Before thinking about changing all your arrangements check for current information on Thai flights to Luang Prabang. We actually had our tickets issued for a flight later this month from LP to Chiang Mai. Not long after receiving the tickets we got a call from Thai Air in the UK to say that they were no longer operating on that route. This caused us a great deal of rearranging of plans and added expense as Lao doesn´t operate on the day we were due to leave and so we are having to fly to Bangkok and back up to Chiang Mai. I hope you manage to sort it all out without compromising the things that you want to do too much.

Thanks, Kippy. That definitely gives me pause. I'm really struggling with this, but am starting to lean toward skipping Lampang, keeping our 3 nights in Luang Prabang, and finding another elephant ride. I've decided it's true that we can't do it all (even though I like to try!) and that we'll have a great time, as Gloria said, no matter what we decide.
Karen

Perhaps just check Thai though, in case things have turned around again. It is about six or seven weeks since our tickets were cancelled. Could you fit a half day visit in at Lampang just to look around and maybe a ride? Thatś what we plan to do and apparently you don´t need to make a reservation for that.

You can definitely go to Lampang and do a ride and be back by 1PM so if there is an afternoon flight that could work.

I almost hate to raise this option, but you could also choose to skip MHS this trip, spend longer in CM and do the elephant camp visit earlier...

LOL! You all are so great to hang in there with me on all this planning. I've now heard back from Supat that I can definitely do the 17th. Skipping MHS and being in Chiang Mai earlier wouldn't help, because we're flying to MHS on the 11th, and the "wedding ceremony" is from the 11th-14th, but they don't have any one-day program slots available on the 15th or 16th, so basically we have to do the 17th or not at all. (I hope that made sense!) I'd be even more disappointed if the flight to LP on Thai air on the 18th got cancelled and we ended up missing LP altogether. That is a must-see for me - even more important than the elephants. I can't believe we've timed this like this, but oh well. So... I've nearly reached the conclusion to keep MHS, stick with CM for 4 nights (and visit Lampang for a half day), and then go on as planned to LP for 3 nights. Whew - this planning is hard work (but fun, too).

Did you tell him to put you on a wait list in case someone cancels for the 15 or 16?

Is there a way to fly from Mae Hong Son to LP and then go to CM?

They only offer 1-day programs on certain days, and the 15th and 16th aren't possibilities. So that's not an option.
As for doing LP first and then back to CM, it means going through all the flight changes and hotel changes, and at this point, I'm just not up for it! But thanks for thinking of it.

It sounds like you're settled then. It must be a relief! I know you'll have a wonderful time, Karen.