Advanced Member
Posted 25 February 2016 - 05:13 AM
I am planning to do some ride in the Nong Khai area along the Mekong River and looking to do about 300km in 3 days.
Question is do I go west towards Loei Province or eastwards to Bueng Kan?
As we are approaching the end of February I would prefer to ride with the breeze from behind not in my face...
Any done some riding in the area? I am keen to lear from your experiences.
Advanced Member
Posted 27 February 2016 - 03:35 PM
Well, three days kind of limits you in either direction only IF you need to get to a big town by the end of your trip.
IF you head down the Mekong (eastwards as you say), in 4 days you can reach Nakhon Phanom (dependent upon how many kilometers you are wiling/able to do).
Nong Khai --> Pak Khat (90km)
Pak Khat --> Bueng Kan (70km)
Bueng Kan --> Ban Phaeng (100km)
Ban Phaeng --> Nakhon Phanom (100km)
IF you ride up the Mekong (going into Loei province) you can visit Chiang Khan, which is quite a nice little place.
In two days you could do:
Nong Khai --> Sangkhom (80km)
Sangkhom --> Chiang Khan (104km)
There is a nice description of these 2 days of riding in this article - http://bicyclethaila...challenge-2014/
Getting from Chiang Khan to Loei city itself is just a matter of cycling down the 201 road for about 50 kilometers.
Advanced Member
Posted 27 February 2016 - 10:02 PM
Well, three days kind of limits you in either direction only IF you need to get to a big town by the end of your trip.
IF you head down the Mekong (eastwards as you say), in 4 days you can reach Nakhon Phanom (dependent upon how many kilometers you are wiling/able to do).
Nong Khai --> Pak Khat (90km)
Pak Khat --> Bueng Kan (70km)
Bueng Kan --> Ban Phaeng (100km)
Ban Phaeng --> Nakhon Phanom (100km)
IF you ride up the Mekong (going into Loei province) you can visit Chiang Khan, which is quite a nice little place.
In two days you could do:
Nong Khai --> Sangkhom (80km)
Sangkhom --> Chiang Khan (104km)
There is a nice description of these 2 days of riding in this article - http://bicyclethaila...challenge-2014/
Getting from Chiang Khan to Loei city itself is just a matter of cycling down the 201 road for about 50 kilometers.
I thank you kindly for the information.
New Member
Posted 02 March 2016 - 02:25 AM
Hi,
I recently rode from Nong Khai to Ubon Ratchathani (https://www.crazyguy..._id=314385&v=79)
I have also ridden in the other direction from Nong Khai to Chiang Khan and beyond to Dan Sai and, eventually, Sukhothai and then up to Uttaradit.
If I had the choice to do it again, I'd go west. Going east takes you to some very nice, little-visited places, but going west gives you, IMHO, much nicer scenery, more options for sleeping/eating, and keeps you much, much closer to the Mekong. In fact, rarely are you out of sight of the river and for a lot of ride you are pretty much right on the bank which makes riding very pleasant. The area between Pak Chom and Chiang Khan is particularly sublime. Going east it is difficult and, very often, impossible to keep the river close by. West is greener, more undulating, and just downright beautiful. Sangkhom is a great destination, as is Pak Chom (but the extra 45km to Chiang Khan, especially later in the afternoon) is definitely a "must-ride" stretch.
If you need a longer ride than Chiang Khan to Loei on your last day, you could always continue on to Nong Bua Lam Phu, which is not far from Udon.
Advanced Member
Posted 02 March 2016 - 10:04 AM
Hi,
I recently rode from Nong Khai to Ubon Ratchathani (https://www.crazyguy..._id=314385&v=79)
I have also ridden in the other direction from Nong Khai to Chiang Khan and beyond to Dan Sai and, eventually, Sukhothai and then up to Uttaradit.
If I had the choice to do it again, I'd go west. Going east takes you to some very nice, little-visited places, but going west gives you, IMHO, much nicer scenery, more options for sleeping/eating, and keeps you much, much closer to the Mekong. In fact, rarely are you out of sight of the river and for a lot of ride you are pretty much right on the bank which makes riding very pleasant. The area between Pak Chom and Chiang Khan is particularly sublime. Going east it is difficult and, very often, impossible to keep the river close by. West is greener, more undulating, and just downright beautiful. Sangkhom is a great destination, as is Pak Chom (but the extra 45km to Chiang Khan, especially later in the afternoon) is definitely a "must-ride" stretch.
If you need a longer ride than Chiang Khan to Loei on your last day, you could always continue on to Nong Bua Lam Phu, which is not far from Udon.
Thank you for the advice and sharing your experience, much appreciated.
I have decided to go west and will pretty much follow the route described by Mike above. Your advice confirms that its the correct option.
Thank you once again for the effort you made to share your experience.
New Member
Posted 02 March 2016 - 10:22 PM
Hi again, Jackie.
Just a few things to keep in mind. If you are going to be riding into Chiang Khan on a weekend or holiday, make sure you have reserved a place to stay in. I usually stay at the Chiang Khan Guest House. It is right on the river and Pim, the owner, is great. It is a very bike-friendly place. Old school backpacking kind of place with gleaming teak floors and a lot of character. Thin walls, though, and shared bathrooms, but it attracts good, respectful folks. The link that Mike provided points out how busy Chiang Khan can become.
