Chiang Khan is a small peaceful town in Loei province in Northeast Thailand, located on the bank of the Mekong River with Laos on the other side of the river. Planning a trip to Chiang Khan in Loei, Thailand? This detailed Chiang Khan travel guide with travel tips will help you discover the town and its best things to do.
Chiang Khan is an old town and a very popular destination for Thai tourists. The town is famous for its simple wooden houses adapted to be guest houses, coffee shops, and souvenir shops. It is a compact town so you can just hire a bicycle and ride around the town visiting all attractions.
There are several temples presenting the art of Lanna and Lan Chang. The town is also typified by local people and tourists giving alms to the Buddhist monks very early in the morning, ritual that can be seen in Luang Prabang, Laos.
Things to Do in Chiang Khan
Even if it is a small town, there are several tourist attractions and other things to do in Chiang Khan for travelers to spend a relaxing but memorable weekend.
Walking Street
Chai Khong Road, which runs parallel to the Mekong River and is separated from it just by one line of wooden houses, is the main tourist attraction in the town. Rows of teakwood buildings, housing small restaurants, bars, shops and guesthouses, lines the street. On weekends Chai Khong Road becomes the Walking Street and fills up with crowds of visitors. Clothes, local arts and crafts are sold at the shops and some really authentic goods can be found here. Various local delicacies are on offer at the restaurants and the street food stalls of Walking Street.
Most popular places to stay in the town are also located on the walking street. You can find them here: accommodation on Chiang Khan Walking Street.
Mekong River Front
One of the main attractions in a peaceful town is the promenade on the river front of Mekong. It’s a perfect place for taking a walk in a calm atmosphere, enjoying the view of the mighty river and the forests on Laos’s side. And in the evening here you will rewarded with the most romantic sunset view.
Phu Tok
Phu Tok is a small mountain located 3 km from Chiang Khan. From the top of it you can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the town, Mekong River and surrounding mountains. The best time to visit Phu Tok is early in the morning, when a sea of fog covers all the surroundings and the rising sun adds even more mysticism to this breath-taking scenery.
Wat Si Khun Mueang
Wat Si Khun Mueang temple is one of the most important religious places for local people. It is situated on Chai Khong Road, just at the end of the Walking Street. This ancient temple was influenced by Lanna and Lan Chang styles and houses a nice wooden Lan Chang style Buddha image inside.
Food in Chiang Khan
You can find a variety of interesting and reasonably priced Thai food dishes in the town. To get familiar with the local cuisine, check what are 5 dishes you must try in Chiang Khan.
If you would like to know more about the town, let us be your guide and introduce you to Slow Life in Chiang Khan.
Where to Stay in Chiang Khan
The best place to stay in the town is near the Walking Street, which is the center of life in this quiet Isan town. This small town is very popular destination for Thais, so you should book accommodation in advance, especially if you are going there on weekend or national holiday.
Most popular places to stay in the town are located on Chiang Khan Walking Street.
To get the best deal on accommodation, make sure to compare hotel deals on Booking.com with often better special offers on Agoda.
How to get to Chiang Khan?
You can reach the town from Bangkok by air or by bus.
Flights to Chiang Khan
The nearest airport is Loei Airport (LOE), located in the city of Loei, the capital of province. Loei is about 50 km from Chiang Khan and can be reached by bus or songtaew. The airport is served by a low-cost airline, offering domestic flights from Bangkok.
Flight deals can be found here: Flights from Bangkok to Loei.
Bus to Chiang Khan
There are several direct daily and night buses coming from Bangkok.
The direct bus schedule can be found and bus tickets can be booked here: Bus from Bangkok to Chiang Khan.
As the town is well connected with Loei and few other cities in the region, such as Nong Khai and Nakhon Ratchasima, the most popular way for getting there by bus is to take a bus from Bangkok to Loei first and then get a bus to Chiang Khan. Buses to Loei leave from Mo Chit Bus Terminal in Bangkok and the choice of bus departures to Loei is much wider than direct buses.
Bus tickets for this bus route can be booked here: Bus from Bangkok to Loei.
Other Transportation Options
More transportation options for a trip can be found and transport tickets can be booked by this search form.
Weather in Chiang Khan
Between November and May the weather there is mostly dry with little rain expected for much of this time. The dry season is broken up into the periods of cool season (November to February) and hot season (March to May), when it is not unusual for the temperature to reach up to 40°C.
The wet season is from May to October. The rain usually comes in the form of short showers, lasting an hour or two. As the rainy season progresses, the rain can become heavier and more constant, traditionally reaching peak levels in August and September.
For the best time to visit the town check weather in Chiang Khan.
Next Destination after Chiang Khan?
Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and the largest city of the country with tons of things to do and see, so you can easily spend days or weeks there and not get bored.
Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat, is a province in Northeastern Thailand (Isaan). The province is rich in Khmer culture and has a long history. All ranges of tourist attractions can be found throughout the province from beautiful landscapes, many waterfalls, forests and mountains.
Khao Yai National Park is one of the most unique areas to visit in Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima province in the northeast of Thailand. Khao Yai is the name of the national park, covering an area of 2168 square kilometers. Khao Yai is an ideal destination for tourists and locals who want to relax within natural and a peaceful environment.
Udon Thani is a big province in the northeastern region. Located on the north side of Korat, it serves as another center of transportation and tourism in Isaan of Thailand. The city is surrounded by agricultural areas and many prehistoric ruins with ancient history such as Phu Phra Bat Historical Park.
You can also choose to travel to Laos after visiting Chiang Khan. You just need to reach Nong Khai, which is the town where the First Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge and Thailand - Laos border crossing is located.
