There are no direct flights from Luang Prabang to Ayutthaya or direct bus services. You can, however, travel by train changing trains once in Vientiane making this a two stage journey.
Stage 1: Luang Prabang to Vientiane
There are currently 6 direct train services a day from Luang Prabang to Vientiane.
- Buy tickets from Luang Prabang to Vientiane.
| Train | Luang Prabang | Vientiane | Service |
| C97 | 10:31 | 12:38 | Fast |
| C91 | 12:12 | 14:56 | Fast |
| D87 | 14:58 | 16:44 | International |
| K11 | 17:11 | 20:04 | Ordinary |
| C83 | 18:40 | 20:44 | Fast |
| C81 | 19:22 | 21:08 | Fast |
Stage 2: Vientiane to Ayutthaya
There is currently 1 direct train service a day from Vientiane to Ayutthaya.
- Buy tickets from Vientiane to Ayutthaya.
| Train | Vientiane | Ayutthaya | Service |
| 134 | 18:25 | 06:20 | Rapid |
Location of Luang Prabang Train Station
Luang Prabang Train Station is located 12 km by road to the east of Luang Prabang city centre.
Location of Vientiane Laos – China Railway Station
Laos-China Railway Station is located 16 km by road to the north of Khamsavath Railway Station.
Location of Khamsavath Vientiane Train Station
Khamsavath Railway Station is located 8 km by road to the east of Vientiane city centre.
Ayutthaya Train Station
Read more about Ayutthaya Train Station.
About Train Travel to Ayutthaya
The fastest way to travel overland from Luang Prabang in Laos to Ayutthaya in Thailand is to travel by train. Travel by train is also the most comfortable option because you can book an inexpensive sleeper berth for the second stage of the journey. You could travel by bus, also changing services in Vientiane, but it would feel like a very journey because of the difficulties most people experience trying to sleep whilst sat upright in a bus.
Journey Times
The first stage of the journey, from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, is very quick. By bus it typically takes around 8 hours to travel from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. By train it takes from 1 hour 46 minutes to 2 hours 53 minutes to travel from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, depending upon which train you take.
At the moment, whilst new infrastructure and services are being built, the journey slows down considerably after you arrive in Vientiane.
On arrival in Vientiane passengers need to travel between two different train stations (see the explanation below) and then wait for the connecting train to Thailand. The train journey from Vientiane to Ayutthaya is also longer, scheduled to take 11 hours 55 minutes. The journey time is increased by a lengthy stop at the border in Thailand, however, once the train has entered into Thailand passengers can relax and get some sleep before an early morning arrival in Ayutthaya.
Visit the ancient temples in Ayutthaya Historical ParkImmigration Procedures
Passengers travelling by train from Luang Prabang to Ayutthaya need to pass through two sets of immigration controls.
The first immigration check takes place inside Khamsavath Train Station. Passengers need to allow at least 30 minutes to queue to complete exit procedures for Laos before they can board the train to Thailand.
The second immigration check takes place in Nong Khai Railway Station, where the train arrives only 30 minutes after departing from Vientiane. The train stops in Nong Khai for 1 hour 20 minutes to allow all passengers the time to complete immigration procedures for entering Thailand before continuing their journey south.
Travel Between Train Stations in Vientiane
Khamsavath Train Station (departure point for trains from Thailand) is located 16 km by road to the south of Laos-China Railway Station (arrival point for trains from Luang Prabang). There are two options for travel by public transport between the two stations:
- Bus: Public bus service Route 12 (Outbound) is scheduled to depart from Laos-China Railway Station every day at 09:00, 12:50, 15:20 and 16:50 and arrive at Khamsavath Train Station 30 minutes later.
- Tuk-Tuk: Laos style tuk-tuks typically charge 250,000 LAK for journey from Laos-China Railway Station to Khamsavath Train Station. These tuk-tuks can accommodate 5 passengers and often people travelling in the same direction will look to share a tuk-tuk and split the cost.
Arrival in Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya Train Station is located on the eastern side of the Pa Sak River, 4.4 km by road from Ayutthaya Historical Park. There are hotels close to the train station, such as the inexpensive Baan Are Gong Riverside Homestay or the more modern Krungsri River Hotel, however the area close to the train station is not the most popular part of the city to stay in.
The main form of public transport for passengers arriving into Ayutthaya Train Station are the many tuk-tuks which wait outside the front of the ticket hall. Prices aren’t fixed, however, as a guide expect to pay between 100 and 150 THB for the journey from the train station to the historical park, or around 200 THB per hour for touring the city. Be sure to agree on a price before starting the journey to avoid disagreements later on.