TheLoneRider
a seeker in search of Easter Eggs
Chiang Khan, Thailand

Chiang Khan Promenade by the Mekong River Jun 19, 2020

Chiang Khan Promenade by the Mekong River

Location Google Map: Walking Promenade, Chiang Khan (district), Loei (province), Thailand

The Promenade
The Promenade runs parallel to the Walking Street but runs much longer, reaching all the way to the Kaeng Khut Khu rapids 5 kms away. On one side of the Promenade is the Mekong River and on the other side are the fancy hotels, boutiques and restaurants overlooking the river. It's as picturesque as it gets especially when the sun sets on the Mekong.

Chiang Khan Promenade by the Mekong River
one side of the Promenade is the Mekong River...the other side are fancy hotels overlooking the river

Ending Thoughts
A leisurely afternoon stroll on the Promenade is both calming and scenic. I'd sit on an outdoor cafe or drink a coldie in a bar overlooking the Mekong. Life is good.

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit Yoga by Gigit | Learn English Learn English | Travel like a Nomad Nomad Travel Buddy | Donation Bank Donation Bank for TheLoneRider



Leave a comment?

Next stop:

Ascending Phu Thok Hill Viewpoint Chiang Khan, Thailand

Ascending Phu Thok Hill Viewpoint

(Jun 20, 2020) A popular attraction in Chiang Khan is viewing the sunrise from the top of Phu Thok Hill. A thick blanket of clouds mantle the view with mountain peaks piercing through the clouds. And then the sun peaks through the mountain horizon.....more »»


Chiang Khan Travel Information / Tips

About Chiang Khan

This single statement tells you a lot Chiang Khan: NOBODY LOCKS THEIR BICYCLES!!! Yes, it is a very safe place. Many foreigners don't even know this place exists, but it is popular to local Thai tourists (and Koreans, I was told). The main draw of Chiang Khan is the kilometer-long walking street and the promenade along the scenic Mekong River. The street is lined-up with hotels, boutiques, vendors, restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops. The promenade is particularly charming to stroll about in time for the sunset.

Direct Bus from Nong Khai to Chiang Khan along the Mekong River

Before, there was no direct travel route. You either:

  1. take a bus to Udon Thani, another bus to Loei, and another bus to Chiang Khan
  2. or take the slow, dilapidated, and uncomfortable green bus along the winding Mekong route, get off at Pak Chom, take another bus towards Loei but get off at Ban That (village), and then take another bus to Chiang Khan. No wonder people don't go to Chiang Khan from Nong Khai!

As of June 18, 2020 (the trip I took), when things were beginning to normalize from the COVID pandemic, there seems to be a few changes.

  1. the 3 trips/day by the green bus (7:30am, 11:00am and 3:00pm) have been reduced to 1 trip at 12 noon
  2. BEST, the bus goes all the way to Chiang Khan. You don't have to get off at Pak Chom.
  3. Trip Details from the Nong Khai bus terminal
    departure time: 12 noon (only one trip)
    duration: 5 hours
    fare: B250
    stops:
    Nong Khai (left 12 noon)
    Tha Bo (arrived 12:55 pm)
    Si Chiang Mai (arrived 1:25 pm)
    Sangkhom (arrived 2:35 pm)
    Pak Chom (arrived 4:05 pm)
    Chiang Khan (arrived 5:05 pm)
Chiang Khan Attractions
  1. Walking Steet - animated street line with shops, hotels, restos, bars, cafe and buskers
  2. Promenade - planked walkway extending for kilometers with the Mekong River on one side and fancy hotels and restaurants on the other side
  3. Phu Thok view point - 7.5 kilometers from the town center towards the mountain, it reaches 480 meters and offers stunning view of the sunrise and mountain tops piercing through the low-lying clouds
  4. Kaeng Khut Khu - 5.5kms downstream on the Mekong from town center, the manicured park has life-like statues of masked characters celebrated during their Phi Ta Khon Ghost Festival. It also has a 2-storie statue of the Jueng Khueng Dangdaeng, a Laos giant hunter who, as legend would have it, became part of the rocks sprinkled on the Mekong between Laos and Thailand
Chiang Khan to Loei by Bus At the Loei Bus Terminal (see map), there are numerous daily trips to Loei (en route to Nakhon Ratchasima): 6:30 am, xxxx am, . xxx hours, B38.

