Nightmare Sleeper Bus journey Luang Probang to Chiang Rai

Join me on a wild adventure as I recount the nightmare sleeper bus journey, Luang Probang to Chiang Rai aboard a sleeper bus. It all started with a chaotic pickup in Luang Probang, where I was collected with all my backpacks by a tiny scooter in the pouring rain. To add to the madness, I was then taken to a local home in the middle of nowhere, where we had to wait for the driver's kids to finish school before heading to the bus station. Upon arrival, I was greeted with disappointment as the "bus station" turned out to be nothing more than a shed with benches, leaving me to wait for hours before the bus finally arrived.
As if things couldn't get any worse, I was forced to share a cramped cubicle with another lady on the bus. To make matters even more uncomfortable, water was dripping down the inside of the bus, leaving me lying in a puddle for the duration of the journey. After enduring hours of discomfort, I finally mustered the courage to ask the driver for a toilet stop, only to be directed to the side of the road. Needless to say, the 22-hour journey felt like an eternity, and by the time I arrived in Chiang Rai, I was beyond exhausted. Join me as I recount the highs and lows of this unforgettable journey and learn how I managed to survive the longest 22 hours of my life on the road.
00:00 intro
00:35 getting collected
01:35 kids from school!
01:45 bus shed
02:50 bus turned up
03:28 fed up
04:01 in a car
04:55 crossing the border
05:30 on final bus
06:03 I found a hostel
06:42 moving hostel
08:05 room tour
09:31 outro
#nightbussleeper #travel #vlog #vlogs #nanwithabackpack #adventure #sleeperbus #nightmare #laos #thailand
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[@cosmicadventurer1999]

I have to applaud you for taking on this trip and all the modes of transportation. I see all these KZbinrs hopping into cabs or very limited transfers and wow! You showed a real experience.

[@nanwithabackpack]

Glad you enjoyed it! It really was the longest most uncomfortable journey. There was water running down the inside of the night bus so I was sitting in a puddle with wet clothes for the whole 12 hour ride. No bathroom stops although the driver did pull over on a dark road at 1am so myself and some other ladies could have a nature wee behind the bus!!!! I will definitely never forget the trip and something I don’t want to repeat in a hurry!!!! But I’m still glad I did it because it’s something I will always remember. If I had traveled by plane or private transport the memory would fade. How funny how the mind works!! 🥰

[@paulseoighemcgee5772]

Wow - what a nightmare . Earplugs are a must , fellow travellers .

[@nanwithabackpack]

Lol yes I put my headphones on for the whole trip.

[@donnamaree2311]

Oh my goodness Sonja, l was exhausted with you haha, glad you made it finally, love from your Aussie friend xx

[@nanwithabackpack]

I can’t even believe to tell you how bad it was. It was like being in a sort of nightmare comedy. It was the worst journey I’ve had in 10 months it was even worse than the boat trip off Gill Air and that was horrible 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@LamiaEssex]

After that journey.....I will say your mad......but so glad you survived.....thought you would have checked into a hotel, to be pampered..you are so much stronger than me....will look forward to next video....take care and stay safe

[@nanwithabackpack]

I was exhausted 😩 after 🤣

[@user-mm8vl5bb6y]

Well done what a great video, what a amazing trip so far, big hugs lots love from us all in the UK 😮😊

[@nanwithabackpack]

Thanks so much! 😊 much love 🥰

[@shannonrickards1278]

That was a long bus ride

[@nanwithabackpack]

It was awful 😢

[@penniedurell6934]

That was some journey you did and thank goodness you were able to tell us the story 🙏

[@nanwithabackpack]

I was so very tired afterwards. Took me days to recover. 🥱

[@rebeccaauld5054]

Yikes!

[@nanwithabackpack]

🤣🤣🤣 yep 🤣🤣🤣

[@Mr0ptimist]

lol, those busses are hardly ever on time from those deports! Still, it’s always an experience, though 😂🤣😂

[@nanwithabackpack]

It was definitely an experience 🥴🤣😝

[@dianefturner4166]

Honestly I don’t know how you do it ,sitting in a strangers car ,my worst nightmare 😱

[@nanwithabackpack]

Shhhhhh don’t say anything but I was definitely nervous until we collected his children. 😬

[@adventuresofken4411]

Such an adventure! 🤠

[@nanwithabackpack]

I will definitely never forget it!!! Lol 😂

[@neilwiltshire1467]

Ouch ! That was a painful watch ! 😪

[@nanwithabackpack]

Lol it was a painful experience 🤣

[@mabo9636]

Actually there is another choice by taking train from luang prabang to nateuy by train. And take mini bus from nateuy to houay xai.

