Hi from Siem Reap - out last night here!!

Does anyone have information on deluxe bus or boat trips from Luang Brabang to Pakse. Currently, I have a flight out of Luang Brabang to Bangkok. Our volunteer team will mmet in Bangkok and be transported by air and then bus to Pakse. Since I will be in Luang Brabang, I am thinking that it may be silly for me to make that journey if I can get to Pakse from Luang Brabang on my own. And if I can take in more sights along the way, even better!

Thanks!

Sorry but the Pakse Airport is presently closed for renovation/extension and although it was supposed to have re-opened by the beginning of Sept. the Vientiane Times reported that it's expected to delay re-opening until January 2010.

If your volunteer team is paying for the flight, then it'll be easier just to fly back to Bangkok wherein you'll be flown to Ubon Ratchathani-Thailand for a bus transfer to Pakse (several hours).

Otherwise, you would have to fly from LP to Savannakhet (not sure of direct flights and you may have to go with a stopover in Vientiane) and then travel by bus 3 hours or so to get to Pakse.
Another option is to get to Vientiane where there is the overnight VIP bus between Vientiane and Pakse, departing 8PM and arrving Pakse around 6AM.

You can probably ride a bus, don't think it will be deluxe, with multiple connections from Luang Prabang to Pakse but that would take you several hours if not days. I suggest you take the Luang Prabang to Bangkok flight and then fly to Ubon, since Pakse airport is closed at the moment. From there it's still a few hours car ride to cross the border and reach Pakse.

I don't know when you're flying but do check if Pakse airport is open again or not and what airline fly there from Bangkok, I think it's Bangkok Airways.

For a more accurate information I suggest you ask a TA once you're in Luang Prabang on possible alternatives.

Posted at the same time as seagypsy!

Yes, I was thinking we were doing the same. Guess we think alike, Hanuman! ;~)

Btw, I think Bangkok Airways has cancelled the Pakse-Bangkok route due to lack of demand. Or maybe it was Lao Airlines that might have offered that route briefly. In either case, that route was very short-lived.

Thank you all for the suggestions. It seems there was a method to the madness that I have been questioning. When in Asia....