On into Thailand - 15th to 19th March

We decided to move onto Thailand by river taking a boat up the Mekong from Luang Prabang to Houei Xai and then the ferry over to Chiang Khong in the north-east of Thailand. We managed to secure a late booking on the LuangSay cruise ( at ~ 50% list ) rather than the budget option we  had  intended. This was a wonderful experience despite the appalling weather; rain and cold enough to require our fleeces to be  unpacked! The boat was comfortable and only 25% full; they fed us well and the scenery was magnificent.

The journey takes two days upstream and  the package included an overnight in their own lodge at Pakbeng which was beautifully laid out on the bank above high water  level.

In an extreme wet season, in places where the river narrows,  the level can rise 20 metre or  more and 5 to 10 is common elsewhere. We were  in the dry season, (usually rain free), so we saw extensive sandbanks at the sides of the river. These were cultivated with catch crops such as peanuts and maize. We also saw the locals panning for gold which is washed down out of the hills.

Peanut plant !

The rain continued unabated during our brief one night stop overs in Chiang Khong and Chiang Mai but by the time we reached our next important stop over, Sukhothai, the sun had returned to keep us company.