Slow Boat pier

"The slow boat was an interesting experience... It takes 3 days (2 nights) from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang Day 1 is travel in a minivan from Chiang Mai to the village just across the Laos border. Day 2 is 8 hours in the boat to a small village along the river Day 3 is another 8 hours in the boat until you arrive in Luang Prabang We booked the whole thing with a package which included transport to the border, with a stop at the white temple on the way, the first nights accommodation, the boat ticket and lunch on the first day of the boat trip. Not included was accommodation on the second night, other snacks and food or the visa cost. You can do the trip yourself for a bit cheaper without booking through a package but we ran out of days on our visa so needed to be sure we were stamped out of Thailand on the first day. Here are a few tips for the trip 1. It's handy to pay in dollars for the visa ($40) to avoid being scammed 2. Make sure you take lots of snacks and water with you on the boat, there is a little shop but it's more expensive 3. Get to the boat early (especially on the second day) to get a good seat. You don't want to sit near the back because the engine is very loud 4. Take a pack of cards or game on the boat it passes the time well 5. The first village you stay in for the night do take dollars and baht but they give you change in Laos Kip so you will get a better rate if you pay with Kip first. In the second village only a few places take other currency but there is an ATM in the village to get cash out (if it says transaction cancelled turn on magstripe for your card and try again) 6. If you have a Thai sim it will work in Houayxay because it's on the border but will cut out on the first day of the boat. There is good wifi in most places so you can wait to Luang Prabang to get a SIM card where there is a Unitel shop 7. Try to book your accommodation for Pakbeng before you get there, it's a very small town and the spots get taken quickly 8. Make lots of friends, they will end up being the best people you meet on your trip"