How to Get the Slow Boat from Laos to Thailand: An Unforgettable Journey

2024 Update 🛶 Few journeys match the Mekong River’s tranquility and beauty from Laos to Thailand. I’ve explored countries by air, bus, boat, and on foot. Determined to follow my trend of crossing land borders, and avoid air travel as much as possible, I decided to take the two-day slow boat from Laos to Thailand. If you’re considering this journey, I can wholeheartedly endorse and recommend it – not only as a means of transport but as an unforgettable adventure. If you’re here, you’re probably considering doing the same. Let me walk you through how to get the slow boat from Laos to Thailand. 👇

How do you get the slow boat from Laos to Thailand?

Getting the slow boat is a fairly simple process, with the payoff being a unique journey through the Laotian jungle. When you break it down the slow boat from Laos to Thailand is super easy: 

Book slow boat tickets in Luang Prabang: Find affordable tickets through local tour operators or go directly to the boat dock to bypass middlemen and potentially save money.

Getting to the pier: To kickstart your Mekong journey, make your way to the Luang Prabang pier early. This is where you’ll board the slow boat by having your ticket ready. 

Prepare for the Journey: The slow boat offers basic amenities. Bring snacks and enjoy simple meals and drinks onboard like coffee and noodles.

Spend the night in Pak Beng: Enjoy a night in this vibrant river village which thrives on tourism from the slow boat. Accommodation is easy to find upon arrival, often cheaper than pre-booking. 

Offload in Huay Xai: Upon arrival, transitioning from Laos to Thailand at Huay Xai is straightforward. Exchange currency, pay any applicable visa fees, and enjoy a hassle-free visa process for entry into Thailand.

Booking your slow boat from Luang Prabang 

In Luang Prabang, many tour operators and shops sell slow boat tickets to Huay Xai. Prices can be steep, especially on Kingkitsarath Road behind Phousi Hill.

One quote we got was 500,000 kip (around £18 GBP) for the two-day trip. The slow boat from Laos to Thailand shouldn’t cost more than around 300,000 kip. We found a better deal near the Mekong River. A friendly local owner offered us a rate of 250,000 kip (£9 GBP) each, but it’s wise to shop around in Luang Prabang before buying any tickets. Haggling could save you money.

For adventurers, bypass the middleman. Go directly to the boat dock by Tuk-Tuk or Motorbike to buy your ticket, potentially saving some kips. Remember, you’ll pay for the ride to the dock in your ticket as it is outside of Luang Prabang centre. Our ticket included a 7.30 am pickup from our guesthouse, a relief since the dock was a 20-minute Tuk-Tuk ride away.

However, like most places in SE Asia, a TukTuk shouldn’t cost too much and you can usually get a ride to the pier for around 20,000 kip (about £1.50 ) – cheap as chips! 

How long is the slow boat from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai? 

Embarking on the slow boat from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai isn’t just a trip; it’s an adventure that unfolds over two laid-back days, clocking in around 16 hours on the Mekong.

The trip starts in Luang Prabang, breaks in Pak Beng, where you stay overnight before you continue onto Huay Xai the following day. You can then either opt to stay overnight in Huay Xai (like we did) and get the shuttle across the nearby border the next day, or continue onto Thailand as soon as you’re off the boat. 

The slow boat from Laos to Thailand: The Journey

Once you’ve booked your ticket and got to the pier, it’s time to get on the boat. On the first day our tickets would take us eight hours up the river to a village called Pak Beng , and then the next day a further eight hours the following day to Huay Xai which sits right on the Laos/Thai Border. All up, the journey will be two days from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai.

The boat, a traditional Laotian long boat, accommodated around fifty people. Stories had circulated around our hostels about boats from Thailand being super overcrowded. Fortunately, the slow boat from Laos to Thailand usually encounters far less congestion. 

Aside from a handful of backpackers and local families transporting supplies to their villages, our slow boat from Luang Prabang remained largely unoccupied. This proved beneficial for two reasons. Firstly, given the eight-hour duration, the additional space and comfort were crucial for a relaxing trip. Secondly, the seating, consisting of repurposed car seats, offered little in terms of comfort. With the boat being relatively empty, Phil and I managed to repurpose a pair of seats into personal footrests. This setup allowed me to nestle in comfortably and catch some sleep during the morning portion of our journey. 

After about 8 hours on the river, you will arrive at Pak Beng, Laos. 

