3 / 5 - 2 reviews
How to get there
2 hours from Chiang Rai by bus
When to go
From November to May
Minimum stay
One day
Chiang Khong (Thailand)
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Flickrcc Jayarc
Practical information about Chiang Khong
Reviews of Chiang Khong
Chiang Khong is a city in Northern Thailand. Located on the banks of the Mekong, it's an entry point to get to Laos.
My suggestion:
Enjoy the view of the Mekong from one of the guesthouses located on its banks and go to the Hub Pub for its nice atmosphere.
Summary:
I discovered Chiang Khong by motorcycle during a stay in the Golden Triangle. Having left Chiang Rai earlier in the day, this was my first stop to spend the night before getting back on the road the next day.
Chiang Khong is a small village, which most people are just passing through on their way to the town of Houei Xai in Laos, on the other side of the Mekong. For a border town, the atmosphere is rather quiet there, although I found that the village doesn't have any particular tourist attractions.
For those who love sports travel, if you stop in Chiang Khong, you can visit the Hub Bicycle Museum created by Alan Bate, an Englishman who beat the record for the fastest trip around the world on a bike in 2012, and admission is free. Still from a sports perspective, a little north of the village lies the waterfall of Huai Meng. The path that leads to it is rarely maintained and is often overrun by vegetation, but the waterfall in the middle of the jungle is pretty.
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Flickrcc Jayarc
Situated on the Thai border, Chiang Khong is essentially just a stopping off point for travelers who are going to Laos (or vice versa).
My suggestion:
One or two days are enough for exploring Chiang Khong and its surroundings by scooter. You can follow the Mekong down a hilly road.
Summary:
In my opinion, Chiang Khong itself isn't very interesting. Nevertheless, its surroundings make it worth the stop. If you rent a scooter you can visit the villages of the Hmong and Thai Lue, two tribes from northern Thailand. As it's not a very touristy area the locals are quite welcoming and happy to meet with travelers. Yet another reason for stopping off there.
If you choose a hotel on the river side get ready to be "rocked" to sleep by the music coming from Laos on the other side of the river! Big fans of karaoke, they like to have the volume on full blast during the weekend.
Very close to the Golden Triangle, Chiang Khong is an ideal base for visiting this tourist area during a journey to Thailand.
©
Aurélie Chartier
192 travellers' photos
