The distance between Vientiane and Luang Prabang is just over 200 miles. Flight time - 30 minutes, by coach 10 - 11 hours, so we flew. With such a short flight the altitude that we peaked at was just 17000 feet, rather than the more normal 35000 feet. Having a window seat, at that height gave good views of the terrain below. It was mountainous jungle pretty much all of the way, which means that whilst most of the road between the two places, Highway 13, is paved, it's still hard going for the coaches. Our base in Luang Prabang, which lies at the confluence of the Mekong and Khan rivers, has been Le Bel Air, a beautiful little place on the banks of the River Khan, just a short walk out of the centre. We
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