An epic border crossing and cruising experience

The Thailand/Laos border crossing at Houay Xai is one of the only ones which you need a boat for.

Once we had made it into Laos, obtained our visas, taken a tuktuk and bought a packed lunch, we settled onto a slow boat with bus seats for a long journey…

The journey from here to Lung Prabang takes two full days, with a halfway stop at a tiny village composed only of guesthouses and tourist-friendly restaurants. The ride was peaceful and the views serene. We passed lots of little beaches, some with cows and goats on, rocks jutting from the river, and steep tree-filled slopes. Unfortunately, the whole set up lends itself to corruption and on the second day, stuck in the middle of nowhere, two boats were reduced to one until we paid another charge. Being ripped off is a bad introduction to a country!

River crossing on the Thai/Laos border: led by a monk

Two days on this vessel, and yes, they are bus seats bolted to the boat

River village

View of Laos countryside

Floating house

View from Pac Ben