North-Eastern (I-San) Thailand and Laos, 16 - 10 Dec 2015 (25 days)
The morning sunrise view at 6.05am by the Mekong River at Nakhon Phanom.
Day 7 (22.11.2015) Nakhon Phanom - day trip to Thakhek in Laos (66km)
This morning Ching woke up at 5.45am to take some photos of the sunrise over the Mekong River at 6:05am. We boarded the 9:30am bus to ThaKhek (33km away) by crossing the 3rd Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. We didn't see much, but we walked along the banks of the Mekong River and visited Hotel Riveria.
We had lunch at a restaurant by the river bank and came back to Nakhon Phanom by the 2.30pm bus. Along the way back, we met about 500 cyclists from 3 Asean countries. Ministry of Tourism & Sports Thailand present ASEAN on Tour: Bike for Fun, Ride for Friends.
Sleeping at Grand Hotel, Nakhon Phanom
The morning sunrise view at 6.05am by the Mekong River at Nakhon Phanom.
The morning sunrise view at 6.05am by the Mekong River at Nakhon Phanom.
The morning sunrise view at 6.05am by the Mekong River at Nakhon Phanom.
We had lunch at a restaurant by the river bank and came back to Nakhon Phanom by the 2.30pm bus. Along the way back, we met about 500 cyclists from 3 Asean countries. Ministry of Tourism & Sports Thailand present ASEAN on Tour: Bike for Fun, Ride for Friends.
Sleeping at Grand Hotel, Nakhon Phanom
The morning sunrise view at 6.05am by the Mekong River at Nakhon Phanom.
The morning sunrise view at 6.05am by the Mekong River at Nakhon Phanom.
The morning sunrise view at 6.05am by the Mekong River at Nakhon Phanom.
The mighty Mekong River view at Nakhon Phanom.
The mighty Mekong River view at Nakhon Phanom.
The mighty Mekong River view at Nakhon Phanom.
In the early hours of every morning, even before the break of dawn, monks can be seen walking along roads on their alms round at Nakhon Phanom.
Monks can be seen walking along roads on their alms round at Nakhon Phanom..
The owner of our Grand Hotel gives 'tabat' to the monk early in the morning. Becoming a monk is not easy. You have to walk barefoot on public roads and dirt roads strewn with sharp stones.
We took Nakhon Phanom bus to cross over to Thakhet, Laos for a day trip.
We boarded the 9:30am bus to ThaKhek (33km away) by crossing the 3rd Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge.
A very well dressed bus driver.
Thailand's immigration before the 3rd Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge at Nakhon Phanom.
Thailand's immigration before the 3rd Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge at Nakhon Phanom.
Thailand's immigration before the 3rd Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge at Nakhon Phanom.
View of Mekong River from the 3rd Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge at Nakhon Phanom.
View of Mekong River from the 3rd Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge at Nakhon Phanom.
View of Mekong River from the 3rd Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge at Nakhon Phanom.
Vendors at the Khammouane Bus Station in Thakhek, Laos is located on No.13 South Road, about 4.5 kilometers from Thakhek town.
Shopping at the Khammouane Bus Station in Thakhek, Laos.
Vendors at the Khammouane Bus Station in Thakhek, Laos.
Vendors at the Khammouane Bus Station in Thakhek, Laos.
A balut egg is a developing duck embryo that is boiled and eaten in the shell. It is commonly sold as street-food in the countries of Southeast Asia, such as Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Thakhek Town map.
Riveria Hotel Thakhek is a five storey hotel with 56 luxuriously decorated rooms and suites of international standard. The Hotel is located beside the Mekong River.
Riveria Hotel Thakhek has the authentic local and modern decoration, architecture and luxury furnishing that creates a relaxing ambiance.
Thakhek boat/ferry terminal with immigration office for locals only.
View from Thakhek of Nakhon Phanom.
The temple in Thakhek, Laos.
We had lunch by the Mekong River in Thakhek, Laos.
We had lunch by the Mekong River in Thakhek, Laos.
We had Beerlao by the Mekong River in Thakhek, Laos.
We had lunch by the Mekong River in Thakhek, Laos.
We had lunch by the Mekong River in Thakhek, Laos.
We had lunch by the Mekong River in Thakhek, Laos.
The 3rd Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge over the Mekong River is a bridge that connects Nakhon Phanom Province in Thailand with Thakhek, Khammouane in Laos.
