Chiang Mai to Chiang Khong by Bus

We travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by bus, then continue to Chiang Khong on a hot local bus after getting delayed by a sold-out earlier departure. We arrive in Chiang Khong, take a tuk-tuk to our upgraded riverside hotel, and enjoy the room and views. We explain our plans to cross into Laos and take a two-day luxury cruise down the Mekong River to Luang Prabang instead of the crowded slow boat.