Mekong River Road — Loei to Nong Khai via ChiangKhan.
Distance
200 km
Duration
1 day
Climb
800 m
Mekong River Road — Loei to Nong Khai via Chiang Khan.
A 200km ride along Thailand's least-travelled Mekong corridor from Loei to the Laos border at Nong Khai. The road runs through Loei's mountain province — Thailand's coldest in winter — through the wooden shophouse village of Chiang Khan, past mushroom-shaped Mekong rapids, and through riverside villages where Laos is visible across the brown water all day long.
Quick facts
SurfacePaved
Distance200 km
Days1
Total climb800 m
DifficultyEasy
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The route.
LoeiStart · Start in Loei — the mountain province that gets Thailand's coldest temperatures in winter. Known as "Little Switzerland of Thailand". Head north on Route 201 toward the Mekong.
Chiang Khan Old TownPhoto Spot · The Mekong River appears at Chiang Khan. A charming old town with 1km of teak wooden shophouses and a morning merit-making procession of monks. Breakfast on the Mekong before heading east.
Kaeng Kut Khu RapidsScenic Point · Mushroom-shaped rock formations breaking the Mekong surface. A popular Thai picnic site. Boat trips available Oct–May when water levels are lower.
Pak ChomScenic Point · The road hugs the Mekong from here eastward — Laos is directly across the river. Border villages have informal cross-river trading connections with Laos.
SangkhomScenic Point · A small river village below forested hills. The Than Tip waterfall is a 2km detour. Riverside guesthouses here are excellent and very cheap.
Si Chiang MaiRestaurant · Famed for its rice-paper spring roll wrappers, stretched and sun-dried on bamboo frames along the roadside. Try the fresh wrappers with pork filling at any market stall.
Nong KhaiEnd · End in Nong Khai — the gateway to Laos. The Friendship Bridge to Vientiane is visible from the riverside. The Sala Keoku sculpture garden (colossal concrete Buddhas) is an unmissable final stop.
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