Chiang Khong Travel Guide
Situated in Chiang Rai Province on the northern Thai border, just across the Mekong River from its counterpart, the Lao town of Huay Xai, Chiang Khong is above all known as a popular border crossing for independent travelers and backpackers heading to Laos.
- Worth It?
- Not unless you intend to travel to Laos.
- What to Do
- visit a waterfall or a hill tribe village, unwind by the Mekong River.
- Best Time to Go
- during the dry season from November to April, particularly on April 18 when the Giant Catfish Festival takes place.
- How Long?
- A day or less is sufficient for Chiang Khong.
This small, sleepy town is long and thin, running along the river's southern bank, which is lined with several small restaurants, backpacker cafés and guesthouses. There is one main road, various temples, a Friday market, and a craft village, making Chiang Khong a typical little Thai town without any night life.
Most visitors see the town as nothing else than an overnight stop to Laos; however, Chiang Khong offers a few remote attractions such as waterfalls, rapids and a H'mong village which can be explored on short daytrips organized by your guesthouse, or independently with your own means of transport.
Travel to Chiang Khong - Getting There
Every 30 minutes, buses arrive at Chiang Khong from Chiang Rai and other main cities in northern and northeast Thailand. One daytime and five overnight buses depart directly from the Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok (Moh Chit) every day, the journey taking 13 hours. The closest air facility is Chiang Rai Airport, which can be reached from Bangkok International Airport in 1 hour, 30 minutes.
Chiang Khong Things to Do
Chiang Khong Attractions
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