Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang – Slow Boat (3 Days)
Overview
Join our budget 3-day slow boat trip from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang! This program is ideal for travelers seeking a relaxed overland route with authentic experiences along the Mekong River.
Tour Code: TCM - 010
Itinerary
Day 1: Chiang Mai → Chiang Khong
- 10:00 - 10.30 AM : Pick-up from your hotel in Chiang Mai by air-conditioned van
- Drive approximately 3 hours to the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), one of the most iconic temples in Thailand.
(Note: Entrance ticket to the White Temple is not included)
- Spend about 40 minutes exploring the temple
- 4:00 PM : Arrive in Chiang Khong, a small border town along the Mekong River. Meet our team.
- Check in at your accomodation, Overnight stay in Chiang Khong. Accommodation is homestay dormitory-style (mixed gender).
Rooms are based on double occupancy (2 persons per room). Guests booking together will stay in the same room. Solo travelers will share a room with another traveler by default unless the private room option is selected (+450 THB, paid on the travel day).
- Dinner will start at around 6:30 PM .buffet or set menu
- After check-in, our team will assist you with your visa documents, which will take about 15 minutes. If you don’t have
- a photo, you can inform our team. We offer a photo service for 100 THB, which includes 6 photos.
- Our team will check if you have any food allergies. If you are vegetarian or have any food allergies, please inform our team so we can prepare breakfast and lunch for the next day.
Overnight stay at a local school guesthouse
Spend your first night at a unique guesthouse located within a local school. This community-based accommodation helps generate income to support the school and its students. The rooms are simple, clean, and comfortable — offering an authentic glimpse into local life and a meaningful way to give back to the community.
Day 2: Chiang Khong to Pakbeng
- 7:00 AM: Pick-up and transfer to the Thai–Lao border.
Pass through Thai immigration and cross to Laos by shuttle bus.
Complete visa procedures at Laos immigration. - 08:30 AM: Meet our Laos team, then transfer to the slow boat terminal in Huay Xai city.
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9:30 AM: Enjoy breakfast (fried rice or Lao sandwich).
At Huay Xay, board the slow boat and start your cruise along the Mekong River.Lunch (fried rice or Lao sandwich) will be prepared in the morning and served on board. - Evening
- Arrive at Pakbeng, a charming riverside village
- Overnight in Pakbeng
(Accommodation is not included. Please book your own hotel in advance.You can book the hotel via the accommodation platform. Other options can be found upon arrival at the pier. Signs for various hotels will be displayed.)
Day 3: Pakbeng to Luang Prabang
- 8:30 AM
– Walk to the slow boat dock and board the boat
– Continue your journey down the Mekong River
– Arrive in Luang Prabang, Laos - (A share taxi to the city center of Luang Prabang costs around 2 USD.)
📌 Important Notes
- A minimum of 8 passengers is required to confirm the trip.
- If fewer than 8people book the tour, you will receive a full refund or change to other program
- Luggage Policy
- Each ticket includes 1 bag (up to 20") or 1 backpack.
Oversized or extra bags will be charged 500 THB per piece, payable to the driver on the day of travel.
Please compare your luggage with the photo provided and write which number(s) match your bags (e.g., No.1 – 2 bags, No.12 – 1 bag). Unpaid or unregistered bags cannot be loaded onto the van. - We only accept payments via PayPal or cash.
If you paid via other methods (such as Stripe, credit/debit card, bank transfer, etc.), your refund will be processed after deducting any transaction or service fees charged by the payment provider.
The refund will be issued within 5–7 business days.
We recommend PayPal or cash payment to avoid any deductions in case of refund.
- Alternatively, we offer another 2-night, 3-day package with an overnight stay in Houayxai, Laos. There is an additional cost.
(This alternative does not include meals and costs more. Customers must cover the additional fee. The 3-day, 2-night package in Houayxai offers different meal options. )
Travel from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang – more ways to go!
Explore more ways to get from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang
Slow Boat: Chiang Rai – Luang Prabang (2D1N)
Slow Boat: Chiang Rai – Luang Prabang (3D2N)
VIP Boat: Chiang Rai – Luang Prabang (2D1N)
Premium Boat : Chiang Rai – Luang Prabang (2D1N)
Travel options from Luang Prabang city in Laos To Thailand
Cruise: Luang Prabang to Thailand 2D1N
Slow Boat: Luang Prabang to Huay Xai (2D1N)
Included
- Transfer from Chiang Mai to Chiang Khong
- Transfer from accommodation to the Chiang Khong border.
- Shuttle bus ticket across the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge (No. 4)
- 1-night shared accommodation in Chiang Khong with air conditioning.
- 3 Meals:
• dinner (Day 1) buffet or set menu
• Breakfast (Day 2) Breakfast Box
• Lunch (Day 2) Laos sandwiches - Boat ticket from Huay Xay to Pakbeng.
- Boat ticket from Pakbeng to Luang Prabang.
Not Included:
- White Temple entrance ticket 100 THB.
- Luggage Policy : Each ticket includes 1 bag (up to 20") or 1 backpack.
Oversized or extra bags will be charged 200 THB per piece, payable to the driver on the day of travel. Unpaid or unregistered bags cannot be loaded onto the van. - Tourist tax (approx. 70–100 THB) must be paid directly on the Laos side.
- Laos Visa fee: 1,800 -2,000 THB or $40 USD (cash only) If you use USD, the bills must be in perfect condition — not torn, dirty, or old. Only new bills are accepted.
- Visa photo (If you don’t have a photo, you can inform our team. We offer a photo service for 100 THB, 2-inch photo.
- Visa & Arrival Card (Laos – Land Border): Even with a Laos e-Visa, travelers entering via Friendship Bridge 4 must complete the paper arrival card at the Lao border. Online arrival forms apply to air arrivals only.
- Other expenses not mentioned in the package.
- Pick-up time may be delayed due to traffic.
- This itinerary is subject to change due to weather or interruptions.
- All the timings provided are approximate.
- This is a join-in group tour .
- This tour includes travel insurance provided by the operator.
- This tour start in Chiang Mai
- This tour is operated by our business partner(s).
- Please make sure to enter the exact hotel name as shown on Google Maps when booking, so we can arrange your pick-up correctly.
- If your group made separate bookings, please provide all booking references at least 2 days before the travel date. We cannot guarantee seats in the same vehicle without this information.
- Please provide a WhatsApp-enabled phone number so our team can contact you easily on the day of the tour.
- If you have a flight after the tour, please inform us. Airport drop-off is not included, and travel times may vary due to traffic.
You’ll get confirmation within 24 hours . If you don’t receive any confirmation, please contact us at [email protected] or +66 62 289 5343
- You’ll get a full refund if you cancel at least 2 days prior to the travel date.
- Changes of travel date must be made at least 2 days prior to the travel date ·
- In the event of a force majeure or unforeseen event such as bad weather or
- cancellation by our business partner(s), we reserve the right to cancel the tour.
- In this case, you will be given the option to reschedule or request a full refund.
- Refunds will be made via cash or bank transfer. Any bank fee that occurred will be deducted from the refund amount.
- No refund for no-show and last-minute cancellation for all reasons to maintain our competitive price as your seats cannot be resold.