Chiang Khan Blogs by TheLoneRider

  1. Alms-Round (Sai Bat) with the Buddhist Monks of Chiang Khan Jun 21, 2020
  2. The Rapids of Kaeng Khut Khu, Chiang Khan Jun 20, 2020
  3. Ascending Phu Thok Hill Viewpoint Jun 20, 2020
  4. Chiang Khan Promenade by the Mekong River Jun 19, 2020
  5. Rummaging Through the Walking Street of Chiang Khan, Loei Jun 19, 2020
  6. A First-Timer in Chiang Khan, Loei, Thailand Jun 18, 2020
  7. Nong Khai - Chiang Khan Roadtrip June 18, 2020

Travel Tips for Thailand

How to Get a 60-Day Thai Tourist Visa and then Extend by another 30 Days

This process is BEFORE Covid 19. Not sure what it is now.

    60-Day Thai Tourist Visa

    NOTE: There is no need to go back to your country to get the Thai tourist visa. Any major city with a Thai Embassy will do. Apparently there is also no need to have an invitation from a Thai establishment to justify the visa.

  1. Bring the following to the Thai embassy:
    a) proof of money (bank statement will suffice)
    b) flight booking to Thailand
    c) onward flight back to your country from Thailand
    d) filled-in tourist visa form
    e) 2 passport pictures
    f) hotel booking in Thailand (they didn't ask me for this but better be safe)
    g) passport with at least 6 months validity
  2. After handing over all the documents, they will ask you to come pick your passport with the visa the following day from 4 to 5pm. That's it!
  3. NOTE: after 2 successful attempts, I was already questioned the 3rd time.

    30-Day Extension

    NOTE: When your 60-day visa is close to expiry and you want to extend your stay. No need to leave Thailand.

  1. bring the following to the Immigration Office:
    a) passport (make sure your Tourist Visa hasn't expired yet)
    b) Baht 1900
    c) photocopy of your passport + visa duration date stamp + TM6 card (white immigration card) and sign all the copies
    d) completed TM7 visa extension form (available at the Immigration Office)
    e) one 4cmx6cm passport picture
  2. submit the above to the Front Desk. They will give you a stub with your number on it. Take a seat and wait for your number to be called
  3. when your number is called, your picture will be taken. Then go back to your seat. They will call you again.
  4. when they call you again, they'll give you your passport with your extended visa. That's it!
  5. when there are no lines, the whole process can take only 10 minutes
Book Train Tickets in Thailand

Book Train Tickets in Thailand Online by Train36.com

General Travel Tips
  1. arrive early - in case there is a snag (visa snag, documentation snag, transport ticket snag, etc.), you will have ample time to troubleshoot the problem if you arrive early (to the airport, to the bus terminal, etc.)
  2. put detailed itinerary on the Calendar apps of your smart-phone according to timelines - this is where you do all your thinking and planning. Once written down, you don't have to think anymore while you are on the journey...you just follow the steps. This frees your mind for something else that might happen while you are already en route
  3. avoiding scams - as a general rule, I ignore the touts or anyone I don't know who call out to me. The calling comes in many forms - "Hi! Where are you from?", "Excuse me! Excuse me!", "Where are you going?". I don't look them in the eye and I remain non-verbal with them. If you reply to them, you just gave them an 'in' to hound you. In order not to look rude, I smile and wave the 'not interested' hand to them, without looking at them.
  4. power bank - hand-carry your power bank. Do not check it in. You can be called in when you are already inside the plane to go all the way to the loading dock so you can personally remove the power bank...and chances are, you'll have to surrender it to them. And you might delay the plane departure!
Currency Converter
Currency Converter

»» next Traveling story: Ascending Phu Thok Hill Viewpoint
»» back to Traveling
»» back to Homepage

ARCHIVE: 2024 | JAN | FEB | MAR

1970 | 1973 | 1975 | 1976 | 1979 | 1981 | 1996 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ALL BLOGS