[@nanwithabackpack]

Oh wow i so wish I knew that as my night sleeper bus was awful. I definitely want to go back so next time I will look into the train. Thank you so very much. 🥰

[@mabo9636]

​@@nanwithabackpackkzbin.info/www/bejne/qmSod3uEpsSrec0si=MhGrd3Sc99lU1Uf4 Train+bus option

[@66TripsLeft]

Excellent update, but what a journey. We've got one of those washing lines, came in handy when we were in Vietnam. I went to Chiang Rai in 1994, I *may* have stayed *slightly* more upmarket

[@nanwithabackpack]

The washing limo is so useful I have used it so much. Yes I’m definitely a budget traveler. Although I’m meeting the best people along the way. 😃

[@66TripsLeft]

@@nanwithabackpack We no longer stay in posh accommodation, that was our honeymoon, we're normally £15-£25 a night people, most of our Vietnam places we're £20.

[@nanwithabackpack]

@@66TripsLeft 🥰

[@66TripsLeft]

@@nanwithabackpack blimey, you still awake, it must be 4am?

[@nanwithabackpack]

@@66TripsLeft it’s now 5.30am yes I really struggle with my sleep unfortunately. I’ve only managed a few hours in days now. I even tried sleeping pill but unfortunately it didn’t help very much. Hopefully it will settle down in the next few days.

[@sololife1968]

That certainly was sleeping rough!

[@nanwithabackpack]

Omg it was the worst. When I do head back to Laos I will definitely fly NO MORE NIGHT SLEEPER BUS!!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@nanwithabackpack]

Did you receive my email response? 😃

[@sololife1968]

I did. Thank you. Yes leaving and not having security when I return is rather frightening. I think a plan would be to have my son rent the house with a couple friends. The cost of living here in Canada has become ridiculous. I still have a mortgage but it's a small one. I think I'd want to do the less expensive counties first and with each day of what I save tac it on to the more expensive European countries. I think I could budget for accommodation $50 a night in SE Asia or if I did a mth at a time easily $700 or less. I work in a accounting and own a small cloth diaper business. If I can get that to a point where I can have a 3rd party do my Shipping that would give me an on going income. Would cover at least food.

[@nanwithabackpack]

You can get a lovely room for $25 usa per night in Thailand. My rooms have been between £3-£7 per night some of those have been shed door mattress and some of them have been private rooms. 😃

[@anna_m59]

I can’t believe it you really did this bus drive .. you are a hero. Is there a better option to visit Chiang Rai?

[@nanwithabackpack]

From Luang Prabang to Chiang Rai you can do the slow boat, night bus, private car hire or fly. Night bus is the cheapest. Because it was last minute the flights were expensive.

[@anna_m59]

@@nanwithabackpack you rock Sonja!

[@mabo9636]

There is another option. Take train to Nateuy station. Change to mini van to houay xai. It is next the thai-laos border.

[@user-wt8mg5ym8g]

I know how you feel girl, i was on a train in a sleeper cabin for 4 people me, my daugther and a total stranger(man) farting in snoring or eating most of the 32 hours from Goa to Agra India, it was a nightmare our cabin was next to the toilets they smelled terrible my daughter had a t shirt wrap around her face most of the trip never again, it,s cheaper and faster to get a internal flight

[@nanwithabackpack]

Oh my that sounds terrible poor you. I was lucky in the fact it was only 12 hours on the bus. 🥴

[@MunkyChunk]

Haha, that was a heck of a trip. What are the alternative travel options? Train? Plane?

[@nanwithabackpack]

There is the slow boat, private transport, night bus or flight ✈️ I choose the cheapest!!!! 😩 I will never ever forget it!!!! 🤣

[@MunkyChunk]

@@nanwithabackpackseems like a few bucks makes a big difference over there!!

[@nanwithabackpack]

Yes definitely. Unfortunately the option of flying was way out of price range as it was very last minute. Definitely a lesson learned!!!! 🤣🤣

[@MunkyChunk]

@@nanwithabackpack I just watched your radio interview video. Heard you sold your salon + belongings to fund your travels. How long do you have to travel with these funds? Any idea what you’ll do if/when they run out?

[@nanwithabackpack]

I have a small pension and I am teaching online as well. Hopefully as my KZbin channel grows I might earn something from that as well. I also have several other ideas of side hustle’s.

[@anna_m59]

Sonja, are you in October still in Chiang May?

[@nanwithabackpack]

I will have moved from Chiang Mai by October. Hopefully I will get to go back next year sometime. 🥰

[@anna_m59]

@@nanwithabackpack I will keep you updated, would be nice to meeting you.