Namtha, Muang Sing, Ban Bountai, Phonsali etc. Wonderful minority villages, great day hikes, stunning scenery. Worth a week at least. LP is definitely worth a few days just to wander the streets. It is busy these days but for good reason I suppose. Plenty of day trips in the area.

From LP you could head south via Vang Vieng, Vientiane Pakse etc. The Bolavens Plateau is definitely worth a side trip for its waterfalls, scenery, coffee plantations. Onwards into Cambodia via the very laid back Si Phan Don (4000 islands) in the Mekong.

It is a relatively straightforward process to cross into Cambodia at Stung Treng and on to the lovely riverside town of Kratie.

Sartoric has a terrific (and very recent) trip report on Cambodia http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...-a-wedding.cfm

julies

Very helpful replies. Thanks much!

We can stretch it, but eight weeks is a bit longer than we have. Now I am wondering if perhaps since Laos and Vietnam are so close if we should forget Cambodia on this trip and instead visit the middle parts of Vietnam that we missed on the two week trip we took there perhaps eight years ago. We flew between Saigon and Hanoi and did not get an opportunity to see anything in between. Maybe logistically this would make better sense for a total trip of 5 to 6 weeks.

I really like the idea of the boat trip to Luang Prabang. Crellston, can you elaborate a bit on the trip you took with the private boat and driver?

yestravel

If you decide to go to CR I second the suggestion by satoric for Jermsak. He greatly enhanced our trip for the one day we had with him. We didn't try to book until the last minute and he only had one day free, but it was jam-packed. He is a wonderful man with great insights into the area and we had a delightful, long day with him.

Definitely heed the warning by crellston about the burning. The timeframe changes every year, but we saw it as early as January in N.THailand. On our last trip flying from Nan, Thailand to Chiang Mai we flew over a thick cloud of pollution almost the entire flight.

julies

As usual I am looking at a last minute trip, leaving say the week of Jan. 10, and we need to return no later than end of February. The burning season issue concerns me a lot!

I think I am correct in the following two assumptions. Please correct me if I am not.

1. If I just do Laos and Vietnam, I'd need to do Vietnam first because Tet is 2/7 to 2/13, and there is no way we'd want to be in Vietnam during that time (or a few days either side). So, Laos would need to come later.

2. If we do Cambodia and Laos, Cambodia would need to come first because of heat issues. On our Vietnam trip (New Year's time) we were right on the Cambodian border on the Mekong, and I remember how hot is was.

I am looking at plane tickets right now and need to take all of these things into consideration before I jump.

Thanks for all the thoughts.

re

Cellston, thank you for the weather information. Mid March and April is when we want to travel. So these countries will have to wait. I read your travel report on South Korea, that is another country we are interested in visiting. Spring yellow dust in Korea is a concern. Any suggestions for early spring Asian trip?

yestravel

I agree with you on #1 -- we plannd our trips to avoid Tet.

Don't know alot about your #2, but we were on the Cambodian border in VN in late Feb and it was hot, but not unbearably so. We were in Siem Reap in January and it was horribly hot and dusty. Luang Prabang I remember as being a welcome respite from heat and pollution. We had been in Bangkok, very hot & polluted, and Siem Reap before arriving in LP, again in January.

I gotta say, I admire you for your last minute planning. I always want to try it, but never seem to. Have a great trip.

re - you might want to start your own thread to get more attention to your question.

julies

yestravel--Thanks for the reports of what you experienced as weather. Maybe I needn't concern myself with thinking that I should get the more southerly destinations out of the way first. I think I remember reading that Siem Reap is horribly hot no matter when you visit.

re--Maybe the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India. You could also do Amritsar then.

re

Yestravel I will start my own thread.
julies Thanks for your suggestion. We have been to Northern India. Asia may just have to wait.

crellston

I agree about missing Tet. Did it once, but probably wouldn't do it again!

Laos - the high elevations in the north ( inc. LP) will be cool at night in Jan and quite pleasant during the day. It will be hotter further south as you get close to Cambodia (which is never going to be cool!).

Hope you get your flights sorted julies - there are some bargains a round at the moment!

Re. I have never heard of "spring yellow dust" in Korea. We were there in April and did notice anything like that. It was quite cold and wet though.

For early spring, Japan would be worth considering. A little early for the cherry blossom, which arrives around mid April I think, but a huge amount to see. We are heading off to South America in late spring, worth considering as an alternative to Asia.

re

Crellston, Yellow dust comes down from Mongolia, and North China. In the spring strong winds blow the dust south reducing visibility; also a health hazard.Thanks for your help. Hope you'll visit Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. Its outstanding.