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Laos - Part 2 - The Slow Boat to Thailand

 Mekong River Boat Cruise from Laos to Thailand     After spending a couple days in Luang Prabang, we met up with our tour operator bright and early,  Mekong Smile Cruise ,  for the slow boat trip up the Mekong River to Huay Xai, which is the border town with Thailand.  From there, we we hired a private car to Chiang Rai.  This Lao style boat is long and narrow, with seating for about 75.  Upon boarding, we asked about the other people, only to be informed that we were the only passengers on this boat!  We had plenty of room to spread out over the long two day haul. I have seen photos of boats that were packed, with nothing but a seat to yourself and that would have been a bit of a nightmare.  I think the lesson here, when you actually plan any trip, is to avoid visiting your chosen destination in peak tourist season, if at all possible.  As described, the boat is slow, especially going up the river against the current. In total, it's about a 15 hour, 175 mile trip split over two d

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