North-Eastern (I-San) Thailand and Laos, 16 Nov - 10 Dec 2015 (25days)
Sri Isan Hotel air-well and court-yard in Ubon Ratchathani.
Day 11 (26.11.2015) Ubon Ratchathani to Pakse to Si Phan Don in Laos (291km)
At 9.30am we took a bus from Ubon Ratchathani directly to Pakse, Laos (140km). At 11.30am we arrived at the border crossing town of Chong Mek for immigration check. We left Chong Mek at 12.00 and arrived at Pakse Bus Station at 12.40 for lunch.
From here at 2pm we took a big songthaew to Nakasong Pier (151km) arriving at 5pm, where we took a boat to Don Det Island, one of the islands in Si Phan Don or four thousand islands. I must say that today was the longest traveling time as we started at 9.30am and arriving at our destination at about 7pm - almost 10 hours of traveling time. Nevertheless, we all enjoyed the journey and at day-end we had more Beer Lao during dinner to reflect on the long journey.
Sleeping at Lebijou Guesthouse, Don Det Island, Laos
The beautiful ambiance of this Sri Isan Hotel, Ubon Ratchathani. 
Sri Isan Hotel reception area, Ubon Ratchathani. 
Sri Isan Hotel music and reading area, Ubon Ratchathani. 
Sri Isan Hotel dinning hall, Ubon Ratchathani. 
Sri Isan Hotel dinning hall, Ubon Ratchathani. 
Sri Isan Hotel self service breakfast. 
A photo shoot at the air-well court-yard before we left for Laos. 
Chan Meng Fye, Chew Leng Soon and Ching Neng Bin walking to Ubon Ratchathani bus station.
Chan Meng Fye, Chew Leng Soon and Ching Neng Bin walking to Ubon Ratchathani bus station.
The bus departures from Ubon Ratchathani directly to Pakse on the Thai-Lao International Bus at 9.30am and 3.30pm. The total distance is about 140km. A passport or border pass is required when purchasing tickets. 
At the Thai immigration office in Chong Mek. The path from the Thai immigration building to the Lao immigration counters is not well marked once you pass through the gate between the two countries. The Lao immigration building is about 100 meters down a dusty trail from the fence. 
Chong Mek duty free shops. 
The road in front of Laos immigration office. 
It takes about 2 hours to get the border crossing at Chong Mek where you have to get off the bus and get a visa. Passengers have to walk across to the Lao side then get back to the bus again after the visa is granted. As for us Malaysians we need not apply visa. 
At Pakse small bus station which is 8km away from Pakse town. 
The bus or songthaew to 4,000 islands depend on where you go - the 3 main islands (Don Khong, Don Det or Don Khon). Don Khong has a different departure point where else both Don Det and Don Khon take boats from Ban Nakasong pier. 
We took a truck bus or songthaew to Nakasong pier before taking a boat ride to Don Det island in Si Phan Don, Laos. On the far side was Mr Minnie and children, a Brit from Liverpool, and managed the King Kong restaurant & guesthouse in Don Det island. He had been very helpful in giving us information about the Si Phan Don islands. 
Vendors selling fried chickens at one of the stops.
This is a cooked balut, which is a half-hatched duck egg eaten by passengers.
Sunset view from Ban Nakason Pier to Don Det Island on the Mekong River.
Sunset view from Ban Nakason Pier to Don Det Island on the Mekong River.
A beautiful evening view of the Mekong River from Dong Det Beach and the pier.
A beautiful evening view of the Mekong River from Dong Det Beach and the pier.
We had dinner at Khamphong Restaurant beside Don Det jetty.
Don Det is a backpacker's island. Most restaurants and lodging facilities are available.
Sleeping at Lebijou Guesthouse, Don Det Island, Laos.
Sleeping at Lebijou Guesthouse, Don Det Island, Laos.
By boat from Nakasong pier to Don Det Island.
Map of Si Phan Don or 4,000 Islands Laos.
| Day 11 | Cost Item in Thai Baht | Bus/car | Food | Hotel | Fee | Total | per pax |
| 26.11.2015 | Song taew to terminal | 40 | 40 | 10 | |||
| Don Det Island | Bus to Pakse | 800 | 800 | 200 | |||
| Lebijou GH | Laos "Visa" | 200 | 200 | 50 | |||
| Water | 40 | 40 | 10 | ||||
| 1B=230kip | Lunch @ Pakse 60k kip | 261 | 261 | 87 | |||
| Song taew to Si Phan Don | 800 | 800 | 200 | ||||
| Boat to Don Det | 320 | 320 | 80 | ||||
| Lebijou GH | 1,000 | 1,000 | 250 | ||||
| Dinner | 640 | 640 | 160 |
North-Eastern Thailand and Laos - Introduction
Day 01 (16.11.15) AirAsia AK 856 KUL. 12.45pm to Chiang Mai, (1738km)
Day 02 (17 Nov) Chiang Mai to Loei to Phu Kradueng to Khon Kaen (691km)
Day 03 (18 Nov) Khon Kaen City walk around
Day 04 (19 Nov) Khon Kaen City to Kalasin (80km)
Day 05 (20 Nov) Kalasin to Sakon Nakhon (129km)
Day 06 (21 Nov) Sakon Nakhon to Nakhon Phanom (92km)
Day 07 (22 Nov) Nakhon Phanom - day trip to Thakhek, Laos (62km)
Day 08 (23 Nov) Nakhon Phanom to Mukdahan (125km)
Day 09 (24 Nov) Mukdahan - trip to Phu Pha Thoet National Park (108km)
Day 10 (25 Nov) Mukdahan to Ubon Ratchathani by bus (194km)
Day 11 (26 Nov) Ubon Ratchathani to Pakse to Si Phan Don, Laos (291km)
Day 12 (27 Nov) Si Phan Don - a long walk to Somphamit Waterfall
Day 13 (28 Nov) Si Phan Don to Ubon Ratchathani by bus (291km)
Day 14 (29 Nov) Ubon Ratchathani to Si Sa Ket by van (67km)
Day 15 (30 Nov) Si Sa Ket to Buri Ram by train (148km)
Day 16 (01 Dec) Buri Ram - day visit to 3 places (219km)
Day 17 (02 Dec) Buri Ram to Nakhon Ratchasima by train (129km)
Day 18 (03 Dec) Nakhon Ratchasima - day trip to Phimai (120km)
Day 19 (04 Dec) Nakhon Ratchasima to Bangkok by train (264km)
Day 20 (05 Dec) Bangkok - Chao Phraya River boat ride to Khaosan Road
Day 21 (06 Dec) Bangkok - rest day and dinner at Royal Bangkok Sports Club
Day 22 (07 Dec) Bangkok to Prachuap Khiri Khan by train (320km)
Day 23 (08 Dec) Prachuap Khiri Khan
Day 24 (09 Dec) Prachuap Khiri Khan to Hatyai by night train (660km)
Day 25 (10 Dec) Hatyai to Butterworth by train and to KL by bus (555km)
