We kicked off our Laos adventure with the Gibbon Experience, and it couldn’t have been a more perfect start. It was the ideal way to reconnect with nature, ditch my phone addiction (no signal, no problem!), and focus on what truly matters: being together with my family!
This one-of-a-kind experience lets you sleep in treehouses, zipline through lush jungle canopies, and maybe even catch a glimpse of wild gibbons. It’s not just about the adrenaline, every moment supports conservation and local communities while bringing you closer to nature in the most amazing way.
HOW TO GET HERE
This part of the journey might feel like the most challenging, but trust me, it’s all part of the adventure! There are a few ways to make it here, but whichever route you take, it will require some patience and planning.
Here’s how we did it: we flew into Chiang Rai, rented a car, and drove to the border. At the Thai border, we parked the car and walked on foot to exit Thailand. After that, we hopped on a bus, which only takes 3 - 5 minutes to cross into Laos. For our group of five, including luggage, we paid 170 THB, normally, it’s around 20 THB / +-0,50 EUR per person without luggage.
Once you arrive in Laos, there’s an entry process. Since we’re from Belgium, we could enter visa-free for up to 15 days! However, even with a free visa, there’s still a small entry fee of 50 THB / 1,40 EUR per person.
If you’re from another European country, here’s some good news! Nationals from Austria, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Greece can all enjoy the same visa exemption for 15 days. For more information; click here.
When you arrive in Laos, you’ll find tuk-tuks waiting to take you to your hotel, super convenient! We also exchanged some euros in cash at the Laos border. There were no extra fees, but I’d recommend double-checking the rate and doing the math yourself just to be sure
If you’re looking to rent a car, I can definitely recommend Lanna Car Rent in Chiang Rai (not sponsored, just sharing!). The owner is super reliable and will drop off and pick up the car wherever you need it. The car we rented was in great condition, and as a sweet little touch, he even included water and cookies to get us started, so thoughtful! You can contact him through Facebook or Instagram.
If you’re planning to park your car at the border, here’s my Google Maps pin. It’s a free & safe spot tucked away in the shade, perfect for keeping things cool and worry-free!
*We decided to rent a car since, after the Gibbon Experience, we’re planning a little road trip through Northern Thailand.
OTHER OPTIONS:
Taking the bus is probably your best bet if you're on a budget. It takes around 2 hours to get there, and it's a pretty straightforward and affordable option. I found two blog posts that are super helpful if you want more info, so feel free to check them out for all the details! https://www.maptrotting.com/journey-chiang-rai-to-laos/ and https://lattesandrunways.com/riding-bus-chiang-rai-chiang-khong-thailand/ .
Traveling by taxi, it’s definitely a more direct option, but keep in mind it will likely cost you more compared to other transport choices.
Going by slowboat from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai, it’s a two-day, one-night journey. To be honest, I only heard negative things about this option when I was traveling around Laos, mostly about the comfort and the time it takes. However, the positive side is the price.
STAY 1 NIGHT IN HUAY XAI
You’ll need to stay one night in the village before heading into the jungle. We booked a night at 1 Min to Slowboat Guesthouse. It’s clean, basic, and super affordable, just what we needed! The lady who runs it is absolutely lovely and eager to help with everything.
After we arrived, we stumbled upon a little rooftop bar called Sunset on the Roof, located at the Over the Moon Hostel. It’s only open from 5–7 PM, so it’s a short but sweet spot to catch the sunset with a drink in hand.
For dinner, we kept it simple and stayed in the same street since options are limited. We ended up at Kanchana Restaurant. Honestly, the place doesn’t look that inviting, but wow, the food surprised us! Our favorites were the spring rolls, nampicong, and lapkai chicken. If you’re not feeling it, Bokeo Café also looked decent, though we didn’t try it ourselves.
Breakfast was the real highlight! Head to Cloud 9 Kitchen, where I had the best smoothie bowl in all of Laos. Here’s the trick: the lovely owner at 1 Min to Slowboat can pre-order your breakfast the night before. This way, you can grab your bowl stress-free and be on time for your Gibbon Experience meeting since the café is conveniently located right next to the office. Perfect start to an adventure!
