Comments on: Backpacking Laos: Highlights & How To Plan

By: Marek

Marek — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 13:00:04 +0000

In reply to Ángel. To be honest I've never noticed burning season on any of my Asia trips. But I know people living in e.g. Chiang Mai in Thailand talk about it a lot. Maybe I've just been lucky to avoid it. Simon (who's also a contributor to my blog) did a great post about it on his blog here.

By: Ángel

Ángel — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 14:18:53 +0000

Hello!! Congratulations on your blog. I thought I read that you were in the north of Laos in the months of February/March… what is the burning season like? In some places I read that it is a waste to go at that time. 🙁

By: Ahmed

Ahmed — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:01:48 +0000

Useful article

By: Randi

Randi — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 18:34:30 +0000

Just want to put in a plug for this route: Muang Ngoi to Hat Sa to Phongsali, this is a great adventure on a number of levels, granted I did it ten years ago but I’d like to know if much has changed. Muang Ngoi is a really idyllic village, you can see the monks with begging bowls in the morning, much more real than Luang Prabang and the whole town is lovely and really interesting. On the way back from Phongsali you can get a bus to dien bien phu and onwards to the Sapa area (which was super touristy 🙁 ) The dam was being constructed on the Nam Ou even then but you take a bus around it and resume on the river. Hat Sa was fun overnight waiting for the boat, the boats just go whenever there are enough people so you need time in this area. Phongsali is not much but still interesting, fantastic real trekking from here, we just walked out of town into the mountains, you need a guide, it’s poppy fields so best not to wander around by yourself. The Nam Ou boat ride was exhilarating and idyllic also (even with the crappy dam), cigarette boats, felt like class two rapids in some places, just a great place to explore…

By: bryar sami

bryar sami — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 19:21:46 +0000

I loved Don Khone in the 4000 Islands, but I found Don Det to be overcrowded with some very sketchy visitors. It was actually the only place in Southeast Asia

By: Lee

Lee — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 23:53:57 +0000

Hi Marek, great post, hope you get to make it back to Laos again soon once the borders open.

By: Brittany

Brittany — Thu, 25 Apr 2019 10:37:03 +0000

I loved Don Khone in the 4000 Islands, but I found Don Det to be overcrowded with some very sketchy visitors. It was actually the only place in Southeast Asia where someone tried to rob me (he was another traveler, not a local)! I know that can happen anywhere, but the overall vibe of Don Khone was just so much friendlier than Don Det.

By: Marek

Marek — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 13:27:45 +0000

In reply to Uwe. I'm afraid I haven't made that journey!

By: Uwe

Uwe — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 20:25:41 +0000

Hello Marek. Really great infrmation!
Did you ever go into Laos from Sapa? If so, how did you make that and how long did it take?

By: Jaclyn

Jaclyn — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 10:20:08 +0000

Found this guide really well written and informative! Thank you so much, it has definitely helped with my Laos travel planning!