Took the mini bus from Pai at 8am via Chiang Mai arrived in Chiang Khong at 8pm. Stayed overnight in lovely guest house with views of the Mekong. To the boarder the next day and on the slow boat to Prakbeng for the night and then onwards on the slow boat to Luang Prabang.

The slow boat looked like a floating shack and had car seats in row for the seating area...they also weren't kidding when calling it slow. It stopped at various (as in many) villages along the way. Very chilled experience, not sure I'd want to repeat it though.