A great deal of the ride from NK to Tha Bo and then on to Si Chiangmai can be done on narrow roads immediately adjacent to the Mekong. If you go onto Google Maps and zoom in on the small villages of, for example, Pa Kho (about 10 km outside of Nong Khai) and then use Street View, you will see that these roads are excellent for riding, though not hardcore fast riding. They are concrete and usually in great shape and much, much nicer than riding on the main road. They also are nicely shaded in many places. In fact, you can avoid using #211 entirely from Nong Khai to just a little south of Si Chiangmai. Doing this will add a little extra mileage and time to your trip, but it is worth it. I was able to find all of these roads very easily with my Garmin GPS and SE Asia map card.
When leaving Nong Khai do not follow Highway #2. Stick to the road that follows the river (Soi Kaew Woravut). You will pass the old train station, go under the Friendship Bridge, and after a few km you will be out of town and getting into the villages. More road options ... the small riverside ones running through the villages ... will present themselves.
Tha Bo is a bit of an administration centre and there isn't a lot there to stop for, though the main market is decent. Si Chiangmai is a great spot to stop and get some spring rolls. The town is famous for it's spring roll wrappers. You will find lots of people selling them along the highway. When leaving Si Chiangmai stick to the esplanade that follows the river. It will take you out of town and is a fantastic ride that will eventually join up with #211 west of the town at a temple called Wipatsana Pa Chan.
Once you are on #211 the terrain will begin to roll more. If you take any of the minor roads leading off to the right, you will find yourself, again, close to the river and surrounded by fields of chilies, eggplant, and all kinds of other produce and, likely, surprised and smiling faces. Some of these roads can be a bit rough. A few were unpaved, hard-packed red clay that is very difficult to remove from clothing. Most are concrete, though.
Soon after Si Chiangmai #211 will begin running nice and close to the Mekong.
Before Sangkhom is a temple called Wat Hin Mak Peng, which is very well worth visiting. A great, shady spot to have a rest in. Very interesting place.
The ride into Sangkhom is wonderful. Great road conditions. And it just keeps getting better the further you go.
Have a great ride. When do you go?
Regards.
Advanced Member
Posted 03 March 2016 - 07:48 AM
Hi again, Jackie.
Just a few things to keep in mind. If you are going to be riding into Chiang Khan on a weekend or holiday, make sure you have reserved a place to stay in. I usually stay at the Chiang Khan Guest House. It is right on the river and Pim, the owner, is great. It is a very bike-friendly place. Old school backpacking kind of place with gleaming teak floors and a lot of character. Thin walls, though, and shared bathrooms, but it attracts good, respectful folks. The link that Mike provided points out how busy Chiang Khan can become.
A great deal of the ride from NK to Tha Bo and then on to Si Chiangmai can be done on narrow roads immediately adjacent to the Mekong. If you go onto Google Maps and zoom in on the small villages of, for example, Pa Kho (about 10 km outside of Nong Khai) and then use Street View, you will see that these roads are excellent for riding, though not hardcore fast riding. They are concrete and usually in great shape and much, much nicer than riding on the main road. They also are nicely shaded in many places. In fact, you can avoid using #211 entirely from Nong Khai to just a little south of Si Chiangmai. Doing this will add a little extra mileage and time to your trip, but it is worth it. I was able to find all of these roads very easily with my Garmin GPS and SE Asia map card.
When leaving Nong Khai do not follow Highway #2. Stick to the road that follows the river (Soi Kaew Woravut). You will pass the old train station, go under the Friendship Bridge, and after a few km you will be out of town and getting into the villages. More road options ... the small riverside ones running through the villages ... will present themselves.
Tha Bo is a bit of an administration centre and there isn't a lot there to stop for, though the main market is decent. Si Chiangmai is a great spot to stop and get some spring rolls. The town is famous for it's spring roll wrappers. You will find lots of people selling them along the highway. When leaving Si Chiangmai stick to the esplanade that follows the river. It will take you out of town and is a fantastic ride that will eventually join up with #211 west of the town at a temple called Wipatsana Pa Chan.
Once you are on #211 the terrain will begin to roll more. If you take any of the minor roads leading off to the right, you will find yourself, again, close to the river and surrounded by fields of chilies, eggplant, and all kinds of other produce and, likely, surprised and smiling faces. Some of these roads can be a bit rough. A few were unpaved, hard-packed red clay that is very difficult to remove from clothing. Most are concrete, though.
Soon after Si Chiangmai #211 will begin running nice and close to the Mekong.
Before Sangkhom is a temple called Wat Hin Mak Peng, which is very well worth visiting. A great, shady spot to have a rest in. Very interesting place.
The ride into Sangkhom is wonderful. Great road conditions. And it just keeps getting better the further you go.
Have a great ride. When do you go?
Regards.
Thank you so much for the detailed information it is very useful and much appreciated.
I am flying to Udon Thani on Monday and will sty the night in Nong Khai...and then go west as per your and Mike's route descriptions. I will let you how it wen...
Thank you once again.
Advanced Member
Posted 09 March 2016 - 06:48 PM
Guys, I have rode from Nongkhai to Sangkhom and to Chiangkhan.. it is truly a great route.. but in case you contemplate doing the same I advise that you start slow as from about 25 to 22 km before Sangkhom the terrain changes and becomes quite hilly with a number of long climbs with gradients up to 7%+ in places.
The section from Sangkhom to Chiangkhan is all rolling hills with some of them testing the legs...
A small word of advise is to pre-book your hotel in Chiangkhan on Agoda before you leave... over the counter rates are up to 30% higher than Agoda's rates...