The 3rd Thai-Laos Friendship bridge's foundation stone was laid on 6.3.2009, and opened on 11.11.2011.
The 3rd Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge over the Mekong River is 1,423m long and 13m wide.
The 3rd Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge over the Mekong River is 1,423m long and 13m wide.
On the 3rd Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge, we met about 500 cyclists from ASEAN countries.
Ministry of Tourism & Sports Thailand presented ASEAN on Tour "bike for fun, ride for friends" for 3 Countries on 3 Routes.
1. Thailand (Nakhon Phanom) to Laos (Kam Muan) 22.11.2015
2. Thailand (Trat) to Cambodia (Koh Kong) 29.11.2015
3. Thailand (Chiang Rai) to Myanmar (Tha Kee Lek) 20.12.2015
ASEAN on Tour "bike for fun, ride for friends" for 3 Countries on 3 Routes.
| Day 7 | Cost Item in Thai Baht | Bus/car | Food | Hotel | Fee | Total | per pax |
| 22.11.2015 | Grand Hotel room 1 | 400 | 400 | 200 | |||
| Nakhon Phanom | Grand Hotel room 2 | 460 | 460 | 230 | |||
| Grand Hotel | Song taew to bus terminal | 120 | 120 | 30 | |||
| Bus ticket to Thakhek | 300 | 300 | 75 | ||||
| Laos immigration fee | 160 | 160 | 40 | ||||
| 1B=230kip | Lunch at Takek - 148k kip | 643 | 643 | 161 | |||
| Snacks - curry puff | 50 | 50 | 13 | ||||
| Song taew to Thakhek town | 200 | 200 | 50 | ||||
| Song taew to bus station | 200 | 200 | 50 | ||||
| Bus to Nakhon Phanom | 300 | 300 | 75 | ||||
| Dinner | 190 | 190 | 48 |
Click below to view:
North-Eastern Thailand and Laos - Introduction
Day 01 (16.11.15) AirAsia AK 856 KUL. 12.45pm to Chiang Mai, (1738km)
Day 02 (17 Nov) Chiang Mai to Loei to Phu Kradueng to Khon Kaen (691km)
Day 03 (18 Nov) Khon Kaen City walk around
Day 04 (19 Nov) Khon Kaen City to Kalasin (80km)
Day 05 (20 Nov) Kalasin to Sakon Nakhon (129km)
Day 06 (21 Nov) Sakon Nakhon to Nakhon Phanom (92km)
Day 07 (22 Nov) Nakhon Phanom - day trip to Thakhek, Laos (62km)
Day 08 (23 Nov) Nakhon Phanom to Mukdahan (125km)
Day 09 (24 Nov) Mukdahan - trip to Phu Pha Thoet National Park (108km)
Day 10 (25 Nov) Mukdahan to Ubon Ratchathani by bus (194km)
Day 11 (26 Nov) Ubon Ratchathani to Pakse to Si Phan Don, Laos (291km)
Day 12 (27 Nov) Si Phan Don - a long walk to Somphamit Waterfall
Day 13 (28 Nov) Si Phan Don to Ubon Ratchathani by bus (291km)
Day 14 (29 Nov) Ubon Ratchathani to Si Sa Ket by van (67km)
Day 15 (30 Nov) Si Sa Ket to Buri Ram by train (148km)
Day 16 (01 Dec) Buri Ram - day visit to 3 places (219km)
Day 17 (02 Dec) Buri Ram to Nakhon Ratchasima by train (129km)
Day 18 (03 Dec) Nakhon Ratchasima - day trip to Phimai (120km)
Day 19 (04 Dec) Nakhon Ratchasima to Bangkok by train (264km)
Day 20 (05 Dec) Bangkok - Chao Phraya River boat ride to Khaosan Road
Day 21 (06 Dec) Bangkok - rest day and dinner at Royal Bangkok Sports Club
Day 22 (07 Dec) Bangkok to Prachuap Khiri Khan by train (320km)
Day 23 (08 Dec) Prachuap Khiri Khan
Day 24 (09 Dec) Prachuap Khiri Khan to Hatyai by night train (660km)
Day 25 (10 Dec) Hatyai to Butterworth by train and to KL by bus (555km)
L-R: Chan Meng Fye, Chew Leng Soon and Ching Neng Bin on the road in Thailand.
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