The fabrication of long-range surface plasmon-polariton waveguides comprised of a thin narrow Au stripe buried in LiNbO3 claddings is described. The waveguides are fabricated via direct bonding and thinning of LiNbO3 wafers, resulting in bulk quality claddings. The assembly is direct bonded onto a Si support wafer. Processing details are given along with results of phys. characterization conducted on structures that underwent intermediate process steps and on completed structures.