Trains from Udon Thani to Luang Prabang

You can travel by train from Udon Thani to Luang Prabang, however, you need to take 2 trains and buy 2 separate tickets.

Train 1: Udon Thani to Vientiane

There is currently 1 train service a day from Udon Thani to Vientiane.

• Buy tickets from Udon Thani to Vientiane.

Train 2: Vientiane to Luang Prabang

There are currently 6 direct train services a day from Vientiane to Luang Prabang.

• Buy tickets from Vientiane to Luang Prabang.

Udon Thani Train Station

Trains for the first stage of the journey from Udon Thani to Luang Prabang depart from Udon Thani Train Station.

Location of Khamsavath Vientiane Train Station

Trains from Udon Thani to Vientiane terminate at Khamsavath Train Station.

Location of Vientiane Laos – China Railway Station

The second train you need to take to complete the journey from Udon Thani to Luang Prabang departs from Vientiane Laos – China Railway Station.

Location of Luang Prabang Train Station

Luang Prabang Train Station is located around 12 km by road from Luang Prabang City Centre.

About Train Travel to Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is a very special and unusual destination, and travelling there by train from Udon Thani is also an interesting experience in its own right. The highlight of the first part of the journey from Udon Thani to Vientiane is crossing over the Mekong River. The second part of the journey is much more scenic, particularly travelling through the area near Vang Vieng.

Journey Time

By train the total journey time from Udon Thani to Luang Prabang is from 5 to 8 hours depending upon which connecting train you take from Vientiane. Bear in mind that the first train from Udon Thani to Vientiane terminates at Khamsavath Train Station, which is 16 km by road from the Laos – China Railway Station, from where trains to Luang Prabang depart.

Passport Control

The Udon Thani to Vientiane train crosses an international border so passengers on this service need to complete immigration procedures for exiting from Thailand, and immigration procedures for entering Laos:

• Thai Immigration: Passengers on the Udon Thani to Vientiane train need to exit the train at Nong Khai Train Station and visit the immigration desk inside the station to receive an exit stamp from the Thai authorities. The train stops in Nong Khai for 40 minutes to allow all passengers time to visit the immigration desk.
• Lao Immigration: After exiting the train at Khamsavath Train Station passengers need to visit the Lao immigration desk in the train terminal building before they exit the train station. Passengers who are eligible can apply for a Visa on Arrival at Khamsavath Train Station.

Travel to the Laos – China Railway Station

Tuk-tuks wait outside Khamsavath Train Station for passengers arriving by train from Thailand. There is no fixed fare, however, the typical charge for travel between the two train stations in Vientiane is around 250,000 LAK. The larger tuk-tuks can fit 5 people inside so it may be possible to share the cost of the journey with other passengers.

There is also a public bus service, Route 12 (Outbound), which departs from in front of Khamsavath Train Station and is scheduled to complete the journey to the Laos – China Railway Station in 30 minutes. The current departure times of this bus service from Khamsavath Train Station are 08:25, 11:45 and 14:15.

Arrival in Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang Railway Station is located about 20 minutes by road to the south east of the centre of Luang Prabang. There is little in the way of public transport available, other than shared tuk-tuks. The charge for hiring a private tuk-tuk or small passenger van into the city centre is typically around 200,000 LAK.

Visitor Attractions in Luang Prabang

To fully appreciate Luang Prabang and nearby points of interest you need 2 fairly long days of site sightseeing.

One full day is required to explore the city itself. Estimates of the number of temples in Luang Prabang range from 33 to around 100, the most famous of which is Wat Xieng Thong. Luang Prabang also has a former royal palace which has been made into a museum, and a small hill in the centre of the city which is a popular tourist destination because of the views from the top across the city. Beyond that, Luang Prabang has a number of other points of interest such as the 100 year old ‘Old Bridge’ and a lively night market on the Sisavangvong Road.

Another full day of sight seeing is also required to visit two popular attractions located outside of Luang Prabang, the Kuang Si Falls and the Pak Ou Caves. Located 30 km by road to the south of Luang Prabang, Kuang Si Falls has three falls each with a pool underneath which you can swim in. The Pak Ou Caves are accessible by tour boat from the centre of Luang Prabang. The journey takes 2 hours upstream to reach the caves and just 1 hour travelling downstream back to Luang Prabang. There are 2 caves, both of which have been used as places of worship for hundreds of years and contain thousands of statues of the Lord Buddha.

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