Chiang Mai

hamster · #1 03-11-2006, 22:42

hello everyone. just seeing if any of you can give advice. me and the girlfriend are spending 3 or 4 days in chang mai before heading south. is it possible to travel to the border of cambodia and laos in this time. how many days should we allow or can they be done on day excursions. also, what the story with malaria pills for that area.

Captain · #2 03-11-2006, 23:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamster

hello everyone. just seeing if any of you can give advice. me and the girlfriend are spending 3 or 4 days in chang mai before heading south. is it possible to travel to the border of cambodia and laos in this time. how many days should we allow or can they be done on day excursions. also, what the story with malaria pills for that area.

you can make a day excursion to the golden triangle, but that is a bit much for one day. Better look for a trip of 2/3 days and visit CM, Chiang Rai & Golden Triange at ease.
As long as you are not staying in the back country (trecking) I wouldn' take malaria pills.

hamster · #3 03-11-2006, 23:31

we are staying at the central duang"something" (not sure how to spell it)hotel in chang mai for 4 nights. wasnt sure on what else there is to do around that area. any suggestions would be great

steve@thaib · #4 03-11-2006, 23:37

You can do a day trip which will take you across the border into Burma and across the river to Laos. The islands in the middle of the river belong to Laos.

It is, as Captain said, a lot to fit into one day. Worth it though, if it's a choice between a day trip and nothing. The night market is good too.

hamster · #5 04-11-2006, 15:42

would we need visa's or anything for the trip

t0rn · #6 04-11-2006, 16:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamster

would we need visa's or anything for the trip

for Burma you pay at the border, US$5 for the day.
There are plenty organised tours if that's your thing.

steve@thaib · #7 04-11-2006, 17:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamster

would we need visa's or anything for the trip

Torn is right in my experience, Burma is a simple pay at the border and Laos was the same when I went, although you could only visit the islands and not the mainland.

I thinks it's one of those things that changes all the time, so best get your info on the ground. Loads of tour operators offering this trip, just get there and find one.

hamster · #8 04-11-2006, 17:36

not really sure what to do yet. it was my girlfriends idea to go to thailand. i wasnt really bothered to start with but the more ive learnt from u guys on the forum the more excited i am. cant wait to get there. im more excited than her now

wylos · #9 04-11-2006, 17:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamster

hello everyone. just seeing if any of you can give advice. me and the girlfriend are spending 3 or 4 days in chang mai before heading south. is it possible to travel to the border of cambodia and laos in this time. how many days should we allow or can they be done on day excursions. also, what the story with malaria pills for that area.

im sure the nearsest crossing to Laos from CM is chang kong,i used it when exiting myself,but not sure of your plans,time,where u wanna go, etc.....
from this border u can arrange a trip down the mekhong river towards vientianne(laos),either speedboat(6 hours) or slow boat which im sure is a hell of a lot more comfy takes 2 days with a stop off,i used the speed boat,but never again,unless i lose about 6 stone and i cant see that happenin.so squashed up ,i was in pain most of the trip.555555
Laos is great,some nice little towns,vientianne is a cool laidback small city,great for nightlife,defintely wortha look.
hope this is of help,

hamster · #10 04-11-2006, 17:49

might have to knock the speed boat on the head then cos im 6 foot 7 inch. might be a "LONG BOAT" then for my long legs

frozen dozer · #11 05-11-2006, 02:28

another think to see while in the north is the white temple up in chiang rai, also have the long neck karon hill tribe. While in the niebourhood went to burma and then to the golden triangle. The boat ride was short and was able to pick up some nice gifts in loas. I wish I had more time as the tour we were on did all this in one long day. spent about 10 hours in a van. Next trip Iam gonna find me a "guide" and spend a little lonmger doing the circut. Hopefully get a better feel for the ground and the culture, plus maybe have some one to look after my bag. I did the trecking but will never do it again, too hot and it kinda irks me when you walk for 6 hours in the +35c heat and you get were you are going and then you see the local cowboys driving around on scooters. Glad I can say I did it, but never again.

mez · #12 15-06-2007, 10:52

You can do the run to Burma in a day but would recommend at least one night. If you contact Chiangmaionwheel.com website and ask for Mr Jong he will supply transport and is an excellent guide. Will customize trip for you and is much cheaper than any of the join on tours. The Central Duangtawn is right on nightbazaar but rooms aren't all that nice. If u don't like ask express disappointment they may upgrade