Laos - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 770

BICYCLE
The light and relatively slow traffic in most Lao towns makes for favourable cycling con-
ditions. Bicycles are available for rent in major tourist destinations, costing around
10,000K per day for a cheap Thai or Chinese model.
BOAT
Given the much-improved trade roads, the days of mass river transport are almost over.
The most popular river trip in Laos - the slowboat between Huay Xai and Luang Prabang
- remains a daily event. Other popular journeys - between Pakse and Si Phan Don, or
between Nong Khiaw and Luang Prabang - are all recommended if you have time. For in-
formation on luxury boat charters, try Asian Oasis ( www.asian-oasis.com ) , which provides two
trips down the Mekong both in the north and south of the country.
River ferries are basic affairs and passengers usually sit, eat and sleep on the wooden
decks; it's worth bringing some padding. The toilet (if there is one) is an enclosed hole in
the deck at the back of the boat. For shorter river trips, such as Luang Prabang to the Pak
Ou Caves, you can easily hire a river taxi.
Between Luang Prabang and Huay Xai, and Xieng Kok and Huay Xai, deafeningly
loud and painfully uncomfortable speedboats operate, covering the same distance in six
hours as that of a river ferry in two days. Be warned that passengers are killed or injured
every year when the boats disintegrate on contact with floating debris, or flip when they
hit a standing wave.
BUS & SŎRNGTĂAOU
Long-distance public transport in Laos is either by bus or sŏrngtăaou , which are conver-
ted trucks or pick-ups with benches down either side. Buses are more frequent and go fur-
ther. Privately run VIP buses operate on some busier routes, but slow, simple standard
buses (occasionally with air-con) remain the norm.
Sŏrngtăaou usually service shorter routes within a given province. Most decent-sized
villages have at least one sŏrngtăaou, which will run to the provincial capital daily except
Sunday, stopping wherever you want.
CAR & MOTORCYCLE
Scooters can be rented for 50,000K to 90,000K a day in Vientiane, Tha Khaek, Savanna-
khet, Pakse and Luang Namtha. In Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Tha Khaek and Pakse it's
also possible to rent dirt bikes for around US$35 per day. Jules' Classic Rental ( Click
here ) and Mad Monkey Motorbike ( Click here ) have a range of performance dirt bikes