Is there food on the slow boat from Laos to Thailand? 

Yes – but don’t expect much. The food and drink on the boat consisted of instant ramen, some chocolate, and crisps.

Waking up to the scent of coffee while winding down the river was actually lovely – even if it wasn’t the greatest coffee by Southeast Asian standards. The coffee cost merely 5000 Kip (around 20p), and a noodle pot was slightly more. 

As I resettled into my makeshift car seat, coffee in hand, I allowed myself to relax and soak in the atmosphere. Southeast Asia’s long-distance travel often proved stressful, yet here, it was so nice to actually lean back and savour the Mekong’s gentle breeze (accompanied by coffee and noodles, of course). The journey on the slow boat from Laos to Thailand offered a serene escape from the region’s often chaotic road travel that we’d become accustomed to.  

Arrival in Pak Beng

Pak Beng, a small river village midway between Luang Prabang and the Thai Border, thrives on the slow boat’s tourism. Upon docking, a dozen Laotians greeted us, offering stays at their guesthouses. Without prior bookings, Phil and I secured a room near the dock for 40000 Kip (about £4) for the night. Despite its size, the village boasts a number of dining and bar spots, so take some time to explore the streets while there. In under 10 minutes, we breezed through the entire village, which pretty much splits into two main streets – one veering left and the other right from the boat pier. The place is dotted with guesthouses, a few upscale cottages, plenty of eateries, and small shops peddling snacks, water, and the legendary Beer Lao. You’ll even spot a couple of bakeries churning out baguettes and croissants – a nod to the French imperial past

The boat coming the other way from Thailand also stops here, adding to the mix of tourists and backpackers and a nice atmosphere to the village.

Keep in mind you do not need to book accommodation in Pak Beng in advance, and if you do choose to you’ll pay significantly more than you would haggling at the pier. You will be greeted by people at the dock vying for your custom at their guesthouse and restaurants – so getting a room is easy upon arrival and you should be able to haggle. 

Pak Beng to Huay Xai

Waking up at 7:30 am once again, I slung on my backpack and made my way back to the dock for the second leg of the slow boat from Laos to Thailand. 

A different boat awaited us for the next stretch, offering similar seating but with slightly more passengers. Phil and I, having skipped breakfast and after a few hours of travel, decided to buy lunch on board. We settled for oversized pot noodles, one chicken and one shrimp flavoured. Simple and inexpensive, they hit the spot. Naturally, I grabbed another coffee. 

The journey to Huay Xai mirrored the previous day’s. We glided down the river with a lovely breeze, Mountains loomed, and village kids waved from the riverbanks. Despite rumors of wild elephant sightings, we sadly didn’t see any. 

Noticing Thai flags on the river’s left hinted at our journey’s end. We glided past Chiang Kong, beneath the Friendship Bridge linking the nations, and landed in Huay Xai, Laos, by 6 PM. Choosing not to hurry, we opted to spend the night in Huay Xai, planning to cross into Thailand and head to Chiang Mai the next day. 

Getting into Thailand

I had braced myself for a border-crossing drama, akin to my entry into Laos from Cambodia. Yet, Phil and I found it seamless.

We arranged Tuk Tuk from our guesthouse in Huay Xai to take us to the border crossing. We exchanged our remaining Kip for Thai Baht at the border, then got on the shuttle bus outside to take us over the Friendship Bridge for Thai entry stamps. As it was a Sunday, we were required to pay a $1 stamping fee, otherwise crossing the border is free. Despite expecting a 15-day visa for British nationals, immigration granted us a 30-day visa without fees.

The process was surprisingly smooth. Exiting immigration, a friendly Thai lady inquired about our destination. Upon hearing “Chiang Mai,” she offered a minivan ride for 350 Baht (about £7) each. We immediately agreed and away we went. 

Getting the slow boat from Laos to Thailand

The long journey on the slow boat impressed me so much!

Its laid-back and intuitive nature was a relief. Instead of a stressful ride in a cramped van with the wild driving often seen in Southeast Asia, I enjoyed the Mekong River’s breathtaking views and dense jungle. No photo, regardless of filters, can truly capture its beauty. If you’re journeying between Laos and Thailand, I highly recommend the slow boat from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai. 

Feeling the river breeze on your face and watching clouds over distant mountains while sipping morning coffee is unforgettable. Have you experienced the slow boat from Laos to Thailand? Share your stories in the comments.