I have figured out what I am doing finally, after looking at Laos and Myanmar I have decided just on Laos. My husband will not be joining me for various reasons, and I could not find anyone to come with me so going solo. What I decided to do was volunteer in Luang Prabang for two weeks teaching English which I am very excited about.
So, here is my proposed itineray thus far.
I will arrive in Bangkok from Vancouver on Jan 5 Spend Jan 6 in Bangkok and go to Cotton House to get measured and pick out fabric for clothes to have made.

Luang Prabang from Jan 7 - Jan 21. I will have some down time each day to explore the city and area.

then what? I have seven days on my own to explore Laos. I will do Burma another time, just want to get to know Laos this time. Vientiane? Plain of Jars?

I thought that perhaps I could end in Vientiane and fly back to Bangkok from there. Or is Pakse worth a vist?

I will then spend two days in Bangkok for my final fittings, which I emailed Cotton House about and they said that two days is fine. Thanks to everyone on a previous post for the great information about tailors in Bangkok, this one is highly recommened for women.

Any imput on how to best spend my week alone in Laos would be great.
Thanks

most fodorites who have been to laos love vientiane for 2-3 days....

sounds like a good trip

i would add more to bkk

live42day, I can't be of help, sorry.

Could you please let me know the name/website/contact information for the volunteer organization.

Thanks.

I've always wanted to visit the Plain of Jars, but haven't been there yet. I think Vientiane is also a wothwhile stop. There have been a couple of reports by people who went north from LP and stayed in a jungle eco-lodge there.

BTW, do you need a special visa to teach in Laos? Some countries, you need a work visa even if it is volunteer work.

I haven't made it to the Plain of jars either, but I have been to Champasak, which I would highly recommend for Wat Phu, and for being less visited (at least it was in 2002...), and Don Khong island, nice boat ride on the Mekong and an OK waterfall. I didn't find Pakse particularly interesting, but did like Vientiane enough to go back.

Another recommendation for Vientiane. Lovely place the most peaceful capital i have ever been to 2- 3 days is a good amount to take it slow.

Champasak looks great Thursday, thanks. So does the Don Khong island. I shall explore that option for sure.

Rhkkmk I will definately shoot for two or three days in Vientiane. I may or may not go to plain of jars, depending upon time.

Kathie, They did not tell me that I need a special visa, just the regular one. They are very organized and seem to have it all under control so would imagine they would mention it if needed.

Justshootme. Travel to teach is the place, the only one I could find in Laos and it sounds perfect. The price is reasonable and I like what they do. I have been in contact with the organizers several times and they have been very helpful.
http://www.travel-to-teach.org/

Many thanks, live42day. Enjoy Laos and Thailand.

live42day - for more encouragement to head south, I made my S. Lao photos accessible - kwilhelm.smugmug.com/Travel/Asia2002 - gallery Southern Laos password slaos. Not edited I'm afraid, but I stuck in a few captions so you know what's where.

Kathy your pictures are wonderful. It looks so much like Siem Reap and some of the ruins in Ankor Wat.
I will

Glad you like the photos! From my TR: "Angkor Wat, Wat Preah Vihear and Wat Phu at Champasak formed a spiritual triangle. ... At Wat Phu, the oldest of the Khmer religious sites, I climbed a processional way up a hill thought to resemble a lingam. Ceremonial bathing pools flanked the beginning of the path, with male and female dressing halls beyond -- huge buildings of dark red stone, now roofless, with remnants of carving." Angkor is much, much bigger, of course.

Depending upon your interests and with just 7 days I would opt for either a tour of Northern or Southern Lao. Personally I feel Vientienne is ok but it is no longer the really quaint place it once was and the Plain of Jars is interesting there are far nicer places to visit (IMO).
A tour of Northern Laos is easily organised in LP (given your time constraints, a pre arranged tour with guide and driver is the way to go). Muang Sing, Phongsali Luang Namtha and some of the smaller villages are well worth visiting. The mountain and riverine scenery is beautiful and the people amazingly friendly.

In Southern Lao the scenery is totally different but no less beautiful. As others have said, pre-dating Angkor Wat, Wat Phu is a great experience and staying on and island like Don Khong in the Si Phan Don (4000 islands) area is as relaxing as it gets.
A few photos here - http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog...2140/tpod.html

If you do head south the Bolavens plateau at places like Tad Lo, Tad Fan is well worth a visit and has some beautiful scenery and is famed for its waterfalls, coffee plantations etc.

Great Pictures Crellston.

I am really torn between the north and the south.
I re read NYwomans trip report and was thinking the north sounds good, but then seeing yours and Thursdays thinking the south is good too. I guess I just cant go wrong either way. More research is required.

Live42 - Having been to both the North and South several times I have to say the North wins for me but that is very much my subjective view and you really can't go wrong with either.

I loved the day I spent in a small boat going north up river, but I wasn't impressed with the towns we stayed in. If you want to trek, go north, otherwise I think the south is more interesting.

live42day, - thank you for this interesting thread. We are planning our hoilday to Laos in December this year and it has been great to read your thread and everyone's replys. We are planning on spending a week in Luang Prabang then out to the Plan of Jars, Vientiane, then down to the South before flying to Angkor. So it will be good to compare notes afterwards. I was interested in your volunteer group as my daugther spent 2 weeks in Thailand afew years ago and would be interested in Laos as well.

The volunteer program, Travel to Teach, looks great to me. I have looked at many of them all over the world, volunteered in two others and was set to volunteer in another in Uganda but had to cancel our trip.
I look at the cost of the program. If it is expensive then there is a good chance that the program is more of a 'voluntourism' and the main focus is profit for the company and not the organization that they are supposed to be helping.

I have good friends who run an NGO on Zanzibar and are appalled that volunteers are charged anything. They house and feed thier volunteers for free and happy to have the help.

Make sure you ask a lot of questions about where you will be staying and what the facilities are like as well. I know that our accommodation in Uganda was going to be pretty , well less than basic, but we were aware of that going in. As I say we didnt end up going after all, but would have managed I am sure.