25 Days of Laos (Part 3)

This is a journal of our 25-day trip around Laos on a rented Honda FTR that we fondly called Mustafa. It starts with a long bus ride from Hanoi to Laos and ends with a longer bus ride back to Hanoi.


















Day 3: Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang

We woke up early to start a long journey through more challenging terrains. The distance from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang is around 110 kilometers. And, the zigzagging roads are mostly uphill and downhill.


What I loved about being on the back of the motorbike was having an unobstructed view of the beautiful landscapes that surrounded us. Also, we got to have more interaction with the friendly locals. 


At the beginning of the journey, we passed karsts cloaked with white feathery mists. And, as we headed towards Kasi, we saw majestic mountains rising from the side of the road. Kasi, being a small town is just a stopover for bus and truck drivers. It doesn't have a lot of accommodations but it does have spectacular landscapes. And, it's worth stopping by for a picture. Since, we weren't with any tours, we had the option to get off and enjoy the view.


From Kasi to Pukhoun, the roads were winding and uphill. Because our weights kept on shifting, staying on the motorbike can be a bit difficult. But, the beautiful landscapes made it worth it.


Pukhoun's a stopover for most tours. There's a place where you can get some lunch and snacks.  Don't expect anything fancy though. They only serve rice and noodles.


We had another uncomfortable but exhilarating ride downhill from Pukhoun to Luang Prabang. Being the passenger, I had a hard time keeping myself from toppling over my boyfriend and pushing him to the front of the bike.


Around 20 kilometers from Pukhoun, we had another stopover. This time, we stayed in a restaurant overlooking the mountains. This is a nice place to take photos and have lunch. You get to have more choices. And, they seem to have a better way of preparing food here.


We reached Luang Prabang just in time for the sunset. We stayed at the View Khem Khong Hotel by the Mekong River for around $20 a night. The cheerful ladies managing the place are very easy to talk to. We were supposed to pay $22 but we negotiated for a lower price by telling them that we'll be staying for three nights.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

Pukhoun

Quick Travel Tips:


Accommodation
We stayed at the View Khem Khong for around $20 a night. The sisters that own this place are really friendly. You never see them frowning.  



The Journey Continues:

• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
• Part 7
• Part 8
• Part 9
• Part 10
• Part 11
• Part 12
• Part 13
• Part 14 
• Part 15
• Part 16
• Part 17
• Part 18