THE EXPERIENCE
The experience was amazing, and I can’t recommend it enough! We did a 3-day, 2-night tour, which was the perfect amount of time to really get into the right zone. Our group had 8 people, along with 2 guides, and the vibe was fantastic.
Due to some treehouses being rebuilt and others being on dead trees, we ended up staying in the same one for both nights. However, new treehouses are being built, so in the future, you’ll likely get to experience 2 different ones. The treehouse we stayed in was beautiful, surrounded by nature. The showers were open-air, and the toilets had a view. People can hear you, but don’t worry, they won’t see anything!
The design of the treehouse was gorgeous, but the only downside was that I had to share a bed. There were only 4 double beds in our treehouse, so there was a bit less privacy than expected. Still, the whole experience was so worth it! The mattress was a bit hard, but the sheets smelled incredibly fresh, which made up for it.
A few important rules: For safety reasons, guests over 110 kg (243 lbs) are not allowed, and the minimum age is 8, with a recommended maximum age of 65.
The meals provided were delicious: breakfast, lunch, and dinner all hit the spot! If you're vegetarian, just give them a heads-up in advance. The portions were more than generous, but if you tend to get hungry easily, I’d suggest bringing along a few snacks to keep you going. We were so lucky to have an amazing guide who even treated us to refreshing Lao margaritas, such a thoughtful gesture! And those evenings with hot cocoa? They were simply irresistible.
IS IT SCARY?
For anyone who’s not afraid of heights, I can promise you, it’s not scary at all and feels super safe the whole time. Now, for my sister and brother-in-law, who are afraid of heights, it was definitely a different story! They found it a bit nerve-wracking but still managed to face their fears and ended up really enjoying the experience. So, the real question is: are you ready to step out of your comfort zone and give it a try?
WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF SEEING THE GIBBONS?
We didn’t spot any gibbons ourselves, but the group ahead of us got lucky! I guess sometimes you just have to leave it to fate. But honestly, even without seeing them, the trip was totally worth it. Plus, our guides showed us what we could snack on in the wild, so we ended up munching on a tree and some plants, which was surprisingly cool!
WHAT TO BRING?
Head torch (this one’s a must!)
Comfortable walking shoes
Mosquito repellent
Raincoat (if you’re visiting during the rainy season)
Water bottle
Light, long pants (if you want to protect yourself even more against the mosquitos)
Camera or binoculars for those special views
Extra snacks
Toilet paper
earplugs (to sleep better)
I like to pack light, so I kept my backpack small and simple. I brought fresh underwear, socks, one extra outfit, and an extra T-shirt, just the essentials. If you tend to sweat a lot, I’d recommend packing a fresh shirt for each day since there’s quite a bit of hiking involved, both up and down. For me, though, I was perfectly fine with the outfit I was wearing (pants, sports bra, a t-shirt, and a light sweater), one backup outfit, and my pajamas. Less to carry means more energy for the adventure, haha (; One last thing, you don’t need to bring a cap because the Gibbon Experience will provide one to protect your head and hair.
GOING BACK
Let me share what we did! After spending 2 nights in the jungle, we arrived back at the Gibbon Experience office around 3 PM on day 3. From there, we hopped on a tuk-tuk to the border to cross back into Thailand. Leaving Laos was super straightforward, and the little bus that takes you across only costs 124 baht for five people, a little less compared to what you'd spend in Thailand.
The bus ride itself is just 3-5 minutes, and entering Thailand again was a breeze. If you don’t have your own car, no worries! When we were there, we saw people arranging transport to pretty much anywhere you’d need to go.
Luckily for us, we had our car waiting, which made things so simple. By 4:30 PM, we were already sitting comfortably in it, ready to go. Can you believe it only took 1.5 hours to get from the Gibbon Experience office to our car in Thailand? Not bad at all, right?
OTHER OPTIONS:
The slow boat ride from here to Luang Prabang takes about two days. I’ve yet to meet anyone who actually enjoyed the experience. There are no beds, but if you’re on a budget, it’s an affordable way to get around.
The bus to Luang Prabang leaves in the morning and takes around 11.5 hours. It covers roughly 550 km (342 miles), though the time can vary depending on the road conditions. Either way, you're in for an adventure! View all your bus possibilities here: click here.
If you're interested in booking this adventure, click here to visit the Gibbon Experience website. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
Love,
Mimi
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